Day 8 of the UMC General Conference 2020(4) was an ecumenical day, with guests from various ecumenical connections worldwide. During morning worship, we recognized full communion with the Moravian church, which is significant in Western North Carolina.
Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillay, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, delivered a powerful message during worship. He emphasized that our identity is in Christ, not our confessional identities, and challenged the church to sit where God sits instead of aligning with the rich and powerful. Dr. Pillay also spoke about the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation, noting that a broken and divided church does not have a message for a fractured and divided world.
The General Conference overwhelmingly passed full communion with the Episcopal Church in the United States via a consent calendar item, further strengthening our ecumenical relationships.
Lunchtime provided an opportunity to explore local cuisine, with The Sandwich Club becoming a regular option for a group of reserve delegates.
Much of the afternoon was dedicated to addressing items with financial implications, ensuring their inclusion in the budget presentation scheduled for Friday. Debate arose around creating a Central Conference Higher Education Fund and allocating general church apportionments to annual conferences. Despite the complexities of these discussions, a compromise was reached, enabling these financial items to move forward.
The delegation’s day was concluded with a dinner gathering for all those from the Great Plains or with Great Plains connections. It was a joy to see everyone in one place and reflect on my pride in being part of the Great Plains Annual Conference. I am grateful for the leadership we have the gift to share, both in Nebraska and Kansas and in the denomination as a whole.
Rev. Andrew Conard 