Quite a day today…make that “quite a LONG day today”! The highlight without a doubt was the music of the HOPE FOR AFRICA Children’s Choir. Their voices, smiles and genuine joy filled every heart and brought us to our feet more than once. Bishop Wandabula put it best on the video presentation: “No wonder they are going to be the future of our nation.” We will have the privilege of hearing them at Annual Conference in June. They also will share at Franklin 1st UMC on Sunday morning, June 1. DON’T miss these special ambassadors of God’s love and joy. Once you hear them, you will know what I mean. I also enjoyed the Asbury Theological Seminary luncheon today with Ellsworth Kalas and the Higher Education Commission dinner tonight. A group of students attending UM-related schools blessed us with their music as well.

An interesting thing happened re the Judicial Council elections. Previously this week, the Board of Church and Society registered its complaint that an unofficial caucus group passed out cell phones to delegates from the Central Conferences, attempting to sway their votes on these elections and other matters before the GC. What happened today is even more interesting. This morning, a “moderate” group put together a list of candidates and placed it on the desks of certain delegates before the election. Would you believe that every one of those nominees, clergy and lay, were elected in the exact order of that list? I asked the BCS if they were going to mention that in their next publication as well, but have not heard from them.

A couple or three other matters. The proposal from my legislative committee (Conferences) went through with a few adjustments after the minority report was voted down by less than 100 votes. A study group was given “guidelines” to prepare a report to the 2012 GC re how the UMC can live into a more global church. This petition did NOT approve or endorse a regional conference or conferences for the USA, but allows that discussion to take place. I can live with that for now. The GC also authorized a new hymnal for the church to be revealed by the 2012 General Conference. The youth/young adults questioned the need for it, but Tom Lankford’s group was given the go-ahead by the majority of delegates. And, bishops will be able to be assigned to areas until their 68th birthdays (presently, 66). Thus, their retirement age will be 72 years of age rather than 70. A petition re mandatory retirement for clergy at age 72 has not come before us yet.

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Things will get more interesting from this point on. Stay tuned.