Out of conviction, I voted no on a\npopular resolution at the MC USA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. I’ve been\nchallenged by some, while others have supported my vote. I wanted to raise my\nhand and cast a vote in the affirmative for the resolution against the abuse of\nchild migrants. The word “condemn,” however, used twice in the\nresolution, led me to vote against it. My table spokesperson graciously went to\nthe open microphone and explained my rationale to nearly 500 delegates before\nthe vote. With only minutes for me to decide on the revised resolution that\nlanded on my delegate table on Saturday morning, July 6, 2019, I went with my\ngut instinct and conviction. I cannot vote to condemn anything or anyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Theologically, I believe Scripture reveals that God is the one who may choose to condemn, not believers. Jesus warned against condemning others in the same breath as he warned against judging others (Luke 6:37). In principle, I thoroughly support the resolution aimed at the abhorrent abuse of child migrants. The weight of Scripture, however, seems to me to speak against the use of the word condemn. Though I only had a few minutes to decide on my vote, and my recollection of scripture was imperfect, my conviction led me to vote against the resolution, which twice used the word “condemn.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historically, I can find no MC USA\nresolutions that include the word “condemn.” Not even the 2005 MC USA\nresolution against the Iraq War contained the word. Previously, we in MC USA\nhave found ways to speak forcefully to the powers with language that has\navoided the harsh word “condemn.” The Editor of Gospel Herald <\/em>spoke\nout strongly against the U.S. government’s indiscriminate carpet bombing raids\nin the Vietnam War during Christmas, 1972. I remember that editorial because I\nturned eighteen at the end of the war and was next in line to be drafted.\nEditor Drescher’s scathing essay challenged the U.S. government to cease the\nwanton killing, but he did not use the word “condemn” (January 16,\n1973). As a descendant of radical 16th-<\/sup>century reformers who were\ncondemned by political and religious authorities, it gave me unease to vote in\nfavor of condemning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Culturally, I hesitated at the tone\nof the MC USA resolution on my table at Kansas City 2019. I teach high school\nsocial studies classes, and I encourage clear thinking, well-developed\nopinions, and carefully constructed essays. But I will challenge my students,\nfrom the left or right, not to “condemn” another who disagrees with\nthem. Argue and debate, is my teaching approach, and speak clearly, but avoid\ncondemnation of another. We live in an age of vast cultural and political\ndivides, with strident language often used in an attempt to destroy one’s\nopponents. I think a peace church should speak up against injustices, but avoid\nharsh and divisive language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I wanted MC USA to offer its delegates a resolution against the abuse of child migrants without using the word “condemn.” Then, instead of voting no, I could have offered my delegate vote in support.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Out of conviction, I voted no on a popular resolution at the MC USA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. I’ve been challenged by some, while others have supported my vote. I wanted to raise my hand and cast a vote in the affirmative for the resolution against the abuse of child migrants. The word “condemn,” … Continue reading Why I Voted Against the Child Migrants MC USA Resolution<\/span>