7-23-2006

Celebrating the freeing, supportive presence of God. So your experience of God may become your experience of life. It is wonderful what God can do!

“Annual Conference Impressions”

July 23, 2006

George Vineyard - Guest Speaker

The Annual Conference Session this past month was characterized by great preaching from Bishop Fisher, retired Bishop Sharon Rader and WNY conference leaders such as Rev. Ellen Longheim. Over the summer the full text of many of their addresses will be printed in the Spectrum along with details of the actions taken by the conference. I urge you to read and share the copies of the next few issues which will be available on the table in the Narthex, the room just outside the Sanctuary. My report this morning will not give details of the inspiring addresses nor the formal actions of the conference. I did note a shift of emphasis from supporting evangelism and missionary efforts to refocusing resources toward helping local congregations by making available during 2007 a variety of programs and consultants.

My time this morning will be devoted not so much to specific motions passed and actions passed as to my impressions and reactions to the Annual Conference Session.

The United Methodist army of God’s servants is trembling in the presence of a statistical Goliath. This is the impression I brought home from this year’s Annual Conference Session. Do not misunderstand me, the speakers were dynamic and challenging. More time was given to them than to the required motions and business. But the motions which were passed seemed to me to be defensive and turned inward. But then, we were staring at that statistical Goliath.

Membership is down in the churches of our conference. Attendance is down. The proportion of shared giving (apportionments) in 2005 was less than the previous year and some churches are rebelling against any expenditure beyond their own walls. The conference has responded to these concerns the last few years by limiting the growth of its budget to a rate less than the rate of inflation. The total budgeted for 2007 is the same as for this year (2006). More clergy retired this year than were ordained. Conference financial support for such ministries as Campus Ministries and Shalom Zones is being reduced to make funds available to finance a new position and programs designed to help local churches grow. While these statistical measurements are true, they overlook one important factor. If God is for us, who can prevail against us? If we are aligned with God’s will, there is no reason to fear statistics.

When the Hebrew army trembled as Goliath strutted and issued his challenges, there was David, a shepherd boy, who was not impressed. Where is our David for this time? David’s contemporaries were not the first Hebrews who had trembled in the presence of an enemy. Generations before as they first approached the promised land Moses had sent twelve spies to check out the area. Ten spies saw the wealth of the land but were scared of the inhabitants and said that they couldn’t go into that land. Two spies, Joshua and Caleb, saw the problems, but also saw that God was with them and they could prevail. However, Joshua and Caleb were outvoted and forced to wait forty years to see their judgment vindicated when Joshua led a new generation of the Hebrew people in possessing the land. Somewhere today there is a Joshua or David being prepared to lead God’s people in achieving God’s plan for God’s church. I hope that he/she is in the United Methodist Church, but, if not, she/he will still fulfill God’s plan. Our task, if we choose to accept it as servants of God, is to align ourselves with God’s will.

St Paul’s United Methodist Church building in Niagara Falls is being sold to another church. This structure reminds me of a European Cathedral with a school attached. It is huge. But Niagara Falls is not the bustling business center it once was and the church building is too much for the current congregation to maintain. So it is being sold for $1 to Potter’s House Christian Community Church, a larger congregation which is being successful in serving God and the people in their community. Ministry will continue at that site although it will not bear the name, “Methodist.”

In the midst of the negative reactions from so many of our churches, there are those who manage to see possibilities as well as problems. We received a mailing recently which stated that UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, Board of Directors approved $52.3 million in early April to support extended rehabilitation, cash assistance, family-by-family problem solving and ministries to evacuees from last year’s hurricanes. Additional funding went to aid victims in recovering from storms in Central America. Still another $10,550,000 was made available for grass roots efforts to fill gaps in social service funding and to support volunteers. Does this sound like a church about to fold for lack of material resources? During the Annual Conference Session an offering was received for UMCOR which amounted to $3,363. Another offering was received during the ordination service which will go toward the Bishops’ initiative for Children. That totaled $3,566.

I have to confess I have a reaction whenever I hear someone refer to our church as a “little church.” I am a member of this church which is part of The United Methodist Church which is part of seventy different member denominations of the World Methodist Convocation which is part of the Church Universal, and that is no little church. If God be for us, who can be against us?

In the district superintendents’ report to the Annual Conference it was stated that we are called to be the body of Christ. We are called to serve God, not to serve the purposes of the world. The measure of success is, “Are we serving God?” Are we sharing in God’s vision, not are we succeeding by the standards of the world?

Some of our churches in the Western New York Conference are struggling with problems of growth rather than decline. They have more people than room. More mission projects than workers. More dreams than physical resources. They are centered on the missions to which God is calling them rather than the utility bills. But too many servants of God see only problems rather than opportunities.

Each year the Denman Award for evangelism is given to a lay person and to a clergy person. The award is named for the late Harry Denman who was a layman employed by the United Methodist Church. He did a lot of traveling in his job carrying no luggage, only a clean shirt in his briefcase. Undergarments and socks were washed out each night before going to sleep. He refused to own a watch preferring to strike up conversations with strangers by asking the time. The conversation somehow always seemed to find its way to a discussion of relationship to God. Thus this award for evangelism was named for him. The lay person’s award this year was given to a high school senior. For those of you who may know Re. Norman Parsons, she is his granddaughter. She has been active in promoting service to God within church, school, community and UMYF. God’s servants come in many sizes and ages.

As has happened most years recently, there was a strong youth contingent at annual conference. I pray that they may infect us with their energy and enthusiasm before we older members infect them with negativity. Incidentally, some of our youth are going to China this year on a Mission of Peace. They have to raise the money needed to go. Attendees at Annual Conference contributed $5363 toward their expenses. United Methodists are not broke.

So, where are we? I have spent a lot of time this morning on challenges facing our denomination. It is not unusual for servants of God to face difficulties. Scripture and history give ample evidence of that fact. Just read some of Paul’s letters. BUT, for centuries God’s church has continued to exist despite persecutions, failures and sometimes losing sight of God’s vision. We are engaged in seeking to serve God. We have access to the power and riches of God. Whatever may happen to some of us or to the organizations we create, God will prevail. So let us get to work.