The Lessons of Lake
Junaluska
“A volatile mix of gay
Christians, anti-gay Christians and white supremacists.”
That’s how the
Asheville, North Carolina Citizen-Times described the controversy
sparked by the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) convocation “Hearts
on Fire.” Billed as a worship/educational conference for “people
of all sexual orientations and gender identities,” it was held at
Lake Junaluska Conference and
Retreat Center over
Labor Day weekend. United Methodist renewal leaders had initially broken
the story, and the ensuing reaction among evangelicals was mainly calls
for protest of one kind or another – petitions, boycotts or the
withholding of funds. Concerned local residents expressed their own
disapproval in letters-to-the-editor and newspaper ads. The Haywood
County Baptist Association staged a counter-event, a nightly tent
revival called “Christians for Biblical Values.” Even the Klan promised
to make an appearance, a hate-driven response based on their “Queers on
Fire” campaign.
And then there was us
… Transforming Congregations. Not so easily categorized, we had decided
to take a team to Lake Junaluska for a prayer breakfast the morning
before “Hearts on Fire” officially began. First and foremost, we wanted
to share our stories of freedom from homosexuality and transgender
confusion, our testimonies to God’s amazing and transforming grace. But
we also hoped to model an approach that is different from either
uncritical acceptance or fearful, even hateful, rejection – what our
ministry calls “compassion without compromise.”
The breakfast went
very well and there was much to be thankful for. From the start,
Junaluska staffers welcomed our ministry with gracious hospitality. One
of them had initially suggested the prayer breakfast format, and his
crew worked hard to make sure our food, housing and audio/visual needs
were met. The PR department assisted us with getting the publicity out
and connecting us with local media. Everyone strongly encouraged us to
come back again to host a larger gathering, and we’re looking forward to
working with them in the future.
Letters, emails and
phone calls poured into the national office from supporters
coast-to-coast. Even some of the “hierarchy” – a Bishop and DS from the
SEJ, and the General Secretary of the World Methodist Council –
responded favorably. And even though we had only a few weeks to prepare
for and promote the event – and also had to contend with a regional gas
shortage – we still had over one hundred people in attendance, some from
as far away as Florida, Alabama, Virginia and Maryland.
For one of our
speakers – Matthew Thompson – this was the first time he had done his
testimony publicly. He, Melissa Jo “MJ” Wilson, Joseph Cluse and
Terrence Toon were outstanding, and breakfast participants appreciated
their honesty, courage and passion as they shared how the church had
helped or hindered their sexual healing. One of our guests wrote, “Karen,
I just wanted to let you know how much (my friend) and I enjoyed
attending the prayer breakfast. We were very touched and informed by the
‘living witnesses’ that spoke at the breakfast …May God continue to
bless you and God's powerful ministry through you and your staff.”
My time at Junaluska
also had a great deal of personal meaning for me because I was able to
reconnect with my “home church” pastor who confirmed me in the early
60s. He and his wife have retired at the Lake and now attend a local
church there. They took me out to dinner; we caught up on family stories
and I shared my heart with them about TC’s ministry. They told me how
they had hoped that one or more of the RMN folk would have rented the
apartment beneath their home for the weekend. They’d wanted the
opportunity to reach out to them with the love of Jesus. At the end of
our evening together, as they laid hands on me and prayed, I was
convinced once again that God was going to work such good out of what
happened at Junaluska.
Nonetheless, I
returned home with several troubling concerns.
First and foremost was
the way that Junaluska leadership was targeted for anger over the
“Hearts on Fire” event. After talking extensively with several of the
staff there, I believe they were caught “between a rock and a hard
place” and tried to make the best decision possible under the
circumstances. If I we’re going to place blame, let’s put it squarely
where it belongs – on RMN leadership. I’ve watched them and their
cohorts now for two years – seen them in action at General Conference in
Pittsburgh last spring and this year at the staged event that was the
Beth Stroud trial. They’re experts at “street theater” and they thrive
on – and even seek out – controversy.[i]
RMN Director, Troy Plummer, also did his darnedest to try to undermine
Transforming Congregations in the false comments he gave to the local
newspaper.
