ARKANSAS CONFERENCE 2008 JOURNAL
Laity Address
Arkansas Annual Conference, June 9, 2008
Asa Whitaker, Lay Leader
“Letting Our Voices Be Heard”
It was approaching midnight, Friday May 2, 2008. After
10 days of intense consideration and deliberation, Bishop Bill
Hutchinson called for the vote on the last piece of legislation
for the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. The
conference had dealt with 1380 pieces of legislation and it was
with humility and intense fatigue the final ballot was cast. The
task of evaluating each piece of legislation submitted by United
Methodist around the world was daunting and challenging, but
I celebrated the process that allows for the voice of every
United Methodist to be heard. One proposal called for future
submissions of legislation from United Methodists to be
reviewed by a church agency or other similar organizational
unit to assess its appropriateness for submission to General Conference. This would provide a screen or filter for
submitted legislation in the future. Since one of the many things I celebrate about being a United Methodist is its
openness, I among many others was vigorously opposed to that concept. That legislation failed and the lines of
communication remain open for us to have our voice heard and our ideas seriously considered by the church.
As much as I celebrate the legislative process for General Conference, I really want to focus on the underlying
principle of making our voices heard in our everyday world. The Methodist movement began with voices
proclaiming the love of God and the saving grace of Jesus Christ to a hurting world. Voices proclaiming the good
news from the coal mines of England to the brush arbors of Arkansas. Those who heard responded and the
Methodist Church became a movement across this country like no other before it and maybe since. Over the years
we became more and more modest in our faith and we now as United Methodist are very timid. As a denomination
we are a sleeping giant. If anyone or anything ever wakes us up we will once again set the world on fire for Jesus
Christ.
The task of waking up may be quiet a challenge. I am reminded of the times I have gone into our
grandchildren’s bedroom to wake them up in the morning, A kiss on the cheek and a gentle shake often produces
a groan or similar sound of resistance. If I stopped there, they would go right back to sleep hardly knowing I was
there. Gentle persistence inevitably resulted in rolling over, stretching, sitting up, and finally getting up. I learned
long ago that waking them up takes time and effort.
It is time to wake this sleeping giant but I suspect it will take a little time and effort for us to wake up as well.
We must respond to the gentle shaking of the Holy Spirit to wake up from our slumber, to stretch, sit up, and get
back to the business of making the voice of United Methodist heard in our world today. The question might be
“How do we begin?” To respond to that question I would ask you to consider the following.
1. Let your voice be heard claiming the name - What’s in a name. I am reminded of a story about a lady
who loved cats and had several in her home. The spring weather turned hot and she began using floor fans to cool
her home. Cats being curious as they are had to investigate the floor fans. One got too close and the fan cut off
his tail. In a panic, the lady grabbed the cat and the severed tail and headed to town. She entered the store and asked
for help. The manager seeing the excitement went to her aid and asked if he could help her. She told the manager
her story and although he was sympathetic to her plight said to her ”But madam why did you bring your cat here,
this is Walmart.” “Because,” she said, “everyone knows you are the worlds leading RE TAILER.”
What is in the name The United Methodist Church?
In March of this year, Gallop discovered through a poll of a cross section of our population, that United Methodist
have the HIGHEST POSITIVE RATINGS of any religious or spiritual group in the United States. New research
by the Gallup Panel shows that we rank higher than Baptists, Catholics, Jews, Evangelicals or Fundamentalists.
I find this to be a wonderful piece of news. We have had a side street mentality for several decades. Have you
ever noticed that when you drive through a Southern town you can find the Baptist church, the Presbyterian church
and others on main street but have to go down a side street or take the next street over to find the United Methodist
Church. But our work in the community, our outreach to those in need, and our response to a suffering world have
created a reputation and an expectation in the community. I find the Cross and Flame is recognized by folks
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