[RMC News] [2008 General Conference News] Delegate Report for April 25th Youngsook Kang

[Strickland, Skip]

The following remarks are written by Rocky Mountain Conference General Conference Delegate, the Rev. Dr. Youngsook Kang, District Superintendent from the Metropolitan district of the Rocky Mountain Conference.  Youngsook reflects from Fort Worth, Texas as she is attending the General Conference.  Her reflection is for April 26th. Youngsook is serving in the important role of "Chair of the Agenda Committee" for the General Conference.  She is before the whole of the conference each day guiding the legislative process:



Nurturing Hope:
 
As morning worship begins, my eyes are fixed upon the beautiful banners hung high up on the stage.   Today’s worship theme is Nurturing Hope, and I see an astounding image of trees connected to the roots on the banners.  “As leaves are connected to the roots, we are connected to the spirit of Jesus Christ,” Bishop William Hutchinson proclaims in his sermon.  The rural celebration which followed worship was an extension of the theme of Nurturing Hope.  Don Ford (yes, our own), as one of the presenters for the celebration talked about planting seeds of hope in every place.   
 
This time I am experiencing the General Conference through the eyes of a person who is “responsible” for guiding the order of the General Conference business.  I was elected as the chairperson of the Committee on the Agenda and Calendar for the General Conference, therefore, am deeply involved in the decision-making process for daily proceedings.  I am learning first-hand what it takes to determine and guide a very complex schedule of the general conference.  It is a tremendous amount of work, but I feel privileged to serve the general conference in this capacity.
 
The work of legislative committee began yesterday (Friday) and will continue through Sunday.  This time we have 13 committees dealing with almost 1600 petitions.  Some of the highlights of the work of my Ministry and Higher Education Legislative Committee are as follows:

    * The Committee has adopted a petition to consider all current petitions that will affect the ordering of ministry.  In other words, the petition to refer them was rejected.  This reflects a prevailing sentiment that the United Methodist Church needs to streamline the ordination process, especially for young people.
    * The Committee has adopted a petition to continue the Study of Ministry Commission through the 2009-2012 quadrennium.
    * The Committee has adopted a petition that pastor in charge may request that the bishop grant local sacramental authority to the deacon to administer the sacraments, in the absence of an elder, within a deacon’s primary appointment. 

 
Of course, these petitions will still need to be adopted by the plenary, and yet, these decisions may be part of a milestone for the ordering of ministry of the United Methodist Church.  The church is an active movement, not just a static institution.  I pray that the wind of the Holy Sprit continues to move us as we deliberate the petitions before us for the rest of the conference.  Thank you for your continued prayers.
 
Youngsook C. Kang
Clergy Delegate
District Superintendent
Metropolitan District
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