Day 6 of the UMC General Conference 2020(4) was a Sabbath day, offering a much-needed break from the busy schedule of the conference. While taking a true Sabbath can be challenging for me, as I often find comfort in checking tasks off a list during my time off from professional church work, I felt the space to take a break today.
I started the day by taking the light rail to The Salty Donut for a delicious breakfast and coffee. This provided an excellent opportunity to connect with worship from Susanna Wesley UMC. I am incredibly grateful for the staff and volunteers who make things run smoothly on Sundays, especially when I am away. I am particularly thankful for John Paul’s preaching and sharing of his testimony.
Using the helpful Charlotte public transit app, I navigated the bus system to pick up my wife, Nicole, from the airport. It is great to have her here, and I am grateful for my mom’s ability to spend time with our children, while we are both in Charlotte.
In the afternoon, we celebrated Carter and Duncan’s birthdays with friends. This time together highlighted one of the gifts of the General Conference—the opportunity to connect with people from various levels of acquaintance, all united through the church and networks of friendship. The denomination’s connection is truly a blessing.
The day was concluded with a dinner hosted by Wesley Theological Seminary at Little Rock AME Zion, featuring an excellent meal from their culinary ministry. Reconnecting with classmates and discovering a fellow Wesley graduate from the Great Plains was encouraging. An update from President David McAllister-Wilson about the seminary’s present and future reminded me of how grateful I am for my time at Wesley. This community continues to be at the forefront of seminary education and building relationships across cultures and countries.
As the General Conference reconvenes in plenary for the remainder of the week, I am hopeful for the work that needs to be done.
Rev. Andrew Conard 