<div dir="ltr">Thanks Marshall for your witness and the detailed context about Methodism and its current struggles. I hope it was modesty that occasioned your belittling of the impact of your intervention. Hopefully the mustard seed you planted will grow into a mighty tree.<div><br></div><div>Though regionalism, as Randy says, seems to be a trend, I remember that states'rights was also an effort at regionalism. For a good description of the impact of Southern Hemisphere's (particular African) version of Christianity, Bill Holmes' book <u>Mature Christianity </u>(Tampa: Resurgence Publishing, 2010) has a final chapter on "Tomorrow's Christendom" in which he clarifies the challenges. </div><div><br></div><div>Accommodating diversity is difficult, as you know. It would be great if Methodism could find a way to it, and maybe some kind of regionalism that allows for cultural diversity within a framework of respect could work. </div><div><br></div><div>Keep up the good work, and be assured the invisible OE is with you.</div><div><br></div><div>John</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 7:57 AM, Randy Williams via OE <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto"><div></div><div>Well, decentralization is the wave of the future, and the future is now. Please note +/-32 National ICAs. </div><div>Randy</div><div><div class="h5"><div><br>On Nov 8, 2017, at 8:47 AM, W. J. <<a href="mailto:synergi@yahoo.com" target="_blank">synergi@yahoo.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:24px"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_9586">Randy and other survivors of the O:E shipwreck,</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_9629">At this point I'd say that the episcopal Powers That Be have finally seen the handwriting on the wall of institutional Methodism: their numbers were shrinking dramatically as they sailed toward the Abyss of cultural irrelevance.</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_9630">JWM saw this clearly way back in the '50s. (See his brief comments on <i id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_9689">The Bold Community</i>--when he still sported a crew cut!)</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_15466">But the one issue that has polarized institutional Methodism was its vulnerability to the 'dry bones' of fundamentalism that insists on a simplistic, literalistic view of the biblical prohibitions of all copulation that does not enforce male dominance over baby-making females. Otherwise, pretty much anything goes in the OT as long as it gets your precious semen into the right place to boost the tribal birth rate. That's the justification for polygamy and concubinage. Not to mention knocking up female slaves.<br></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_29237">The only mass vaccination program that offered an antidote to this pre-modern theological crappola was RS-1.<br></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_9977">The O:E was our shot at taking the wheel to right the ecumenical ship at the last second. History will be the judge of that effort.</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_32114">But as Methodism sails "<a class="m_-8600244875797072484edited-link-editor" href="http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/bishops-called-to-navigate-off-the-map" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_46307" target="_blank">off the map</a>" of known institutional patterns and out over the great Abyss, with the tiny fundie minority pushing for another schism, they're trying a new tactic: embracing the option of rewriting the rule book to accommodate regional cultural variations to keep as many local churches as possible from defecting. The price they will pay is the demise of a monolithic global Methodist Church and the rise of national Methodist entities. <br></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_52133">This means that there will be a devolution from a single ultimate authority in the General Conference to regional rule making.</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_46362">This trend will put the US fundies at a numerical disadvantage, since they will lose their African delegate votes that have kept them in the majority at General Conference. Hint: they're NOT gonna be happy with that!<br></div>Sadly, none of this panic-based institutional tinkering addresses the Twenty-first Century Global Theological and Cultural Revolutions. They're skipping that course--which remains to be invented, BTW.<br><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_45568">To be continued,</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_45310">Marshall</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_50089">BTW, in 1893 the Presbyterian fundies tried Charles A. Briggs for heresy and tried to depose him from the UTS faculty, resulting in an independent seminary. They're still at it today.</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_51849"><br></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_45311">"And I only am escaped alone to tell thee." --Herman Melville<br></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_39557"><br></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_35859"><br></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510147251615_9631"><span></span></div> <div class="m_-8600244875797072484qtdSeparateBR"><br><br></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yahoo_quoted" style="display:block"> <div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:24px"> <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div dir="ltr"><font size="2" face="Arial"> On Wednesday, November 8, 2017 6:58 AM, Randy Williams <<a href="mailto:randycw1938@gmail.com" target="_blank">randycw1938@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></font></div> <br><br> <div class="m_-8600244875797072484y_msg_container"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038"><div><div></div><div>Marshall,</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>This excellent, almost poetic witness is, at the very least, testimony that the transestablishment is alive and well, and that there’s is nothing but possibility when it perceives the necessary deed and, without getting all hung up on predetermined outcomes, just does it, leaving it to God to “see the heart, weigh the deed, and direct the course of history.”</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div> I am frankly not clear what all this says about the established church and fear that it may yet be caught up in the throes of institutionalism. Why else would all this even still be an issue? </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Meanwhile I am ever grateful for the Mathews brothers and for all those whom they “riled up” who are yet alive and kicking, of which I am one, and for the fact that “where sin abounds, grace does much more abound.”</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Grace and peace,</div><div>Randy</div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yqt1236003728" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yqt45132"><div><br clear="none">On Nov 8, 2017, at 12:42 AM, W. J. via OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:24px"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31487"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">Colleagues, since some of you asked, I would caution you to be very careful about with whom you choose share my exact words. Because I was writing for a specific audience and used colloquial languaging, EI jargon, and four-letter words I wouldn't use with a wider audience. <br clear="none"></span></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_36640"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">Beyond that, much of what I had to share would require an Order context to fully understand. And could be misinterpreted. <br clear="none"></span></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_36734"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">Besides, who the hell is Fishel anyway? Millions of people would want to know if my email gets out. And goes viral.