[RMC News] [RMCdirector news]2008 General Conference Two Stepping Report April 24th

[Strickland, Skip]

Two Stepping from Texas
General Conference 2008
Fort Worth, Texas
Walter “Skip” Strickland &
Olon Mulford Lindemood
 
Thursday, April 24, 2008
 
After Janet Forbes skillfully led the Western Jurisdiction Delegation meeting, day two started in the place that was the center of the night before, the Table of the Lord.
Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher offered the Episcopal address offering a witness to the Global and Local power of the United Methodist Church.  The whole of her address was woven through the Eucharistic Prayer of Great Thanksgiving.  As she sent forth the elements to be shared she said,
 
“Remember the General Rules of Wesley:
‘do no harm,
 do good, and
stay in love with God.’”
 
During the Episcopal Address, Bishop Christopher made note of our Rocky Mountain Conference Ministries.  Rev. Yong Hui V. McDonald’s ministry within the Colorado Prisons that has expanded so significantly with the publications of her editing of the inmates testimonies.  Also we watched Rev. Kay Palmer Marsh being interviewed.  It was a proud moment for the Rocky Mountain Conference.
 
 
Bishop Bruce Ough continued to share the vision of the Pathways from the Council of Bishops:
The Seven Vision Pathways of the Church continue to bring focus to the Bishops’ message of leadership:
1.  Teaching the Wesleyan model of reaching and forming disciples of Jesus Christ.
2.  Strengthening clergy and lay leadership.
3.  Developing new congregations.
4.  Transforming existing congregations
5.  End Racism
6. Teaching and inviting new generations.
7.  Eliminate Poverty
 
Then The Four Areas of Focus were articulated:
 

   1. Develop principled Christian leaders for the church and the world;
   2. Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and revitalizing existing ones;
   3. Engaging in ministry with the poor; and
   4. Stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally.

 
(the four areas of focus were presented by Bishop Felton May, Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, Rev. Jerome King Del Pino, Rec. Larry Hollon)
 
We were again reminded that 40 years ago 
 the United Methodist Church was formed in near by Dallas.  Yes, 40 Years ago on April 23, 1968, The Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church United for form our current UMC.
 
Bishop Christopher stands tall before the conference as she continues all morning guiding the leadership reports of the General Church leadership.  The Connectional Table report centers on the goal of a child to eliminate malaria in Africa.  She raised $40,000.00 so far. The conference delegates CHEERED!  Wow 
 from a child we shall be lead.  She started raising money when she was six with a diorama that included a bed with a net and a toy bug.  Yes a little girl by the name of Katherine Commale.  She knew that she could save another child’s life.
 
Then came Bishop Mary Ann Swenson. She took the front stage during the presentation from the General Council on Finance and Administration.  She preached in revival voice that the GCFA presents a budget than can offer witness to the transformation of the world.  On the big screens were the words: “Strangely warmed”
“Hearts Fired!”
And Bishop Swenson’s gentle grounded voice saying, “entering the waters of transformation that will birth the future
”  Yes an unlikely Episcopal glance at the work of the GCFA.
 
The Young Peoples address
 first ever!  Skip is on the floor 
 Literally.  He is there to find the best photos of our own Young People 
 He is there in the center of the activity that brings a message of a future.  The first presenter, Kira, is from Russia.  She speaks in Russian and the text is on the screen in English.  The report of the Global Young peoples gathering in South Africa was a testimony to movement from Legislation toward a conversation for “holy conferencing.”  They gave witness to listening 
 “We started to stand next to each other as we listened instead of Talking over each other!”
 
Andrew Craig began with a quote from Mahatma Ghandi “There are people in the world so hungry that God can only appear to them in the form of bread.”
Andrew was not large in statue 
 but he was majestic in voice of advocacy for the poor
What will you do the next time you walk / drive by a homeless person? And then Andrew confidently concluded his remarks by returning to the words of Ghandi:
“There are people in the world so hungry that God can only appear to them in the form of bread.”

“The church yearns for young people 
 Young people yearn for a place to belong!”  So began Annie Rigo Arnoldy.  Church does not appear to be the place that identity can be formed.  They are in cafés and coffee shops and bars and living rooms 
 These are the places where young people are looking for fulfilling the desire to belong!
 
And after Lunch the Laity address.  Lyn Powell challenges all laity, “The invitation is up to us.”
 
WOW 
 WHAT A DAY!
 
Then the delegates were off to start the Legislative committee work.  And into the night they went 
 into the night 
 ‘till 11pm many, others even longer
 into the night!
 
On behalf of Skip, we feel privileged to be here sharing with you all some of our reflections and our observations of a huge event.  Please know that our intent is not to have comprehensive coverage of the activities of the General Conference.  Our desire is to watch the events being proud that we are from the Rocky Mountain Conference!  If you want complete or specific coverage, go to the UMC.org site and click on the menu bar for General Conference.
 
Today’s observations by:

April 24, 2008 

Olon Mulford Lindemood  
Assistant to the Rocky Mountain Conference Director of Communications, Walter “Skip” Strickland.(Skip's trying to figure out the Video Camera)
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mail.rmcumc.org/pipermail/rmcnews_rmcumc.org/attachments/20080425/be79bf08/attachment.html