2010 World Conference Day 3
 
Hello Faithful Readers,
 
Sunday was a wonderful day here at World Conference, starting with the Morning Worship.  The Graceland University Choir did a great job in providing some of the ministry of music.  Bunda Chibwe, Apostle from Africa shared the morning Communion Message, “Fear Not”, and he talked about some of his, and our collective fears, and about turning fear into Hope. 
 
We then shared together in Communion.  Imagine serving five or six thousand people communion.  In your congregation there is probably two or four servers.  At conference there must be a hundred or more.  Watch the church website or my Photographer/Brother-in-law, Jim Doty’s blog, for pix of the amount of trays of bread and wine to serve that many people.  It is amazing to see.  Speaking of that, imagine singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” or “Great and Marvelous” or “God of Grace and God of Glory” with five or six thousand people.  Your reporter is so moved by singing with that size choir; can’t wait to get to Heaven and sing with the angels.  Of course the organ with the trumpets doesn’t hurt either.  It is awesome.
 
After lunch we attended a “Spiritual Formation” session hosted by Carolyn Brock.  Carolyn led us in a number of meditational activities using different types of prayer preparation.
 
The Quorums, Caucuses and others then spent time discussing and voting on acceptance of the first part of the Inspired Counsel regarding changes in leadership in the leading Quorums of the church.  Apostles Mary Jacks Dynes and Leonard Young will be leaving the Council of Twelve Apostles and Richard James and Scott Murphy will be ordained to the Office of Apostle to fill the quorum.  Len Young will be ordained as an Evangelist and join the Order of Evangelists.
 
For this reporter the highlight of the day was the evening worship and the sermon delivered by President Steve Veazey.  For me it captured Sunday’s Theme, “We Share….A Vision.”  We were greeted by a number of people from the Asian Field of the Community of Christ where the church has been established for fifty years.  Music was a beautiful trio of Piano, Violin and Cello. 
 
Steve then shared with us his vision, making reference to some of the thoughts in the Inspired Counsel.  It was as bold and powerfully delivered message as this reporter has heard at any World Conference.  Steve strongly condemned bigotry in all its forms including bigotry aimed and sexual orientation.  There is no question that the church has struggled and is struggling with this issue.  Every conference the resolutions speaking to ways of becoming a more inclusive church get clearer and more strongly worded.  Every conference more of the jurisdictions of the church submit legislation seeking guidance and direction on how to address this issue of equal treatment of all.
 
With this counsel and Steve’s message there seems to be in this reporters mind no question about where we should be headed as a church.  I know there are open ended questions regarding implementation of this council.  Questions about how we can be unified in purpose and yet diverse in actualization.  But I am reminded of the saying, “If the Spirit leads you to it, the Spirit will lead you through it.”  If God’s Spirit is leading us to the place of equal regard for all and the fact the “all are called according their gifts”, then God’s Spirit will help us fill in the blanks as we lovingly and methodically move in the direction God wants us to go.  I remember an analogy that it is impossible to steer a vessel that’s not moving.  A vessel must be moving to be guided.  Steve asked us the question last night, not only will we move, but will we move forward, or backward?  If we are moving, God can steer us in the direction God wants us to go.  And this reporter, for one, is ready to move and be guided through the places of doubt and fear to places of Joy, Hope, Love and Peace.  May God bless us on this journey.