Pastor's Update

Greetings!

On Christmas Day 1784, about 60 Methodist Circuit Riders (plus some guests) gathered at Lovely Lane Chapel in Baltimore, Maryland. They came together to hold the first Conference, for what would become the Methodist Church in America. During that 10 day Conference, Francis Asbury was elected and consecrated as "Bishop" of the new church. They also adopted Articles of Religion which would shape the theology of the church. Plus they ordained 12 new preachers as Circuit Riders. Quite a busy and productive Conference as the Methodist Church in America was born!

I have a confession to make to you, I am not one who enjoys Annual Conference. There are parts of Conference I thoroughly enjoy, such as seeing friends that I have not seen during the year. I also enjoy the diversity of the worship experiences that are planned. I do not enjoy the business meetings which are long, often boring and sometimes quite painful. Although this year, as I sat and worshipped with a couple thousand other United Methodists, and even as I sat through some of those painful business sessions, I reflected back to that first Christmas Conference. I was reminded about what it means to be United Methodist.

When I say that I am a United Methodist, it means that I have a heritage of heroes. It means I walk in the footsteps of men like John Wesley, Charles Wesley and Francis Asbury. It means that as I stand in the midst of the Conference, I am called to remember the first 700 Circuit Riders, riding through the wilderness on horseback, braving pestilence and the elements. I remember their passion for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ because I remember that out of the first 700 Circuit Riders, nearly half died before they were 30 years old and two-thirds died before they had served 12 years. I also remember when they sang the Wesley hymn, And Are We Yet Alive, and sang the line "and see each others face" they meant it. They looked over those gathered in the room to see who survived and who did not. I remembered that I stand on their shoulders, and I paused long enough to give God thanks for reminding me of what I am part of.

I left Conference, appointed for another year to Parkway United Methodist Church, but I left Conference differently this year. I left knowing that we have many hurdles to overcome, that money is tighter than I would like, and our debt is larger than it should be, but I also am reminded that I am not alone as I lead Parkway. I am reminded that God is with me, even till the end of time (Matthew 28: 20). I am reminded that I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). For the first time in awhile, a sense of peace and hope fills me.