The Bishop: Getting our priorities straight

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE
North Texas Conference

Have you ever had the opportunity to sit with and speak to more than 600 young people who are considering ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church?

I had that privilege last week as I shared, ate with, and brought welcome and greetings to Exploration 2009. The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry sponsors the event each quadrennium, and this year it was held at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Dallas.

The event is for young people, with high school age through 24 years in attendance. They came from all across the United States, and several were from Germany as well. I also saw one of our Canadian missionaries in the person of Rev. Kathryn Ransdell as a member of the design team. Needless to say, I was delighted to see so many young persons from North Texas in attendance. Rev. Dr. Andy Stoker did an outstanding job!

Other North Texas clergy shared their special gifts in meaningful ways. Rev. Dr. Tyrone Gordon, St. Luke “Community” UMC, Dallas, was preacher for the opening worship Friday night and Rev. Dr. William B. Lawrence, dean of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, teamed up with Perkins colleague Rev. Dr. C. Michael Hawn to lead Saturday morning worship. Several NTC clergy served as workshop leaders and volunteer hosts.

The display area included booths staffed with deans, students and other representatives of the 13 United Methodist seminaries in the United States, and several denomination-related colleges were there as well.

We all talk about the future of the church and whether our children will have faith to carry on the tradition. Well, I’m a living witness that the church is well-served if the youthful and energetic excitement of these young people is embraced and empowered.

In speaking with several of these young people, I learned they were excited and anxious about the possibilities, but they really want to make a difference in the world. Their witness and way of doing church may be radically different from our past, but as I think back to the time when I was a young person, so was ours.

I would hope that we all will encourage, support, and involve the leadership of young persons in ministry – they have something important to say!