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Index
Ordination Service Rings Out
The service of Confirming, Commissioning, and Ordaining of the
Rocky Mountain Conference was an inspiring mix of music, preaching,
and dedication. The Wesley Bell Ringers of Christ United Methodist
Church, Salt Lake City and The Voices of Park Hill United Methodist
Church, Denver, provided music with an international and dramatic
flavor with titles like "Joy," "Gospel," "Canticle
of Africa," "Jesus Is My Lord, My Master, and Savior," and "I
Am Determined to Walk With Jesus." Eight local pastors were
confirmed, one was commissioned towards deacons orders, seven
were commissioned towards elders orders, one ordained deacon
and eight were ordained elder.
Bishop Carcaño preached on Micah 6:1-8, "What Does
The Lord Require?" She gave historical background for the
prophet Micah's words, saying that Israel had "let go of God's
hand" and walked away from God. The rich and powerful had
used their power and influence and had forgotten the poor and outcast. "No
harm can come to us," they said, "because we are God's
people." They had forgotten who they were, that they were
a wandering people, and had turned against their weakest members.
She pointed out parallels between Israel, the United States, and
the United Methodist Church, suggesting that God might have the
same trouble with us as with the people of Israel in Micah's time.
She was amazed and perplexed at the reaction to the statement of
the Council of Bishops on War, saying that the Bishops had stayed
true to scripture, that Christians are called to be peacemakers.
And yet, she has gotten criticism about that statement of the Council
that indicates that some have identified the church too much with
the country. She wondered if we as a church had forgotten that
we are a people of love when there is so much self-righteous hatred
of gays.
Bishop Carcaño challenged all to consider the cost of doing
justice: she believes that God is calling us to do so much more,
such as overcome poverty by helping one family at a time; by moving
to full commitment to Jesus Christ and moving out of the status
quo. She commended the RMC in our commitment to build churches
and urged us to face where we are sinning (walking away from God),
so that we can do our building with integrity. "Don't lose
sight of the bigger picture as you build churches: the work isn't
just building more buildings or increasing the numbers, it is
building of God's own reign among us and be transformed by the
grace of Jesus Christ." "What does the Lord require?
Nothing less than the refocusing of our lives." God wants
us to be in covenantal relation with each other, with God and with
all creation. God wants us all, the totality of our being, the
total surrender of our belng so that we can then do what God requires,
not just building chruches, but a brand new world!
She reminded us that "kindness" in Hebrew means the
complete reordering of life, to love as God loves, eternally and
unconditionally. God requires that we do justice, actively engage
in redistribution of power and wealth... and that we love as God
loves. She said that mercy is not first and foremost a call to
do, but a call to be be God's own people, to be God's radical love
shining through the night.
Following the service, the founder of the Wesley Ringers was honored
by international bell-ringing community.
by Ben Roe, Information Administrator, RMCUMC
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