United Methodist interfaith commission dismisses leader

By Linda Bloom*

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UMNS) - The Rev. Larry Pickens has been dismissed as the chief executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

The Rev. Larry Pickens

The action by commission members came Dec. 5, upon recommendation of the personnel committee, after several hours of discussion in executive session during the body's Dec. 4-6 meeting.

Retired Bishop Albert F. "Fritz" Mutti, who served as the commission's president from 2000-2004, was elected as its interim leader.

Pickens, 49, who was a commission member from 1988 to 1992, became its chief executive on July 1, 2004. He succeeded the Rev. Bruce Robbins, who left at the end of 2003 after 17 years of service, including 13 years as its top executive.

"The United Methodist General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, meeting in Birmingham, Ala., expressed its deep gratitude for the service Dr. Larry Pickens has given to the commission, The United Methodist Church and the ecumenical and interfaith community," commission members said in a written statement.

Beyond its statement, the commission declined to elaborate on the reasons behind the decision not to re-elect Pickens, who was the first African-American in that position.

"The board of directors of the commission spent three and a half hours in intensive conversation regarding the future leadership needs of the commission," the statement said. "Conversation was frank, passionate and included significant differences of viewpoint."

Bishop Ann Sherer, the commission's current president, said directors "talked at length about what we needed in order to lead the commission" and "finally determined we needed to thank Dr. Pickens and seek new leadership."

A search committee for a permanent chief executive was named the next day, and Mutti was expected to arrive in Birmingham to meet with staff. The commission is based in New York.

Listening for God's call
Pickens told United Methodist News Service that while he was disappointed not to be re-elected, he was grateful for the experience. The commission's action "does not in any way end my ministry," he said, but does open up new opportunities "to envision what God is calling me to do at this particular stage."

Pickens said he understood the commission's vote was very close. "One would hope for consensus in this type of matter," he said.

A clergy member of the denomination's Northern Illinois Conference, he has a bachelor's degree from North Park University in Chicago; two master's degrees from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill.; and a doctorate of ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary. Pickens also earned a law degree from DePaul University in Chicago in 1997 and is a past member of the Judicial Council, the denomination's Supreme Court.

Pickens said he's proud of what he accomplished during his tenure. "I have attempted to create an atmosphere at the commission that is open to collaboration with other agencies, that is responsive to the realities in which The United Methodist Church finds itself ecumenically," he explained.

He is pleased that the strategic planning process now established will allow the commission "to go forward into the next quadrennium with a strong direction." Priorities include continuing discussion on the future structure of worldwide United Methodism; building relationships with annual conferences and local churches; organizing long-term interreligious dialogues; and fostering unity within The United Methodist Church. The commission sponsored a consultation on the global nature of the church last May in Atlanta.

"Unity is not a condition of sameness but a willingness to embrace others in their differences," he added. "I think that's part of the struggle that we have to work through in the life of the church."

Staying connected
Pickens led a nine-member commission delegation to Cuba in October 2006 to meet with Cuban Methodists and provide a witness to the importance of relationships - both Methodist and ecumenical - in the life of the Cuban church and its people.

He also has been active in the commission's participation in a study committee established by the 2004 United Methodist General Conference to consider the denomination's historic, current and future relations with Methodist churches in Latin America and the Caribbean. That group conducted a consultation in Panama in March and is bringing legislation to the 2008 General Conference.

He remains supportive of the commission's work and expects to continue as an elected member of the Central Committee and Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches. "I see that as an opportunity for me to remain connected to the work of the ecumenical movement," he said.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.