Trinity Shares 2012 Catalog: http://tinyurl.com/trinityshares12

Download Catalog: 2012 Trinity Shares Catalog

View all photos here.

I was assigned as a volunteer/observer/lobbyist to the Ministry and Higher Ed committee, which I thought was a nice fit, being in a setting of higher education myself. I rejoiced with the subcommittee when they passed the petition to allow for same sex marriages to be performed by our pastors in our churches, and wept with the full committee’s ruling to not recommend that petition to be adopted ‘on the floor’ of GC. I’ve heard much emotional debate about the possibility of doing away with the idea that pastors are guaranteed a church to serve, I’ve spent so much time looking at petition numbers that phone numbers get confusing because they don’t start with a 20…or a 21… For the last couple of nights I’ve dreamed that I was in the committee room, listening to legislative talk. This kind of work added to walking about a mile each way to and from the hotel in which I am staying, and little sleep has meant that General Conference has been exhausting, emotional, and confusing.

But of course, there have been many high moments as well. Worship has been powerful, learning about all the great things the Church has been doing has been uplifting, and meeting new friends and visiting with old friends has been a blessing. I hold hope that this week will be productive, at the very least. But more than that, I hope that the decisions that the delegates make can help the Church more fully live out its calling to be God’s work in the world. I hope you’re praying for us, church. We need it. I love you all.

Jen

I made it here safely on Sunday and have been busy working for Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) almost non-stop since I arrived.

Currently, MFSA is working in coalition with 5 other UM caucus groups who support active social justice in the Church. At this GC, we’re making our physical presence known here in Tampa by erecting a very large tent just across the street from the convention center and making it a place for people to gather, eat, pray, and support each other when times get tough.  We’re calling it the ‘Love Your Neighbor Tabernacle’, as ‘Love Your Neighbor’ is the name of the coalition, and, well, it’s a big tent!  On Monday night we hosted a big dinner for the delegates that come from the central conferences, (primarily people from Africa and the Philippians) as it’s always been a challenge to connect with that large and growing population in our church.  Every day there will be meals and activities in the tabernacle, hosting and encouraging relationship building and good times.

Today General Conference officially began with an opening worship attended by 4,500 people.  If you remember, there are less than 1,000 elected delegates here to vote on legislation, which means there are 3,500 people here just like me; volunteers, monitors, reserve delegates, and visitors.  There are just so many people who care about our church enough to travel across the country and world to have their voice heard.  It astounds me and fills me with hope for our denomination.  I’m excited for legislative sessions to begin tomorrow, that’s when the real work begins.

Tomorrow starts bright and early!  I hope to write often to give you a glimpse into what’s happening here in Tampa.  Blessings!

Slideshow:

Link to album

• gc2012.org (official United Methodist Church web site)
• wigc2012.wordpress.com (the web site of the Wisconsin Annual Conference delegation to General Conference)
• doroteos2.wordpress.com  (blog of Dan Dick, clergy member of the delegation and Wisconsin Annual Conference staff person)
• irreverentrev.blogspot.com (blog of Amanda Stein, clergy member of the delegation and former pastor of Trinity church)
• tumcmadison.org (Jen Southworth will post updates)

What is a U2 Eucharist?
The idea of the using U2’s music in the context of a traditional worship service was first used in 2005 by the Rev. Paige Blair, an Episcopal priest in York Harbor, Maine. It has since been used by churches around the globe, including several times here at Trinity. U2 allows their music to be used in this way, so long as an offering be taken to further the UN Millennium Development Goals, such as ending poverty and hunger, environmental sustainability, or combating HIV/AIDS. In keeping with this requirement, this Sunday’s special offering will benefit the Mujila Falls Agricultural Centre, Kanyama, Zambia.