My United Methodist Church did a Big Thing^TM this week.

In case you missed the news, the global denomination voted at its quadrennial General Conference on May 1 to strike the homophobic, anti-LGBTQ language from the United Methodist Book of Discipline, which serves as church law in the UMC.

I rejoice in this decision. And I rejoice for the many Queer folks and allies who have worked for years to bring it about, all while continuing to suffer under the injustice of our system. I’m especially grateful for and in awe of the organizing work done by the Reconciling Ministries Network and the United Methodist Queer Clergy Caucus, among others.

And yet, I am melancholy. 

“Justice delayed is justice denied” is one of the mantras I’ve learned from antiracism leaders.

For too long we have held our Queer siblings hostage as we’ve wrestled over full inclusion and what it means in our congregations.

And yes, I realize that progress comes slowly. That if Dr. King‘s statement about the moral arc of the universe bending toward justice is true, it‘s also true that it does so at a mostly glacial pace. 

But I also realize what a privileged position that is to take. Because personally, I can afford the wait. It doesn’t directly affect my daily existence in any material way.

The same is true of the mostly white, cis-gendered, heterosexual leadership of the UMC. While many have expressed allyship with the LGBTQ community, the wait for justice was more academic exercise than lived experience.

And that’s a problem.

The privilege of perspective

In some ways, l have less animus toward the conservative extremists who refused to budge on the issue of full inclusion (most of whom have left the denomination over the past few years) than I do toward the self-identified centrists who held Queer United Methodists hostage so they could pursue the illusion of unity with people who truly had no interest in unification.

To be honest, I used to consider myself a centrist. I’ve always been able to see both—or even multiple sides—of most arguments. Even when I’ve disagreed with some people’s opinions, I’ve mostly been able to understand them from their perspectives.

I thought it was admirable to take a position between the extremes. To be in a posture to negotiate middle-way solutions.

I still think that’s important in many situations.

But again, we have to recognize the privilege baked into that statement. It’s easy to have a broader point of view about things when you’re not the one experiencing pain and trauma.

And before you say that the supporters of our draconian and outdated rules also experienced pain, may I just point out that there‘s a big difference between having your beliefs challenged and having your very being denigrated. That dog won’t hunt.

Peace-keeping or peace-making?

Have you ever noticed that when Jesus found himself in a conflict, he never advocated a middle way? The way of Jesus was always to side with the marginalized, the oppressed, and the exploited.

I used to think my middle-of-the-road, widely accommodating, moderate mindset put me in the position of being a peacekeeper. 

And, honestly, it probably did. 

But as many people much brighter and more invested than me have pointed out, there’s a massive difference between being a peace keeper and a peace maker. 

Justice delayed is justice denied.

This wasn’t about two equally legitimate theological positions trying to gain a foothold in the UMC. It was about one group of people forcing their fear-based, colonialist theology of sin on the rest of us.

But in very real ways, folks who staked out a centrist position were every bit as guilty of imposing harm as the traditionalists. Centrism always benefits the oppressor.

I know many folks who consider themselves centrists are celebrating Wednesday’s actions. And truly, I’m glad they are. 

But I hope those folks also have the integrity and intellectual honesty to admit their complicity in the untold trauma inflicted on untold numbers of people. This General Conference‘s actions don’t undo that harm.

Can we be honest?

So while I celebrate yesterday’s historic move by the denomination in which I grew up, departed from and returned to faith, became ordained, and for whom I work (and will soon retire!), I am deeply grieved that it took so long to overturn decades of institutionalized injustice. 

And the primary reason it took so long is because so many of our people were more interested in being peace keepers than peace makers. 

At the very least, our rules are now compatible with the values of the majority of United Methodists, at least in the US (the global nature of the church is much more complicated and, frankly, too deep a rabbit hole for this post).

And so while I have some beef with the fence-riders who helped delay this decision, I’m glad it finally happened. I just want us to be honest about what it has cost.

The three R’s

Lest you think this is just another church-bashing post, there is a bigger picture here. 

Yes, I am upset at those who have and still refuse to recognize and respect the divine image in all people, and those who have championed a false peace at the expense of beautiful and holy creatures of the Divine. 

But I’m ecstatic for those who have have chosen to stick it out and fight the fight despite having suffered years of abuse, harm, and trauma imposed by the UMC’s intractable position on human sexuality.

My heart sings for you all. You have done the hardest of work, and your work has borne fruit. Y’all inspire me. 

So hurray for the United Methodist Church (or what’s left of it) for doing the right thing. 

Finally. 

But may we also take this moment to reflect on the ways our various spaces of privilege have been part of the problem and not the ultimate solution. 

Justice delayed is justice denied.

Going into General Conference, proponents of the changes that have been made these last two weeks were promoting what they called “the three R’s:” Regionalization, Removal of harmful language from the Discipline, and the Revision of our Social Principles to more faithfully reflect a fully inclusive polity.

But maybe there’s another three R’s we should focus on.

Maybe it’s time for some Repentance, Reconciliation, and Reparations y’all. 

Until we do, the work is only halfway done.