I have been having trouble with the faucet in my kitchen lately. The faucet is leaking! No, let me clarify. Every time I turn the faucet off -- it leaks. And I know I am the only one who is having this problem because I don’t see it leaking when I am turning it on. It leaks, only, when I turn it off! Strange, right? I thought so too! So I started to play with it -- perplexed by the fact that others are able to turn if off just fine -- why just me? Why does it leak only when I turn it off?
I am happy to report that I did find my answer. I have been turning the faucet too hard and tightening it too much! I accidentally realized this one day, as I was playing with it, trying to figure out the problem, I realized that when I turn it, just enough, it does not leak. I was tightening it too hard, wanting to make sure it did not leak. So, my problem was created by my own over-trying! Hmmm… think about that! Sometimes we create our own problems. I did not have to tighten it that much. I did not have to do anything more to make sure there was no leak. If I did my part -- the faucet would do it’s job and all would be well.
Now -- I know that it is not always so. Over time the faucet does need to either be repaired or replaced. But this is not the case with my faucet -- not yet! I do however know, that if I continue to tighten it too hard, I would need to change the faucet sooner than later. Over-doing anything can do that! Tightening things too much can cause problems that we did not have before or anticipate!
I think that is what is happening with the protocol -- the ‘save the denomination’ legislation that has been sent to the General Conference by the ‘power-brokers’ of our denomination. The protocol was not to be amended in anyway. Our Bishops and leaders have been emphasizing how it was going to ‘save’ the denomination! But the protocol was negotiated behind closed doors among power people and they were holding it very tightly! Perhaps that is why it started to leak. Recently United Methodists of Liberia declared that they want to amend the protocol, by calling for $120 million in United Methodist assets (church financial experts agree that the unrestricted assets of the denomination add up to this amount) to be divided equally among the (5) U.S. jurisdictions and the (7) central conferences, which are in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. The faucet has begun to leak! I pray we will find a solution to this leaky faucet soon, or it may need replacing! Or, maybe it is time to replace it! What do you think? I am curious to hear from you -- email me at pastoralkalyall@gmail.com.
Beloveds, while we work through this impasse as a denomination, God has called us to share the love of God with this world -- let us not lose focus of that! Let us do that -- by loosening where we need to, changing where we can -- but always remaining faithful to the gospel.
God bless you and I hope to see you at church. May God give all of us the strength we need for each day to do the work that we are called to do. And remember, I am always your partner in justice.
