Holy Conferencing

There is something unique to those of us Christians of the Methodist persuasion and that is the notion of "holy conferencing." Beyond the notion of mere Christian fellowship, and more specific than the Biblical concept of koinonia, holy conferencing is the coming together of God's people to make important decisions for the good of God's people, with the expectation that we are visited by the Spirit of God in the midst of these decisions.

I just came home after just such a holy conference at a place called Lake Junaluska, a serene and beautiful place in the mountains of North Carolina. The setting is tranquil, with a placid lake providing a backdrop for our deliberations. The accommodations are basic, and our meeting place, Stuart Auditorium, is historic and uncomfortably warm by mid-afternoon. But oblivious to the heat and humidity, we did our duty, meeting long into the night, breaking for meals and for necessities.

My wife and I like to joke about the nature of church conferences. In contrast to my brother-in-law's medical conferences, where he attends a seminar for a few hours, and then goes skiing the rest of the day (winter time in Aspen), my typical church conferences are jam-packed with scheduled meetings. In true Wesleyan fashion, we waste no time in frivolity. However, after my clothes have become damp from my own perspiration, and we have wrangled over the conference budget one line item at a time for several hours, it sometimes becomes difficult to discern the "holy" part of "conferencing."

I admire the patience of our bishop as he oversees the proceedings, giving equal time to both sides of every question, making sure everybody has their say. Hmmm, there IS something holy about that, isn't there? I am amazed at the tolerance shown by the assembled delegates to those whose questions and comments display a clear naivete or elementary grasp of the issues. Such tolerance is a testimony to the presence of grace, and another sign of holiness. Then, of course, there are the many opportunities for worship - songs with Native American roots, music by a Christian rock band, traditional organ and/or piano accompanied hymns that touch the heart, and there we all are, appreciating the various ways people experience God, who comes to us in diverse ways.

So, even in the tedium of meeting there is a holiness to our assembly. The Spirit of God is present. We learn greater respect for each other in our differences, discerning the presence of God in new guises. In honoring each other, showing patience, demonstrating mercy, we are experiencing the "holy" in our "conference."

I come home tired after every yearly conference, but oddly satisfied. Maybe even happy that I am a part of a people who can sweat it out together without losing patience with each other. Makes me glad to be a part of a Christian people.