It Matters A Great Deal

The United Methodist denomination is currently in the midst of a church trial regarding the election of Bishop Karen Oliveto. Actually, a ruling was just handed down by the Judicial Council. Many are still dissecting the ruling, and its actual force and effect might take some time to shake out. But here’s something that’s struck me throughout all of this: we are pretty inconsistent when our speech is measured against our words. Here’s what I mean by this. Many of us say things like “We aren’t about labeling people” and “One’s race/sex/sexuality doesn’t define him or her.” And yet, every story I read about Bishop Oliveto including press releases and statements from church leaders referred to her as “lesbian bishop…” or “first openly gay bishop…” Hmmm. 

Now, I understand that Bishop Oliveto’s sexuality is precisely what has brought about the church trial. However, the continued referencing of her primarily in terms of her sexuality indicates to me that, for many, the only thing that matters about her is that she is a lesbian. This perpetuates an improper and unhealthy fixation with someone’s sexuality. It also ignores a primary Christian claim, namely that while we have identity markers (nationality/race/sex/sexuality) these are not and cannot be our primary identity because of our baptism in Christ Jesus. This is what I understand Paul to be saying in Galatians 3:28. I think this passage is often misunderstood as if Paul is saying these categories (Jew/Greek, slave/free, male/female) cease to exist. Well, that’s of course nonsense. Clearly I am still a male after I am baptized, and I will continue to have identity markers. But I don’t introduce myself as “straight white male pastor David Hollis.” Maybe Bishop Oliveto does introduced herself at parties with “Hello. I’m the first openly gay bishop, Karen Oliveto.” But I highly doubt it. So to have virtually everyone else call her this puts that identity before her primary one - Karen Oliveto, baptized child of God. 

I don’t think most of the people who are labeling her in this way are intending harm. It’s a social construct - I think particularly in the South. To this day I will still have people say “This black minister so and so” or “That asian gentlemen who was with you.” I don’t think they even know there is anything wrong with what they are doing, because it’s usually just what they’ve learned. Then again, there are many practices that we learn which hurt and dehumanize others. So “that’s how I learned to talk” can’t be a valid excuse for long. It’s also the case that sometimes it is necessary to describe someone with their race or nationality in order to distinguish them. If someone asks, “Who was that gentleman you were speaking with after the board meeting?” If there is just one person I spoke with, I likely know who they are talking about. But if I spoke with several gentlemen, maybe we will have to get a description. And at some point, that description may involve color or another marker of that person’s identity. So, I get that. But once again, the way we use words matters a great deal. It isn’t just what we say, it’s how we say it. And it’s disingenuous to say labels don’t matter when we use them to such a degree.

So, either go all in, and always introduce everyone with as full a description as possible: “This is my single, Jewish friend Jesus” or leave it out from the first line of someone’s name and get there when and if you need to get there. 

I Have Found Joy

Over a decade ago I was spending my first summer in seminary serving as an intern at Davidson UMC in North Carolina. It was a wonderful experience all around. The senior pastor at the time was really into the Enneagram, and I was fine being a guinea pig. I also like those kinds of “tests.” So I took it, and my results made me angry. Actually, I am still confused about my results because I have heard different explanations as to the interpretation of the Enneagram. But as I recall, I am a seven - The Joyful Person. And that pissed me right off. 

I wanted to get “wise” or “loving” or something that did some good. Not joyful. What the hell is that? I thought it was self-referential as well. I mean, if I’m mad at being labeled “the joyful person” then it stands to reason the test is wrong. So it sat with me for a while. And the more I considered it, I think the test was accurate. 

There has always been something within me that seeks joy. I think the confusion I had is that joy is not the same thing as happiness—especially pointless, saccharine sentimentality. I hate that shit. I don’t seek or find most things cute, particularly when it comes to faith, God, and all that jazz. I have moved away from liking/wanting crosses generally. But if I get one, I want a crucifix or one that is plain wood. Something decorative and pretty makes no sense to me. I guess to me it’s about beauty and the way I see it beauty and joy seem to go hand in hand. 

I also think that joy has an urgency attached to it. This is why I have developed a total intolerance to wasting anyone’s time, especially my own. If I answer the phone and it is someone selling something I hang up immediately. “That’s so rude!” you might scream at me. I don’t care. It’s rude to waste my time and that person’s with the few seconds of explanation/haggling that will likely need to occur for you to feel I’m less rude. And the end result is the same. If I want to buy something, I’ll let you know. Don’t worry about getting in touch with me. If there are meetings that are pointless or become so, I don’t go to them or I leave them. This might imperil my job eventually, but I think I have a pretty good alibi since John Wesley had a strong stance against the wasting of time. I drive really fast, and I hate stoplights worse than grim death. In fact, the two are now the same for me. 

For the past few months, I have been in this fog. It’s mostly a “what the hell is actually happening?” situation. It seems to me that America is pursuing a time warp back to more racist and sexist times. Those with power are clinging to this longing for a Mayberry existence that wasn’t then and isn’t now in touch with reality. There are plenty who will do all within their power to slow the inevitable progress of a multicultural society. And yes, they have lots of money and influence. But, as Yeats put it, the center cannot hold. Something indeed is slouching toward Bethlehem, and it’s an awakening. People (more of them at least) are calling out the bullshit and those who peddle it (especially for a living). So when a close friend of mine feels that a couple of old, racist brothers who have more money than God are going to actually run the world, I used to get really depressed. But now I just laugh. Because I read a book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to my son tonight. And in the world Tutu writes about - the world of Easter, there is no stopping joy. Joy will win.

I Would Like To Do A Radio Show

In addition to being Palm Sunday, yesterday was the day “projections” were announced in my conferences of the United Methodist Church. Let me back up in case you are new to/completely unaware of this. 

In the UMC, pastors are under appointment of a bishop (who is also a pastor BTW—but one who has been given and accepted authority to oversee other pastors). So once a year the bishop shares with the pastors in her region whether or not they are moving, as appointments of service in the UMC currently are still year to year. These are called projections because they are not “fixed” (finalized) until the meeting of an entire regional body called Annual Conference. Basically, it’s when pastors announce to congregations if they are staying or leaving and if they are leaving they can share where they are likely going. But wow the jargon. You just don’t realize it until it’s all right in front of you. 

So, because I am the way I am this all fascinates me. It is especially interesting to a dork like me because when you move one pastor it sets in motion a series of moves because someone has to come into the position that is being vacated. One move can potentially bring about four or five others—especially when people retire (which they are doing at alarming rates). This is also interesting to me because I like to predict who will go where, and then once things happen I am either shocked that I got something so wrong or pleased that I was correct. It all ends up being like sports with different players and coaches going to different teams. 

It occurred to me today that I want to do a radio show about this next year. It seems like it would be perfect to broadcast the news as it comes in and also share commentary like “Billy is moving to St. Bart’s in Dyersburg where he will be following the pastor who baptized him when he was growing up in Fulton.” 

I need to start working on sponsorships, but this seems like pure gold to me.