wfn.org | Bishop Swenson preaches difficult text at difficult time

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

CLEVELAND (UMNS) - United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson stepped to the
podium at General Conference on May 12 with a difficult task: After two days
of protests against the church - actions in which she took part -- she came
to preach a Bible lesson on violence and separation. 

"There was a lot pain and hurt yesterday, something that I really wanted to
speak to, especially since it is our last day together," Swenson said. "But
here I have this text where Jesus says, 'Think not that I have come to bring
peace; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.'" 

About 30 people were arrested at the Cleveland Convention Center on May 11
after protesting the General Conference's reaffirmation of its rules against
homosexuality. The United Methodist Church's top legislative body upheld its
official stand that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with
Christian teaching. 

Swenson, who leads the church's Denver Area, was not among those arrested,
but she participated in a rally and march May 10 in support of changing the
denomination's position. Four years earlier, at the 1996 General Conference,
she was one of the 15 "dissenting bishops" who signed a declaration opposing
the church's policy. 

In her sermon on Matthew 10:34, Swenson introduced the sword as an image of
separation and clarity, of decisiveness about purpose. "I wanted to use the
image to 'cut through' all of the stuff that keeps us from doing what we are
supposed to do as the church."  

Swenson spoke of her frustration with institutional matters. She said that
this was the source of her pledge for the last year to spend 1,000 hours of
direct, hands-on service with homeless people and low-income children in her
area. The delegates responded with applause. 

Using the idea of the sword "cutting to the core of our purpose," she talked
about the "center and the edge," and her desire to "bring the edge to the
center, to bring those at the margin to the core of our purpose." 

Swenson tempered her usually exuberant style to match the subdued feelings
in the auditorium after the previous day's events. Representatives of the
Western states - who largely support her position - told her the night
before that the worship service should begin a time of healing.

"We need to hear the gospel, Bishop!" several members said. When she told
them the Scripture lesson, a groan went up from the group. Several said, "We
will be praying for you." 

Swenson's sermon was interrupted several times by applause. Repeating the
words of the lesson, she talked about the sword defining the line between
the past and the future. She closed her remarks noting that the edge of the
sword can cut an opening into something new for the church and the world.

"If we follow this Jesus, can we carry this sword?" she asked. " ... Go
then, with the sword of clarity, of purpose, of leadership, of change and of
grace."
# # #
--Gary Keene

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United Methodist News Service
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