|
|
|
| The Annual Trek to RedlandsDear friends, Every year I disappear for a few days in June to attend something called 'The Annual Conference.' It is NOT an optional excursion; it is the mandated once-a-year gathering of United Methodist pastors and local church representatives from throughout a given region. Our region is southern California, Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan. The tradition of annual gatherings goes back to John Wesley himself, the founder of Methodism, who believed strongly in what he called 'Christian conferencing.' The tradition of this particular annual conference, known as the 'California-Pacific Annual Conference' is to ALWAYS meet on the campus of the University of Redlands. One of the values of tradition is that you know more or less what to expect. And so I can look forward to worship in the beautiful 2000 seat chapel; informal gatherings under trees and tents on the lawn, workshops offering 'how-to' advice for ministry; meetings which strain my patience, yet which accomplish necessary tasks; and meals with friends I don't get to see very often. In the United Methodist system, the annual conference is where ordination for pastoral ministry takes place. Therefore, every annual conference is the anniversary of my (and every other United Methodist pastor's) ordination. It is at the annual conference that the appointments of pastors to churches are read by the bishop, and thus become official. The reason that I get to be your pastor is that the bishop of the California-Pacific Annual Conference sends me, each year, to serve the Pacific Beach United Methodist Church. Each year, the trek to Redlands involves a literal trek known as the Hunger Walk. Between the youth-led worship service and the lunch hour on Saturday, all the pastors and church delegates walk around the campus quadrangle. Hopefully, we have been financially sponsored by friends and church members at home. All the money raised is given to projects which alleviate hunger within our communities. Our own Wednesday Night Ministry was the recipient of $800 this year. Tina B. (our church's delegate) and Al Hermann (a San Diego District representative) will have sponsor sheets with them at church on June 2, 9, and 16. I would appreciate all donations you can make to support them and me in the Hunger Walk. Tina can be found in the church nursery on Sunday mornings, and in worship on Saturday evenings at Finding Peace Fellowship. This year, one of the difficult issues to be addressed by the conference is the cost of health care for retired pastors. Individual churches pay for their own active pastor's health insurance. To pay for the health insurance of all the region's retired pastors, each church pays into a special fund. The requested contributions to that fund have been steadily rising as the costs of health care have risen. The church is certainly not alone in struggling to balance costs with commitment to those who have faithfully served. Please pray that an appropriate response can be found. The Annual Conference will be in session from June 18 through June 23. I will be coming home a day early in order to be in church for the commissioning of the Guatemala Mission Team and to attend the team's packing meeting that same afternoon. May the grace and peace of God be with you! Pastor April Special Note: On June 2, Pastor April will preach at the evening vesper service at Wesley Palms. |
|
|