dr response

Rev Don Roulston – Porterville Grand Avenue UMC, Porterville, CA.

I have been asked to share why I want to leave our annual Conf I want to say this is not easy for me. In 23 years of ministry I have never stood and spoken from the Conf Floor. I am sure by many I have been seen as a Loyal pastor. I have not sought to make waves or become known by the Conf. leaders. The churches I have served have always paid apportionments in full. One difficult financial year at Grand Ave., we borrowed $7,200 from an undesignated savings account to pay our apportionments at 100%.

In spite of the perceived loyalty, there has always been a dread for June to come and Annual Conference. What divisive issues would we discuss this year that I would have to try to explain to some irate parishioners?

To be very honest with you, I have been very silent in talking about the divisive issues in the local church, and this has probably been a mistake. I have worked hard to build a strong church at Grand Avenue. Last Sunday we received 16 new members. We are set to receive 7 more this coming Sunday. In talking with this group of new, younger members, I have been surprised to find they have similar theological understandings, including the homosexual issue, as the large majority of the Grand Avenue Congregation. I thought they might have a different perspective, but this is not the case.

Why have I been silent in my local Church? It is simple. If many of the church leaders knew what the Conf Leadership supported, they would find it very easy to be a member of another church that held to what they consider biblical principles. Who would we lose? Most of the Administrative Council members, Sunday school teachers, the Evangelism and Membership Care Commiilees ---this list could go on and on.

Since the Creech trial became one of the lead stories on our local paper's religion page, I have been talking to one family after another explaining what our Disci line says regarding homosexual unions. I have read it to them. They have interpreted the wording as I have, the way the large majority of United Methodist at General Conf intended it to be interpreted. I have sought to give them hope that they could remain United Methodist.

With the Conf leadership continuing to interprete the Discipline in such a different way from the leadership of my local church, and from what I believe was the General Conf intentions, I am not sure how much longer the local leadership will stay.

When I was a little boy, I "inherited" a little red wagon. Lots of little children had had it before me. By the time I got it, there were no hubcaps, the wheel bearings were worn, the wheels were held on, not by coffer keys, but by rusty nails. Every once in a while one of those nails would break and after a while the wheel would fall off.

The last few weeks, my church has reminded me of my little red wagon. I feel like I am constantly having to check the wheels, making sure they don't come off I'm not sure how much longer I can keep the wheels on and the church effectively ministering $n the Porterville community with articles and letters being put out that or so opposite what the large majority of Grand Ave. Church believes and stands for.

I grew up in the Methodist Church. I have been loyal as a United Methodist pastor. It pains me to stand before you and say please show me a way I can remain a United Methodist. When I came back from Seminary in 1975 to be appointed, I felt called to be a minister in the United Methodist Church. I had other options, but I felt called to California. I desire to remain a United Methodist here in California, but because of deep theological beliefs, I have reservations about remaining a member of the Ca./Nev. Ann. Conf I know I speak for many of my church leaders as well.

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