Special Called Session of Annual Conference
Kelly Hodges, Lay Member to Annual Conference
On Saturday, October 7, Lay and Clergy members of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist (NCCUMC) church met virtually for a Special Called Session of Annual Conference to ratify the disaffiliation agreements of 18 churches. The motion was approved by a simple majority vote. This session was the third and final opportunity the Board of Trustees had made for churches to disaffiliate.
Before the vote, Bishop Shelton shared the following in a short message about how we now move forward framed by Ephesians 3:14-21.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Bishop Shelton asked who is the “us” that Paul intended to inspire? In this season of disaffiliation, we have used a lot of “us” and “them” language. We need to remember that disaffiliation does not remove churches from the “us” where Christ will accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine. Christ will continue to work through the UMC and other denominations to accomplish what He desires through all the differing expressions of church. The love of Christ is exemplified through His followers. As disciples, we embody Christ’s love, and the world will know we are Christians by our love. The NCCUMC is 442 churches strong. “Let us go from here with the clarity of mission – go in love to make disciples and trust God to do abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.”