‘Give until it heals,’ Oklahoma bishop advises

Translate Page

When Bishop Bruce P. Blake attended the funeral of the Rev. Tom Roughface, a Native American leader in the United Methodist Church, the Oklahoma bishop was struck by the Ponca Tribe practice of giving gifts to friends and visitors.

A year later, the bishop returned for the end-of-mourning ceremony where he again received symbolic gifts. Inquiring about this tradition, he was told, “We believe you can accept death better by giving than by getting.” The Poncas find healing in giving.

Blake shared that experience in an April 28 morning worship service at the 2004 General Conference. He suggested that the practice of “giving until it heals” was more effective than following the age-old adage of “giving until it hurts.”

Bishop Blake explained that his process of sermon creation is to do a critical analysis of the Scripture, then to “exegete” the congregation and preach at the intersection of the two. As he read all the resolutions and legislation coming before General Conference, it felt to him as though “we were coming to Pittsburgh with the agenda to protect what is important to us in the budget rather than to focus on raising the standard of giving.”

“Our attitude is one of giving until it hurts, rather than heals. Everything is focused on our limited resources when in fact, if United Methodists would give until it heals, we would have so much money to facilitate God’s mission in the world that conferencing would be a celebration of sharing rather than our experience of divvying up a shrinking pie.

“Could it be that the crisis in our family of faith is a crisis of faith, not of the pocketbook?” he asked. He suggested United Methodists have somehow lost the connection between grace and giving. “It has become more important for us to protect our standard of living than our standard of giving.”

The bishop encouraged the international assembly to follow the direction of Jesus Christ in Matthew 23:23-26, when he says people must scour their lives and rid themselves of gluttony and greed.

He challenged the delegates to live a gospel of giving until it heals.

Blake presides over both the geographically based Oklahoma Conference and the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, which is composed of United Methodist members of several Native American tribes. This is the first time he has preached at a General Conference.

The morning worship service opened with praise music led by the Mass Choir and Dance Ministry of St. James United Methodist Church in Alpharetta, Ga., and ended with a dismissal in Choctaw by David Wilson of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. The service included songs in English, Nigerian and Zulu, a traditional hymn, praise choruses and African tunes.

*Whorl is a correspondent for United Methodist News Service.

News media contact: (412) 325-6080 during General Conference, April 27-May 7. After May 10: (615) 742-5470.

Related


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

UMNEWS-SUBSCRIPTION
General Conference
The next General Conference is scheduled April 23-May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking body, long delayed by COVID, will see multiple options for the church’s future when it meets next year. But preparing all the legislation for delegates’ review takes months. Image courtesy of charlottesgotalot.com.

What comes after General Conference deadline?

The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking body, long delayed by COVID-19, will see multiple options for the church’s future when it meets next year. Preparing all the legislation for delegates’ review takes months.
General Conference
A key leadership body has given unanimous approval to submitting a proposal to General Conference that aims to give Africa, Europe, the Philippines and the U.S. equal standing in church decision-making. The approval by the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters puts the legislation on a likely trajectory of making it onto the General Conference floor for consideration by all delegates. Globe by OpenClipart-Vectors, courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Regionalization plan heads to General Conference

A key United Methodist leadership body has given unanimous approval to moving forward a proposal that aims to give the Africa, Europe, the Philippines and the U.S. equal standing in church decision-making.
Social Concerns
The Rev. Dr. H. Ward Greer. Photo courtesy of the author.

Black United Methodists strive for a better future

In every reorganization, merger, split or reconnection of the Methodist movement, race — not sexuality — has been at the center.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2023 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved