April 29, 2024
Dear Grace Church community,
The General Conference of the United Methodist Church began last Tuesday, with many prayers across the denomination for this long-anticipated meeting. Over the weekend Grace Church member George Kahl and I each made our way to Charlotte, North Carlina, to witness the deliberations as observers to the conference.
Today’s schedule included nominations for service within the General Conference, reports from the United Women in Faith (formerly the United Methodist Women), the United Methodist Men, Africa University and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and legislative proposals related to the central conferences in Africa. Wespath, which is the entity which manages pension and health benefits for the denomination, also made a presentation, much of which addressed a proposal to change the structure of clergy benefits in the upcoming years.
Having attended annual conferences for decades, I was curious to see how different a General Conference would feel from those yearly gatherings. Obviously, General Conference is a much larger gathering, with bishops, clergy, and laity from across the denomination present. But the feeling in the room, a feeling I would describe as energized and hopeful, came from more than just the increase in size. The United Methodist Church is a global church. Seeing that fact first hand affirmed for me the strength of our denomination and the gifts we share as a diverse and connected church. The second truth I took from today is the reality of change. Nearly each report presented or piece of legislation proposed began by naming how the world has changed and the church has a responsibility to adopt and adjust. And more change is likely ahead of us. And each report addressed these changes with thoughtful, prayerful and revitalizing ideas. Change is a fact of life. While the challenges the church has faced in the past years have been daunting ones, I left today’s proceedings hopeful and confident the United Methodist Church is rising to meet a changing world. Bishop Easterling, the bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, shared her own sense that this General Conference feels like a brand new day. I felt that spirit of newness as well and for that am excited and grateful for how God is at work. You can read Bishop Easterling’s reflections HERE.
God’s grace and peace,
Rev. Amy