[RMC News] [2008 General Conference News] Delegate Reflection April 26 Eric Smith

[Strickland, Skip]

The following remarks are written by Reserve Delegate, The Rev. Dr. Eric Smith, District Superintendent from the Peaks and Plains district of the Rocky Mountain Conference.  Eric reflects from Fort Worth, Texas as he is attending the General Conference:

A Glimpse At Future Hopes
 
 
     A Future With Hope is the theme of the 2008 General Conference and so far my hopes for future of the United Methodist Church have been revived.  I have had glimpses of a church that truly wants to lay claim to the promises of Jeremiah 29:11:   “For I know the plans I have for you,” saith the Lord, “Plans for good, not evil.  Plans to give you a future with hope.”
     As the Conference proclaims, we, the Worldwide United Methodist Church have a future filled with hope.  I am happy to report that Hope may be battered and worn but Hope is not on life support.  I saw glimpses of Hope in the opening worship as she joyful danced in with the Bishops and laity in the opening worship.  I saw glimpses of Hope symbolized in the Communion Table that was made from trees that had been destroyed by hurricane Katrina’s rampage through the campus of the Historic United Methodist Gulf side Assembly Retreat Center in Mississippi.  The communion table symbolized the hope we have in the promise,  “Behold, I make all things new.”  (Revelation 21:5)
I glimpsed Hope as she stood around the Communion table and blessed the elements for our first Communion together.  At the Communion Table Hope reminded us, “what unites is stronger than the issues that threaten to tear us apart.”  (My thanks to one of our lay delegates Kunle Taiwo for this statement)
     I glimpsed Hope as she gave us the Youth and Young Adult report.  The youth and young adults who gave that report were Hope’s children and they reminded us that we do have a future with Hope.  I glimpsed Hope in a Legislative Sub-Committee as the delegates with sensitivity and reverence discussed a petition that wanted to make “Transgenderism Among Clergy” a chargeable offense.  The sub-committee voted to disapprove that petition.
     Yes these are small steps toward a truly, united, inclusive and diverse church but it is the beginning of our dance with Hope.  It’s early in this General Conference, but I pray that our conferencing will truly be Holy and that we continue to see glimpses of Hope for our future.
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