A People of Refuge

Living in the Most High’s shelter, camping in the Almighty’s shade, I say to the Lord, “You are my refuge, my stronghold! You are my God—the one I trust!” - Psalm 91:1-2 CEB

It is hurricane season in Florida. From the moment that first cone of uncertainty appears on the weather map, we begin to anxiously prepare for what might happen. While we never know exactly where a hurricane will land, and we cannot predict the degree of impact, we know that the storm is coming. The relief we feel when we are no longer in the path of the storm is then, for many of us, met with the recognition that our gift of peace must be leveraged for those who are possibly about to experience tragedy and loss. We anticipate welcoming folks who are under evacuation orders, start putting together flood buckets, and prepare to send non-perishables that we might’ve used had the storm come our way. Whether a hurricane is headed towards us or not, in the Florida Conference every storm impacts our connection. And yes, I am writing this reflection as I watch Tropical Storm Ian’s cone of uncertainty and realize that, more than likely, that storm will land somewhere in Florida. This is life in Florida during hurricane season.

We are also in a strange season in the Florida Conference of the UMC. It is a season I had hoped we could avoid, but I believe is now upon us and could last a while. It began with the announcement of the third postponement of General Conference 2020, then the early launch of the GMC. The somber winds of this season started to blow with the disaffiliation of 14 congregations at Annual Conference 2022; those winds picked up when 106 congregations filed a lawsuit against the Conference. However, it was two local church conferences this month, one in the North West District and the other in the North East District, that made me realize it is time we prepared for the impact of the storm that has already started in our midst. 

Now before we all get in a panic, let me remind you that the vast majority of congregations in the FLUMC will remain in the denomination. Congregations are making that clear from church council resolutions to #BeUMC campaigns. From small to large congregations in rural to urban contexts; to primarily lay-led communities and multi-staff led churches, there is a resurgence of appreciation for all God has done through our global connection and a revival of energy to envision our future as United Methodists. I remain hopeful that there is more for the UMC in Florida and I am here to tell that story. 

And yet, as I sat in the room last Sunday evening with the laity of a local congregation as they waited for their church conference results, it hit me that this may be the first of a few gatherings over the next several months. As I listened to the anxiety, fear, and heartbreak these layfolk felt over the last year, I understood that my role was to be a person of refuge in the midst of their storm. Even as the District Superintendent announced that the motion to disaffiliate had been rejected by a wide margin, I watched as many shed tears mixed with joy and relief as their storm was passing. I was then reminded of friends just three hours west who had a very different outcome just a week prior. I thought about the members of those 106 congregations, (many who learned from a newspaper article that their congregation was suing the Conference), who are more than likely now bracing for their storm. While I am not sure we’ll see many more church conferences this year, I do think 2023 will bring many hard conversations and possibly more disaffiliation votes. This storm is one that affects us all and now is the time for the laity of the Florida Conference to get prepared.

I am thankful that, by all accounts, my congregation will not be entertaining a vote for disaffiliation. Many of you reading this post can probably say the same. Even though we are not in the path of this storm, we still have preparations to make for what’s to come. More than likely, there will be disaffiliations in your area. How will you be a person of refuge for those caught in this storm? How will you create spaces of healing in your congregations for these friends in the faith? How will you stand with those who, despite all their best efforts, could not get this storm to turn or pass from their congregations? How will they know they are not alone?

We can reach out to our friends in UMC congregations that are talking about disaffiliation and ask how we can support them. We can point our friends to the Conference’s resources for the Continuing UMC and the #BeUMC Campaign. We can meet to listen and pray with our friends as they process their emotions. And when/where it is possible, we can commit to being with them when votes are taken and decisions are made. Because this storm affects us all, there are opportunities for every lay person in the FLUMC to be a person of refuge for those caught in the disaffiliation storm that may be coming. We can and we must be ready.

I am also aware that some of you reading this post - more than I want to admit - are right in the path of this storm. It could turn, and it could pass, but the threat of leaving the UMC is top of mind for you like a hurricane warning. I want you to know that you are not alone in this moment.  There are folks in your District and Conference ready to support you and come alongside your efforts to encourage your churches to remain in the UMC. There are leaders, including Alice Williams and I, who are happy to bring a presentation to your congregation that offers hope and vision for the future of the UMC. And if the storm does come your way, we’ll make sure you aren’t weathering it by yourself. Like a hurricane, we may not be able to stop what is coming. But we can be a place of refuge for you in the midst of it all. 

This weekend, Psalm 91 is included in the lectionary text. I am particularly struck by the first few verses and the images of shelter and camping in the Almighty’s shade. I know some will be running to find that safe space over the next several months. And for those of us who are not in the path of the disaffiliation storm, I hope we are willing to find ways to hold that space and become the people of refuge for our friends in the faith who will need it. We can and must be ready.

Derrick Scott III
Co-Lay Leader, Florida Conference

Back to the Laity Space Weekend Update for September 24.