Leading between faith and patriotism
BY LOVETT H. WEEMS JR.
National holidays and celebrations offer both opportunities and dangers for congregations and their leaders. Preachers and worship leaders often feel the tension between conflicting options. One possibility is to ignore the national holiday completely when it has no special Christian significance. Another is a temptation to have a holiday theme for worship with little connection to Scripture and the One we know as the God of all nations and peoples.
We are called to thank God for faithful men and women of every generation who understand that a nation’s strength rests more in faithful inward purpose than in outward power and possessions.
Instead of looking at worship and preaching around national holidays through the lens of the holiday, another approach is to look at the holiday theme through the lens of biblical faith. It is a form of reframing that leaders often must do to be faithful and effective. We affirm a common value, in this case a national celebration, and reinterpret its meaning from a biblical perspective.
As we read the stories of people in once powerful nations in biblical times and ever since, we are often struck by how they would have benefited from a perspective rooted in faith in God who cares for all people, instead of a perspective limited to the interests of the nation. Instead of shaping faith to conform to nation, there is much that nations, including our own, can learn from the lessons of Scripture. The “bringing down of the powerful from their thrones” and “lifting up the lowly” (Luke 1:52) is a warning for all nations who exhibit little interest in God’s hopes for all citizens and all the world.
could rival its beauty. But the eminence of the giant cedar tempted it to forget that it was the waters beneath it that made it great (Ezekiel 31:4).
Strong nations such as ours do well to remember Ezekiel likening a once great nation to a cedar whose fair branches overshadowed the forest. It grew taller than every other tree. No cedar in God’s garden overshadowed it, and no fir could compare with its boughs. Not a tree in God’s garden
All Christians face a struggle around the tension between loyalty to country and to God. Our faith says that loyalty to God should occupy first place in our lives. And yet, many voices imply that we are something less than patriotic if our ultimate
depositphotos.com
allegiance is not to our own country.
The Bible illustrates that a primary loyalty to country has been a perennial temptation for all people, including people of faith. Although the Bible warns against making a god of one’s nation, this form of nationalism continues to be a tempting alternative to radical allegiance to God.
Today’s deeply polarized political climate makes the challenge of this tension between nation and faith even more pressing. Secular rulers have always sought to surround themselves with religious leaders who give their blessing. Billy Graham learned painfully how powerful leaders can betray one’s trust and values.
Christians understand that God’s truth does not lie with the agenda of any political party. All positions need thoughtful affirmation and critique based on how these policies align with God’s hopes for all humankind.
Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.” Indeed, we all should tremble. But we should do more. We are called to thank God for faithful men and women of every generation who understand that a nation’s strength rests more in faithful inward purpose than in outward power and possessions. As we enjoy the Fourth of July, let us remember that we worship a God who reigns over all nations and systems and let us ask for vision to
bless and to judge based on the more excellent way to which most nations aspire but never completely achieve.
Lovett H. Weems Jr. is senior consultant at the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, distinguished professor of church leadership emeritus at Wesley Theological Seminary, and author of several books on leadership.
Turning your church into a cooling station
Temperatures in Oklahoma have already topped 100 for multiple days, causing Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) to issue two medical heat alerts already - and it’s only June.
The medical heat alert is a system put in place to react to a higher-than-normal volume of heat-related emergency calls.
According to weather predictors, it seems there is no relief in sight for the oppressive heat and humidity blasting the state.
Many people, especially the unhoused, will be stuck in the heat with nowhere cool to go.
Meanwhile, churches often sit empty during the week, with air conditioners running to ensure pianos stay tuned, electronics equipment survives, and staff are healthy.
tents with fans, shade, and water.
Often, no one agency is responsible for the implementation of cooling stations; it’s up to each municipalityand to citizens - to create safe spaces
to heat injuries, so cooling centers are advised to make provisions for pets.
Additionally, there is stigma associated with using cooling centers. Whether it’s the independent Oklahoma spirit of taking care of oneself, or whether it’s a perception of weakness, many simply will not use anything that is perceived as a charity.
to rest out of the heat.
