Pastor Marilyn Gregory Elected "First Clergy"
Conference Elects Delegation
Six delegates were elected to represent Kansas East at General Conference in Ft. Worth, TX in the spring of 2008. Clergy delegates include: Marilyn Gregory, Adam Hamilton, and Eduardo Bousson. Lay delegates include: Luke Wetzel, Oliver Green, and Judy Atwood.These six will also represent Kansas East at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in July, 2008.
Congratulations, Pastor Marilyn!
Annual Conference opened with congregational singing of “We Are Marching” as Youth and Adults marched around Collins Center with flags and candles, setting the tone for worship, fellowship and business. Bishop Scott Jones’ opening message was “Envisioning Radical Hope,” challenging us to see the big picture to get in touch with God’s Grace and to what God is doing in our lives. During this Service a Potter was molding vases and as we went forward for communion each person placed a piece of broken pottery into a portion of mosaic to fashion the form of a dove, signifying our Unity in Spirit. The Memorial Service remembering those who joined the church universal this past year featured a Requiem by John Rutter presented by a combined beautiful choir. “The Journey of Love Continues” was the title for the Retirement Service when seven whom I always thought were “the kids” were honored. Time flies! The Youth Worship Service featured Sermonettes, well presented by four youth and some good lively singing! Even the adults got to movin’! Our Plenary Speaker was Gregory Jones, brother of Bishop Jones, Dean of Duke Divinity School who challenged us to not be satisfied with mediocrity, but to have a passion for a larger purpose. Don’t be“Go Back to Egypt People.” Claim the power of the Gospel!
Considerable time was spent in electing delegates for General and Jurisdictional conferences. Our own Marilyn was the first clergy elected! A rather prophetic act was that a young man just twenty years old was the first elected laity! Many hours were spent hearing reports from Boards and Committees that made you proud to be a United Methodist! A Capital Campaign Feasibility Study was presented and later the conference approved a 5.3 million dollar captial campaign to strengthen campus ministry, camping, new church starts and funds to revitalized existing churches. There were five Legislative Committees to deal with Petitions. Petitions come from anyone who has an issue or concern. In the United Methodist Church they afford an opportunity to dialogue around how our faith guides us in our thought patterns as Christians. As large as the United Methodist Church is, we do not all look at things the same way. I will share information on several concerns addressed by the conference in our next CareLink.
Three churches -- LaHarpe, Bushong and Church of the Servant -- were closed. Yes, there were times of sadness, times of remembering, but also times of humor and laughter. The closing Service of Ordination, Commissioning and Sending Forth was a moving highlight of conference as two Deacons and four Elders who have given themselves fully to the work of God were ordained. Bishop Jones challenged them that they shall receive authority to preach the Word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit; an extra dose! In a call to worship we prayed: “There are the streams that have led us here on this glorious day, O Lord. May our ways continue to bring You gladness.” That is my prayer for the Church, that we may bring gladness to the world and to God as God’s people!
Prayer changes things!