J. Michael Thurman

For those of you who don’t know about "Annual Conference," here’s a brief primer.   The United Methodist Church is organized into regional groupings called "Annual Conference’s."   The best analogy to describe this unit of the Church is the diocese.  Like the diocese, the Annual Conference’s presiding officer is a bishop.  Like the diocese, there are several churches and clergy in each Annual Conference.  My Annual Conference is the Arkansas Annual Conference.  This unit encompasses all of the United Methodist Churches in Arkansas.  Every United Methodist clergy person must attend, as well as lay delegates from each church.  Thus, over 1,000 delegates descended on Hot Springs, Arkansas this week. 

So, what do we do at these "conferences"?  Well, when I started attending six years ago, we did business.  Sure, there were worship opportunities, but it seemed like the business was the focus of the week.  That has changed to the point that now the business is in a secondary or tertiary position.  In the primary position of the week is, as it should be, worship.   There is something powerful about people gathering from diverse places, with diverse views and beliefs, to worship the Almighty God.  

Sure, we did business.  Some of it was saddening as it involved removing clerical privileges from a couple of people.  We also discussed the recent revelation that the Conference’s long-time treasurer had been misappropriating funds.   These items weighed heavily on our hearts.   Other business was frustrating since it seemed to have nothing to do with our mission in the world.  Some business was important, yet contentious.   Some was just boring. 

The highlight of the week, for me, was one moment that was part of an important event.   On Tuesday night, many of the clergy donned black robes and red stoles to participate in the Service of Ordination.  About 400 hundred of us processed into the meeting hall at the beginning of this service. 

Bishop Crutchfield reminded us of our obligations and opportunities in his sermon.  But, the main event was commissioning and ordination.  

It has been my experience at ordination that most of the ordinands approach the kneeling rail respectfully, but with little more feeling than a commencement exercise.   One of this year’s ordinands reminded us that is not just a graduation exercise…  It is an individual taking sacred orders…that is being set apart for a particular ministry within the church. 

When Justin came to the kneeler, I saw in his face the same thing I feel when I kneel for communion.  I saw overwhelming awe at the realization that something special…sacred, holy, God-breathed…was happening and it was happening to him.  

In this moment of grace, he began weeping.  

Justin’s tears weren’t because he had come to a milestone in a journey that began over six years ago.  His tears spoke to the holy privilege and responsibility with which he was being vested.   His tears spoke to his awe at the work of God in his life. 

That moment…  That sacred moment washed away all the frustration of business sessions.  It washed away all the theological wrangling.  It left me knowing that I had seen the hand of God and the imprint it left upon one of my friends.   It reminded me of my own baptism.  It reminded me of my experience of communion.  It reminded me that my life is to be lived not for my own glory, but in service to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…and in love for all God’s creatures. 

I pray that all of God’s children experience something similar and that it leads us to rise from the altar and to go into the world to share that moment of grace with all people without regard to the color of their skin, the content of their bank accounts, or the manner of their dress.  

In that tear-filled moment, I could hear Jesus whispering to all of us: "Feed my sheep." 

Blessings,