Forgetting 'I' and becoming 'we'

United Methodists will forever be involved in unchristian actions toward one another if each person does not let go of concerns about "I" and make an effort to become "we." This was the premise of the General Conference Laity Address by Gloria Holt, president of the United Methodist Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders.

The message, "One in Spirit, All in Ministry," was derived from Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Holt asked the 986 delegates from throughout the world if there is one body and one spirit, "What part of one don't we understand?"

As some definitions of "one" mean joining together, uniting, or forming a whole, Holt said, "It is still an action word implying to me, at least, that it takes some work to make something either become one or remain one."

Holt said that church efforts often create divisiveness rather than oneness in the faith community and the world. "What is our problem?" she asked. "It is not about us. It is about God."

She said that until each individual is willing to let go of "me, myself, and I" and make a concerted effort to become "we, ourselves, and us," church members will continue to be involved in "power struggles, selfish decision-making, and unchristian actions toward each other."

"When we are doing the work of the church, we are being the church," she said. "Ministry becomes our number one concern; making disciples our number one priority. We are joined one in spirit, all in ministry."

Holt reflected on how she learned about doing the work of the church eight years ago when she helped plant a new church. She said she was stuck in a "it-just-doesn't-sound-very-United-Methodist" mode until she remembered that John Wesley focused the Methodist movement on people who had been neglected by the church and society. That insight helped her gain a new mindset about worship styles and ways to meet the needs of young adults.

She encouraged delegates to return to their home congregations, look around, and count the number of children, youth, and young adults there.

"If those age groups are not there (and in most churches they are not), then it's a given that your church is not meeting their needs." She urged the international assembly to move away from the "we have to do things the way we've-always done them or people will leave the church" mentality and realize that the absence of youth and young adults could be because the congregation is not willing to change patterns to ways that welcome them.

"How can we be one in the spirit if we are not following the guidance of the spirit?" she asked. "How can we be all in ministry if we are not bringing people to Christ, growing people in Christ, and sending for Christ?"

Holt reminded the delegates of all of the things that can be done with a hand and reminded them that God also gave them the ability to change hands to perform necessary tasks.

"Our God is a God of change. God gave us the church that must be ever-changing to meet the needs of today's world," she said. "God expects us to have an innovative and ever-changing ministry based on God's unchanging word."

Besides serving as president of the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders, Holt is also the North Alabama Conference lay leader and president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders. She is a founding member of ClearBranch United Methodist Church, in Trussville, Alabama, one of the denomination's fastest-growing new churches.

Linda Green is a United Methodist News Service correspondent.

Click here to send your response plus the title of this article to us at Good News.