A United Methodist Pastor's Theological Reflections

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory (nikos) through our Lord Jesus Christ." - I Corinthians 15:57


Monday, September 21, 2009

The United Methodist Way - We Are a Connectional Church


Yesterday, Cheryl Foulk, Earl Bishop, and I served as presiding Elders for three annual church conferences hosted by Baltimore Christ United Methodist Church in their new facility. The purpose of a church conference is to meet each year to celebrate the past year's ministries, elect new officers, review the membership rolls, certify Lay Speakers, set the pastor's compensation, and eat cookies with icing on top after the meeting.

Cheryl presided for Fairfield Beach, Earl presided for Fletcher Chapel, and I presided for the host church. In addition to those three churches, six other churches met with their designated presiding Elders for their church conferences.

As I attended this church conference cluster of meetings at Baltimore Christ UMC, I was reminded that as United Methodists we are part of a connectional system in which churches support each other in our common mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

By presiding for Christ UMC's church conference, I feel more connected with the hopes and dreams of this beautiful congregation just north of Lancaster.

Our church will be privileged to host another of these cluster church conferences on Sunday, November 8, 3:30 P.M. which will also be the day that the church conference for Lancaster First will be held. All members of our church have voice and vote.

Come and join us on November 8 to celebrate this year's ministries, plan for another wonderful year of ministry in 2010, and offer radical hospitality to other United Methodist churches who will be joining us.

And hopefully, we'll have cookies with icing on top.

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