Dear Mt. Pisgah family,
Pentecost Sunday was truly a gift! As I left the church on Sunday afternoon, my heart was full of thanks and praise. Many thanks to all our staff, musicians, and worship arts team.

As you read this, the 2016 General Conference is in its final hours. As you may have learned, there have been some heated discussions pertaining to the issue of human sexuality. What has been decided is that a general commission will be created by the Council of Bishops to examine all paragraphs in our Book of Discipline that relate to human sexuality. The United Methodist News Service reports the following:

Late afternoon May 18, the delegates voted to accept the recommendation of the Council of Bishops to delay a debate on homosexuality at this gathering of the denomination’s top legislative assembly and let a proposed commission study church regulations.

“We accept our role as spiritual leaders to lead The United Methodist Church in a ‘pause for prayer’ — to step back from attempts at legislative solutions and to intentionally seek God's will for the future,” said Council of Bishops president Bishop Bruce Ough in announcing the recommendation.

The bishops also suggested they might call a special General Conference in 2018 or 2019 to deal with such proposals, Ough said.

So what does this mean? I think we can glean that while the current position of the church regarding homosexuality remains in place, there are strong feelings about this topic. I am thankful that our bishops will be leading us in this time of discernment.

In the days to come there will be an opportunity to learn more from Mt. Pisgah member Marshall Bailey, who is a delegate to the General Conference.

The Christian life is not something we dutifully carry out. It is more than a religious obligation, it is a relationship. The third person of the Trinity is present and helps us experience a life of love and joy.

Join us this Sunday as we continue our series on The Holy Spirit.

See you in church!

Pastor Bob