I loved the quote, “Nobody should support JoAnne Lyon because she is a woman.  She should be supported because she is a leader.”  So true!  It needs to be that way.   My hunch is it will be an insider - qualifying insider as either on the GAC or the GBA.  

 

 

You still crack me up, man!  I really don’t care at all about any of this, but each of the people you mentioned have been very special in my life.  With some of your  “speculation”, I’m actually throwing my head back in silent laughter, even though you probably speak major truth of possibilities. You’re still making me think, man.  Thanks a bunch.

 

The question is not who but what.   Whomever we elect as GS is not so important as what we expect them to do.  Some day we have to completely redesign this office and that of the D.S.  Of course we could simply elect JoAnne Lyons as you have suggested and expect a person of that stature and energy to automatically redesign it and that might work.  Seldom can a  board redesign an office—it is usually left to the office-holder to do that.

 

Very interesting indeed.  I think JoAnne Lyon is a reasonable candidate and I don’t have a hard time seeing her becoming a GS.  What I do have a difficult time imagining is her leaving World Hope.  Actually saving the world from disease and starvation has got to be way more exciting than pushing your pencil around Indiana and working with the people who work with the people who work with real people.  I personally can’t see why she would want to be GS.  I think I’m leaning toward Bray.  I’m sure Babby is a good guy but I wouldn’t know him from a hole in the ground.  The one thing that’s for sure is that it will be interesting to watch.

Who cares?  I might see the GS once a year at district conference (and maybe a second time as another denominational meeting) but the GS of the denomination has no mores affect on my life than who they elect as Pope of the Roman Catholic church.

 

I’m a 25-year -old seminarian, and I’d vote for Harry Wood, because he is the candidate whose character I trust the most.   Next, it would be Don Bray. 

Not one of these possibles really thrills me.  There aren’t any names here that make me go “yes”.  Even if JoAnne Lyons was voted in, it doesn’t happen until November and then it’s only two years before we have to find another one.  I would guess too that Isaac Smith from the Dakota district will try to run...  Whoever it is, I hope they can bring some better direction to being the church than the “we are who you hope we are” nonsense.  I hope we are who Christ wants us to be.  But anyway, that’s disrespectful bantering.  That’s my .02

I usually just hang out in the tall grass and enjoy your literary flights of fancy. Someone mowed this week!   Three thoughts spring from your GS speculation.  You mention one potential candidate as “a novice politician.” Interesting, perhaps more than a little sad, that politics is an apparently key factor in selecting our leaders. But, to quote ancient wisdom, “we reap what we sow.” Since our organizational structure is based on influence relationships, we by choice encourage and institutionalize political behavior. Yet church politics is the one aspect of church life that people seem to find most distasteful. (Anyone favor casting lots? Seriously, why not seek a better way?)  Secondly, you mention preaching ability as a qualifying skill. That may be a function of the political, persuasive nature of things I alluded to earlier. Even so, it strikes me as an odd qualifier. Shouldn’t our most effective preachers be spending their time doing what they do best; preaching? Why saddle them with peripheral duties just to make denominational addresses more interesting at district conference? Loose the preacher and let him or her preach!   Finally, I strongly advocate electing our district superintendents and general leaders from the ranks of pastors. We seem to have developed an administrative class of people that remain in office too long or move from one administrative slot to another.  Some of us have wanted a renewed emphasis on the local church for a long time. After all there is no district or denomination without local churches.

 

The reason I’m writing is that JoAnne is the first person (next to my dad, which I’m sorry I just can’t help the family bias, who I believe would do a great job) who came to mind for GS.  My only wonder is whether or not she’s groomed a successor at World Hope, because she’s got that thing going so well, I’m not sure she’d walk away unless she believed a new leader would step in and take her place. Anyway, if the church is ready for a woman as GS, she’s definitely the pick.  No need to publish my comments, just wanted to share and say hello.

I’m for Dr. Lyon . . . it’s about time we mean what we say about women in the ministry.   The only problem ... she’s doing such a great job with WH.

The old way of electing GS’s (nominating ballots and numerous ballots to determine a “winner”)  provided a list of who the Church thought was the “next most qualified”.  That process would greatly aid the General Board now but alas, it was too cumbersome and time-consuming.  After all, we had other, more important things to do.  I forget right now what they were but I’m sure it’ll come to me.   

 

I agree with the point  “nobody is irreplaceable.”  If we limit the possible candidate for GS only to people “easily replaceable” we’d be limiting it to the less effective people.  EVERYone is replaceable, it is just that the most effective people LOOK irreplaceable.

 

 

Please don’t elect one more GS until we rediscover our identity and heritage!  We have become an eclectic blend of fundamentalist-Baptists, revivalist-charismatics, Episcopal-Catholics, and post modern emergents.  First, we must answer “What is a Wesleyan?” before we elect two new GS’s in 2005 and 2008.  Tell me what a Wesleyan is, and I can tell you who should become GS.

We must [first] answer “Why not merge now?”  We should call a “Convocation for Merger Exploration of Wesleyans / Nazarenes / Free Methodists” in 2006.  Perhaps the vacancy of two GS’s, is the ideal time to unite major holiness-evangelical bodies for global mission impact.   Perhaps God is calling us to Christian unity.  We won’t know it, if we don’t explore it.

