Saturday - April 19, 2008

Greetings! Welcome to a "Moment with Mike" where I plan to share my observations and reflections from the General Conference of the United Methodist Church which convenes next Wednesday (April 23) in Ft. Worth, Texas. This is my first attempt at "blogging," but thanks to my expert computer tech (Dr. Pam Petty), I should be able to get these comments to you in a timely fashion.

Thus far, I have learned that
(1) it is best to make one's own housing reservations,
(2) previous delegates were telling the truth re the amount of "stuff" delegates receive in the mail prior to Conference,
(3) being a delegate, and a husband, and a father, and a DS (especially during appointment season) makes the weeks/days prior GC very "eventful" (or, event-FILLED),
(4) the "united" part of our denomination will be challenged over the next few days,
(5) our confidence must be in God's faithfulness as we enter these uncertain days.

I have been assigned to the "Conference" legislative committee which will consider the three petititions that propose re-structuring the UMC into central conferences. Key question: What does it mean to be a "global church"? Being on the frontline of this debate, I will be able to keep you posted on this conversation. I have been receiving emails, phone calls, letters and invitations to dinners from groups on all sides of this issue. Stay tuned!

Let me hear from you. I cannot promise to answer every question, but I am very interested in your thoughts and concerns. I ask for your prayers as we seek know and do the Lord's will in this fascinating, often troubling, work in progress called United Methodism.

Above all, let us remember that Jesus is Lord.