In the time of waiting

Dear brothers, sisters, and siblings in the Mountain Sky Area,

Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagle...s,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

- Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV)

This has been a tense week for United Methodists, particularly for us in the Mountain Sky Area, as the Judicial Council is deliberating on the question of law regarding the validity of my nomination, election, and assignment last July.

Emotions vary from all perspectives; however, there is one emotion we all share: anxiety. Anxiety is high as we await the decision of the Judicial Council. This anxiety is exhausting and distracts us from essential truths of our faith: God continues to love us and call us to build up the realm of God.

We anticipate the Judicial Council decision sometime this weekend. As soon as we receive word of it, we will be in direct contact with you, the people of the Mountain Sky Area. We will give you as much information as we can, with our understanding of the implications for our area. I ask that you be in prayer for the Judicial Council as they deliberate and for our beloved church.

In one of his sermons, John Wesley said, “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may.”

This is why I love Methodism – we have never allowed our difference of opinion threaten our unity, because our unity is grounded in something much deeper: our love of God and God’s people, which is what Jesus asks of us.

May we be tenderhearted toward one another during this waiting time. May we continue to hold each other in love.

Blessings,

Bishop Karen Oliveto