</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_32194"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">..........<br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_36735"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">The good news, and totally unexpected, is that Bishop Karen was invited to preach to the Council during worship on Tuesday morning. <br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_32807"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">Which says to me that the Powers That Be have decided she's a strong voice that needs to be heard and accepted within the Council. And that she can't be marginalized through the efforts of a few bishops who have decided to do their best to torpedo her episcopal status by organizing the opposition and pulling every legal trick in the book.</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_32808"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">In essence, I believe that change is in the wind. <br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_36013"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">Of course it doesn't hurt that Bishop Ken Carter (a moderator of the Commission on A Way Forward) happens to be the new president-designate of the Council!<br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_35084"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">Beyond all that, you may be concerned about Bishop Karen's longevity in office. My take on that, for what little it's worth, is that until there's a change in the Discipline, any action to remove her must be resolved within the Western Jurisdiction where she's relatively safe. <br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_36233"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">That's why the right-wing activists are proposing to change the Discipline to make the full CoB the court of last resort as far as decision-making is concerned. The Judicial Council's role is limited to ruling on the legality of those decisions once their jurisdiction is declared.</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_35708"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">This whole mess is giving WAY more attention to the silly Methodist rules than they deserve. But they do intend to grant 'due process' to any clergy that somebody decides to complain about.<br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_34984"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501">Marshall<br clear="none"></span></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_32005"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510117828762_31501"></span></div> <div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038qtdSeparateBR"><br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038yahoo_quoted" style="display:block"> <div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:24px"> <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div dir="ltr"><font size="2" face="Arial"> On Tuesday, November 7, 2017 11:11 PM, James Wiegel <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:jfwiegel@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jfwiegel@yahoo.com</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"></font></div> <br clear="none"><br clear="none"> <div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038y_msg_container"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038"><div><div style="font-family:Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div><div>Thank you, Marshall for doing this.</div><div>. . . how much clout do you have in Congress??</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydp35609dc1signature"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="http://partnersinparticipation.com/?page_id=123" target="_blank">Jim Wiegel</a> <br clear="none"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydp35609dc1MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif;line-height:18.3999996185303px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">“That which consumes me is not man, nor the earth, nor the heavens, but the flame which consumes man, earth, and sky." Nikos Kazantzakis</span></div><br clear="none"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;background-color:white">401 North Beverly Way,Tolleson, Arizona 85353</span><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydp35609dc1MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><a href="tel:(623)%20363-3277" value="+16233633277" target="_blank">623-363-3277</a></span><span style="font-size:14.5pt;font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif"></span></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydp35609dc1MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:marilyn.oyler@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">jfwiegel@yahoo.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14.5pt;font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif"></span></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydp35609dc1MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:blue"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="http://www.partnersinparticipation.com/" target="_blank">www.partnersinparticipation.<wbr>com</a></span></span></div></div></div>
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On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 4:17:45 PM MST, W. J. via OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:
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<div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><div><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:24px"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_6887"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_6886" style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:24px"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_53632"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_53631" style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:24px"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12613"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687">This is a 'Report' (if I may be so bold) to the Order:Ecumenical on the 'edge' of the turmoil in the United Methodist Church from a transestablishment worm's eye perspective on the ground (or, better, 'underground') at the <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196enhancr2_71e9a3e3-81b7-b673-a3d7-9e8f7d458363" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_64185" href="http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/bishops-called-to-navigate-off-the-map" target="_blank">Council of Bishops' meeting</a> this week at Lake Junaluska.</span></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16168"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_13121"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687">First, why now? I'm not one to brag or anything, but it dawned on me that I was in a position to get something new, unprogrammed, and unexpected to happen here in the Southeastern Jurisdiction during the CoB meeting.