General Conference 2008 - Who Cares?

On April 23 – May 3 The United Methodist Church will hold it’s General Conference in Fort Worth Texas. I'll be attending as one of four clergy delegates from our annual conference (the North Central New York Conference). As the top policy-making body of the international United Methodist Church, General Conference is the only body that officially speaks for our 11.5-million member denomination (13 million if including baptized children who have not become members). During the nine-day session, 992 delegates will revise the Book of Discipline, which regulates the manner in which local churches, annual conferences and general agencies are organized. The conference revises The Book of Discipline (book of church law) and Social Principles and adopts resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for churchwide programs for the next four years.

For United Methodists, General Conference is a big deal. That said, most of us know little about what goes on there or what impact General Conference might have on the day to day affairs of a local church like the Lansing United Methodist Church. I'd like to change this by sharing with you as much as I can about what General Conference is about. Look for articles here, in the “Church At Work” bulletin insert, and in our monthly newsletter (The Sunbeam). Also, during General Conference look for photos and daily reflections on on this blog while I'm in Fort Worth.

This is our Church and what happens in Fort Worth this spring will shape our future together. Let’s be informed.