Tuesday Brief
General Superintendent Max Edwards & Judy
April 28, 2026 I’m Praying for a Remarkable Unity As we prepare to gather at General Conference in just under 90 days, I am more certain than ever that our deepest prayer, and highest aim ought to be a powerful spirit of Christian unity in our gathering. We should not lightly ignore this admonition, for it opens the doorway for the Lord’s blessing: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (Psalm 133) Jesus prayed for unity in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest: “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one … May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me ...” (John 17:20, 23) Paul strongly advocated for Christ’s church to be in unity: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3) But make no mistake, I don’t believe that uniformity is required for unity! I am NOT asking for entire agreement on every opinion. Indeed, may good ideas be replaced by great ones! I am NOT asking for rubber-stamping of every proposed action. Careful analysis and questions are welcome! I am NOT imagining that my ideas are always the right ones. I’ve lived too long to fool myself in that regard! But like Wesley himself, I am asking that we all be guided by love, unity, and grace. In his defense of the Methodist movement, he clarified his thoughts regarding a purity of heart where it comes to unity and peace in Christian societies: “… Only see that your heart is right toward God, that you know and love the Lord Jesus Christ; that you love your neighbor, and walk as your Master walked, and I desire no more. I am sick of opinions; am weary to bear them; my soul loathes this frosty food. Give me solid and substantial religion; give me a humble, gentle lover of God and man; a man full of mercy and good faith, without partiality and without hypocrisy; a man laying himself out in the work of faith, the patience of hope, the labor of love. Let my soul be with these Christians wheresoever they are, and whatsoever opinion they are of.” (Excerpted from Wesley’s: A Farther Appeal to Men of Reason and Religion)