Is there Life after General Conference?
May 4th, 2008General Conference is NOT the place where meaningful conversation about contentious matters takes place. There is very little opportunity to have a respectful debate about an issue when there are 1000 people present and when one bishop on a stage looking at a sea of people tries to pick the 4 persons who are allowed to speak before the limit on debate kicks in! For this reason, I do not believe General Conference can be the venue for informed, spirit-led thought and decision-making ought to happen. There is simply too much riding on the decisions made.It is, however, a rich experience to be with over a thousand people (delegates plus visitors) to engage in worship that stirs the heart and soul, with music and liturgy and preaching that is rich in diversity and serves as a model of what United Methodist worship ought to be. General Conference was for me an opportunity to see the church from an entirely new perspective. This was my fourth General Conference. Three other times, I sat in the delegates’ section, trying to get the attention of a presiding bishop, sometimes unsuccessfully. Now I understand why. There are too many persons wanting to speak, and the human eye can only see clearly up to a certain distance. I observed from the stage of the convention center. What I saw was a miracle of many different persons, from different places, with languages and dress and mannerisms that declare the colorful, varied palette of our Creator. That these varied persons represented the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church as a worldwide church was evident. We can be proud of our diversity.But there were also signs of racism. One person I overheard complained about the need for language translation. “Wouldn’t it be better,” a delegate said to another delegate, “if only African delegates who speak English fluently were elected to come to General Conference?” The friend agreed. I silently thought that these two persons should be sent to a conference in Asia or in Africa where the conference were conducted only in Tagalog or Portuguese. I wonder how they would fare in such a setting!I left Portland 15 days before I returned. It was a long trip. The Council of Bishops met for five days prior to the opening of General Conference. It was an incredibly long time for me to be away from Portland! Needless to say, when I returned, I rejoiced to be back. I find joy and fulfillment in my work as your bishop. So I was happy to land at PDX and to reach into my bag to get my sweater out again. It was two weeks since I had last worn it!And so, General Conference is a memory. Its effects will continue to govern the way we do ministry. There are many changes that are in store for us in the next four years. But we have much to do as an Annual Conference. There are many disciples to be made and there is transformation that must take place in our world as we hold to our Wesleyan mandate to : Do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God. For one, we are moving toward Annual Conference! I hope you are excited about our annual conference! I look forward to seeing you there! Until then, let’s care for ourselves, our families and loved ones, our churches, and our faith!
