Annual Conference 2009 and beyond

Annual Conference always gets me thinking, and this year is no exception. It's gotten me thinking about the role of the local church. Specifically, where does the local church (aka Richardson Park UMC) fit in the midst of the global monstrosity that is the United Methodist Church, and how do I help to connect the local church to what God is doing in the community and in the world? These questions are "big picture" questions which have answers that may or may not be related. So as I type these words, I am wrestling with God to try and determine the "big picture" answers. It is leading me to a better understanding of where we are going as a local congregation, and I certainly need to start working on one. As Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar talked about in his sermon from the Annual Conference's Ordination Service on Saturday night, you can't really know how to get from Point A to Point B if you have absolutely no idea what Point B actually looks like. My problem is that I believe Point B is so totally different from what I have experienced church to be (otherwise known as Point A) that I can't even imagine it right now. It feels like it's going to be a long summer of praying and dreaming. (Which is really pretty cool when you stop and think about it for a moment) I'll keep you all posted.