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COMMENTARY Two Questions from John 4


CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4


variety of ways, what one person knows to be true, another cannot. And there will be division. Not because our God is different, but because our experience and connection with God is different. In Matthew 7 Jesus says, “Do not judge.” Perhaps that is because judgment is based on knowledge. I have always thought that to mean that we cannot proclaim the salvation or condemnation of any individual. We can and do judge actions and attitudes. But all that is based on knowledge, not a spiritual connection. And so our judgments are faulty at best. We are just not able to judge another’s spiritual connection with God. And yet we try to, because our mind and what we believe we know is such an integral part of us. We cannot turn it off. Our knowledge and lack of knowledge will continually cause division. Unity can only come when we choose to ignore our differences and strive to connect spiritually as we do with God. Yet some of our knowledge and beliefs


are so ingrained, so basic to our spiritual connection to God that we cannot possibly walk with one who rejects or ignores those beliefs.


My understanding of Jesus’ teaching on divorce is that divorce was never intended to be part


of the human experience.


But because humanity is the way it is, imperfect and broken, division becomes necessary. There is still one other question I have after reading John 4. Would we ordain the woman at the well? I believe that some would, because she had a personal encounter with Jesus, and as a result of that, she became an effective evangelist. She was the impetus to get many connected with Jesus. It was to the point where this Samaritan town asked a Jewish man to stay with the[m]. And that was unheard of.


Others would say that we cannot possibly ordain this woman because of the lifestyle she is living. Even if we get past the fact that she has been married five times, she is now living as though she is married, but she is not. She is living a lie. An immoral lifestyle. And we cannot lift up such a person as being set apart from God. We cannot even appear to endorse her because [of] the lifestyle she is living. It is an improper exempt to place before the world. I can see a scenario where this woman would be accepted by most, not all, but most of the church. That would be if she can demonstrate that because of her encounter with Jesus that she was radically changed. In part we can see a change in that she apparently came to draw water when she did to avoid the other women in the town. But after Jesus talked to her honestly and openly about the life she had been living, she intentionally went to the people she previously avoided in order to invite them to meet Jesus. But personally, I would have to see a greater change than that. Her daily living arrangements would have to change before I could approve her even becoming a certified candidate. But I also recognize that others may disagree. I believe that John 4 has some important questions that are quite relevant to the world and the church of today. I have shared my thoughts and opinions on them. But, of course, they are based on my knowledge and experience, which may be immaterial. I [am] interested in hearing the thoughts and reactions of others. For even if there is division among us, we can still discuss the issues, as we all desire to make our personal spiritual connection with God. We invite you to join the dilaogue on the LINK blog at tinyurl.com/neve22w.


2018 N


Susquehanna LINK - April 2015 ‘Discipleship Ministries’ is agency’s new identity ASHVILLE, Tenn. March 4,


2015 /Discipleship Ministries/ – Discipleship Ministries has


officially become the new name of the general agency of The United Methodist Church known for years as The General Board of Discipleship, or GBOD. The name change, which includes new addresses for the website and agency personnel emails, was announced by Dr. Timothy L. Bias, General Secretary (chief executive) of Discipleship Ministries. “The shift from General Board of Discipleship to Discipleship Ministries was an intentional decision to more clearly communicate the work we do for The United Methodist Church,” Bias said. “On one level, we are adopting a ministry position. We want to listen and develop resources that help leaders make disciples and transform the world. The process of


disciple-making is essential as we seek to develop and sustain vital congregations. “On another level, we are a United Methodist Church agency. Changing our name to reflect our work and using the official United Methodist cross and flame logo helps us to be in alignment with the ministry and mission of the denomination,” Bias said.


The name change was approved during the agency’s board meeting in July 2014 in the Philippines, and has been used unofficially since mid-September. Now Discipleship longer


no use The Board


The Uniform Resource Identifier, or URL, for the agency’s website is now www.UMCdiscipleship.org, and email


addresses have been changed


from [name]@GBOD.org to [name]@ UMCdiscipleship.org.


During a transition period, the former


URL and email addresses will be forwarded automatically to the new locations. The mission of Discipleship Ministries is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping


world-changing


Ministries will General


of Discipleship or GBOD and will begin phasing out those names in its communications and marketing. However, the former name will continue to be included in The United Methodist Book of Discipline.


Discipleship


An agency of The United Methodist Church,


Ministries


disciples. is


located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www. UMCdiscipleship.org, the Press Center at http://www.UMCdiscipleship.org/about/ press-center or call the Communications Office at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1726.