<br clear="none"></span></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16169"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_13660"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687">(For non-United Methodists: The SEJ is the surviving 'remnant' of the old <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_15991" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Episcopal_Church,_South" target="_blank">Methodist Episcopal Church, South</a> which embraced slavery as a Biblical 'right' of white males--along with white male dominance over women--after the 1845 schism over the scandal that a Methodist bishop in Georgia owned 2 slaves. And which remains a conservative bastion of 'guns and religion' from the 1939 merger with northern and Protestant Methodists to this day. Along with the South Central Jurisdiction.)</span></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16187"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_14132"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687">Where the shit has REALLY hit the Methodist fan is that in 2016 the Western Jurisdiction elected and consecrated as bishop Karen Oliveto, the married lesbian senior pastor of Glide UMC in San Francisco.<br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16188"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_14501"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687">Karen's election/consecration caused an even greater uproar (and yet-unresolved 'legal' issues with the church's rule book) that has intensified the polarization over LGBT inclusion vs. active persecution in a postmodern legalistic version of a witch hunt (over the prohibition of LGBT clergy and LGBT weddings). <br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_15711"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16224"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687">Once again electing an 'offensive' bishop (among many other intentionally 'offensive' and rebellious violations of denominational polity) has pushed this church to the brink of another schism.<br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_14918"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16223"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687">At this very moment the CoB is meeting in Executive Session to offer feedback on an interim report from their <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_7222" href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/Website_Properties/news-media/press-center/documents/COWF_July_2017_Report_Final.pdf" target="_blank">Commission on a Way Forward</a> on how to find 'a way forward' that would deconstruct/restructure the global denomination's polity as a post-denominational reality--some kind of Wesleyan global association of church bodies that would embrace the reality of regional diversity in cultural context. (For example, <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16768" href="http://ibrarian.net/navon/paper/AN_AFRICAN_PERSPECTIVE_ON_POLYGAMY_IN_THE_UNITED_.pdf?paperid=17744381" target="_blank">polygamy</a> is a huge issue among African Methodist clergy.) <br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_15294"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16476"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687">At least that's our hope and prayer: that a new, less restrictive and more permissive rule book will be adopted in the 2019 special session of the UM General Conference--where the shit will REALLY hit the Methodist fan over the determination of a rabid few <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" href="https://wesleyancovenant.org/2017/07/12/our-hope-for-the-way-forward/" target="_blank">alt-right/conservative</a> US delegates plus the entire African contingent to 'hold the line' against the evil of homosexuality, etc. and force a schism.<br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_15713"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16475"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687">For those of you who are still with me, this moment has a LOT to do with <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_17058" href="https://www.bu.edu/sth/2010/01/13/bishop-james-k-mathews-sth-%E2%80%9938-honored-for-life%E2%80%99s-work/" target="_blank">the Mathews brothers</a>!</span></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_17133"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_17188"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_58747">Our beloved late <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59459" href="http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/bishop-mathews-ardent-missionary-dies" target="_blank">'Bishop Jim' Mathews</a> was a Methodist missionary in India and mission executive before his election. He and 'Brother Joe' had a practical global vision of the church as mission. An outcome of traditional missionary work in the developing world was the establishment of Methodist Central Conferences. Methodist work in India evolved into an <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_58110" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church_in_India" target="_blank">autonomous Methodist Church</a>, but in the Philippines and Africa, Methodist work remained under the global structure of the UMC.</div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_58216"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_58253">Now United Methodists in the USA who are pressing for change are confronting the results of a century of work by conservative missionaries in the developing world. <br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_58643"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_58690">By not spinning off regional Methodist affiliates in Africa and the Philippines and elsewhere, we must now deal with the <i id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59458">unanticipated consequences</i> of creating a global denomination that is resistant to cultural change, largely because its fastest-growing segment is in Africa, which has increasing numerical weight among delegates voting at the General Conference.</div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_58731"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59019">So our beloved late Bishop Jim--who was revered among UM Bishops as their 'first among equals'--was (and is) simultaneously a giant symbolic figure representing the best of traditional Methodist missionary work <b id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59400">and</b> the presence of the Transestablishment in their midst: always pointing beyond Methodist institutional reductionism to call into being a more faithful global response to divine activity in our midst.</div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59230"><br clear="none"></div></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_58804">Which brings me to the present moment and the CoB meeting. And to the voice of Joe Mathews--still ringing in my ears.</div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59373"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59952">Joe would say--and I'm sure did say--that there are kairotic moments when the invisible becomes visible. And that the role of the transestablishment is to honor the historical church, to both guard and challenge its self-understanding, including its perversions, and to pioneer and model a way forward to be the radical people in mission we are all called to be.