April 25, 2008
Dear Resurrection Family,
I'm writing this email from the floor of the Fort Worth Convention Center where I am a delegate to the United Methodist Church's General Conference. This event is held once every four years, and brings together leaders from the United Methodist Church around the world. On the stage sit the entire Council of Bishops - all of our bishops from around the world - who preside over the Conference and the church. While two thirds of the membership of the United Methodist Church is in the United States, the fastest growing segment of our denomination is in Africa. The largest delegation at this conference is from Nigeria. The Nigerian delegates are sitting directly in front of me. Behind me are the delegates from Great Britain.
There are 900+ delegates who will meet from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm each day for ten days in order to pray, worship, study, debate various proposals, and to set the overall direction for the denomination for the next four years and beyond. Ultimately the aim of the conference is to be led by the Spirit to discern God's will for his church.
What is most exciting to me is that many of the things we've been working on and advocating at Church of the Resurrection (developing new churches, focusing on root causes of poverty, and developing young clergy and strengthening leadership) are now becoming denominational priorities. The theme for the conference is "A Future with Hope." I feel more hopeful than ever that the United Methodist Church in the U.S., which has been in decline for 40 years, actually has a bright future.
If you'd like to read my daily reports from General Conference, please click on this link. You can also subscribe to my blog and automatically receive the updates. I'll just mention a couple of things in this week's email:
1. This weekend at Resurrection: Simple Truths for LIFE - Finding Contentment
2. Join Me for a Discussion of General Conference and Seeing Gray
3. Resurrection Choir and Orchestra to Perform at General Conference
4. Golf Tournament and Auction - It's Fun to Change the World!
5. Do You Have Friends in Dallas? I'll Speak There This Wednesday Night
1. This weekend at Resurrection: Simple Truths for LIFE - Finding Contentment
This weekend we'll continue in our series of sermons on the Seven Simple Truths for LIFE by focusing on where we find contentment in a world that seems perfectly designed to foster discontent. There is a high cost to the failure to understand and live this weekend's simple truth. We find ourselves perpetually unhappy with what we have - our relationships, our jobs, our life and our "stuff." We can find ourselves ever searching but never satisfied. This is not how God intended for us to live. Don't miss worship this weekend as the focus turns to learning contentment. I know you'll be blessed.
2. Join Me for a Discussion of General Conference and Seeing Gray
On Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 pm, I'll give a report on General Conference as well as discuss my new book. If you have an interest in the broader church, or you would like to ask questions or discuss the ideas in my book, Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White, please plan to join me for this informal conversation.
3. Resurrection Choir and Orchestra to Perform at General Conference
Many members of our choir and orchestra will be performing this Saturday at the Murrah Federal Building Memorial in Oklahoma City at 3:00 pm. and then performing at Church of the Servant United Methodist Church at 9:15 and 10:45 am. From Oklahoma City they will travel to Fort Worth where they will provide special music and lead worship for General Conference on Tuesday morning, April 29 at 7:45 am and they will perform a 12:35 pm concert at the General Conference. I am excited that our choir and orchestra were among those who were chosen to lead worship and perform at General Conference. This is a great honor for them, and they will be a terrific blessing to the church.
4. Golf Tournament and Auction - It's Fun to Change the World!
It's not too late to sign up to play in the upcoming Church of the Resurrection golf tournament or to come and enjoy a great evening of fellowship and shopping at our annual mission's auction. Proceeds from both of these events will support building Habitat Houses here in Kansas City and the construction of a new church building for a congregation in South Africa. These events are a blast and a chance, literally, to change the world. The Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, May 5, and to sign up click here. The Auction will be held on Friday, May 9. To donate or to get more information click on this link.
5. Do You Have Friends in Dallas? I'll Speak There This Wednesday Night
In case you missed this blurb in my last email, this coming Wednesday, April 30, I'll be speaking at the Cornerstone Speakers Initiative at Highland Park United Methodist Church on the campus of Southern Methodist University at 7:00 pm. I'll speak on the theme: Is Your God Too Small?; which will be based upon the ideas in my new book. Here's a link with more information about the Cornerstone Speakers Initiative as well as directions to Highland Park. I've already had a number of you indicate that you had friends who would be joining us Wednesday night.
I have to run - I'm getting ready to head into the Faith and Order legislative committee where we'll debate a host of proposals important to the church. Please continue to pray for General Conference, that we will be led by God to pursue his will for the church.
In Christ's Love,
Adam Hamilton