Election of Delegates to General & Jurisdictional Conferences

As we approach Annual Conference, I am aware that this is an election year.  We will be voting for lay and clergy delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences.  As the Bishop of the Central Texas Conference, I want to commend to all a prayerful process seeking the will of the Holy Spirit. With other bishops in the South Central Jurisdiction . . .

• We hope and pray to maintain unity and missional focus in our conferences during the election process.
• We believe that
  • the process for elections should be fair, thoughtful, prayerful, civil, and should focus on the mission of the whole church and not a single issue.
  • thinking alike is not mandatory, but living as one in the body of Christ is essential.
  • the process should demonstrate respect for all persons and proceed with dignity. (“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor….If it is possible, so far as it depend on you, live peaceably with all….”  From Romans 12.)

 I will be lifting the entire Central Texas Conference voting process in prayer hoping that the delegation should reflect the gifts of the whole conference.  God has blessed us and I believe we have much (and many people) to offer for leadership in the larger church.  The role of bishop is not to advance a side, but to take responsibility for the life of the community.  To that end I hope that we celebrate that God has raised up those elected for leadership.  May the election be informed and guided by presence of the Holy Spirit.  As we approach our time of voting for delegates, may we with grace and charity hold our conference leaders in our prayers during this season of discernment, and invite our conference members to pray for one another. “Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own” (The Message, II Corinthians 5:14-15).