<br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_60263"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_60174">I am very sadly aware that Bishop Karen has become a <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_9339" href="https://juicyecumenism.com/2016/07/16/karen-olivetos-theology-criticizing-jesus-defending-demon-possession/" target="_blank">demonized</a>, heretical <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196enhancr2_69f3c5fd-e7cf-4f57-3dc8-8e2c8b91dc2a" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_62217" href="https://juicyecumenism.com/2017/09/15/lesbian-bishop-oliveto-warns-not-create-idol-jesus-says-bigotries-prejudices-updated/" target="_blank">cartoon character</a> within the conservative United Methodist wing, and has received a ton of hate mail and even death threats.<br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_9345"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_9408">So, realizing that she is personally <i id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_31798">unknown</i> in the SEJ, and that she would <i>never</i> be invited to speak/preach/teach here, I decided to invite her to meet with a group of UM clergy/laity for a conversation last Saturday on their ministries with LGBT people and the future of the church. As one of the very few around here who has known Karen for a quarter century, I was in a position to make this happen with the active collaboration of many allies.</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_9864"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_9865">Of course the question of who in the hierarchy would authorize this meeting in 'hostile territory' was paramount. So, indirectly mobilizing whatever clout I had, I got a bishop to call another bishop (who had the authority to give permission), and we got the go-ahead to have a 'private' meeting with invited guests.</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_10221"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_12016">This time around, unlike <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_12157" href="https://cmpage.org/documents/junaluska_report.htm" target="_blank">Hearts on Fire</a> at the Lake in 2005, the <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" href="http://jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/090205/D8CBNHH08.shtml" target="_blank">KKK</a> was not alerted!<br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_12165"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_12783">Bottom line: 43 people signed up, some driving from as far as Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and Burlington, to spend less than 90 minutes in conversation with Bishop Karen. <br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_31225"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_31326">Including a total of three bishops (one of whom is a PLC grad from long ago--remember those?). And two clergy from an urban church that dared to host a gay wedding. And one clergy from a startup congregation that's <i>half</i> LGBT.<br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_12956"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_13207">In the midst of the realities of our life in the UMC, there was an atmosphere of personal vulnerability, sharing of individual stories and group wisdom, and hope. People could connect with Bishop Karen's spiritual leadership and care for the whole church.</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_13409"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_13410">And, like a tiny mustard seed in the hearts of a few, that depth of transformative experience, we trust, will percolate throughout the SEJ.<br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_12216"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_13675">I make no apologies for the length of this witness!</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_13676"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_13705">Because context is everything. And you need to 'get' the context to understand the meaning of "the invisible becomes visible."</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_13798"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_14176">To set a context for the meeting I did a brief ritual on <b>brokenness and expenditure</b> with Mary Z. Longknight. There were audible gasps as I carefully and slowly tore the three rounds of flatbread and Mary Z. announced:</div><blockquote id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_16195"><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_16120"><font id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_16210" size="3">We stand before the Word about the way life is and declare that our life is about <b>brokenness</b>, period. That <b>the world</b> we live in is just broken. That <b>our nation</b> is deeply polarized. And that <b>our church body</b> is deeply fragmented. The Word of Life is that when we dare to take our brokenness deeply into ourselves and feast on it for the sake of all beings, we are sustained in being. And we can share that sustenance with our neighbor.</font> <br clear="none"></div></blockquote><font size="2"></font><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_14515">At the meeting's close I had the opportunity to share the following word with the three bishops, the clergy, and the laity present. <br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_18069"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_17934">I asked them to take home and consciously 'plant' the seed of what happened today, using the image of the tiny mustard seed planted in the SEJ.</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_18571"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_18867">And, using the game of chess as a metaphor of how bishops move <i>diagonally</i>, I invited all of us to pray that our bishops move toward <b id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_18896">convergence</b> instead of <b>divergence</b>.<br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_17877"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_17847">And I said that <b id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_17848">now is the time to guard our episcopacy</b>. And to support our bishops (even those with whom we seriously disagree). So that they can take on their new role as change agents and lead United Methodism into its new reality. <br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_18899"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_18898">And then I said: Mark my words! As soon as a new plan for reorganization is made public, the Council of Bishops will be attacked.<br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_16770"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_18279">That was the best I could do to embody the presence of the transestablishment. And to speak to the historical church by calling our bishops to embody a new reality of united episcopal leadership.