?? THE PLIGHT OF A CONSENSUS BUILDER ??
ERWIN 2024 - 19th Edition
MAY 7
?? Special Tuesday Edition! ??
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Sometimes, tension is necessary.
In his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described nonviolent tension as “necessary for growth” towards achieving the “majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood”.
As a chronically anxious human being myself, though, I must confess:
I dislike tension very much.
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I am a public school teacher in North Carolina that is currently teaching government and politics in a presidential election year.
I am also a member of the United Methodist Church.
If you are familiar with either of those states of being, you know that my world is surrounded by tension at the moment.
Please don’t misunderstand — I’m not asking for sympathy. I trust that God has placed me in these contexts for a purpose.
Perhaps I was meant to be a consensus builder.
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Many people misinterpret the idea of a “consensus”. I would argue it’s not their fault. An oft-used synonym for consensus is “unanimity” - all in agreement.
If that’s the standard for consensus building in today’s world…
Good luck, pal!
Another common definition of consensus, though, is more appropriate:
consensus - a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people (Cambridge Dictionary)
I typically use the phrase, “general agreement” to describe consensus.
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There are many things that people across all walks of life generally agree on.
For example, early in every semester I ask my students (a beautifully diverse cast, by the way!) to create a Class Constitution that will guide our classroom experience throughout the course. As part of the exercise, students are asked to come up with:
- A shared class goal (or a “Preamble”, if you will!)
- Five roles that students shall fulfill for the semester (Article I)
- Five roles that the instructor (Mr. Erwin) shall fulfill and that I must execute (Article II)
- Five features of the classroom environment, which we all agree to uphold (Article III)
With every class, the goal settles on either passing Civics class or learning about Civics. There has not been much variation at all throughout several years of this activity.
The remaining three Articles do vary from class to class, usually due to each group’s specific dynamic, but there are always some general themes present (students should turn in work on time, the teacher should provide help when students ask, the classroom shall be kept clean, etc.). After each class debates and agrees to their respective Class Constitutions, we all sign it as a mutual commitment to each other.
To me, that is consensus. We don't agree on every little detail, but are all on board with some set of shared core values.
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In this world, our countries, our professions, our families, our friend groups, and our worship spaces, we can and do experience tension and disagreement. Much of our tension is constructive and civil, but much of it is not.
I have seen and felt uneasy tension. Feelings hurt, blows exchanged, grudges manifested, and faith lost between people and groups who once cared deeply for one another. I have seen it in political arenas, among my friends and family, and in my church. It breaks my heart to no end.
I’m sure many of you understand as well or better than I do.
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The reason I am writing this post, in large part, is in response to the bitterness I have observed between people in my faith denomination, the United Methodist Church, and those who have left it in recent years. (I’ve also observed some groups from other denominations casting metaphorical stones at the UMC, which is admittedly disheartening, but much of their anger does not come from a place of wisdom or knowledge of the true situation going on.)
I want to begin by acknowledging that both groups have far more values and beliefs in common with each other than they do in contrast. These core beliefs are outlined in creeds that have been recited for decades within the denomination:
- We believe in God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, the Lord.
- We believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God.
- We believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.
- We believe that Jesus suffered for the sins of humanity.
- We believe that Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried.
- We believe that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven.
- We believe that Jesus will come again to cast final judgment on the World.
- We believe in the Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the Holy Catholic (universal) Church.
- We believe in the Communion of Saints.
- We believe in the Forgiveness of Sins.
- We believe in the Resurrection of the Body.
- We believe in the Life Everlasting.
- Both groups also believe in the authority of biblical Scripture and its divine inspiration.
- Both groups also believe that God calls God’s people to love God and their neighbors.
And so on.
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Based on my observations, where the vast majority of members of the UMC and its dissenters differ in belief are in a few key areas:
1. Interpretation of particular sections of biblical Scripture regarding the sanctity marriage, homosexual practices, and Old Testament, Jesus’, and the apostles’ views thereof
2. Modern human science and its compatibility with traditional Scriptural interpretation
3. Connectional ministry and social principles among international segments of the denomination (The United States, Africa, the Philippines, and Europe)
4. Property rights for member churches
5. Qualifications and criteria for ordination
If there are any that I missed, or if I am perhaps mistaken, please correct me!
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The next question I would like to ask, then, is why do people spend so much time focusing on the areas of contention?
In the Methodist Church, just as in modern political and social arenas, there are many, many areas of general acceptance and agreement. There is consensus on the vast majority of issues that involve our shared human experience!
Yet, we find our differences so intolerable that we feel compelled to separate. The scars left behind are hurtful enough, but the continued hostilities and entrenchments among us prevent necessary healing. It is awfully reflective of the current political climate in America and it needs to stop.
If we’re worried about the church “conforming to the ways of the world”, maybe conflict management is a good place to start...
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Truth be told: I was deeply saddened to see a large segment of my church’s members leave over what were deemed to be irreconcilable issues. I still love and keep up with many of those folks to this day. I respect their convictions and truly wish them all the best as they seek to grow in faith and love elsewhere. We don’t agree on everything, certainly, but we have enough love and respect between us to weather the wedges that try to pull us apart. I’m grateful for that.
I will continue to promote, for the rest of my days, that we humans are more alike than different. That our differences are minuscule in the eyes of our Creator. That God has blessed all of creation with the fabric of the Holy Spirit. That God has called us all to live together in harmony and in love.
I will continue to pray that God’s Kingdom come and reign in us, through us, and with us all.
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Tension is difficult. If left untamed, it can hurt mercilessly.
But if that is what consensus builders must go through to reach the “majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood” on the other side, then so be it.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers for peace.
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Happy Tuesday, my friends! ?? ??