The Wider Church

We traveled to Pendleton for the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ Annual Meeting. There were four of us from this congregation who participated – Marcia and Steve Gilliland, Marcia Simms and me. Folks from all across the conference, from Ashland, Oregon to Boise, Idaho, gathered together. And together we worshiped and studied, ate and played, discussed and debated. In other words, we were the church. This was my first such gathering in this Conference. I was pleasantly surprised that I knew more people than I expected to know, and I am looking forward to getting better acquainted with several people whom I met for the first time.

The business which was discussed, debated and voted on included the budget for the Conference, new officers and leaders for the coming year, and resolutions concerning climate change and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The discussions around the issues were thoughtful and civil. We clearly demonstrated that it is possible to disagree on important issues and still be sisters and brothers in Christ. All of the resolutions and other documents related to this Annual Meeting are available on-line at Google Drive or Dropbox.

One of the workshops I attended was titled “Bringing Your Body to Your Church and Life: a body-centered experience for a head-centered people.” We discussed and practiced ways to expand our faith experience by including practices which involve our senses. I found it to be a helpful workshop and I expect to include some of the ideas with the congregation in the coming weeks and months.

If you have never attended an Annual Meeting I would encourage you to consider doing so next year. It is a rewarding experience that offers a perspective of the wider church.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)