Barriers to use
It would seem to be a foregone conclusion that churches would open their air-conditioned doors and welcome in all those who are hot, tired, and thirsty.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy.
Stumbling blocks include staffing, liability, safety, and other concerns.
According to the CDC, a cooling center is a location, typically airconditioned or otherwise cooled, which is designated as a provider of respite and safety during extreme heat.
Cooling stations are indoors, like libraries or churches, or outdoors, like
According to the CDC, many vulnerable community members do not recognize their vulnerability and may feel that they have adapted to the heat and are therefore less susceptible than they really are to the heat.
Another barrier is that many lack transportation to and from cooling centers. When offered a choice between walking a mile or more in the heat to a cooling station and staying still in the shade without it, many will opt for the latter.
If pets are not allowed in cooling centers, many will opt to stay with their pets. Pets are just as susceptible
Many members of the unhoused population are suffering from some sort of mental illness. A real worry is that those individuals will be asked to leave if their behavior is seen as unwanted.
Lastly, many people simply do not know of the existence of local cooling centers. What may seem obvious to those on the inside may be invisible to others. Advertising is key.
Advice from the experts
The CDC has much “grey literature” - information that has been gathered but not yet peer-reviewedabout how to make cooling stations work.
Of course, no one solution will work for every church, and this advice has been adapted.
Staff are essential. Ensuring that there are staff on hand to explain the purpose and capacity of the cooling station, as well as keeping supplies on hand, restrooms clean, etc.
It’s also important that staff have basic training in hospitality, deescalation, and recognizing signs of
heat-related illness.
Promote the services you offer. When opening a cooling station, it is imperative to get the word out. Not only should the planners advertise with public service announcements in all the usual places; they should also promote what it is they offer.
While some cooling stations are strictly for humans and offer cool air and water, others might offer charging stations, pet-friendly spaces, meals, snacks, internet access, comfortable seating, and more.
If your church is interested in opening a cooling station this summer, check out this resource for helpful information.
Do you know someone who is a dynamite administrator? Musician? Church secretary?
Check out the conference employment page.
We’re hiring TWO District Administrators.
Churches across the conference are hiring for multiple positions.
We are looking for a few great United Methodists to fill these positions!
Celebrating John Wesley’s Birthday with 10 Facts About Him (and maybe one about his horse)
BY JEREMY STEELE
History is more than facts and figures. It is full of real people with real stories. Connecting with those people and stories helps us understand our lives and discern God’s direction for our future. That is why it is important constantly to connect our teaching back to the important people in our church history. To help you do that, we have gathered some interesting, and maybe even surprising, facts about John Wesley to help you connect United Methodist history to your next lesson.
1. JOHN WESLEY WROTE
ONE OF THE ALL-TIME BESTSELLING MEDICAL TEXTS.
Wesley was deeply convicted that God is concerned about our earthly life as well as our heavenly one. To that end, he wrote a medical text for the everyday person titled “Primitive Physick.” The book detailed the current knowledge about home remedies and went through 32 editions, making it one of the most widely read books in England.
Many of Wesley’s cures and tips on healthy living remain widely
accepted. While some of his advice was wishful thinking, the most important part of his philosophy was his insistence on continual observation to support hypotheses. Wesley boldly questioned modern
they lacked evidence to support its efficacy. By the same token, some of Wesley’s beliefs certainly needed more supportive evidence. For instance, Wesley recommended holding a puppy against the stomach to cure stomach pain. He offered dried and powdered toad pills for asthma. He also enjoyed regular dips in cold bathwater, thought to be a near panacea. It sounds strange to us, but many leading minds during Wesley’s time, espoused these sorts of folk remedies. And honestly, who doesn’t feel better after holding a puppy? The point is, like David — who had the heart of God and still fell short — even the greatest leaders with the biggest hearts are fallible.
