Nothing Stays Won (May 2, 2026)

Photo: In the palm of my hand a mustard seed, from Bishop Philipp’s sermon taken from Mark 4.

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O Lord, open our lips

And our mouths will proclaim your praise.

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Good morning friends. For me today is a day to consolidate, having been on the road for about ten days and heading out for a few more tomorrow. But it is good work. I plan to rest, catch up on some laundry, watch some baseball and basketball, and perhaps take a walk, and maybe a nap.

We were in Jacksonville last week for the meeting of the United Methodist Council of Bishops.

Our president Tracy Smith Malone (Indiana) concluded her term, and now Bishop Ruben Saenz Horizon Texas) will lead us for a two year term, taking us to the General Conference, which will be in May of 2028. In Minneapolis. Both are excellent spiritual leaders and wonderful human beings.

During the sessions we learned about migration, democracy and suicide prevention; we went deeply into the history of native peoples in the United States and what can only be described as genocide; we looked at data about U.S. local churches; and we met the new executives who will lead the work of finance and the general conference.

Each morning began with covenant groups; mine was superbly led by Bishop Christian Alsted of Europe. Our group included bishops Lizette Gabriel-Montalvo of Puerto Rico, Pierre Ntambo (retired, Katanga), Bruce Ough (retired and former COB president), Cynthia Fierro Harvey of Texas, and Joao Sambo of Mozambique. Over time we have become very close. We then moved into worship. The sermons, by bishops Kristen Stoneking (Mountain Sky), Deb Kiesey (retired, Iowa) and Werner Philipp (Germany), were deeply scriptural and inspiring. And then we took up the work of each day.

Two smaller conversations were of great importance to me. Over lunch we learned about the progress of Encounter with Christ in Latin America and the Caribbean. My connection with Encounter goes back to meeting the founders Wilson and Nora Boots when I was in my twenties, and more recently seeing Ardell Graner, who was a missionary there. My friend Clarke Campbell-Evans of the Florida Conference is the new mission interpreter.

And I had breakfast with bishops Knut Refsdal and Christian Alsted, who serve northern Europe but also Ukraine. Our annual conference will vote on a covenant relationship with Ukraine next month, and Bishop Alsted will be our Bible Teacher.

A bonus for me was being able to see a number of laity and clergy whom we knew over ten years in the Florida Conference. Some I had ordained, some I visited with and preached in their churches, some like Alice Williams I worked with on the Commission on a Way Forward, and Alex Shanks, who is the assistant to the bishop and also served as project manager for the Commission. Lastly, we ate delicious seafood (BB’s, Blue Fish) and BBQ (The Bearded Pig). And as I noted on FB, Pam and I had a wonderful dinner with Bishops Rudy Juan and Ciriaco Francisco at Purple Roots (Filipino).

The Bearded Pig (with thanks to Derrick Scott!)

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And then, the long drive up I–95 and I-26, and home! I paid $4.09 a gallon for gas in South Georgia.

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The Supreme Court decision this week (Louisiana vs. Callais) severely weakened the Voting Rights Acts of 1965, and was deeply disappointing. We are in a period of regression, weakening the checks and balances of the different branches of government and allowing more and more influence by fewer and fewer people, particularly those purchasing major media through mergers, blessed by political influence, and making government less representative of the people.

I believe that every person is of equal and sacred worth. I also believe that every person has dreams for themselves and their children and families. Collectively we have a stake in creating a society that makes it possible for people to achieve their dreams. While our story is not unblemished–the genocide of Native Americans and enslavement of Africans being the most prominent stains on our nation’s history—we are a country that provides remarkable opportunities for many people.

One of the pathways to opportunity has been public schools. My mother was a lifelong public school teacher, I attended public schools from k through college, and thus any provisions and opportunities afforded us have flowed in part from this government service, which is slowly and steadily being privatized and eroded. There was a massive protest about this yesterday in Raleigh.

As Mavis Staples sings, “We’ve got work to do.” And as I said a few months ago, “Nothing stays won.” And so, we need to remember than faith the size of the smallest seed can be used of God.

My copy of the May edition of The Atlantic arrived, and today I will read Noah Hawley’s article on “What I saw at Jeff Bezo’s Campfire Retreat”. I love his writing, from the novels to the Fargo series.

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I have been listening to Pablo Torres Finds Out (podcast) and I recommend the two-part episode about the relationship between Harvard University and Jeffrey Epstein. Harvard is mentioned 8,900 times in the Epstein files. For comparison, Donald Trump is mentioned 38,000 times (New York Times). I watched the meltdown last night of the Orlando Magic vs the Detroit Pistons. The Magic had the series within their grasp, had a 20+ point lead, and then proceeded to miss 23 consecutive shots. Yikes. Duke signed an imposing seven footer for next year, from Barcelona. Yes, the lines between professional and college no longer exist. I am still in a Merlefest musical state of mind. I watched the Shape of Sound (UNC Television) episode with Jim Lauderdale and Old Crow Medicine Show on YouTube. And I have gone back to more instrumental music–Donna the Buffalo and String Cheese Incident.

I am reading The Wisdom Years by Margaret Silf, which is about the last quarter of life as a spiritual journey, and I am in a monthly zoom group that explores this. I am praying with Give us This Day. And I am grinding the beans. At the moment I am enjoying J Brooks’ “Spirit of Memphis”.

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I am deeply grateful for the community that reads these reflections and constantly surprised to meet people all over (even at Merlefest) who read them. Thank you again for sharing, subscribing and recommending. And thank you for your friendship and the connection.