Word on the street is that the referendum on joining the Missionary Church failed. The results from several conferences are floating around, and the Central Conference figures–just 44% in favor–were released on Wednesday and quickly made the rounds. I happen to have all of the results on my computer (except for Northwest Conference, which is counting their votes on Sunday). We’ll probably be able to publish the results on Monday. I’m thinking, anyway.

I’m pretty bummed out. I fear that the United Brethren church will enter a period of “experimentation,” trying this and that and finding nothing that works. I don’t see any good scenarios out there for us as a denomination. This pains me, since I’ve served the denomination my entire working life, and have never attended anything but United Brethren churches. I love this denomination, but fear that some dark, directionless days lay ahead. I feel that a huge, huge opportunity for a bright future has been lost.

Yesterday was the funeral for Fred Bauman, father of my good friend Tim Bauman, one of the guitarists on the worship team. Tim asked four of us on the worship team to be pallbearers. Just shows how much of a “family” we are. Fred and Lena hadn’t attended church for many years, but began about five years ago after Anchor started up (which is when Tim and Alice started attending). Anchor made a difference in Fred’s life, and they were extremely faithful in attending. Whatever happens in the denomination, Anchor will move forward.