I knew that I did not get anything posted yesterday as my computer battery died early in the day and I didn't have the energy to post last night when we were finished (about 11:00). Then I realized that I hadn't posted on Monday either! Sorry for all of you who are checking up on what's going on. I'll try to summarized as best I can. (for what I miss you can check out news at www.gc2008.umc.org.
Monday:
Bishop Ernest Lyght began the morning calling the church to , "Wake up!" It was Jesus' parable of the persistent neighbor who sought bread to feed his unexpected guests. We were challenged to remember that we have bread to share, even after midnight, the time of crisis, the time of need; bread that as Martin Luther King Jr. described is "the bread of faith, the bread of hope, and the bread of love."
Bishop Coyner presided at the morning session that began the first full day of plenaries. At this opening session, we elected new members of the Judicial Council and University Senate.
Later in the day the Ugandan Hope for Africa Children's Choir. They were each orphaned or vulnerable before being "rescued" by Bishop and Mrs. Wandabula. The 23 children sang and danced into the hearts of the delegates and guests. Their faces were filled with hope and love and after we saw the conditions from which they were rescued, we understood, many through tear-filled eyes. Their energy and beauty encouraged us all to keep up what we are accomplishing in our missions around the world, especially in Africa.
I couldn't help but think of the work of Kendra and Aaron Jessen, who have heard this calling, to rescue children in this part of Africa. My prayer that they are capable of accomplishing what is in their hearts in the same way the church has for these kids.
The afternoon and evening were filled with debate and votes on many items. Some of the Legislative committees worked through out the day to complete their petitions. A busy day came to a close with most of us falling asleep just as the head hit the pillow!
Tuesday:
Bishop Mark Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America brought the morning message on this Ecumenical Day of General Conference. Coincidently, Monday the GC approved the full communion between UMC and ELCA. Bishop Hanson reminded us that while the vine is to bear fruit, it needs to be firmly rooted in order to grow and thrive. The vine also needs pruned in order to bear the most fruit. We, the Church, must be rooted in Christ and be pruned of all that keeps us from the diversity and unity that Christ sought for us.
The day's activities led us to a great blessing with the address by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. She is a United Methodist product of schools and church and is the first democratically elected woman head of state in Africa. The place was electric with excitement, especially when she left the stage to greet the gathered Liberian peoples in the front rows. That's when the Secret Service Agents scrambled nervously! But fortunately there were no problems, just a joyous celebration. We gathered both North and South delegations for dinner together including Bishop Mike and Marsha and along with Bishop John Hopkins and his wife. Slowly we are getting to know each other. This year will be interesting as we begin to get acquainted in this new relationship.
As the evening wore on, everyone getting weary, some of our delegates decided to retire which allowed me to "get in the game" so to speak, and sit in for the rest of the night. It allowed me to see this process from another perspective. One thing I discovered is that paying attention is critical, because things move very quickly. It's easy to see how quickly you can get weary just from the level of attention that has to be paid. I didn't speak, voted a few times (hopefully in the right way) and enjoyed giving someone a break. That's why I'm here. Maybe this evening I fill in again and get in on the exciting stuff yet to come!
Wednesday:
Bishop Violet Fisher challenged us to remember that Jesus didn't pass by Samaria like most Jews of the day, instead, he went through Samaria. Some texts say he had to go or that it was necessary. Samaritans were considered on the fringe of society. His going through was a justice issue, extending to the woman at the well a universal invitation that goes out to all humanity. Jesus did not need the affirmation of the disciples just as we do not need the approval of our boards or committees to reach to the fringes of our communities.
Simply put, the story of the Samaritan Woman at the well is a story of inclusivity of women and of culture. Racism is still active in our world today, maybe not as much as in the past, but it still lives. Bishop Fisher reminded us simply that
Racism does not belong in the Church!
One of the most beautiful things about our church is its diversity. While we are primarily a church of the United States, that reality is quickly changing. The church continues to grow in many places around the globe, especially in Africa. There are more delegates from the Central Conferences at this General Conference that at any other time in history, and with the steps we have taken, these will continue to grow. Seeing the tapestry of race, hearing the harmony of languages, experiencing the commonness of hospitality and love among us is an encouragement that A Future with Hope is surely what we have in the UM Church. (That's the theme of the 2008General Conference.)
Well, I'm trying to listen to the plenary as I write this. The discussion is on homosexuality and violence, so I better listen. There is good dialogue taking place and I'm missing some of it. So more later.
Peace ><>
pc
2 comments:
WOW... got to be on the floor! I am glad you had that opportunity! Still praying for God's love and grace to guide the conference!
Praying too for rest for all! Tell everyone they are in my thoughts and prayers!
i continue to be thrilled that this experience has been so rewarding & re-energized last night. in prayer last night, i mentioned (at least to God) that i can't wait for worship sunday & some conversations in days to come. looking forward to a rejuvenated spirit which i know will shine through.
what an honor to hear the president (and a groundbreaking one at that) of a country like liberia speak. i can't imagine the stories she no doubt shared, given all of the tension that has plagued the tiny country over the last few years.
interesting that you mention aaron and kendra as well...ironically, i heard from them just recently and your prayers are absolutely and deeply needed and appreciated. they continue to run into walls, but, as we would hope, continue to approach their mission with the perspective that it is God's purpose for them to be there, despite all the roadblocks Satan continues to throw at them. there are savage forces at work, yet they continue to look for the next opportunity to keep their mission alive. they are bent, but not broken...and the fight continues.
at the same time, though, i can't help but think that something like the ugandan choir, through which the kids are removed from the destructive environment, sure seems to be the only legitimate hope for any of them. but there again, in that little bit of doubt, there is the devil at work. and again, they continue to fight.
as to the racism issue...i am shocked at first, then i guess not suprised, that it is an issue worth mentioning in the context of a church. how can something so divisive and hateful find its way into a mission with Christ at the center? He accepts ALL of us...and we are to do the same. end of story.
god bless the final day of your journey. we'll have some powerful worship tonight at COFS & be missing you...but looking forward to seeing you Sunday.
oh, and just FYI...during our usual "random conversation" section of praise team last night, mere & i agreed she could throw up on me anytime, and i might even hold her hair back.
just thought you'd like to know. ;)
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