Every four years our worldwide legislative assembly, the General Conference, meets to set direction for the denomination for the following four years.
General Conference is the only body that officially speaks for the church.
During the nine-day session, 992 delegates meet in "holy conferencing," and will revise the Book of Discipline, which is the book of rules setting forth how local churches, annual conferences and general agencies are organized. The book also sets policies regarding church membership, ordination, administration, property and judicial procedures.
The delegates also revise the Book of Resolutions, which compiles the church's position on a wide variety of social justice issues.
From our California-Pacific Annual Conference, 5 clergy and 5 lay delegates, plus 4 alternates, will be our representatives.
I am not a delegate. So why am I going, you ask?
To represent the members and friends of Hollywood UMC alongside Common Witness: the caucuses of the Reconciling Ministries Network and Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). We will be present, praying, serving, and telling stories to help transform the green tree of the General Conference to one of many colors; recognizing that we are all are rooted in the Body of Christ, and are all indeed one family of God.
Beginning next Wednesday: if you want to stream the worship services and other plenary sessions, log onto GC2008.umc.org
You can track all the latest information about legislation at the Reconciling Ministries Network blog, http://www.generalconference2008.org/
And you can keep up with me on this blog. I'll try to post every evening.
Meantime keep all the Bishops and delegates in your prayers. May God's spirit guide us to truly be one family tree, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
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