Editorial The Church Is in Good Hands

It is a natural tendency to be concerned about the future state of an organization or entity for which one has a deep love and commitment. This is no less true of those who are members of the organized church. We observe and hear of chaos and uncertainty occurring in other places, but we are concerned about our own. Therefore, one of the statements we like to hear is that the church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in particular, is in good hands. And, according to my observation, so it is.

The CME Church is in good hands in the present. We have been built on a good, solid, and godly foundation. Those persons who now serve in leadership positions throughout the church are the best that have made themselves available to serve the Church and that the Church has seen fit, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to select or elect. It is true that many are called but few chosen, but also few respond to the call they hear, especially on the local church level. While some members of the denomination often find fault with the leadership, especially their opposites (clergy vs. laity vs. clergy), it can be said that we are doing the best we can with what we have.

The CME Church is also in good hands for the future. Much controversy and dissension presently exists throughout the church, including the CME Church, though our disagreements and struggles may not be as open to public view as are those of some other Christian bodies. Yet, among our members are those who are willing to engage in the discussions necessary to keep our church moving forward. More importantly, while sundry religious debates continue, individuals continue to improve themselves educationally and professionally and offer their best selves to the church. Nowhere has this been more noticeable than in our recent Connectional Young Adult Ministry retreat and the more recent Women's Missionary Council Quadrennial Assembly. On both occasions our young adults showed they are very capable of handling the business at hand when given opportunities to do so. Yes, they have some misgivings and do not do everything the way some of us might, but they are capable and willing. Certainly not all of our young adults are active in the life of the Church. In fact, there continues to be an exodus of young adults. But when given the opportunity to lead, many of those who are active with us have shown they are more than capable of meeting and even exceeding the requirements of the tasks assigned. The question is whether they will remain true to the CME Church and to Methodist doctrine. In spite of this concern, the CME Church continues in good hands. By this I mean that our denomination is continuing in the flow of a generational stream.

Yes, I affirm that the church is in good hands, but in no way am I saying these hands are perfect hands. None of our hands are perfect. We are all frail children of dust. Yet, God calls us in our frailties and imperfections to the work of ministry in his church, and the one Holy Spirit equips each person individually as he wills. "Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (Ephesians 4:12-16, NLT2)

Mission Statement of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The mission of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is to be disciples of Jesus the Christ by serving individuals, communities and the world as the representative, loving presence of God and as witnesses to God’s salvation and grace.

Vision Statement of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The vision of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is to be a transforming church for Jesus the Christ within a changing world.

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