Why a General Conference?
By Walter B. Fenton

For widely understood reasons, many Global Methodists do not have warm feelings about General Conferences. They conjure up memories of very costly gatherings that were often marked by bitter conflict and bad press. All of which were hard to explain to family and friends and to people genuinely interested in learning about the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Consequently, it is not surprising some Global Methodists ask, “Why a General Conference? By holding them, aren’t we just setting ourselves up for the conflict and heartache we want to leave behind?”
These are legitimate questions, that deserve thoughtful answers. First, a little history is in order.
In one way or another, all Methodist denominations trace their origins back to John Wesley and the early Methodists who routinely “conferenced” together, first informally, and over time, more formally. For our 18th century ancestors, gathering for a conference was a time for prayer, worship, theological reflection, and a corporate and disciplined examination of the body’s effectiveness for fulfilling its shared mission. Conferences were deemed so essential to the vitality and growth of the movement that to this day nearly all Methodist denominations continue to conference together.
Over their long histories, most Methodist denominations’ General Conferences are not typically marked by conflict, bitterness and disunity. Far more often, they are regarded as critical seasons of corporate examination, rededication, and renewal. And sometimes, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, General Conferences are times of revival, where whole churches are moved to more passionately witness to and fully live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. This longer and broader view of Methodist conferencing is important to keep in mind as Global Methodists gather in San Jose, Costa Rica, September 20-26, 2024, for their convening General Conference.
There is also a practical, but very important dimension to a General Conference; it is the arena where the people called Methodists gather to discern God’s will for the church. Knowing ourselves as sinners in need of God’s redeeming this seems like an audacious task, and yet we confess and trust that God works through frail and fallible people to fulfill his ends.
So, beginning in every local church, we elect one, two, or maybe more of our brothers and sisters in the faith to represent us as delegates at our annual conferences. And then, from time to time, the people we send to our annual conferences elect delegates (clergy and laity) to represent us at our General Conferences. We aim for openness and fairness in the process, and pray the Holy Spirit will lead and guide as we elect our brothers and sisters. And once elected, we trust the delegates will serve with others from all around the world to faithfully seek God’s will for the Church.
No one claims Methodist conferencing is the perfect model for discerning God’s will, but it is our attempt to honor and hear one another’s voices as we work to fulfill our call to be the church in the world. Ultimately, the fruit of conferencing together depends on God’s grace working in our midst; we trust he does. Our task is to prayerfully participate in the process by listening and discerning together, and then holding one another accountable to God’s leading.
Finally, we can be thankful for all those who have gone before us, who at previous General Conferences bore witness to Methodism’s rootedness in Scripture and its fidelity to the life-giving confessions of the church catholic. May we be faithful in passing down that witness to those who come after us.
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When the Global Methodist Church’s approximately 350 delegates gather in Costa Rica, for the convening General Conference, Bishops Scott J. Jones and Mark J. Webb will preside over most of the plenary sessions. We asked them to answer three questions as all Global Methodists prepare for the Conference.
Why do you think General Conferences are important for “the people called Methodists?”
Bishop Webb: I have always loved that Wesley considered Christian conferencing as a means of grace. These times of gathering provide an opportunity for our individual and corporate spiritual growth, a renewing of our commitment to the mission of the GM Church and an opportunity to witness to the world a common life committed to God, transformed by the presence of Jesus Christ, and equipped by the power of the Holy Spirit. The work and decisions made have eternal consequences.
Bishop Jones: We are one body serving Christ throughout the world, and we need to gather to celebrate all that God is doing through this movement. We want the world to know the gospel of Jesus Christ and God’s love for all of humanity. Plus, we need to be accountable to the people of the GM Church and have key decisions for our life together made by their elected delegates.
Given that you will be presiding at most of the General Conference sessions, what hopes and concerns do you have for the Conference? What advice do you have for the delegates – many of whom have never served in such a capacity before?
Bishop Jones: I am praying daily for a spiritual revival to break out at the General Conference. In all of our annual conferences we have focused primarily on prayer, worship, and teaching with a little bit of business. At General Conference, I hope our worship is passionate and our love is extravagant and that those who see our Conference experience our bold witness. We also need to live into our global nature; I trust delegates and observers will build new relationships across state and national boundaries. I suggest that delegates pray a lot as they prepare for the Conference. It is essential that they read all the material ahead of time so they can ask thoughtful questions and make decisions that follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. And then, they need to be open to what the Spirit might do in our midst.
Bishop Webb: I’m looking forward to representatives from every part of the GM Church being in the same space for the first time. My prayer is that the hunger and passion for what God is doing and desires to do in and through us that I have witnessed in our geographical annual conferences will be on full display in Costa Rica. My hope is that we will continue to build upon our missional identity and make decisions that fuel a movement more than build a denomination. I am praying, and invite others to pray, for spiritual wisdom, love, and trust for one another. And may we all focus on our total dependence upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every moment.
Why is it important for the GM Church to hold a convening General Conference at this juncture in its very brief history?
Bishop Webb: I have been amazed by the gifts and commitments so many individuals have made to the launching and beginning days of the GM Church. It is beyond anything most people imagined or dreamt about. It’s time now for the opportunity to celebrate, worship God together, and collectively own our mission and vision. Our convening General Conference will allow us, with one voice, to affirm and deepen the missional culture we have been creating. We will have the opportunity to say yes to one another, to affirm our shared leadership, and give one another the needed encouragement for the next steps. The Conference is going to be historical, but even more, it must be a time of spiritual renewal and revival.
Bishop Jones: So far the decisions shaping the GM Church have been vested in a small group of persons serving as the Transitional Leadership Council. Actually, the Council has consulted widely with people all over the world and included many people in committees, task forces and consultations. But now it is time to validate the plans that have been made and move from transitional to established, and from provisional to actual. We also want to solidify our emerging culture that emphasizes evangelism, church planting, cross-racial ministry, and our global nature. We are a movement, and we want the people of the GM Church to experience the power of the Holy Spirit that is guiding us.
Readers can learn more about the Global Methodist Church by exploring its general website, and they can follow all the details about the convening General Conference by visiting So the World Will Know.
The Rev. Walter Fenton is the Global Methodist Church’s Deputy Connectional Officer.
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