If not now

Are you an Abigail?

Are you an Abigail? Looking at I Samuel 25:2-43 yesterday, Bible study leader, Aruna Gnanadson looked at the interaction between David and Nabal.

David sends a request to share a feast with Nabal and his sheepherders. Nabal answers him rudely and offensively. David responds impulsively and with military might – vowing to kill all the men.

Abigail – to stop impending violence—decides to act swiftly without first consulting her husband. She prepares a feast, loads the donkeys, and meets David and his troops on their way. Falling at David’s feet, she takes the blame for her husband’s behavior and warns him that the blood of victims will be on his hands, if he pursues war. Violence will beget violence.

Ms. Gnanadson looked at the small step of Abigail to make peace, then stated, “small steps by each one of us can take us together to a transformed world.”

She shared examples of simple steps that “Abigails” around the world have taken to urge for peace:

· In Latvia, 15-year old Maria was arrested and called a well-known activist, because she struck young Prince Charles of Britain with a carnation on the cheek. Her message: “war cannot bring about peace, nor can it end terrorism.”

· Women of the United States and churches stood strongly for peace in the last year, giving a message of hope to women around the world.

· In Somalia -- where five clans have been warring for years -- women crossed clan lines and created a sixth clan so that they could have a presence at the peace negotiation table and ensure that peace would really occur.

· In India, police officers shot bullets into a peaceful fishing community’s march. Fishermen began to retaliate with violence. The women, dropped down at the feet of police officers, pleading for peace. “They demonstrated that vulnerability is indeed power.”

“Tragically, there are no winners in war. All are losers and all lose life,” said Ms. Gnanadson. To be like Abigail, “we need to offer our skills as women and offer our compassion and love.”

On Thursday, Ms. Gnanadson looked at I Peter. “The Bible is not meant to lull us into comfort. It is challenging and disturbing.”

I Peter demands that we lay aside hypocrisy and evil-speaking. “Recipients of the letter walk a tightrope of being radically different from society and adopting the best features of the culture,” said Ms. Gnanadson.

The story confronts us with what is required of us.

· We are to develop the qualities given to us – justice, mercy and utter devotion to God. “God provides nourishment necessary to grow in salvation and go out into the world,” says Ms. Gnanadson.

· We are to confess Christ and enter into sharing Christ’s life through “sacrificial love for the sake of human life and joy of creation.”

· We are chosen for God’s mission. “This doesn’t give us certain privileges over others, which leads to triumphalism,” she said, pointing to mis-uses of “election” and “chosenness,” which include apartheid, racist theologies, holy wars, and crusaders.

God chooses the most unlikely to be in mission. The challenge: “If not now, when? If not me…who?”

Announcements

· Give your plenary reports to Kelly Martini (kmartini@gbgm-umc.org ). These creative reports will be posted on the National Seminar web site so that you have resources for creative presentations.

· The evening worship offering will go to Undesignated Giving.

· Put your email address on the list in Laskey Library (registration table) if you want to be part of the National Seminar listserv (email discussion group.

This group came together with leader V.H. (Sonnye) Dixon. We discussed issues that divide us in a multi-faith, multi-cultural world. Who is right? We believe that God created all of us to live in harmony with each other. However, the problems in our world begin with our individual sins and are multiplied by our collective sins. Change, then, begins with how each of us decide to live out our faith and convictions in a way that leads to reconciliation with others. We believe that the Bible is the word of God and serves as the reference point for our convictions. However, we determined that it matters not so much in proving that we are right – the Pharisees were right in their time – but instead, it matters that we show God’s love to others. Our story-teller, Adora Dupree-Awoyomi stated, “When we operate out of love, there is no way to make a mis-step.” We will put the things that unite us first, and our differences second.

