Annual conference sketch
I use the word "sketch" because I don't have full details on everything that happened, nor do I have a handle on the long-term implications of some of the critical actions taken.
First, it was wonderful just to see colleagues. The 2009 session of California-Pacific Annual Conference was one day shorter than last year, for obvious reasons. The price did not seem to be less. Oh well. My family and I caught a ride with Rev Samuel Chow, a good friend and colleague, now serving at San Gabriel UMC. After settling in at Founders Hall at the University of Redlands, we took our lunch. Walter quickly jumped into action with the other PKs waiting tables in the cafeteria. It gave him some meaningful activity with others in his age range and the potential to make some spending money.
In the afternoon we joined the Orders of Ministry session where we were introduced to Dr Randy Maddox of SMU/Perkins. It was a pleasure to hear him that afternoon and for the rest of the week as he led Bible study and sometimes laid subtle challenges to the conference status quo. Leading a study of Jesus' sending of the 70 in Luke 10:1-3, he remarked that it is the Lord who sent them out. It is God's mission, not our mission. We respond obediently to God's calling and sending. Too often I think we propose and send ourselves with our own agenda.
We joined in meal with several connections, our alma mater, Claremont School of Theology, The Order of Saint Luke (my connection), the missionary luncheon where we both shared about the mission in Singapore, and the Extension ministry luncheon.
One hot issue was the case of the 32 constitutional amendments passed by General Conference last year. These need to be approved by a 2/3 margin of all the annual conferences. I have not actually seen the results, but I heard that they were approved, but not without significant debate. More on that next time.
--georgos
First, it was wonderful just to see colleagues. The 2009 session of California-Pacific Annual Conference was one day shorter than last year, for obvious reasons. The price did not seem to be less. Oh well. My family and I caught a ride with Rev Samuel Chow, a good friend and colleague, now serving at San Gabriel UMC. After settling in at Founders Hall at the University of Redlands, we took our lunch. Walter quickly jumped into action with the other PKs waiting tables in the cafeteria. It gave him some meaningful activity with others in his age range and the potential to make some spending money.
In the afternoon we joined the Orders of Ministry session where we were introduced to Dr Randy Maddox of SMU/Perkins. It was a pleasure to hear him that afternoon and for the rest of the week as he led Bible study and sometimes laid subtle challenges to the conference status quo. Leading a study of Jesus' sending of the 70 in Luke 10:1-3, he remarked that it is the Lord who sent them out. It is God's mission, not our mission. We respond obediently to God's calling and sending. Too often I think we propose and send ourselves with our own agenda.
We joined in meal with several connections, our alma mater, Claremont School of Theology, The Order of Saint Luke (my connection), the missionary luncheon where we both shared about the mission in Singapore, and the Extension ministry luncheon.
One hot issue was the case of the 32 constitutional amendments passed by General Conference last year. These need to be approved by a 2/3 margin of all the annual conferences. I have not actually seen the results, but I heard that they were approved, but not without significant debate. More on that next time.
--georgos
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