General Conference offers inspiration

By the time you read this, I will be living in Ft. Worth for two weeks while attending the 2008 General Conference. By that time, you will begin to hear and read accurate and outrageous items about what’s happening while we meet. Even though I dread the physical exhaustion that a delegate can experience from the long hours of participation, I go to this conference with a high level of excitement.
I expect to be inspired by this conference for my Christian journey and for my future in the ordained ministry. Yes, we will make difficult decisions. I told members of the delegation recently that, though others serving on legislative committees might feel the weight of the world on their shoulders, I felt the weight of the universe on mine, since decisions about global warming and space weaponization are in my area.
Inspiration will come to me in the worship services, in the addresses made to the conference, in the stories of those who attend from around the globe and in the many surprises I will experience. One of the surprising and painful moments for me at the last General Conference was learning that the young man in my legislative sub-committee who had traveled ten days from Africa to Pittsburgh learned after his arrival that his wife had given birth to a stillborn baby, their first child, while he was making his way here. He couldn’t return to comfort her or experience the comfort of his own friends and family. I sacrificed nothing to be there in comparison to his sacrifice.
I have already been inspired this time by the Seven Vision Pathways of the Council of Bishops. These pathways are the result of a church-wide conversation reflecting upon the best examples of discipleship in annual conferences and local churches today. These pathways are listed below and are guidelines for our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
> Teaching the Wesleyan model of reaching and forming disciples of Jesus Christ.
> Strengthening clergy and lay leadership.
> Developing new congregations.
> Transforming existing congregations.
> Ending racism as we authentically expand racial/ethnic ministry.
> Reaching and transforming the lives of new generations of children.
> Eliminating poverty community with the poor.
Four Areas of Focus for the denomination are being recommended in 2008.
> Developing principled leaders for the church and the world.
> Creating new places for new people and renewing existing congregations.
> Engaging in ministry with the poor.
> Stamping out the killer diseases of poverty by improving health globally.
I am inspired by the large vision being offered that is rooted both in Christ’s teachings and in Wesley’s practices but reaching as far as the 21st century and as wide as the globe.
I can’t wait to discover how we are going to be the UMC Christ is calling us to be. I can’t wait to feel the Holy Spirit blowing through those meeting rooms!