</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_19081"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_19248">But I did join the entire Council in their Memorial Service on Sunday. I sang hymns from the back row behind a group of African bishops. One of whom may have been <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_19832" href="http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/bishops-face-penalties-for-auditing-issues" target="_blank">Bishop Wandabula</a>, who was <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196edited-link-editor" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_21775" href="https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-global-nature/latest-developments-in-umc-episcopal-accountability/" target="_blank">sanctioned</a> for misusing .75 million bucks in church funds. And accused of retaliating against his accusers. (I don't know how this was resolved.)<br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_21990"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_21991">But while I was aware that I don't share their perspectives on Biblical interpretation, church law, and fiscal accountability, I was <b>so grateful</b> to know that they are there, doing ministry to the best of their ability.<br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_21784"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_21995">One of the Order's essential life understandings is that wherever we go, we will leave! And leave behind a core of local leadership who are trained, equipped, contextualized, and enabled to to their work in collaboration with their global colleagues--but without hierarchical control/supervision. Leaving lots of room to embody and grow local integrity. <br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_18540"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_14357"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_14360" style="font-size:24.000000pt;font-family:'TimesNewRomanPSMT'">
</span></div>So here is the bottom line of my witness: the Order:Ecumenical is still alive and well and becoming visible when and where it needs to be a witness. Amen.<div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_14353" title="Page 2"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_14354" style="background-color:rgb(100.000000%,100.000000%,100.000000%)"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_16039"><br clear="none"></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_15023">Marshall<br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_14332"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_16040">P.S. I couldn't resist adding that my memory is that Bob Fishel--ever the revolutionary oddball with that ironic, solemn, quirky Fishel expression--liked to pick up an entire plastic pitcher of water and just dump the whole thing out on the floor at the closing meal in RS-1. And people would gasp in shock! But he got across the image of just how radical expenditure really is.</div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_16087"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_15229">BTW the Fishels are still alive and well and hosted me in Franklin, NC during the Total Eclipse last August.<br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_14245"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_7271"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_7359"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59793"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59792"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59374"><br clear="none"></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510074133052_59024"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16865"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_16758"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_15753"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_15832"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"> <br clear="none"></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_15330"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"><br clear="none"></span></div><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_14011"><span id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12687"></span></div> <div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196qtdSeparateBR" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12663"><br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yqt5405633368" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yqt01351"></div></div></div></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yqt7049679984" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yqt26446"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_7037"> <div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12580" style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:24px"> <div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12579" style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12662"><font id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12661" size="2" face="Arial"> On Saturday, November 4, 2017 5:37 PM, H. A. Tillinghast <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:rev.bud@mac.com" target="_blank">rev.bud@mac.com</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"></font></div> <br clear="none"><br clear="none"> <div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196y_msg_container" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12578"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12577">I will not be able to participate, but I am most pleased about this honouring of my friend Bishop Karen. Bless you for doing this. I’m sure that Joe, brother of a Methodist bishop, would be in the midst of this with his “Amen".<div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12576"><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12586">Bud Tillinghast</div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12587"><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"><div id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12592"><blockquote class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12591" type="cite"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yqt2899626483" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yqt76663"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_9651">On 2 Nov 2017, at 7:44 pm, W. J. via OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_9650" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:</div><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196Apple-interchange-newline" clear="none"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12590"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12589"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510064881158_12588" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;font-size:24px"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_8899"><span class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9011">Mary Z., Marcia, and I (among others) are hosting a gathering at Lake Junaluska to honor Bishop Karen Oliveto and her wife Robin Ridenour at the beginning of the United Methodist Council of Bishops meeting.</span></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9177"><span class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9252">It is in the new Welcome Center next to the building where Order members gathered for the Springboard conference </span><span class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9011"><span class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9253">a decade ago</span>.