Holy Conferencing 101
Ashley and I are in Kansas for the week at the Kansas West Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. We have gathered with clergy, lay leaders, and other visionaries of the church to excite, unite, and invite. We have been inspired by speakers and introduced to new initiatives within the conference. I am digging it, but also know speaking about ministry at any type of conference isn’t really doing ministry.
Taking part of holy conferencing, as initiated by John Wesley, means also living into the expectation that the people you are conferencing with will hold your feet to the fire even when you g0 back to your ministry settings. As a new member in the Kansas West Conference of the UMC I look forward to this accountability. I hope it keeps me humble, keeps me centered, and gives me the energy needed to bring forward God’s Kingdom.
If you are at conference with me tell me how your experience is going. If not tell me how you seek accountability. Lord, knows a little accountability never hurts!
3 comments
Adam – Thanks for your post. I appreciate the refreshing reminder that it is a meeting tied to accountability throughout the year. I am looking forward to being in connection with you.
[...] Holy Conferencing 101 – some great reflections on #kswumc annual conference [...]
Well, I’m reading this a little after AC, but I wanted to comment anyway! Clearly AC has an organizational and “business” function, but I definitely think that one of it’s best opportunities is to be a place to develop a vernacular with the conference. A week after going home, I think the two vocabulary terms that have the most chance of sticking with us have to do with are Chabadza and being “infected” by the Holy Spirit. Chabadza for obvious reasons–it was a brand new word/new concept/new partnership and will continue to be discussed as we as a Conference explore partnerships with Zimbabwe East. The “infection” language of Dr. Vance Ross, though perhaps a little alarming, was picked up by Bishop Jones and woven through other “off the cuff” comments he said and even through the prayer he prayed for each of the districts in the reading of the appointments. It’s probably not a phrase that I would have advertised, but I “got” what he was saying and it has stuck with me.
On another note–I’m SO glad to have you and Ashley down the road and doing ministry here in KS! Looking forward to connecting.
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