This Tuesday, every ordained United Methodist minister in the state was called to Oklahoma City for our biennial Orders’ Meeting. We began the morning with the Wesleyan Covenant Renewal Service, and were inspired by a sermon by our Bishop, Robert E. Hayes, Jr., who encouraged us to stick our necks out, take risks, and give our all in sharing the love of Christ. The afternoon featured a presentation by Dr. Elaine Heath, McCreeless Associate Professor of Evangelism at my alma mater, Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Two of her works include Longing for Spring: A New Vision for Wesleyan Community, co-authored with Scott Kisker, and The Mystic Way of Evangelism: A Contemplative Vision for Christian Outreach. In my opinion, her brand of outreach is refreshing in its ancient nature, looking more like the first Christian communities than anything we’ve come up with in the ensuing two thousand years or so.

Many of my colleagues balked openly at her presentation, which was frankly, sad, and in a couple of cases, downright rude. During the question-and-answer period, some showed a real fear that what they do in their jobs every week might be undermined by Heath’s work in forming home communities. My reaction to the presentation was quite the opposite! I was inspired by what she and her graduate students have taken on as a full-time project. Some of the students live in covenant communities, much like the one our former guest preacher, Shane Claiborne, described to us from his own life. They share the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, buying groceries, and they live by a covenant of rules. They invite folks in from their low-income neighborhoods in Dallas for a weekly meeting that includes worship, prayer and sharing. They really and truly ask the old Wesleyan questions from the band societies: “How is it with your soul?” “How have you fallen short this week?” They hold each other accountable. They take up an offering each time that is immediately disseminated into the neighborhoods for whatever someone might need: A new air conditioner, a new school uniform, or a bag or two of groceries for the week. Their network of communities has reached out to many different types of folks, many of whom are from refugee communities and who speak six or seven different languages. It must look like Pentecost in some of these groups at times, when among the ten or so people around the circle, five or six different languages of origin are represented.

I was inspired by her presentation and am encouraged to read more of her books. Unlike some of my fearful colleagues, I feel that a rising tide lifts all boats. Let’s celebrate the fact that someone is doing great work in the Dallas area, especially to include those who are so far from home and who need to feel the love of Christ. Way to go, Elaine!