2010 World Conference Day 4
 
Good Morning Readers,
 
It was another beautiful day here in Independence.  I saw 83 degrees, which is just a little warm for this reporter.  But the trees and flowers seem to love it.  Yesterday I mentioned Steve Veazey’s sermon last night (did I say it was powerful?)  Well now you can go to cofchrist.org/wc2010 and either read or watch the sermon.  (Did I mention it was powerful?)  Also there are pictures of the first couple days activities.  Go back often as sermons and more pictures are added.
 
Monday’s theme was “We Share…….The Peace of Jesus Christ.”  We started the day assembled to discuss the parts of the Inspired Counsel that deal with membership and baptism.  It was a non-legislative session which means informal, and not governed by all of Robert’s Rules of Order.  It is a chance for people to discuss, ask questions, etc. in a more relaxed atmosphere.  We will take the Counsel formally and discuss and vote to accept or reject, probably Wednesday.  Your reporter has not been to a conference where the body rejected the Inspired Counsel.  I am cautiously awaiting the deliberations. 
 
In an exercise of role-play the leadership had asked two people, one actually on each side of the discussion, to have a dialogue with Apostle Susan Skoor moderating, to show some of the disagreement and how to discuss it peacefully; modeling playing nice in the sandbox.  A Spirit of Peace has attend the discussions, questions and answers so far.
 
Then we broke out into Quorums, Orders, and mass meetings to discuss the issue in smaller groups.  That lasted till lunch.  My Seventy Quorum had a very good discussion on paragraphs 1 – 4 of the counsel.  We will tackle the harder paragraphs tomorrow.
 
After lunch we went to various locations to participate in Spiritual Formation on specific topics.  One group worked and walked a labyrinth.  Your reporter went to a class on ministry to children.  Wonderful stuff we can put to use in families and even at church for Ministry to Young Disciples time.    
 
And it was a peaceful afternoon of discussion as we looked at the Inspired Counsel to the church regarding the changes in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. 
After statements from both Mary Jacks Dynes and Len Young, who are being released from the Council of Twelve Apostles and then Patrick James and Scott Murphy, who have been called to the Council, the vote was taken and approved.  Ordinations will take place in a day or two.
 
Worship last was held in the Temple.  Since the Temple only holds about half the people the Auditorium holds there were two consecutive services.  We chose the earlier one.  The Temple has always had a special place in the heart of this reporter.  As an adult convert to the church most of the history, buildings, etc were completed on my first experience with them.  But the Temple has been a part of my history here.  I was in on the vote to fund the Temple.  We helped financially build the Temple.  I saw the drawings before the building was started.  I was at the groundbreaking.  I walked through the Temple and have picture during construction.  And I can remember my first worship in the Temple after completion.  That makes the Temple a very special place for me.  I feel connected to it and to all who worked to make it a reality.  And of course in it, I feel very close to the One who Created the Vision for it, and meets us there each time we visit.  In the Temple, “We Share……the Peace of Jesus Christ.”  May it always be so.
 
Until tomorrow may you also find the Peace of Jesus in your communities.