Commentary: Gulf Coast recovery calls
for ?Wesleyan Plan’
|
A UMNS photo by Woody Woodrick Bishop Hope Morgan Ward speaks at a "Time to Heal," a conference for Mississippi clergy following Hurricane Katrina.
|
Bishop
Hope Morgan Ward speaks at a "Time to Heal," a gathering for the clergy
of the United Methodist Church's Mississippi Annual (regional)
Conference. The February gathering, hosted by Ward, provided an
opportunity for pastors affected by Hurricane Katrina to share stories
of pain, loss and frustration, and to begin to heal. During the service,
pastors from the coast restored the roofs to the damaged model churches
on the altar. A UMNS photo by Woody Woodrick. Photo #06110. Accompanies
story #127. 3/3/06
|
March 3, 2006
A UMNS Commentary
By the Rev. Chester Jones*
In early February, I attended “A Time to Heal…” a
conference held for the clergy of the Mississippi Conference organized
by Bishop Hope
Morgan Ward. The conference provided a space and opportunity for pastors
to share their stories of pain, loss, frustration and rage from the hurricane.
The goal was to listen to these stories and to help reinforce and restore
the faith and hope of the pastors who have suffered so much. We were helped
by Bishop Kenneth Carder and his team from Duke Divinity School.
As one of the few outsiders privileged to participate in this conference,
I was moved by the stories shared by pastors. For many, this may have been
the first gathering where they could safely and tearfully share their grief,
unhindered by the need to put on the face of strength as they care for the
suffering of their congregants. They spoke of rising waters, stranded parishioners,
total destruction and a feeling of desertion.
Hearing face to face the heart-rending stories I have
read in the newspaper and heard over the phone reinforced the very foundation
of my calling to
ministry — a commitment to pastoral care. As one participant said, “We
are the story people.”
Clearly, during this tragic time, when the devastation
of the storm is followed by the frustration of the slow response and apathy,
people are in need of
listening ears, compassionate hearts and helpful hands of true friends. “Bear
one another’s burdens,” our Bible tells us, “and in this
way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NRSV)
As we read the stories of underfunded recovery programs, homeless survivors
and a loss of faith among so many people, there has rarely been a more important
time for Christians to truly be the hands and feet, ears and voices of Christ
in this world. The church must respond to this need with the greatest pastoral
care we have ever seen or imagined. But while listening to the stories is
vital, we must be moved to responsive action that fosters true compassion
and justice.
‘Provocative propositions’
|
A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose "We need big ideas and big leadership," writes the Rev. Chester Jones, after visiting the Gulf Coast.
|
"We
need big ideas and big leadership" in helping the Gulf Coast recover
from last year's hurricanes, writes the Rev. Chester Jones, in a UMNS
commentary. Jones is top staff executive of the United Methodist
Commission on Religion and Race. In February, he attended "A Time to
Heal," an event for clergy in the United Methodist Church's Mississippi
Annual (regional) Conference. Pastors were able to share stories of
pain, loss and frustration related to last year's hurricanes, and to
begin to heal. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #06-111.
Accompanies UMNS story #127. 3/3/06 |
Bishop Carder, who opened the conference with worship,
told the pastors this was a time to “practice being a community of Christ.” Being
a community of Christ is a holistic call, and now is the time for our United
Methodist connection to practice being the community and Body of Christ.
In doing this, we must think big. The United Methodist
Church’s Connectional
Table has challenged our general agencies to come up with “provocative
propositions,” or strategic, visionary goals that can transform the
church and society.
After hearing the personal stories of pain at the conference and reading
the news of how broadly this pain is felt, I am convinced both the church
and the state must commit themselves to achieving provocative propositions
for the Gulf Coast region. The recovery efforts needed to address the magnitude
of devastation left in the wake of the hurricane will call for visionary
and committed leadership for a long time.
This is a call to address the needs of people who are poor and have little
or no voice and are being put on the streets as federal funding runs out.
More assistance will be needed for housing, health care, relocation and salary
support as the region recovers. Healing cannot happen when we are distracted
by the basic needs of survival.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief has done an incredible job of responding
to the disaster, and United Methodists have responded with open hearts and
pocketbooks. This will help empower conference and church work groups to
assist in recovery, and I pray United Methodists go in droves to help rebuild,
but we must recognize this is only one part of truly living as the community
of Christ.
Break the logjams
We must also advocate for the resources needed along the Gulf Coast. Too
many people are still fighting bureaucratic logjams to receive assistance
from our government. We must advocate personal and political involvement
to address these logjams. The budget proposals continue to provide less money
than the economists tell us rebuilding will require. We, as members of the
body, must use our voices to speak to Congress and other officials on behalf
of rebuilding the coast. The lives and livelihoods of our neighbors there
must be a priority for which we are willing to sacrifice.
We are addressing immediate and ongoing needs through charity and advocacy,
but we must not forget the work of rebuilding with justice. In most areas,
it is the poor who have suffered the most, and too often these people are
also people of color. To be the community of Christ, we must challenge the
barriers of race and class.
|
A UMNS photo by Woody Woodrick Now is the time to "practice being a community of Christ," Bishop Kenneth Carder tells pastors.
|
Bishop
Kenneth Carder speaks at "A Time to Heal," a conference held for United
Methodist clergy in Mississippi. Carder is on the faculty at Duke
Divinity School in Durham, N.C. Organized by Bishop Hope Morgan Ward,
the gathering provided an opportunity for conference clergy affected by
Hurricane Katrina to share stories of pain, loss and frustration, and to
begin to heal. A UMNS photo by Woody Woodrick. Photo #06112.
Accompanies story #127. 3/3/06 |
This will require diligence and active participation for the long term.
We must call for the voice of all to be included in the planning and rebuilding
of the region. It is important that the church stand with the poor and those
who have no voice to make sure they are not left out of the rebuilding process.
Also, we must continue to focus on our faith connection. Our churches must
connect with churches affected in the region. Hearing the stories of pastors
in the region, I realize they are not immune to the impact of this devastation.
Pastors and congregations across the country can provide encouragement, prayer
and assistance as these brothers and sisters in Christ work to recover their
lives and communities.
A Wesleyan approach
Clearly there is much work to be done. We need big ideas
and big leadership. I believe that in order for all of this work to be
accomplished we need a “Wesleyan
Plan.” This would be a plan with a huge scope and vision that is inspired
by our call to build God’s beloved community.
I dream of seeing the church’s most respected leaders
head this plan to fulfillment: envisioning, organizing and implementing
the holistic work
the Gulf Coast needs.
The president of the Council of Bishops should appoint a committee of three
retired bishops and a general secretary to oversee this Wesleyan Plan in
order to assist the bishops of the four areas affected by the hurricane.
This committee would help in looking at the large picture, seeing how the
area bishops have many day-to-day issues they must address within their conferences.
I was privileged to hear the stories of the survivors. I was privileged
to hear them move from grief to hope. But with this privilege comes the responsibility
of helping them rebuild.
They each have personal, congregational and community struggles to address,
therefore they need the strength of the connectional system more than ever.
United Methodist around the country must come together to support them. They
need pastoral care; they need financial assistance and resources; but they
also need justice.
We must not forget that being the community of Christ requires us to serve
their needs.
*Jones is the top staff executive of the United Methodist Commission on
Religion and Race.
News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
|