from Rev. Bill McBride: Being on a trial court (jury) puts one in the position of being a judge of one's colleague in ministry. Everyone involved in the trial proceedings were United Methodist Clergy, excepting the attorneys advising the sides. Here I was, in 11 total hours of deliberations with the task of assessing, deciding and measuring out a penalty for a fellow clergy. What I want you to know is just like in our church setting in Lake Mills, I approached this task with prayer, scripture study, and deep humility.
Not one of the 13 jurors and 2 alternates asked to be there. Yet we all took our work seriously, with great prayer and trusted that God would guide us to a decision that would be fair and just and seek always to build up Amy, renew the church and provide a way for growth and health for all involved. For me, our goal was not punishment but restoration and renewal.
Yet inspite of our hopes and prayers we understood that the final outcome of our verdict and the consequences we placed on Amy would be totally up to her AND the people we invited and brought into the collaborative process with her. We knew what we had to do and we understood that the media may spin it one way and those who disagreed with us would spin it some other way. But when you know what you have to do is the way God is leading you to go you must keeping moving in that direction no matter what the costs or the consequences.
You can find Rev. Bill McBride's blog at: http://www.lakemillsgrow.blogspot.com/
Blessings.
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