Still, it’s difficult
for me not to envy them.
They’re
well-organized, well-publicized and evidently well-funded, with
dedicated followers who are not going to give up or go away. Instead of
self-promotion, political activism and networking, Transforming
Congregations has spent most of its time developing ministry resources.
And it shows. We struggle each month just to keep our operating budget
afloat.
I was also deeply
troubled by evangelicals’ inability – or unwillingness – to distinguish
between gay activists and other LGBT folk who may or may not want their
same-sex attraction and gender confusion. This was most clearly
expressed by our Baptist brothers and sisters.
I had so wanted to
believe that their hearts were in the right place. The pastor who
organized the tent revival had assured me that they were not doing it to
encourage hate, but love. He attended our breakfast, and he had asked us
to reciprocate by sharing testimony with them on Wednesday evening,
which we weren’t able to do because of our travel schedules. Several of
our Board members did stop by on Thursday; they were appalled when the
keynote speaker engaged in the “Biblical value” of name-calling –
“faggots,” “queers,” and “sissies” – along with the suggestion that
parents might want to “knock some sense” into a child that was confused
about sexual or gender identity.
Finally, some of our
other breakfast guests didn’t seem to “get it” either. I talked to half
a dozen who didn’t even know why they were there. They’d heard something
was happening in response to “Hearts on Fire;” but they didn’t have a
clue – even after the presentations – about what we were trying to
accomplish. One of them summed it up perfectly when he was overheard
muttering, “Well, they told us that gays can change. So what?”
It shouldn’t surprise
anyone that it’s difficult for Christians to come to terms with human
sexuality. Personal desire and Biblical belief often collide. But if we
will humble ourselves to listen, Paul offered some helpful guidance in
his first letter to the Thessalonians, particularly the 4th
chapter. Notice that he wrote to fellow believers – brothers and sisters
whose faith in Christ had been tested by the fires of persecution, made
evident throughout the ancient world by their works of joyful, loving
service, and confirmed by powerful acts of the Holy Spirit in their
midst.
Yet they still also
wrestled with – and obviously sometimes succumbed to – sexual
immorality. Not because they hadn’t been saved; but because they hadn’t
been fully sanctified. Those of us that claim a Wesleyan heritage ought
to be able to understand the distinction and act on it accordingly. We
ought to be able to respond to the sexually sinful as Paul did, with
gentleness and affection, “like a mother caring for her little
children,” or “as a father deals with his own children, encouraging,
comforting and urging (them) to live lives worthy of God.” (1
Thessalonians 1:7,11-12) We ought to be able to tell them the truth, but
without harsh rejection, ridicule or anger.
Some of the folk in
the Southeastern Jurisdiction have been living in blissful ignorance.
Until a few weeks ago they had never heard of Reconciling Ministries or
known about their agenda for The United Methodist Church. If they
thought about homosexuality/gender confusion at all, they thought it was
an issue mainly affecting our northeastern, north central and western
regions. And they considered themselves immune from the battles that
tear at the fabric of our Church and nation.
Not any more.
So I am glad that
“Hearts on Fire” has roused this “sleeping giant.” As one pastor in
North Carolina wrote, “This entire (Junaluska) episode has caused an
awakening within me … that it is simply not enough to be against
something. You must also be for something.” I pray that he will
act on that prompting. I pray that the entire SEJ will rise up – not
with outrage but outreach, and not with continued protest
but with proactive ministry and love.
And I pray that Paul’s
blessing for the Thessalonians will one day be ours as well: “May God
himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your
whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” (1
Thessalonians 5:23-24)
[i]
In informal conversation with TC’s
Terrence Toon, an RMN Board member acknowledged that the Junaluska controversy
had accomplished what they’d intended. And earlier this year I thought I’d taken
a “pot shot” at Soulforce by emailing that I’d missed them at the Beth Stroud
appeal because they do “such great theater.” They responded to me assuming it
was a compliment.
