Delegations invited to gather in Oklahoma

10/9/2015

Preparing for transition — Episcopal staff from across the South Central Jurisdiction gave support to one another at a September conference in Houston about the 2016 transition of bishops. Standing from left are: Nancy Hinshaw (Texas), Diane Lippitt (Northwest Texas/New Mexico), Pam Weatherford of Oklahoma (Bishop Robert Hayes’ administrative assistant), Rose Kuonen (Arkansas), Dala Dunn (Missouri), and Kathy Moore (Louisiana). Seated are JoAnn McClain (Council of Bishops), Barb Campbell (Great Plains Conference), Dalia Trevino (Rio Texas), and Patty Wood (Central Texas). One presenter was Don House, who chairs the SCJ Episcopacy Committee. Photo by Brant Mills

Preparing for transition — Episcopal staff from across the South Central Jurisdiction gave support to one another at a September conference in Houston about the 2016 transition of bishops. Standing from left are: Nancy Hinshaw (Texas), Diane Lippitt (Northwest Texas/New Mexico), Pam Weatherford of Oklahoma (Bishop Robert Hayes’ administrative assistant), Rose Kuonen (Arkansas), Dala Dunn (Missouri), and Kathy Moore (Louisiana). Seated are JoAnn McClain (Council of Bishops), Barb Campbell (Great Plains Conference), Dalia Trevino (Rio Texas), and Patty Wood (Central Texas). One presenter was Don House, who chairs the SCJ Episcopacy Committee. Photo by Brant Mills

Oklahoma will welcome delegations from eight states Oct. 29-30 for an informational meeting about the 2016 General and South Central Jurisdictional Conferences of The United Methodist Church.Lay and clergy delegates elected by their peers in 12 annual conferences within the jurisdiction will network at OKC-St. Luke’s Church.

Hosts are Linda Harker and Don Kim, who lead the 34-member Oklahoma Conference delegation.

Global and regional UM meetings are next year

Topics are expected to include legislative proposals and committee service for the global General Conference, set for mid-May in Portland, Ore., as well as introduction of the candidates for bishop who have been officially endorsed.

The South Central Jurisdiction will be in session in Wichita, Kan., next July. David Severe of Oklahoma is the SCJ executive director, responsible for the smooth operation of that event.

State’s 34 delegates discuss managing conflict

At the Sept. 19 meeting of Oklahoma’s delegation, the group agreed to center its work in core values from 1 Corinthians 13, Micah 6:6-8, Mark 12:28-31, Galatians 5:22, and Colossians 3.

Bob Long talked about Oklahoma traditions. Jessica Seay gave advice on managing conflict.

Different viewpoints over societal changes have led some people to speculate whether the denomination will hold together when the General Conference meets, the United Methodist News Service (UMNS) recently reported.

There have been serious disagreements before on social, theological, and church governance issues, Alfred Day III, of the General Commission on Archives & History, told UMNS.

The lens of history allows the Church to take a longer view and discover that “somehow, God and the Spirit are in the process” all along. “I think we don’t give ourselves enough credit,” he said.

The larger cultural currents that have been part of the General Conference experience since the 1960s are summarized in the book “United Methodism at 40.”

Four years ago, Oklahoma also invited SCJ delegates to St. Luke’s for a networking event, preceding the quadrennial conferences of 2012. Sixty percent of them attended.