2015-2016 Dempster Scholars named


By General Board of Higher Education and Ministry


T


en students have been selected by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry as the next


class of Dempster Scholars. The Dempster Graduate Fellowship supports doctoral students who are committed to serving the church by becoming professors who will educate the next generation of United Methodist pastors.


The fellowships are funded by the Ministerial


Education Fund through


the Division of Ordained Ministry of GBHEM.


“The future of the church depends on its leadership, and we are elated for intellectual gifts that these scholars are bringing to the UMC for the theological formation of new generation leaders,” said Dr. HiRho Park, Director of Clergy Lifelong Learning at GBHEM. The award is named for the Rev. John Dempster, a pioneer in United Methodist theological


education. Converted at


a Methodist camp meeting in 1812, he preached in New York, served as a missionary in Argentina, and founded Boston University School of Theology and Garrett Biblical Institute (Garrett- Evangelical Seminary) in Evanston, Ill. The 2015-2016 Dempster Scholars are young women and men with diverse racial- ethnic backgrounds—Asian American, African, Latino,


African and


American, Hispanic/ Caucasian—attending,


Boston University, Claremont School of


Theology, Drew University, Duke


University, Emory University, Garrett- Evangelical Theological Seminary and Southern Methodist University. Faculty representatives from four of the UMC’s 13 theological schools serve as members of the selection committee each year on a rotating basis. This year’s selection committee was composed of faculty from Claremont School of


Gammon


Theology, Duke Divinity Theological


theology, practical School, Seminary and


United Theological Seminary. Scholars’ fields of study range from Biblical studies to Christian ethics, ecclesiology, historical Wesleyan


theology, theology, and theology and


culture studies. “2015-2016 Dempster scholars are representing the future generation


of


leaders—diverse with various interests within theological studies,” Park said. Awards—based on the


student’s


academic achievement, their commitment to Christian ministry, and their promise as educators—carry a value of up to $10,000 annually, with a maximum of $30,000


Mission Central recently hosted an Early Response Training (ERT) workshop. The workshop was led by Ken Mengel and Bill Toner, both UMCOR Disaster Response Trainers, and Susquehanna Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Ron Salsman. Seventeen people attended. More information at www.susmb.org > Disaster Response


Continue implementation of the quadrennial plan and adjust where necessary Offer specialized training to the places of greatest potential Resourcing continues and is adjusted for regional needs


over a five-year period.


The 2015-2016 Dempster Graduate Fellowship recipients are: Diana


Abernethy (North Carolina


Annual Conference), a graduate of Duke University and Duke Divinity School. She is currently enrolled in her fifth year of a PhD program at Duke Graduate School. Dustin Benac (North Texas Annual Conference), a graduate of Whitworth University and St. Mary’s University. He is a candidate for enrollment in a doctoral program for the fall of 2015.


Rev. Natalya Cherry Susquehanna Conference


and the University of Dayton. He is


currently enrolled in his fourth year of a PhD program at Southern Methodist University.


Christian Kakez-A-Kapend (South Congo/Zambia Annual Conference), a graduate of Université dé Lubumbashi, Africa University and Perkins School of Theology. He is currently enrolled in his third year of a PhD program at Drew University, The Theological School. Won Chul


Annual Conference), of


Shin (North Georgia a graduate


Yonsei University and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is currently enrolled in his first year of a PhD program at Emory University. Kyle Tau


(North Georgia Annual


Conference), a graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is currently enrolled in his fifth year of a PhD program at Emory University. Michele Watkins-Branch (Northern


Illinois Conference Annual Conference), a graduate of Howard University. She is currently enrolled in her fifth year of a PhD program at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Lisa


Beth PHOTO COURTESY OF NATALYA CHERRY


Natalya Cherry (Susquehanna Annual Conference), a graduate of Georgetown University and Wesley


White (Texas Annual Theological


Seminary. She is currently enrolled in her second year of a PhD program at Southern Methodist University. (This year is Natalya’s first renewal of the scholarship.) Justus Hunter (North Texas Annual Conference),


a graduate of Asbury College, Asbury Theological Seminary


Conference) is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and Southern Methodist University. She is currently enrolled in her sixth year of a PhD program at Boston University School of Theology. Alex Yoon (New York


Annual


Conference) is a graduate of University of


Theological


Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Princeton Seminary, University of


Wisconsin-Madison and Drew University, The Theological School. She is currently enrolled in her first year of a PhD program at Claremont School of Theology.


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