U.M. General Conference 2012- A Time of Discernment

The Bishop, our communications director, and several other coworkers returned this weekend from two weeks at the United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Florida. The General Conference calls together delegates from all of the United Methodist conferences all around the world to discuss important denominational issues. 


The biggest change is that clergy appointments will no longer be guaranteed. "Guaranteed appointments are a major contributing factor to mediocrity and ineffectiveness, the ministry study commission told the United Methodist Council of Bishops at its recent spring meeting," wrote Heather Hahn of the United Methodist News Service. This concerns some pastors who feel they could quickly be dismissed if not viewed as effective clergy members.


"The Rev. Jim Bryan, senior pastor of Missouri United Methodist Church in Columbia, Mo., and a former district superintendent, said sometimes the most gracious and loving thing is for church leaders to help ineffective pastors find their true calling outside pastoral ministry," wrote Hahn.


Other issues discussed at the Annual Conference often had a fair amount of dissenting views. Part of the beauty of the United Methodist Church is that we gather together 988 international lay and clergy delegates to decide on a direction for the future of our denomination.  Much of the fodder on Twitter circled around the feeling of under-representation. While this may be true, we still should feel blessed that we are given the opportunity to peacefully convene together, rather than being locked out of a room with a handful of people making key choices for the future of the church.


May we remember to pray for these leaders as they have the difficult task to listen to God's people and prayerfully discern God's will amid many complex issues.

Discernment by Nausea

Hello friends! 

What a joy it was to attend the Susquehanna Conference, United Methodist Church Annual Conference this year! Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City, taught a series called "Leading Beyond the Walls" lessons in leadership, worship, preaching, and evangelism.

The series was full of wonderful tips to apply to our Christian walks, however today I would like to focus on just one. He termed it "Discernment by Nausea." 

As Christians we are often faced with choices to make. Sometimes we labor over the decision, weighing all of the factors. It is difficult to know which way God wants us to go. Hamilton suggests that often, we will be able to determine the way God is leading by choosing the option that makes us feel queasy. The option that makes us feel nauseous is most likely the one that is more difficult, risky, and uncomfortable. The other option is often easier, more convenient, and more 'logical.' Yet God did not call us to use our head to pick the practical choice, but rather to follow our soul's nudging. Mathew 7:13-14 tell us that broad and wide is the road that leads to destruction, but narrow and difficult is the road that leads to life. 

I wish I had heard this tip a few weeks earlier to encourage me in my decision-making process. Recently I was asked to give my testimony at a church fair, yet it conflicted with my vacation time. I labored, and labored over this decision because I knew that the way God was nudging me, would force me to give up good times and memories with friends and family. Plus, I would be speaking to a group whom I didn't know. Also, our praise team wouldn't be there to do the worship first, while I assessed my surroundings and became more comfortable. Excuses, Excuses. 

Yet, I still felt this strong urge to share my testimony. God has blessed me so much, and I really wanted to give back. But alas, the allure of the vacation won. Of course, I did enjoy my time away, however it was definitely a learning experience for me. I think it has made me more aware of the impact of every decision I make. Now when an opportunity arises for me to choose God's way, versus my own selfish way...I hope to be able to recognize the queasy feeling in my gut as a directional sign guiding me toward the choice God would have me make.

The vision of Rev. Hamilton's church is to DO WHATEVER IT TAKES, TO BE GOD'S FAMILY to the world. May we filled with God's strength and boldness, to live this out in our daily lives!


To watch Rev. Adam Hamilton's series from AC visit: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=209045249131676