From April 23 to May 3, 862 delegates (half laypeople and half clergy) will flock from around the world in Charlotte, North Carolina, to address a myriad of issues that affect all of us in the United Methodist Church. Because of Covid and the canceled 2020 General Conference, it will be our first, full General Conference since 2016. It stands to reason there is a lot of work for them to do. But really, it is simply a scaled-up version of what we do every year in our Annual Conference locally as well as our local Charge Conference – we conference!
Since the (Protest)ant movement began with Martin Luther in 1516, we have stood firmly on the belief that God speaks through all of God’s people and not just some, like a pope or a bishop. We believe that all people are called by God through their baptism to serve alongside others in the church for the sake of Christ’s mission. Some are called to lay ministry, and some are called to set-apart ministry (clergy), but all are called to work together for the health and mission of Christ’s body, the church, at the local, regional, and global levels. We believe this system makes us a stronger connectional church. Now to be certain it is messy, as collaborative human processes are, but they are also creative, synergistic, and even inspired, especially if the Holy Spirit is present (see Acts 2).
Every four years, every United Methodist conference nominates and elects an equal number of clergy and laypeople to represent us all at General Conference. One of my proudest moments in 2016 was when my wife, Rev. Cammy Gaston, was the third person and the first woman elected to our Conference’s delegation. It spoke to the high regard with which she is held in our North Texas Conference, having served five years as a District Superintendent and six years overseeing leadership development with the Bishop. Consequently, I am very proud for her to be able to educate us at FUMC Plano on Sunday, April 21, about the larger issues facing them and us when they begin their work in Charlotte on April 23. I invite you to come on April 21, right after the 9 a.m. worship service in the Sanctuary, to listen and learn about how our church works on a global scale and how that impacts our work at the local level.
Moreover, I ask that you pray. There is so much hurt in the world and so much good to be done. Pray that the Spirit comes mightily upon that General Conference and surprises us all with the Spirit’s grace and movement, that the delegates might hear one another and act with one voice as that first conference did in Acts 2.
In the meantime, I look forward to our flocking together this Sunday to praise God in these Easter days. It’s what we do!
Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,
