For the past few weeks I have heard varying statements in regards to the quickly passed legislative writing we have all come to know as House Bill 2 (further to be known as HB2). Now, I think we all know that the legislature (state and/or federal) never passes anything as quickly as the 24-hours it took to pass this bill. After hearing sides, after hearing things on the front steps of the churches, after hearing many, many news outlet variances of the story, I decided to research and begin forming my own conclusion as to what is actually within the bill – now law – and respond in a pastoral way.
Today, Bishop Goodpaster (our residing Bishop) and Bishop Morgan-Ward (the North Carolina Conference), along with several retired Bishops in North Carolina wrote a well crafted and concise statement regarding HB2 and how we are to respond as United Methodist. And as we are United Methodists, we are all connected to one another, and this was written on behalf of all North Carolina United Methodists. So before my response to this statement and to the legislature, I invite you to read thoroughly both documents through the eyes of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:
If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever.
Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. As for prophecies, they will be brought to an end. As for tongues, they will stop. As for knowledge, it will be brought to an end. We know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, what is partial will be brought to an end. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, reason like a child, think like a child. But now that I have become a man, I’ve put an end to childish things. Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known. Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13 (CEB)
With these verses in your heart, please read the following from the Bishops of North Carolina:
April 25, 2016
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
We write to you to express our deep gratitude for life together in the United Methodist Church here in the state of North Carolina. With you, we love our state and yearn for our lives to reflect the more excellent way described by Paul in I Corinthians 13.
We share your deep concern in regard to the increasingly divisive nature of life in North Carolina. We urge United Methodist people to cultivate community that is welcoming and nurturing to all people.
Our founder, John Wesley, described the humility that is appropriate for life together when he said that “Methodists may not think alike but that we do love alike.” It is essential that we live into the world with the willingness to engage, to listen and to speak the truth in love. We are called to live the hospitable welcome of God in a world with increasing boundaries, borders, fences and walls.
Our faith gives us courage to trust the power of grace, mercy and love. We dare not add to the increasing levels of fear, suspicion and divisiveness in our state and in our nation. Our calling to welcome, to forgive, and to love both God and neighbor is our powerful gift to the world.
We observe the hurried passage of House Bill 2 (HB2) and its resultant harm to North Carolina – to individuals, to our economy, to our engagements with other states and nations, and to our future. We call for the repeal of HB2 as the legislature returns to Raleigh today.
We urge all United Methodists to engage in prayer, in study of the issues, in patient listening and persevering conversation with others who hold differing opinion, and in courageous advocacy for what is right, just and good for all people in North Carolina.
With gratitude for our life together,
Bishop Larry Goodpaster, WNCC
Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, NCC
Bishop Ray Chamberlain, Retired, Winston-Salem
Bishop Charlene P. Kammerer, Retired, Lake Junaluska
Bishop Lawrence McCleskey, Retired, Lake Junaluska
Bishop C. P. Minnick, Jr., Retired, Raleigh
Bishop Thomas Stockton, Retired, Winston-Salem
Bishop William H. Willimon, Retired, Durham
And now the bill which was signed into law by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory:
(http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2015E2/Bills/House/PDF/H2v4.pdf)
So then, what is my pastoral response to the words of those called and charged with leading and guiding the church, and to those we have elected to represent each and every one of us in the governmental realm? I resonate with the words of those that have been called and charged with leading the church:
Our founder, John Wesley, described the humility that is appropriate for life together when he said that “Methodists may not think alike but that we do love alike.” It is essential that we live into the world with the willingness to engage, to listen and to speak the truth in love. We are called to live the hospitable welcome of God in a world with increasing boundaries, borders, fences and walls.
I whole heartedly agree with actions of love and grace, actions of peace and reconciliation, and actions of being Christ’s representatives in the world today by dining and being at table with all persons that are of Godly worth – made in the Imago Dei – the Image of God,
God created humanity in God’s own image,
in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them.
Genesis 1:27 (CEB)
I whole heartedly agree that there are items within HB2 that are in fact against love, against peace, and against reconciliation – especially when it comes to rights of all persons to be treated fairly and equally when it comes to discrimination, and the stripping of rights and privileges to local governments to enact ordinances and policies within their jurisdiction. In particular is the wording of such lines:
This Article does not create, and shall not be construed to create or support, a statutory or common law private right of action, and no person may bring any civil action based upon the public policy expressed herein.
It is the public policy of this State to protect and safeguard the right and opportunity of all individuals within the State to enjoy fully and equally the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of places of public accommodation free of discrimination because of race, religion, color, national origin, or biological sex, provided that designating multiple or single occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities according to biological sex, as defined in G.S. 143-760(a)(1), (3), and (5), shall not be deemed to constitute discrimination.
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In my most humble opinion, I believe that the following statements above do allow for the discrimination due to the fact that the law says it is not discriminatory, however, there can be no civil action against this policy when it may – in some future point – be used as a legal way of discriminating against persons who may be “different” from us.
Now, in my calling as a pastor, I am held to a standard to be within the issues that affect our society and the connection to the church. Jesus was in fact within the midst of many, many social justice issues. Jesus was in fact condemned and despised for who eat ate at table with and/or sat at the well with. As a child and called son of God, it is my duty to embody Jesus Christ in every action and encounter I experience. It is, then, my personal and Biblical understanding and creed to see all people as worthy of Christ’s acceptance and grace. I do believe there are brothers and sisters of ours here in the United States and around the world who struggle daily with coming to accept who they have been made to be. I believe no one is made in the Image of God in order for them to suffer torture, hatred, and discrimination. I believe all persons made in the Image of God deserve respect, love, assurance, and grace; especially our brothers and sisters who struggle – and who have died – to live into what God has made them, including and not limited to homosexual and transgender persons.
The Bishops of North Carolina wrote:
Our faith gives us courage to trust the power of grace, mercy and love. We dare not add to the increasing levels of fear, suspicion and divisiveness in our state and in our nation. Our calling to welcome, to forgive, and to love both God and neighbor is our powerful gift to the world.
I encourage us all, even through our differing opinions and beliefs, to hold one another accountable in grace to remember we have the power, through God’s Holy Spirit, to lead change and transformation to a hurting world through the gift of Love – Jesus Christ – who gave us a new commandment:
“I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” John 13:34-35 (CEB)
Grace & Peace,
Rev. Juston R. Smith,
Pastor of The Belwood Charge
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