I have sought to distill the flavor, aside from the politcal undercurrents and machinations of man, that occur whenever a group of people gather to "conference," in this annual conference report of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church held June 2007 at Grove City, PA. This years theme, "God will make a way", flavored everything that occured. "God will make a way to ignite the fire again in the hearts of those called United Methodists", we were told. John Wesley's own words were quoted, " I set myself on fire and the people come to watch me burn". We were challenged to set ourselves on fire with love and committment to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ not worrying about what other people would think of us if we did so. We were reminded that God still speaks to those who attend the roar and the whisper of the Holy Spirit, and we were reminded that it is not about us, our life, our work, our desires, but it's about God. As God's children, we were reminded, we want to go our own way, think we have a better way, but only God knows the best way. And what is the best way? The speaker, Reverend Vance Ross, told us. "Here it is", he said, " this symbol of agony, despair, pain, this instrument of cruel Roman torture is converted to a symbol of joy, hope, grace and promise; the cross."
With this in mind, the people of the Western PA Annual Conference were thanked for their hopeful giving, the highest in history, of our mission shares. A pastor from a hurricane Katrina stricken area came in person to thank our conference and all the PA conferences for sending the most aid and relief, about 85 million dollars worth, to them in their time of greatest need. We were informed that Methodists across the conference had donated over one million dollars now to the Believe Again initiative.
The bishop did some extensive fund raisng for the Nothing But Nets Campaign to raise money to purchase insecticide permeated nets for ten dollars apiece to be sent to Africa to cover sleeping families, keeping them safe from malaria carrying mosquitos. Every thirty seconds a child dies from malaria in Africa and this can be prevented with a simple ten dollar net, he told us. On the final day of the conference, he had people dancing their Nothing But Nets offerings and pledges up the aisles to the ushers in rhythm to African music, what a celebration! Forty thousand dollars was raised that service!
We were challenged to try to outgive God for one year. It can't be done. You cannot outgive God your time, money, tithe, talent, energy.
During the conference Tom Kennedy received his PROBATIONARY MEMBERSHIP AND COMMISSIONING along with ten other individuals. And our former pastor, Thomas J. Michalko was granted incapacity leave with benefits. The laity award for the DENMAN AWARDS was presented to Luella Krieger, who we have been blessed to see her presentation of Ruth one year in our sanctuary and during our VBS one year a guest appearance as Winnie the Whining Clown. Laity and clergy voted on who would represent them at the General Conference in Texas in 2008.
During the sessions we were told to discern not what was popular, but what was right. We were reminded that as Christian we are not called to make decisions by majority rule, but by God's rule. With that in mind many topics were discussed, some passed to be sent to General Conference this year for policy consideration and some did not but will surface to be discussed again at another time. I was in a section that was asked to discuss and pray about wether or not the practice of homosexuality was compatible with Christian teaching or not and also allowing homosexual persons to become members of the United Methodist Church. Other issues discussed were the War in Iraq and the situation between Isreal and Palestine. I discovered that among the clergy, much better schooled in scripture than I, there was not the concurance I would have thought in these matters. For now, as a conference, we have decided to study these issues. "The main thing is not what you think or what I think." We were told about these things. "The main thing is our ability to discern what God’s will is for us. The main thing, quite simply is Jesus and our opportunity to make everything we do and say an offering to the glory of God and a demonstration that we love God SO much we can’t help but love one another. God delivers we were reminded, broken hearts, broken dreams, abuse, misuse. God still changes lives and revives churches. God will make a way. Believe it, Receive it, share it. May it be so. May it be so."
1 comment:
Pam...good take on annual conference. I would suggest that the struggle over sexuality in the church transcends the issue itself, and really has to do with the authority of Scripture in the church.
Although we argued whether or not homosexuality was incompatible with Christian teaching, we once again held that Scripture is the primary authority for how we measure and interpret the Christian faith. Some suggested that Romans chapter 1 was not to be taken as highly as the gospels, and that Jesus never mentions homosexuality. I am glad we held our ground.
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