It was a short night. After the election of Jim Dorff around 10:20 pm, we had a thirty minute recess, a couple more pieces of business and then the Episcopacy Committee met to discuss the Bishop’s assignments for the next four years. Everyone expected Bishop Jones to return to Kansas, but we all stayed for the formal announcement. It was almost 1:30 in the morning before the committee returned. Let’s just say we all were getting a little punchy by that time of the evening. What made the night short was a seven o’clock breakfast the next morning with the Kansas Area to celebrate the re-appointment of Mary Lou and Bishop Scott Jones to Kansas.
During breakfast a number of speeches were made expressing gratitude for a variety of things. One of the most poignant was made by Mark Conard as he noted the changes he has seen in the last twelve years in the Kansas delegation. Twelve years ago, an effort was made to unite our two conferences that was ultimately approved by the East but rejected by the West. It is probably an understatement to say that added a little tension between the two conferences. As Mark noted, not only could we not talk, it was difficult to share the same space. What made it worse was that the Kansas West Conference was split with an internal struggle over the same issue. We were not of one mind. It appears that over the last twelve years healing has occurred. There is a saying that says time heals all wounds, but I think that only tells half the story. Healing has come through the faithful leadership of God’s people in our two conferences and for that I am very grateful.
I attended the Bishop’s consecration service with three cups of coffee flowing through my system. After only four hours of sleep I didn’t want to embarrass myself by falling asleep in front of all those Bishops. One of the highlights was a youth choir made of students in the conference. They had close to 200 singers and did a great job. Speaking of music, once again the service was very traditional which was appropriate to the occasion and the setting. However the amount of music seemed excessive. I can’t believe I am writing this because of my history with contemporary worship. One of the biggest complaints from traditional worshipper about newer forms of worship is that there is too much music. I guess when it is not your music, there is limit to what you can take in worship. For me, five anthems and four hymns were about two songs past my limit. Even when the anthems were excellent and the hymns were familiar, it stopped being worship for me. I wonder if I would have felt the same if there was a live rock band and the anthems were all Rich Mullin songs. I already know the answer.
Ultimately the service brought an end to the conference as we completed the work we set out to do. Now it is time to catch up on some sleep.
Barry,
Thanks for the update on Jurisdictional Conference. I too pray that soon we will be one conference, with one vision.
Posted by: Shelly McNaughton-Lawrence | July 20, 2008 at 06:32 AM