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The 217th Session of the Annual Conference met at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. on June 7-10. This year's conference was the largest ever with 1,620 members registered.
The Conference began with sessions for Clergy and Laity at the same time. The Laity Session heard reports from U.M. Women, U.M. Men, and United Methodist Youth. The keynote speaker Tim Warner, director of the conferences lay-driven Holy Boldness Ministries urged everyone to Holy Boldness in faith and service.
The opening worship service on Thursday, June 7, was a stirring and spiritually challenging time. Bishop Felton E. May in his sermon reviewed the state of the church and then vowed to literally "take it to the streets." Bishop May vowed to make the streets of Baltimore City his parish as he witnesses to the love of Jesus in the midst of a terrible drug crisis.
Ministries throughout our conference were highlighted in reports and video presentations. Friday evening's Ordination Service at the Washington National Cathedral was a special occasion. Ordination always a sacred and majestic ceremony was made even more special by the guest preacher -- Bishop Vashti McKenzie, the first woman bishop in the A.M.E. Church.
At the Saturday session, Rev. Douglas Sands (brother of our own Clif Sands) covered the Conference floor with his Non-Violence demonstration. Rev. Sands has walked across every district in the Annual Conference. Bishop May commented that Rev. Sands has put his body on the line for his belief in non-violence. He challenged us to be models of non-violence in our work, in church, and community.
Saturday evening found attendees at the Washington Convention Center for a Disciple Celebration honoring Bishop and Mrs. Richard Wilke, authors of the Disciple Study. Rev. Dr. Zan Holmes was the guest preacher for the evening.
We know Rev. Holmes from the Disciple Study videos. The evening was a wonderful spiritual celebration. St. Paul members who are Disciple instructors and students especially enjoyed this service. Judy and Ernest Adams were overjoyed to see Rev. Holmes who had married them 20 years ago.
I watched with pride and joy Sunday morning as Rev. Dr. Evan Young (a son of St. Paul) and his congregation at Living Springs Christian Fellowship of U.M. Church were chartered as a new congregation.
The conference concluded with the Service of Life and Light and Holy Communion. This service remembers deceased members of the Conference -- clergy, clergy spouses and lay members. The Holy Communion Service is a fitting conclusion to these days set apart for work and worship.
Once again, I thank you St. Paul for the privilege of representing you as Lay-Member to Annual Conference.
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