General Conference cans and can'ts
Monday, April 28, 2008
As we enter into this second week of General Conference, I wanted to share some thoughts on what I think General Conference can and cannot do. I do so in my current UM Reporter column, where I approach the issue as one of form vs. content in ministry.
That is, General Conference has the ability to make changes in the form of the church, which (hopefully) will make the church a place more conducive to the Holy Spirit's work. The example I use here is the proposed alteration to the candidacy process. But even with changes made, it is still up to individuals and congregations to do the real work of ministry. I think that is an important distinction to remember, lest we be tempted to think that GC can be the cure-all for the church's ills.
May God continue to guide the work that is ongoing in Ft. Worth. Above all, the fact of the General Conference is a powerful witness to the faith of the people called Methodists!
That is, General Conference has the ability to make changes in the form of the church, which (hopefully) will make the church a place more conducive to the Holy Spirit's work. The example I use here is the proposed alteration to the candidacy process. But even with changes made, it is still up to individuals and congregations to do the real work of ministry. I think that is an important distinction to remember, lest we be tempted to think that GC can be the cure-all for the church's ills.
May God continue to guide the work that is ongoing in Ft. Worth. Above all, the fact of the General Conference is a powerful witness to the faith of the people called Methodists!
posted by Andrew C. Thompson at 11:43 AM
1 Comments:
Andrew,
I'm at Princeton right now for their annual forum on youth ministry and Darrell Guder is speaking on the "missional" church -- saying that the way that God works is first through call then through sending.
In the same way, I see General Conference as a prescriptive moment in the church. It's a time to admit what needs to be done and send people to do it.
You are absolutely right that it is the local church that must begin implementing what the members of GC are "sent" to do.
However, there is a huge communication gap here. Unless I went to the UMC website and Methoblog postings on GC, I wouldn't know much about what is going on. I'm sure that some of this is intentional to play down the hype of certain petitons.
But how will our pastors and laity hear the prophetic call to move forward? If we follow the model of calling and sending, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to be with us and to work through us as we try and fail and succeed in carrying for the mission of God...
~ Mike Holly
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