Roy’s Ramblings

So I didn’t really want to go to Annual Conference … sitting around hearing lectures … er, uh … sermons about how we just need to have faith and patience and that God will somehow miraculously make the church grow and become what it once was. To hear reports about old ministries that still reach the same people in the same way. To get stats on dwindling membership, lack of funds, and closing churches. This is what we have had for several years.

Oh, yeah, there would be the bright spots of seeing old friends, the diversity of worship styles and getting to eat at restaurants that we do not have access here at home. But to say I was … unenthusiastic … would have been an understatement. Even the theme had me wondering “All IN”. Was that meaning that we were to give everything we had to be all in (many of us have been doing that for years) or was this a call that we were to be totally focused on Indiana (or both). Didn’t know.

So, opening session, clergy only, and the Joy and the Spirit and the Message was so positive and uplifting … IT WAS AMAZING!!! We started with the song “And Are We Yet Alive” (as is out tradition) only set to the Bee Gees tune of “Staying Alive” … Bishop Malone preached and in her message were several positive bullet points: 1) It takes Disciples to make Disciples … you can’t give others water that you are not willing to drink yourself. 2)We are committed to be ALL IN … Church is NOT a spectator sport! 3) Take time for self care … you can’t help others fix themselves if you are falling apart. 4) Have fun in what you are doing and stop focusing on the naysayers and the curmudgeons. And all of this was in the first two hours of four days of time together.

Then we get to the business (usually boring reports from talking heads) and they spoke of the numbers of baptisms across the state and professions of faith, they speak of lay folks stepping up and stepping out, they gave reports of lives saved, lives changed, lives lived to the fullest. They spoke of hope and faith and joy. God is alive and well in the United Methodist Church and we get to be a part of it – making a difference – spreading the gospel message – Being ALL IN!!

I will be in DC for a week for National History Day and on Vacation for another week after that, but I look forward to ALL of us doing ministry together to Make Disciples to Change the World

Blessings – Pastor Roy