The Bishop: Getting our priorities straight

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE
North Texas Conference

Are you ready for Annual Conference? All across the United States, United Methodists are gathering together to continue a long held tradition of what we call “holy conferencing.” It happens once a year where lay representatives and clergy from local congregations and in extension ministries get together. The time together is “holy,” in the sense that it relates to the work of Christ and His church locally as well as globally. It is the Annual Conference that is the connecting link of the local churches to the world. Decisions that are made during Annual Conference will determine the magnitude of difference we will make in the future with regards to disciple making, missions, and outreach.

The time together is called “conferencing” in that it involves all the churches, both small and large, lay and clergy, coming together to make decisions for the future. How do we conference well? The first step is to listen to one another. Various individuals and groups will offer opinions and ideas to help strengthen the church. We will not be able to pursue or move on all ideas and opinions, but we do need to listen to one another to the
point that we are able to hear all the ideas and opinions that are brought forward. Then, I would encourage us to not stop there, but to also listen for the voice of God that is in the midst of the many voices. As is often the case when the conversation is about opposing ideas, we need to look for and listen for the voice of God in the midst. I believe this is why Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I will be in their midst” [NASV]. Listening for the voice of God requires attentive prayer time and reflection.

This will not be my first time to holy conference. I have been involved in the process for well over 23 years as a pastor, and longer than that as a youth leader and child attending annual conference with my dad and mom. However, this will be my first time to be with you in the North Texas Conference. I look forward to presiding over the process. I trust that when it is all over that we will have listened to one another, listened to the spirit of God, celebrated and honored those coming in and goingc out, remembered those who have died in the faith, contributed to the larger discussion of the global church, helped to alleviate the pain and suffering of those in our midst and around the world, heard reports and presentations that move us toward our mission, celebrated the work of extension ministries, been inspired to boldly step out in faith for Christ, committed to share the cost and burden of ministry together, and finally prayed that God’s glory might be manifested in our time together. I look forward to our holy conferencing!