July 4, 2023
By Rev. Jay Therrell
About 14 months ago, I began a personal reading project. There is much I must read in my position, and I wanted something that I could pursue that was not church-related and that interested me. I am a history buff (some would probably say nerd), and one of my bachelor’s degrees is in political science. The American presidency has always fascinated me. Accordingly, I began a project to read a major biography of all 45 men who have served as president of the United States.
So far, I’ve completed 15 of them. I’ve gone in order starting with George Washington, although I had already read major biographies of Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant, Harry Truman, and Ronald Reagan. I’m about to start a biography on Zachary Taylor, and Millard Fillmore will be up next.
It’s been a fascinating undertaking, and I’ve learned a lot about our nation, leadership, and the dynamics between broken human beings struggling to decide who gets what, when, and how. As the United States celebrates its 247th birthday, I offer a few reflections on what I’ve learned so far.
The Struggle for Freedom
Particularly as I read biographies of the first five American presidents, invariably the Revolutionary War was a central part of their stories. These men were instrumental in leading the fight for independence so our country could be free from Great Britain. The fight for independence then led to the hard work of building a new nation. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe were all very different, but they also shared a common goal to see our fledgling country begin with as strong a foundation as possible in hopes that it would prosper and be a pattern for democracy around the world.
In our current season of struggles helping as many churches as possible to break free while we simultaneously helping to build the Global Methodist Church, I could see parallels all over the place. So many laity and clergy have made significant sacrifices so they could break free from a system that we feel mistreats us and honors us only with words but few deeds. Pastors have had to give up their credentials and in some cases their income. Laity have sacrificially given their time and treasure to lead their churches through a labyrinthine process and to afford enormous exit fees. Church property has been seized. Church families have gone through divisive processes that have shaken them to the core. People have had to file lawsuits as a last resort. Yet, we know that we are standing on the 2,000-year bedrock that is the Christian faith seeking to contend for the lordship of Jesus and the authority of scripture.
1 My favorite definition of politics comes from political scientist Harold Laswell, “Politics is who gets what, when, and how.”
Our forefathers and mothers did the same thing to ensure the U.S. would be a beacon of liberty for the world. Many gave their lives. So many lost their livelihoods. We can celebrate 247 years as a nation because our ancestors built into the DNA of this country the importance of standing up for what is right. Almost two and a half centuries later, we are doing the same thing for our faith. No one has lost their life, but the costs have been plenty. We are likely never to know on this side of heaven just how high they have been.
I am grateful for those that came before us that ensured the United States of America is a free nation that has been a lighthouse of liberty for centuries. I am also deeply grateful for all the laity and clergy who have stood in the gap, taken up their crosses, and followed Jesus.
Building a Nation Isn’t Dissimilar from Building a Denomination
Having just completed the biography of James K. Polk, I’ve followed the path of our nation up to 1849. Reading through the first 73 years of America’s history has also had interesting parallels between building a country and building a global denomination.
George Washington was a stickler for decorum and following the rules. He was cognizant that every decision he made was precedent-setting for our fledgling country. Adams faced all sorts of growing pains and tried his best to keep the nation’s rudder steady. Jefferson and Madison wanted to see our country expand in population and territory. (And yes, if we’re honest, there was good, bad, and ugly in all of this.) As the decades led on, factionalism began to grow, and as James Polk finished his presidency, you can begin to see how the nation was on a path to civil war over the sin of slavery.
I have watched some, not all, of the same things as the Global Methodist Church has completed its first year. I have watched a Transitional Leadership Council, denominational staff, provisional annual conferences and districts, and transitional conference advisory teams work hard to forge a strong foundation. It’s obvious that so many of our GMC leaders are deeply aware that everything they do during this season might set a precedent that will be important in the future.
There have also been growing pains as our new church has grown rapidly. In just 13 months it has added just shy of 3,000 churches and 3,300 clergy on five continents. Infrastructure has had to be created rapidly and people have given sacrificially. We are on a mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ and our job will not be over until as Paul wrote in Philippians 2:10-11, “…every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
God Bless America! America, bless God!
On this 247th birthday of the USA, I continue to pray that God will bless this nation. I also pray that America will bless God. I also pray that our Lord would bless the Global Methodist Church, and that through her efforts, His kingdom would continue to expand so that everyone might know His saving love and amazing grace. Amen!
The Rev. Jay Therrell is the president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church.