For the Transformation of the World
We United Methodists have concluded our quadrennial General Conference. As expected, the church spent days upon days arguing about a long list of divisive social issues - each settled by a divided vote of 992 delegates representing over 12 million worldwide members. We can calculate the labor-hours wasted at General Conference on this exercise, but this waste pales in comparison the damage that has been inflicted on the church over the past four decades of our existence. Still, this may not be the worst thing to come out of General Conference. The worst thing may be six words that nearly everyone agreed on. Currently, the "mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ." (Book of Discipline, ¶ 120). General Conference voted 776-102 to add these words to the mission statement: " for the transformation of the world " (Petition 80271). I dissent. The mission now contains a task and purpose. In its form, it would make a perfectly good mission state...