We've Only Just Begun

Well, it has gotten underway. At 6 pm Wednesday, April 23 – 40 years to the day and just a few miles from Dallas, since the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodists united to form The United Methodist Church – the opening communion service started the 2008 General Conference. Although the official gaveling of the conference did not occur until a little after 8 pm when the plenary began, the conference traditionally begins with this opening service of Holy Communion.

It was a good service with excellent music and liturgy, complete with dancers. The table was presided over by Bishop Janice Huie of the Houston Area, preacher and the outgoing President of the Council of Bishops and Bishop Gregory Palmer of the Iowa Area and the incoming President of the Council of Bishops. Our own Victoria Rebeck was one of the deacons who also took part in the service.

The evening plenary was taken by a major revision of the Rules of Order and a merger of the Rules of Order Committee with the Commission on the General Conference. Although this was a lot of structural material, it will enhance the functioning of this and future General Conferences. One thing removed was the language that required the delegates to vote on a committee’s recommendation rather than on the item itself. Thus, if the committee recommended defeat of an item, and the delegate wanted to vote for an item, they had to vote “no” in order to vote to approve an item. Now the committee’s recommendation will be announced but the item itself will be voted on.

Today until mid-afternoon, the flavor has been very different. The Episcopal Address was delivered by Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher. It was well done and sprinkled with lots of multi-media material and set totally within the context of the liturgy for communion. We also heard from the Connectional Table on the seven vision pathways and the 4 thrusts into which each of these pathways fit. The first-ever address by young people was very moving. I hope that it is placed on the general conference website for downloading or at least for watching. What a wonderful group of youth and young adults from across our entire connection! They focused on how important it is for us to stay united regardless of what tends to divide us.

The laity address occurred in the afternoon and, in comparison to the other two addresses, was anti-climactic. It did focus on some simple ways in which laity can be invitational with those who have no church without being overbearing or obnoxious.

Yet to come today is the organization of the 12 legislative committees and their initial working meetings this evening. We begin Friday at 8 a.m. with a Minnesota musical group under the direction of Lyndy Zabel. After a 15 minute concert, they will also provide the music for the morning worship service.