There was a time in American United Methodist Church history when each church hosted the District Superintendent four times a year for a Quarterly Conference. It was a time to check in and see how the church was doing. Quarterly Conferences also happened when there were still large circuits of churches served by Circuit Riders who would cover their 10-20 churches one Sunday at a time preaching and serving Holy Communion where-ever they went. Sunday School was what happened on Sundays when the Circuit Rider was not there.
Now, we don’t have huge circuits or circuit riders. Pastors may have a three or four point charge. But parishes larger than that are rare. Now, we’ve also evolved to an annual “Church Conference” meeting with the District Superintendent (Rev. Harold Backus). But the basic tone of the meeting is still a checking in; seeing how we’re doing; asking what our dreams are for the future.
So today at 1 p.m. at the Doniphan church our parish (Doniphan & Rosedale churches) will have its annual Church Conference meeting with our District Superintendent. I am asking each person who attends to share what is their favorite thing about the church and/or where they have seen God in the church this past year.
Church Conferences have evolved to be more a celebration of our ministry this past year, and sharing our desires for our ministry to each other, the community and the world in this next year. Now, it is the District Superintendent who goes on a circuit each fall; meeting with 70-80 churches in less than 90 days. Today, Rev. Backus has Church Conferences in three different towns at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Church Conference is open to all members and friends of the Doniphan and Rosedale churches. You do have to be a member of those churches to have a vote, however. Stop on by at 1 p.m. at the Doniphan church. I’m pretty sure we’re the only church that will have a drumming circle as part of Church Conference this year.
Grace & Peace,
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