CTC Annual Conference 2008

I have just gotten back from being the delegate for Good News to the CTC Annual Conference in Ft. Worth. I will have to say that it was a learning experience. As a life-long Methodist, I have always known that annual conference is where the major business of the Conference is done each June, but actually being on the floor as a delegate was enlightening. Bob was a "teller." He was responsible for counting votes and handing out stuff etc... So he could be seen, the Conference gave him this lovely ensemble which he customized!

Tuesday started with a session on Christian Conferencing. Delegates and clergy alike were instructed in the process of how to discuss church business, social issues and any material related to the church in a Christian manner. The presenter, Karen Greenwaldt was from Nashville and centered the learning on the theme of Methodism: Past, Present and Future. We framed our discussion around three documents we were given ahead of time, Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living by Rueben P. Job, An Invitation to an Upright Charitable and Discreet Conversation and Ten Provocative Questions for the United Methodist Church by Lovett H. Weems, Jr. This was a wonderful time of discussion and I am excited that Bob and I can bring this tool back to Good News.

After lunch, the main program was the Retirement recognition. Each retiring pastor and their spouse is given time to address the Conference. Talk about coming full-circle. I sat on the floor with Bob and watched Fred Winslow, founding pastor of Good News give his retirement address and Jonathon Mellette, our first music director wrote and performed an original piece for the retirement proceedings. Here are some video clips of Fred's words in three segments:

Evidently, when Sharon retired the year before and spoke at conference, she only gave Fred permission for a one sentence address as the spouse --- so this year, Sharon got one sentence to say farewell. At the end of the retirement recognitions, there was a symbolic passing of stoles from retirees to the prospective ordained clergy. Then the prospective ordained clergy were introduced. Here is our pastor before the annual conference body.

Final business of the day were presentations by the Church and Society Committee and voting by the conference body on resolutions ranging from advocation of an equitable living minimum wage to statements about Iran and Iraq from the Conference. This business, as you can well imagine, created lively debate on the floor and was going to continued on Wednesday.

While I was only able to attend a single day on conference, it was a great experience and one that as a life-long Methodist really brought home for me the concept of our denomination as a connectional church. We are all able and invited to come to the table. It is through our connection to one another, church to church and conference to conference that allows our denomination to make a difference in the world.

I was glad for the opportunity to be our delegate this year and support Bob at conference and then stay for his ordination in the evening.

Grace and peace,
Tim Lowke