Traditions VS Discipline

Last weekend we were bombarded with information from special talks held in both CLMC & CMC. The talks were about "Small Groups in the Methodist context" and "Structures & Disciplines of the Methodist Organisation" <-- Roughly like that!

Finally, CMCA has invited an expert in this field to come and clear the confusions within the Discipline context that has over the years created problems and dissensions in the CMCA. Basically, I'd say nearly all the top leaders of CMCA are completely gobsmacked at what they heard.

A lot of things they thought was the "true & right" discipline was in actual fact, a tradition. Another example was of the small group, where no one knew they existed previously until in 2007/8 where we proposed the additions unto our Discipline. If that didn't happen, I really don't know how the talk last weekend could go on as the core foundation of the talk relied on small groups.

A good lesson for everyone of us, if you doubt the discipline, don't just accept it blindly. Look for it in writing word for word and not relying on "I/We think it's....". Don't even get the personal interpretation fool you!

The Discipline itself is a guideline for the organisation to act in an orderly manner, not as a barrier or stumbling block, not as a control mechanism for power greed individual or used as an absolute truth where no one can challenge it.

Now that we know how flexible and how to utilise the Discipline in a proper manner, it can only be good news for CLMC in the days ahead.