2. JOHN WESLEY COINED THE TERM “AGREE TO DISAGREE.”
doctors — how they sometimes treated humans like machines; that much of their “medicine” lacked merit and
Over the years, Wesley had serious theological differences with another popular pastor named George Whitefield. Though they both argued passionately, Wesley reflected on these differences in a memorial sermon for Whitefield by saying: “There are many doctrines of a less essential nature. ... In these, we may think and let think; we may ‘agree to disagree.’ But, meantime, let us hold fast the essentials. …” This appears to be the first recorded use of
A life-size statue of John Wesley at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. John Wesley’s birthday is June 28. Photo by Adam Davenport.
the term. It was a hallmark of Wesley’s way of holding to his convictions while remaining in connection with those with whom he disagreed.
3. JOHN WESLEY RODE FAR ENOUGH ON HORSEBACK TO CIRCLE THE EARTH 10 TIMES. Wesley rode 250,000 miles! He was convinced that it was important for him personally to spread the gospel through relationships and continue to grow closer to God in those relationships. Asked if he would consider walking instead of riding, he replied, “Nay.”
4. WESLEY HAD SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT HIS FAITH. Questioning one’s faith should not be disparaged. Doubts are essential to making any belief system one’s own. They do not mean that one will let it go. In fact, even as Wesley struggled with deep doubts about faith, he followed the wise instruction of a mentor who told him to “preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it, you will preach faith.” Even as we struggle, we can maintain our hold on the truths we question until we can settle all of our doubts.
5. “METHODIST” WAS ORIGINALLY A DEROGATORY TERM.
Though the origins of the term “Methodist” are in dispute, it is clear that it was originally used by outsiders to mock John Wesley and his early societies because of their dedication to following a method for growing closer to God. They ended up accepting the term, considering it a positive descriptor of their movement. Way to own it, Methodists!
6. WESLEY COUNSELED PEOPLE TO “EAT A LITTLE LESS THAN YOU DESIRE.”
Staying slim was far from Wesley’s goal (1), though he did weigh in around 128 pounds. This was not the result of dieting, but rather of a practice to ensure that people were not ruled by their natural desires, but exercising control over them.
7. WESLEY NEVER INTENDED TO SPLIT FROM THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.
However, when the revolution happened in the American colonies, most of the Anglican priests returned home. Faced with the fact that none of the Methodists in the colonies could receive the sacraments, Wesley ordained ministers whom he sent to do the same in America (he was practical even when it caused problems). That act was the beginning of the separation that formed the Methodist Church (2) in America. The Methodist Church in England did not officially form until after Wesley’s death.
8. WESLEY NEVER SAID THIS FAMOUS QUOTE ATTRIBUTED TO HIM.
It has been on the back of more than one United Methodist youth camp T-shirt: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, as long as ever you can.” Though the quote is often attributed to John Wesley and is consistent with his perspective on life, many historians have confirmed there is no record of Wesley ever saying that.
9. WESLEY BELIEVED YOU COULD NOT BE A CHRISTIAN ON YOUR OWN.
He said that we needed to be involved in “social holiness.” Though some often think this term is synonymous with “social justice,” its meaning is quite different. Wesley believed we could only grow as
Christians in community. In his preface to the 1739 hymnal, he was adamant that “the gospel of Christ knows of no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness.”
10. METHODISM GREW FROM FOUR TO 132,000 MEMBERS IN WESLEY’S LIFETIME.
The beginning of Methodism (3) was a group of four who called themselves the “holy club” at Oxford. When Wesley died in 1791, he left behind a movement with 72,000 members in the British Isles and 60,000 in America.
United Methodist Communications and the General Commission on Archives and History teamed to test your knowledge of more than 200 years of our church’s past. So after you study up, take the United Methodist Church History Quiz and share it with your friends and family!
WANT TO KNOW THE NAME OF JOHN WESLEY’S HORSE? Actually, we don’t know that one. But if you need help clarifying the denomination’s position on baptism or if you’re looking for mission opportunities, contact Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications and the official information service of The United Methodist Church.
These facts will equip you with lots of great discussion starters you can use at your next dinner party or church gathering. Let’s have some fun with history!