I’d say that insider Don Bray has it on the second vote.  JoAnne Lyon would get it on first vote at general conference—but the GBA doesn’t try to reflect the will of the General Conference.  Our system of getting a GS has changed over the years from being popularly elected to the GBA appointing them (Holdren, Armiger, Wood).  If I were betting money on this race—I’d bet on an insider.

This GS election ought NOT to become a beauty pageant between popular personalities.  Instead, we should start with ministry philosophy and objectives, and then elect a candidate who meets this criterion.  Our greatest need is for an articulate pastor and theologian who embraces our heritage yet has clear vision for our future. I vote for Paul Hontz or Jim Garlow!  JoAnne Lyons would also make an excellent GS.  Her ministry is consistent with our heritage as social reformers. The election of JoAnne Lyons is the best way to recapture our identity with John Wesley.  The election of a woman GS will cause an exodus of marginal Wesleyans who come from Baptist or catholic backgrounds.  In fact, some pastors and leaders may also leave us.  The timing of a new woman GS with Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign may split our church!  Perhaps purging the church of fundamentalists is the only way to reestablish our identity as Wesleyan / Methodist / social reformers.  Perhaps a woman would be good for us! 

You failed to mention several other “insiders” who might be candidates.  Kerry Kind has done an admirable job leading education and would be a good General Superintendent—and if Bray is elected from missions Kind would be a great leader of Global Partners too(he’s a former missionary).  Ron Kelly lacks “secretarial abilities” needed in his present office because he has leadership abilities above that office’s demands. When he was a DS his stubborn insistence on doing the right things the right way would make him a great GS.   Is Craig Dunn a minister?  He already controls all the real power at headquarters (money—WIF and Pension) –if he’s ordained why not give him the rest of HQ?  He is a fair and just man.

The General Board needs to solicit 3 candidate “finalists” to give humble campaign speeches or position papers outlining their goals and priorities for the Wesleyan Church.

 

 

 

I wonder if there are enough “voters” on the GBA who reflect (name deleted) [anti-women-in-leadership] thinking but haven’t verbalized it, that JoAnne wouldn’t get elected.  As you likely know, yesterday a Sept GBA meeting was announced to elect a new GS. 

Here’s to JoAnne Lyon…if she would take it, there’d be no question about her motives, her wisdom, or her qualification.  I say it would take our denomination to the next level—put someone into the office who can actually succeed in the worldly forum and not just in the “half price” Wesleyan Church one.   And more than anything, we would have a model that says, “Look, here’s a woman with the calling, the gifts, the graces to be an ordained and anointed minister of God.  And guess what, she’s better than any man who’s ever held this office in the history of our church!!”  Still opposed to women in ministry?  Step aside, because this is God’s woman and she’s probably better than you by any spiritual standard of reckoning.  And that means me too.

I don’t know JoAnne Lyon but I do know the Bible and if your denomination elects her as a bishop/overseer you are violating the clear teaching of Scripture and will be less the true church of Jesus Christ.

 

Thanks for the chance to offer my two-cents worth:

Forget capability since God can make anyone capable for any job regardless

of their skill, education or experience.  I’d look for:

·        someone who is strong but gentle—able to correct anyone gently, lovingly and scripturally yet able to pull back the most vulnerable and broken soul without harm;

·        someone who demands higher ground for both themselves and others (regardless of position);

·        someone who is willing to patiently, skillfully and prayerfully guide that higher ground into reality;

·        someone who has experienced their holiness text not just preaches it;

·        someone through whom God has proven Himself to work supernaturally;

·        someone who effectively combines their text with their life and actions

--- not just someone who can tout their beliefs effectively in a political forum, deliver great

seminars or the like --- someone who is skillful in applied theology;

·        someone through whom the Holy Spirit can move/convict when he/she speaks;

·        someone who is well-rounded—not just in the religious realm:  I’d look

for someone who has experience with other cultures, working with various situations-abuse (all

types, alcohol, physical, etc.),

·        someone with policy development experience, someone with some

business experience,

·        someone who doesn’t look spiritual but God can’t resist them and they can’t resist God;

·        someone who doesn’t strive for the position and demonstrates no jealousy or self-opinions;

·        someone not easily exercised by others actions or opinions;

·        someone who can stay the course regardless of how it looks and not waver;

·        someone who can be the same in all situations and with everyone—not emotionless zombies but someone to whom everyone is equally loved, valued, accepted and listened to.

 

Now that pastors have been well trained in getting along, working together as teams with each other and their charges, it is time for someone to lead the charge up the mountain.  So, pick someone with lots of energy, who can manage/pace themselves so they don’t burn out (many of your past leaders have failed at this!) and can lead the charge into the promised land! Personally, I don’t know who fits that job requirement so I wish you well in finding him/her.  You don’t need a leader, you need God in the flesh.   --Karen

 

Everyone wonders who will be the next GS. Here’s a better question.  What can/should the next GS offer to the church?  I dare you to write that column. :-)

Nazarenes beat us to it… first woman GS… but Wesleyans beat them at the I-won’t-take-the-GS job trend… Two of their best candidates pulled out… we started that trend a long time ago.  News article on their new Woman GS = http://www.ncnnews.com/Article.aspx?id=1815

 

 

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