"Unity of affection is a good step forward toward unity of judgement"

John Wesley and the early Methodists were no strangers to conflict and disagreement and occasionally even to physical danger, but I have to believe he would have been taken aback by the degree of deep distrust and sheer mean-spiritedness of the recent General Conference.  One of its most noted features was its distinct lack of Christian love, let alone evidence of the much longed-for "way forward."  In the early days of the Methodist movement, Wesley profoundly admired the Moravians but they eventually parted ways because of theological differences, ending some friendly relationships and straining others nearly to the breaking point.  Finally, some 25 years after the last time he'd seen one of those former friends, James Hutton, they reunited and enjoyed a cordial, warm conversation, and he wrote Hutton the following letter a few days later -- 

December 26, 1771.

DEAR JAMES,--It really seems the time is come when our Lord will roll away our reproach, and Ephraim shall no more vex Judah, nor Judah vex Ephraim.

Frank Okeley and you, with my brother and me, so many at least, are lovers of peace. After having seen above half a century of years, we are sick of strife and contention. If we do not yet think alike, we may at least love alike. And, indeed, unity of affection is a good step forward toward unity of judgement. We need not despair of getting farther by-and-by: the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass. Nothing will be wanting that is in the power of, dear James,

Your old friend and brother, JWesley

If church history teaches us anything, it is that things change, and sometimes, old conflicts are eventually resolved, olð disputes ended, old wounds healed.  Not always, of course, but sometimes our better angels do hold sway and lead us into paths of reconciliation. There's no way of knowing if a half century from now will show a very different picture from today's fragmentation within United Methodism, but if Wesley and James Hutton were able to love even where they could not think alike, it might not be unreasonable to hope for that, to work for that, and to pray for that in our own broken relationships.  At the very least, we should strive to love each other since we claim to love the same Lord, and who knows what might happen?  For as Wesley said, "unity of affection is a good step forward toward unity of judgement."  And after all, the hand of the Lord does indeed bring mighty things to pass, sometimes through us, sometimes in spite of us, and anytime that happens, whenever Love prevails, it is always a good step forward; it is God's way forward.