“The Rev. James Preston, a General Conference delegate from the Northern Illinois Annual Conference and a pastor in Rockford, Ill., distraught over that morning's vote to retain and tighten United Methodism's stances against homosexual behavior, grabbed a ceramic cup from the altar table during noontime communion and dashed it to the floor. Amid worshipers' shock, retired Bishop Don Ott and others reverently picked up the pieces and laid them on the table.” (Quoted from: Editorial Analysis: "Unity and General Conference — How do United Methodists begin picking up the pieces?" 06/04/04 By Cynthia B. Astle, Editor, United Methoidist Reporter)

The cup was broken on the altar in a fit of anger over not getting one’s way. But isn't that what this battle is all about? Everyone having “their” way.

It was so simple in the beginning - - Jesus did it you know. It was in a room, an upper room, that Jesus gave the simple instructions. Take this bread, take this wine - - my body, my blood - - as often as you do this - - do it in remembrance of me.

Dare we take this cup and “dash it to the floor”? Just whose cup is it anyway? Is it the property of James Preston? Does it belong to The United Methodist Church?

To whom do we deny access to this cup of forgiveness and grace? When it is broken no one can drink from it.

Well now it is broken! Oh, its pieces may be molded back together and a new cup formed - - but somehow it will never be the same. We will never be the same again!

Beloved, as a movement of God with an evangelistic “upbringing”, somehow we must reclaim the high ground.

I don't think that Mike McCurry had it right when he suggested that the church "lay down" its arms to preserve the church's union. Unity at any cost is heresy!

The Rev. Bill McAlilly had it “right on” when he said "many United Methodists view ourselves as centrists, but we fail to recognize our responsibility to be the span that holds the bridge together".

What to do with the broken shards of our shattered cup of forgiveness - -

As long as we try to patch it by ourselves, we will fail.

Only The Master Potter can remold and remake us!



A Jim Lane Commentary
June 6, 2004