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I recently returned from the 2002 United Methodist Women’s Assembly held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I asked the Lord that the RENEW team have Gideon’s ears for the Assembly since there were so few of us and so many of them. We needed encouragement. God graciously answered that prayer with a "Yes." It was wonderful for the RENEW team to come back together after our Assembly interaction and hear just what others in our group had heard.

The best remark I heard was from an older woman at lunch on Saturday. I asked what she thought of the Assembly. She got a smile on her face and said, “There is a country song that says it for me, ‘Did I shave my legs for this?’” I had never heard of that song before, but it said it for me too. We talked more at length and her hope for the Assembly was that it would be a time of renewal, refreshment, and encouragement. She expressed deep disappointment in the heavy load of politics, the lack of scriptural integrity and highly questionable worship.

Though I am someone who does not like big cities, large crowds, controversy or discord, I found myself absolutely delighted to be passing out literature that told the truth.

I heard comments by many that truly grieved my spirit. These comments came primarily from those men and women, pastors and laity, who refused to even read what I had to offer. The saddest thing I saw were people pulling RENEW literature out of the hands of their friends, telling them, “You shouldn’t read that.” I want my friends to be informed about all sides of an issue, and here were people, supposedly friends, who were endeavoring to keep their friends ignorant.

One woman was very upset with pictures she had been sent by RENEW which originated with the Re-Imagining Community and are part of the materials studied regularly by a UMW-sanctioned group, called Sophia Circle, in the California/ Nevada Conference. The pictures and material studied obviously upset her, but instead of being upset at the Re-Imagining Community, the Women’s Division, or the Sophia Circle, she chose to attack RENEW, who had informed her of the truth. The old practice of killing the messenger who brings bad news comes to mind.

One woman who refused to accept any literature came back and grabbed my UMW nametag and said, “Just where are you from? Oh, Ohio, well that explains it.” I was not insulted--apparently the people from Ohio are doing a good job. I do feel sorry for anyone else from Ohio who stands against RENEW because they were the ones insulted by the woman.

Another UMW woman came up quickly and grabbed a whole stack of literature right out of my hands and ran away with them. The first thing that popped into my head was that since Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, He could certainly multiply paper. He must have since we had enough with some left over. I’m really glad I work for God Almighty who doesn’t call me to steal and can supply all my needs.

Many women were upset that we were passing out information and they would say, while taking it, “I’ll read it but I’m not gonna like it.” I always responded with, “That’s fine, I’m just glad you’re becoming informed. Thank you for taking the time to read it.”

There were also comments every day that were greatly encouraging. Usually these comments followed when the person intentionally looked at the front of what I had just given them, and knew that it was from RENEW. “Oh good, you’re the good guys." “This is what I really wanted.” “Keep up the good work.” And one woman said to her friend, “Take one--this is the good stuff.”

After each focus group women came up to me and thanked me for standing up and telling the truth. I sensed they didn’t have courage to do that when they felt so outnumbered--I’m praying for them to have that courage. Others who had been told lies about RENEW talked with us and found we, and they, believed the same things and were upset about the same things going on in the Women’s Division.

Thank you Lord for giving me Gideon’s ears. I needed to hear how it goes in the other camp.

In the Friday plenary session the Assembly participants were asked to fill out some cards, but since the meeting room was kept mostly in darkness, the people started calling out, “Let there be light.” “We need light.” And I wept as I prayed, “Oh Lord give them Your light.”

Having been to many UMW functions I find it difficult to participate with abandon. Because of previous experiences of worship being directed toward the earth, environment and who knows what else, I have grown suspicious. Many times I am unsure of just who is being worshiped. Many people participate in the worship thinking they just don’t know enough. They conclude that, if they knew more, or were more sophisticated, they wouldn’t have a problem with what it going on. They are right to be uncomfortable because it isn’t their lack of intelligence that is the problem. The problem is that they have a measure of discernment and the Spirit has informed them that all is not well. We need to learn to trust what the Spirit tells us. When communion is done (as it was at this Assembly) using words like earth, air, and water and the communion table is round, on a round platform with fire (pretend though it be) at four places around the perimeter and the spirit within you rebels--it does so with a reason. The use of the four elements (earth, air, water and fire) are common to Wiccan or pagan worship. I think it is remarkable that the leaders of the Women’s Division managed to duplicate it totally by accident (or so we hope).

The Bible study leader for the Saturday plenary session was Barbara Lundblad whose topic was “Rahab’s Subversive Song.” Ms. Lundblad strongly implied a sexual relationship between Rahab and the spies. She justified lying. The question was asked, “How many Rahabs have been killed by Israel?" Rahab was compared to the Palestinians and a pro-Palestinian, pro-Arab stance seemed to be part of Ms. Lundblad's presentation. Instead of singing “God bless America” she led the audience in an added verse to the same tune, “God bless the world we love.” I was not moved or inspired by her message and saddened to realize her lack of appreciation for the free nation in which she lives.

I had deep reservations about a number of the songs that were sung but I will highlight only one called “For Sake of Life” by Per Harling, one of the Assembly song leaders. The song repeated over and over the words, “For Sake of Life.” I was left wondering how an organization that believes all forms of abortion are fine, even the barbaric Partial Birth Abortion, could sing this song. It is beyond me. I grieve. There is a lot to answer for.

I pray for the veil to lift, for hearts to be opened, for the truth to be spoken and recognized. I pray that the remnant would not be deceived, and that we would have great discernment.

With tears for the deception and unfaithfulness that is--and what could be--I grieve.