</span></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196qtdSeparateBR" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_8958"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9359"><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9377">Here is the ritual that will open the meeting:</div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9379"><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></div><b class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196">Props:</b><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></div> </div></div>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none">OE mailing list<br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510085507559_26350" href="mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">OE@lists.wedgeblade.net</a><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">http://lists.wedgeblade.net/<wbr>listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net</a><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></div></div></blockquote></div><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></div></div></div><br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div> </div> </div> </div></div></div></div></div><div> <div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9364" style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:24px"> <div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9363" style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196y_msg_container" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9362"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9361"><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509650708615_9360" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;font-size:24px"><ul id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32418" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32420">large black plate (with 'shalom' in 3 languages).</li><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32419">3 large round pieces of flatbread, rolled up on the plate</li><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32422">large clear glass pitcher filled with water</li><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32423">large clear glass cup [= chalice]</li><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32417">large serving tray holding the above<br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></li></ul><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33375"><b class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196">Actions:</b><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></div><ul id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32450" dir="ltr" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32451">celebrant unrolls, elevates, and tears each piece of round bread in two, one at a time [* + ** + ***]<br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></li><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32451">celebrant tears off a tiny piece of bread and eats it</li><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32449">celebrant pours water from the pitcher into the cup, intentionally letting it "run over" until it spills out onto the tray (without wetting the black tablecloth!)</li><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32449">celebrant takes a sip of water<br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></li><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32449">celebrants distribute the 6 torn pieces of bread among the group to be passed and shared (as desired)<b class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></b></li></ul><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32480"><b class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33037">Words </b>(ad libbed)<b class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33037">:</b></div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32685">(while breaking the bread)<b class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></b></div><ul id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33201" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33200">We stand before the Word about the way life is and declare that our life is about brokenness, period. That the world we live in is just broken.* That our nation is deeply polarized.** And that our church body is deeply fragmented.*** The Word of Life is that when we dare to take our brokenness deeply into ourselves [eats bread] and feast on it for the sake of all beings, we are sustained in being.</li></ul><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32815">(while pouring the water)<b class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32816"><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_32817" clear="none"></b></div><ul id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33271" dir="ltr" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33270">We stand before the Word about the way life is and declare that our life is about expenditure, period. That we can't hide from the truth that our being is just poured out so that all may have life abundant. The Word of Life is that when we dare to expend our lives to serve a human world, our cup of life runs over. And we are sustained in being [sips water]. <br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></li></ul><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33150">(while offering the bread) <br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></div><ul id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33288" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33287">Bread for the journey!<b class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33136"><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33137" clear="none"></b></li></ul><ul id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33303" class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196"><li class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33302">Amen. Amin. Ameyn.</li></ul><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33112">**********************</div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33186">Let me know your thoughts.</div><div class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" dir="ltr" id="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509618474865_33296">Marshall<br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></div></div></div></div><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"><br class="m_-8600244875797072484yiv7570270038ydpc8d5def9yiv4391554196" clear="none"></div> </div> </div> </div></div></div></div>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br clear="none">OE mailing list<br clear="none"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">OE@lists.wedgeblade.net</a><br clear="none"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">http://lists.wedgeblade.net/<wbr>listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net</a><br clear="none"></div></div>
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</div></div></div></div><br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div> </div> </div> </div></div></div></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>______________________________<wbr>_________________</span><br clear="none"><span>OE mailing list</span><br clear="none"><span><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">OE@lists.wedgeblade.net</a></span><br clear="none"><span><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">http://lists.wedgeblade.net/<wbr>listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net</a></span><br clear="none"></div></blockquote></div></div><br><br></div> </div> </div> </div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div><br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>
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