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| Me & my bestie Bishop Jim Dorff |
I
decided to sleep in on Saturday; I was greeted in the morning by coffee at my
door as well as the beautiful baby of my pastor, Caleb. He was grumpy, much
like I was ( it’s why we get along). I rode the shuttle bus to the convention
center and got to have great conversations with the most delightful persons who
are advanced in year. The 3rd
plenary session reminded me once again that the UMC is a massive bureaucracy as
we discussed the Unification Implementation Team’s request to suspend our
standing rules – their request was not amendable or debatable so it was really
more of an edict than a request. Pensions were brought up and approved, blah
blah blah.
What was
really interesting was the move to replace the Rev Abby Parker (Austin
District) with Rev Pamela Dykehouse (Corpus Christi), The Corpus Christi
District’s argument, from the floor anyway, was that they had no representation
on the board that Abby Parker was nominated for, the Transitional Uniting
Table. Their assessment was fair, a very American “No taxation without
representation”-esque move, but I found it interesting that Victoria District
which also wasn't represented on the that Table didn't move in a similar
fashion, also I’m surprised that Abby Parker, the only deacon on that Table was
the one targeted as well as the Austin District, when the San Antonio District
held the most seats. But, I digress – a vote was taken to see who would make
the cut and Rev Parker won by the closest of margins, then we moved on to
another vote as the Corpus Christi District worked to replace another nominee
with their own, their move failed and some members of their district took to
Twitter to complain (a move I make myself all the time). Complaints were valid
as well; Rev Ryan Barnett tweeted about how unfair it was that the only
district that paid 100% of its apportionments wasn't being represented on the
Uniting Table or the Unification Team.
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| Reverend Jasmine Smothers and myself |
Then
came our worship service, like a wave of grace. Let me say this, our speaker Rev
Jasmine Smothers brought the Word of God in a way that recharged my spiritual
batteries. I felt challenged and invigorated as she preached from the Gospel of
Mark on the paraplegic man who had friends that brought him to Jesus by way of
a hole in the ceiling; their faith caused Jesus to heal their friend. She
challenged us to have an encounter with Jesus, then go out and help others encounter
Christ as well. I worked through lunch, blogging, but our Bible study on the
Gospel of John after lunch was invigorating and refreshing – even filling. John
is my favorite of the Gospels and the most complicated, so listening to a
person who loves it as much as I do was so much fun. I didn't live on God’s
Word alone though, the lovely Joe Tanasi brought me chicken fingers, and they
were like manna from Heaven.
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| Rev. Valerie Vogt & I cheesing it up |
The
District Superintendent’s Report brought an amazing surprise, a Mariachi band
burst through that doors and proceeded to serenade us all with beautiful music.
It. Was. Awesome. After they left we had to get serious and vote on
Constitutional Amendments from General Conference 2012, all of them were rather
trite so I assume they will all pass.
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| Eric took the glasses off to show off his clergy fashion |
The
Ordination Service is my favorite and it didn't disappoint this year. This year
my pastor, Eric Vogt was being commissioned, as he had been a licensed local
pastor before and his beautiful wife Valerie was being accepted as an ordained
Elder in full-connection with the annual conference. It was so moving to see so
many deacons and elders join their peers on their journey of ordained ministry.
I was blessed by the reception getting
to see so many people blessed by these people and the ministry of lives was a
blessing. Of course I harassed Bishop Dorff and my district superintendent
about planting new churches in East Austin. (Yes I’m that lay person) It was a
great day, and I am excited for tomorrow morning’s worship service.
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| It was raining clergy |
