The Downtown Fort Worth Convention Center where the General Conference was held.
I spent this past weekend in Fort Worth at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. I've been trying to think ever since I got back for the perfect word to describe my experience- a word to sum up how it felt to be in a place with thousands of people from all around the world who have all felt their "hearts strangely warmed." Even with a dictionary full of words sometimes the English language just Needless to say I felt so inspired by the good that is happening all over the world because of these people. Although I was at the Conference for little more than a day, I left renewed in spirit and empowered to continue my work as a social justice missionary now more connected with my sponsor denomination, more ready to represent these people of faith. 
I attended the Conference with Glenn, UMCOR Sager Brown depot manager, and Kathy, the director at Sager Brown, i.e. my co-worker and boss. We were invited to share in the rural life celebration, which honored all of the town and country ministries in the US. Along with our organization, individuals representing Appalachian Service Projects, Henderson Settlement, Hinton Service Project, were a part of the celebration. Each ministry was asked to carry a banner and parade it onto the convention floor. Preceding our banner parade were butterfly streamers created by one of the rural life ministries representing all of the rural ministries (those like ours as well as rural churches) bearing the United Methodist Church name in the US. If I remember correctly there were about 25000 total. The celebration ended with a rousing "These are the Days of Elijah" by a rural life choir with all the banners swaying with the music. After exiting we joined the other ministries for an outdoor information fair that lasted about 3 hours. We spoke to a couple hundred people I guess, but definitely the most memorable visitor were the delegates from the Central Conferences, ie countries outside the US. 
Many were dressed in their native garb and very few understood English well enough to grasp the purpose of our display. Part of our ministry is to inspect and ship health kits, school kits, sewing kits, ect. to places of need throughout the world and so to encourage people to donate we had several of these kits on display. A few delegates from one of the Central Conferences thought we were giving away the contents of these display kits and it took several minutes of confused English and attempts at sign language before the message that these items were for display purposes only was delivered successfully. I can imagine that after everything was explained the delegates left thinking it was pretty silly of us Americans to have cloth diapers, toothbrushes, and soap as part of our display. Near the end of the information fair someone drove up to our booth on a "PET" or personal energy transportation vehicle. PETs are basically handcranked tricycles that can be used by people in impoverished rural areas around the world who have lost the use of their legs due to polio or landmine injury, ect. Check me out below riding one. I have to say that it was lots of fun, but is way harder than it looks. According to what I've read about PETs, each different part is made by different non-profit, faith-based groups in the US and then assembled and sent to someone in need. What a great symbol of working together!
Many were dressed in their native garb and very few understood English well enough to grasp the purpose of our display. Part of our ministry is to inspect and ship health kits, school kits, sewing kits, ect. to places of need throughout the world and so to encourage people to donate we had several of these kits on display. A few delegates from one of the Central Conferences thought we were giving away the contents of these display kits and it took several minutes of confused English and attempts at sign language before the message that these items were for display purposes only was delivered successfully. I can imagine that after everything was explained the delegates left thinking it was pretty silly of us Americans to have cloth diapers, toothbrushes, and soap as part of our display. Near the end of the information fair someone drove up to our booth on a "PET" or personal energy transportation vehicle. PETs are basically handcranked tricycles that can be used by people in impoverished rural areas around the world who have lost the use of their legs due to polio or landmine injury, ect. Check me out below riding one. I have to say that it was lots of fun, but is way harder than it looks. According to what I've read about PETs, each different part is made by different non-profit, faith-based groups in the US and then assembled and sent to someone in need. What a great symbol of working together! 
After the fair we spent several hours exploring the different displays set up by various
ministries, General Board of Higher Education, General Board of Discipleship, General Board of Global Ministries, Cokesbury, ect. My favorites by far were the display about the history of inclusiveness in the church by the General Commission on Religion and Race and the international display by the Advance- our charitable giving program. The display about inclusiveness (photo to the right) included a self guided timeline equipped with video and audio clips of individuals or events highlighted by the timeline. At the end of the timeline was a "human race machine." I'm sure you know what I'm talking about you've probably seen one on TV before. It kinda looks like a mall photo booth, but instead of printing a picture of someone a la Van Gogh style it computer generates a picture of someone as a different race. Of course, Kathy, Glenn, and I all tried it out and we had a fun time laughing a ourselves. The message that I think they show fairly well is the 
beauty of each race's distinctive features. "There is no gene that determines race." The Advance display (photo to the left) featured life size replicas of ministries that are supported by the funds collected through Advance giving by United Methodists. Basically the Advance provides a whole catalogue of ministries and programs to support and each has its own distinct number. People may choose exactly which program to support and know that their money will go directly to that program. The display pictured left is of the Kissy Medical Center in Sierra Leone. Before heading back to Louisiana the next morning, Glenn and I attended morning worship at the convention center and heard Bishop Minerva Carcano (click on the link for a copy of her sermon). She was an amazing speaker and I couldn't help but join in on the standing ovation at
the close of her sermon. She spoke about the real issue of justice for immigrants in the US. As a bishop in the Desert Southwest Conference its an issue she faces daily and it was so nice to hear what someone deeply connected to the issue had to say. She connected the radical hospitality needed in our treatment of immigrants with the story of Jesus healing the madman, Legion, who lived in a village cemetary... a living man relegated to a land of the dead. Worship concluded with "You Shall Go Out with Joy." It felt so appropriate to be leaving on such a joyous note from an experience so spiritually uplifting.
the close of her sermon. She spoke about the real issue of justice for immigrants in the US. As a bishop in the Desert Southwest Conference its an issue she faces daily and it was so nice to hear what someone deeply connected to the issue had to say. She connected the radical hospitality needed in our treatment of immigrants with the story of Jesus healing the madman, Legion, who lived in a village cemetary... a living man relegated to a land of the dead. Worship concluded with "You Shall Go Out with Joy." It felt so appropriate to be leaving on such a joyous note from an experience so spiritually uplifting. 
Just residing with hope, Margaret
Enthusiastic volunteers about town in all shades of green.