Jeremy Steele is a freelance writer and United Methodist pastor. He is the author of several books and resources that you can find at jeremy-steele.com.
Campers are never bored at Cross Point Youth Camp
BY REV. JOHN HILLER
Youth from across the state and outside of the denomination came together for a week of fun, learning and worship at Crosspoint Youth Camp (CYC). We had 68 campers from at least eight churches. Some churches were United Methodist and others were Methodist churches which have disaffiliated.
In the midst of a difficult and
painful season, these churches came together to provide an opportunity for youth to grow in their faith as they learned what it means to be called. Most of these churches have worked together at camp when they were all in The United Methodist Church. It was a joy to see the youth and adult leaders continue to build relationships.
Each day the campers did a rotation of either archery, the high ropes course, or slip-and-slide kickball. The lake was open at free time for swimming and tubing. Even the campers who came off the tube with bumps and bruises would tell you that it was their favorite activity at camp.
We had six small groups split up by age from our campers who ranged from sixth graders through graduated seniors. A wonderful team of volunteers led the small groups and taught the Calling curriculum provided by the OKUMC camps office. The first day, campers learned that they are all called by God to love God, love their neighbors and
make disciples. On Tuesday we used the story of Esther as an example of discerning God’s call. Wednesday’s theme was Respond. We looked at the stories of the disciples responding to Jesus’ call, “follow me,” and the story of Jonah responding in a different way. Thursday, campers learned how to share their calling by telling their story. Finally, on Friday, the campers were encouraged to “Go” into the world and live out their calling.
I had the honor of preaching at our evening worship services. Rev. Sonja Tobey, incoming District Superintendent for the Southeastern District, preached on Wednesday night. Alli Milligan from the OSU Wesley led worship.
On the Sunday after camp, Synder Methodist Church celebrated two baptisms of campers who responded to a call they received while at camp. Countless others were touched by their experience at camp, and I pray that we will see the fruit of the seeds that were planted.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Rev. John Hiller, Claire Trachte, Lauren Lashley, Wesly Sue Downey, and Kennedy Kline from Lawton Centenary UMC.
I’d like to give a special thank you to the other deans of CYC, Adam Brinson, Karlee Brinson, and Shelby Finley. And a thank you the OK Camps Board of Trustees for allowing us to have an ecumenical camp. I believe the success of CYC and CLUE camp shows that we can continue to work together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
ABOVE: Sean Bigger and his father Jason from Snyder UMC on the archery range at Cross Point Camp. TOP RIGHT: Campers worship at the cross on Thursday night. BOTTOM RIGHT: Campers enjoy tubing on Lake Texoma. Submitted photos.
Ministry in a Minute
Friends, family, coworkers, and two Bishops honored Rev. Dr. Joe Harris and his wife Nancy on his retirement. The Harrises served the conference for over 42 years. For the past 18 years, Rev. Dr. Harris has been the communications director and assistant to the Bishop.
Learning opportunities for churches from UMCom
United Methodist Communications (UMCom) offers multiple opportunities for church staff, leaders, and volunteers to learn important skills.
Courses include internal communications, interpersonal communication, inviting and welcoming, social media, technology and websites, and The United Methodist Church.
While many courses are free, others have a small fee. Microcourses that take less than 15 minutes are also
available. Offerings are also available in Spanish.
For a list of class offerings, click here.
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Call to Action
Make a pledge! Help our extension ministries in 2024
The Conference budget approved in October made a change to the ways that six of our extension ministries are going to be supported in the future, beginning next year. Each local church will be able to determine their own “pledge” to these groups. To report your church’s pledge, please go to this website and enter the information. You will be able to track your giving on your monthly apportionment reports. Don’t delay...
The ministries impacted were as follows (and they are hyperlinked so you can find out more information about each of them):
Circle of Care
Criminal Justice & Mercy Ministries
Neighborhood Services Organization
Restore Hope Ministries
Skyline
Cookson Hills Center
Share your event or job opportunity in the Contact For consideration, email your listing to editor@okumc.org.
