Preparing and praying for General Conference 2016
General Conference meets once every four years. The next meeting will take place this year, May 10-20, in Portland, Oregon.
Rev. Rebecca Trefz, Dakotas Conference clergy delegate and Jodi Cataldo, Dakotas Lay Delegate, spent time in preparation for the 2016 General Conference of The United Methodist Church at the Pre-General Conference Briefing on January 20-22 in Portland, Oregon.
Photo: Jodi Cataldo, left, Dakotas Conference Lay Delegate and Rev. Rebecca Trefz, right, Dakotas Conference Clergy Delegate, stop for a photo at the Pre-Conference Briefing held in Portland, Oregon, January 21-22, 2016 to prepare delegates for the General Conference 2016, May 10-20, 2016.
“I noticed a lot more intentionality around prayer and holy conferencing,” said Rev. Trefz. “We cannot assume that we can act without the presence of the Holy Spirit. If you invite the Holy Spirit, I think that is the way God’s will will intervene.”
“There was such a strong, positive energy at Pre-General Conference Briefing,” said Cataldo. “People are really looking forward to, and have a strong desire to be at the table together.”
The briefing informed delegates, church and secular journalists and other interested parties about topics that will be considered by the denomination’s legislative body when it meets May 10-20 in Portland.
The topic of human sexuality will be part of the agenda with several pieces of proposed legislation. Another key topic will be a proposal as a result of the Study of Ministry. “I am looking forward to being a part of defining clearer, smoother avenues for people to enter ministry,” said Trefz.
Restructuring and understanding the worldwide nature of the church will be another topic that will be discussed at General Conference 2016. “There is such diversity,” Cataldo stated. “People recognize that we will not agree but we all have the desire to be a global church. That will take some restructuring.”
At the briefing, attendees learned how General Conference will operate and how it will be different from previous conferences, as well as discussing major legislation, Christian conferencing and key activities. There are 1,044 valid petitions to the General Conference 2016, covering a variety of topics. You can download and read them all by clicking here.
Methodists across the Dakotas Conference are being called to prayer for the church and General Conference. The Council of Bishops has invited each annual conference to host a 24-hour prayer vigil on a specific date, with the intent of creating a groundswell of prayer in the days leading up to the General Conference.
Dakotas-Minnesota Area Bishop Bruce R. Ough selected the date of March 24 for the Dakotas Conference’s participation.
“This is during Holy Week, a most appropriate time for us to engage in praying for Christ’s resurrection power and presence to break forth at General Conference,” he said.
Churches, groups, and/or individuals are invited to sign up for a 15-minute period on that date when they will commit to praying for God to guide delegates and church leaders as they prepare to discern how God is calling us to move forward as a denomination.
“I hope the people of the Dakotas will participate in this effort and join me in praying for God to renew The United Methodist Church and unite us in our mission to reach and make new disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world,” said Bishop Ough.