The issue study explored our civil liberties pursuant to the first 10 articles of the Bill of Rights, and the slow erosion thereof. The Patriot I act -- the most offensive attack on our civil liberties and rights in recent history -- was the primary focus of the group. This Act, which enlarges the government’s powers to encroach upon a citizen’s rights under the cloak of national security, has permitted an intrusion upon our right to free speech (censorship), privacy (e.g., tracking of credit card purchases), access to information (FOIL), racial justice (profiling), etc. It has also generated a climate of confusion, fear, and mistrust among our neighbors of any behavior that they may deem unusual. We also discussed the marginalized citizens and their often inability to escape the yoke of oppression by reason of those in power or those with money or influence (e.g., the often inability to gain employment because of a prior criminal offense). We shared personal stories and experiences, and together made a pledge to step out and do what we can to make a difference.

Every year, 18,000 people in the U.S. die prematurely for lack of medical care. Some reasons for this are:

In the Gospels, the leper – Jesus’ first patient—says, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” Jesus responds, “I do choose.” Today, our society can make a choice of healing and commit to ensuring healthcare and life for all.

This group took on the challenge of Women’s Issues as they really are for women around the world. We spent our time discussing difficult topics such as women and armed conflict. We learned and internalized that women carry the burdens of the devastation of war.

Our group visited the Somali Refugee Center where refugee women from Iraq and Somalia each shared “her story.” We witnessed how action occurs when women work in solidarity with other women.

Women without power can be empowered, self-sufficient, and claim the peace of God. We must find that self-awareness and peace in order to do the work of social justice.

“Well I went down to the President’s house, and I took back what he stole from me. Well I took back my dignity; Well, I took back my humanity.” This is the chorus of the song led by Sister Maria of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union March yesterday. The Communications/Media issue group marched with the group from Fisk University to Hadley Park in protest of the poor economic conditions in our own country. During the half-mile walk, we stopped once for water and for a brief word from the Rev. James Thomas of Jefferson Street Baptist Church. We then headed to United Methodist Communication Center, where we received all the weapons we will need to tell the story like it is!

“No Child Left Behind” is the name of the new education bill signed by President Bush in January 2002. It is a law with many lofty goals – good goals -- but without money appropriated to meet the goals. Heavy on standardized testing and utilizing the familiar terms of “failing” and “succeeding” schools, the requirements of this new law are weighing heavy on states already strapped for finances. Besides concerns about funding, United Methodist Women want to address meeting the needs of the whole child. Phase III of the Children’s Campaign encourages involvement by getting to know local schools. Utilizing suggestions from the Campaign for Children’s booklet (available from the Service Center), each UMW unit is challenged to visit their local public schools and take action so that No Child is Left Behind!

This issues class took their field trip to the Peace Garden and Compost site. The Peace Garden is part of the “Earth Matters Tennessee,” a group of environmental educators, youth, and organizations. It invites adults and children to learn, work and play at this site. We saw compost containers; weeded the salsa, herb, strawberry and vegetable gardens; carried wheelbarrows full of wood chips to create a path; mulched bushes; and generally got dirty. We discussed perma-culture, recycling, and community involvement projects.

This group took a look at what they could do locally to affect change globally. They visited with kids in Nashville who organized themselves to take back their neighborhoods and educate other on financial responsibility in living.

This group reported on asking a lot of questions, because there are no easy answers. When an opportunity arises for mission, what questions do you ask? Is five or six dollars enough to pay a person in the U.S. who is in need? Do you need to consult the SPR committee for money? Is money sacred? Are undesignated giving funds enough?

Opening every session with scripture, this group honored diverse perspectives and challenged each other on being peacemakers and pastoring peacemakers. They looked at Biblical teachings of horses and chariots and compared the teachings to modern-day hummers. They asked challenging questions about the role of Jesus, the media, and civil liberties in the issue of war. “Silence is not an option,” they report.

“We don’t’ have to own another’s culture. Just learn about it and enjoy it,” said one Racism issue group participant. This group took a hard look at the realities of race in the United States and around the world, then shared some very personal stories. Participants went to the Global Education Center.