GC Days 6, 7, 8

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 ><>

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GC Day 5

A creative worship experience opened the day with a "tent" set up for the Scripture Reading from Genesis (Abraham's visitors). Bishop Minerva Marcano then preached a wonderful and passionate message on our true allegiance, God over country and people over laws. As a Hispanic woman, she helped us see the responsibility of the church to care for people over law; to be compassionate to those who seek to better their lives, to care for their families and are dying to do it.

It's such a contentious issue. We are supposed to keep the law of the land, yet our laws seen to be lacking in compassion for some immigrants (called illegals). There is a sense that even our language (calling these people "illegal") is problematic, because we know that God doesn't view any human being as illegal. Jesus came for the least, not the greatest and even goes so far to say that to become the greatest we are to become the least. It seems to me that when we make such distinctions, we are then alienating not them, but ourselves.

After worship, I hopped a cab to Fellowship Church for worship. They have a new Fort Worth Campus that is only 2 miles from downtown and it just opened on Easter. A very welcoming place, in a very simple building that is still not completely remodeled, but had a great children's area, welcome center and The Source bookstore. (stuck in a corner and very creatively done.) An awesome worship band led the singing and gave way to a video message from the main campus. Today's message was from one of the pastors from the Miami Campus. His message I Got It! Was a challenge to allow ourselves to be engaged with the scripture, to own it and to share it. Not just this Sunday, but every time we hear the word of God.

His suggestion is to pray this:

(you) be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful [in your] (area of life). Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everyting written in it. Then you will beprosperous and successful. (name) have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged (by …source of your discouragement), for the Lord your God will be with you ( time and place of discouragement). Joshua 1:7-11.

So the brisk walk back downtown allowed me to think deeply about my own ministry. I wondered what it is that makes Fellowship Church so successful and I've come up with several things:

• Hospitality - In the 50 feet between the cab and just inside the foyer doors, I was welcomed by no less than 7 people with smiles and handshakes. Doors were held open and I was asked if my family was with me, then I was given a short tour of the building by another greeter. (even taken to the coffee area for a free cup!) I ended up spending most of the time before worship talking with a couple at the welcome center.
  
• Facility - It wasn't a starbucks décor, rather it was more like a store at the mall, plain cement floors (waxed, shiny and clean, though), warm colors, comfortable furniture. The children's area was bright and exciting, a radical shift from the muted colors of the foyer to brighter hues and simple cartoonish graphics, a separate children's welcome center (check in) and various classrooms led to programming for kids during each worship service. ( I watched many parents enter the sanctuary with security stickers matching their children instead of name tags. It revealed quickly who had kids in the kids area.) The sanctuary was simply, but packed with chairs. The stage was simple, black floor and walls with 3 screens side by side across the back. I only saw one empty chair in the front half of the sanctuary.
  
• Simple, Biblical Teaching that has obvious life application - There is no pretense, just practical life teaching. Even though the graphics were excellent, there were few of them. There was only one video and it was unrelated to the message.
  
• Worship - Excellent, and relevant. Simple from beginning to end with the core of it (one hour from beginning to end) was the message. (about 30 minutes)
  

The last time I came to Fort Worth I returned home with a new resolve to make the appropriate changes to my own ministry. Some of them have begun, but I have let some of the slide. I simply cannot afford to let them slide anymore; the ministry is too important. It's not that the church has to become something different, rather it is I who has to change. I have mentioned the goal of excellence, but I have allowed less from others and especially from myself.

The rest of the morning I listened in to the last part of the morning plenary. The rest of the day will be in legislative group and an evening of a "Taste of Texas." (Or to retire early to catch Desperate Housewives!)

Another busy day. I'll give you more of a report later. I have many things to think and pray about today.

Peace ><>

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