What difference does General Conference make to a small rural church in Oregon? More than you might think.  
            The United Methodist Church is organized by “Conferences” because its founder, John Wesley believed coming together for “holy conferencing” was the best way to let God guide the church. We continue that today with a General Conference meeting every four years to determine the structure, budget and programming of the United Methodist Church. Only General Conference can speak for the church. It does that through its Book of Discipline which contains the Constitution and rules of our church.
            This year the General Conference will consider over 1.500 petitions from church commissions and agencies, annual conferences, local churches and individual church members. But in a new look for General Conference, the budget discussion of the church will be focused around four areas. They are (1) Developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world. (2) Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and renewing existing ones. (3) Engaging in ministry with the poor, and (4) Stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally.
            So what difference does General Conference make to a small rural church? It decides what it means to be a United Methodist. When General Conference agrees to support the battle against poverty, hunger, and  killer diseases, or build new churches, or train qualified pastors, that’s OUR Church. We support it with our prayers, our gifts, and this year even with a church member. Our Annual Conference elected Greg Nelson and Donna Pritchard to be the voting delegates from the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference.
            Please hold the delegates, staff, and volunteers who will be attending General Conference in your prayers as they prepare for this event, and hold our entire church in your prayers as the 1000 delegates meet to work together later in April.  For more information about General Conference, check out the website gc2008.umc.org.  During General Conference, you can stay connected with our delegation at umoi.org.