Back to Florida

In Florida... Finally.  The trip here was significantly more eventful than last year's.  I cracked one of my molars the week before finals (eek!) and was thankful to find the greatest/most flexible dentist in the Dallas area who put a rush on my crown so that I could get it before I left for Florida/Denmark.  It's so great to have people around you who genuinely want to help... but, I digress.  I had to have my crown put in the morning I left Dallas and thankfully accompanying me on my journey was my cousin/best friend Sara.  She gassed the car up, and got things all ready while I visited the dentist.  I drove the return trip from Sarasota last year by myself in one day- not the smartest of ideas, I will assure you! We made it to Pensacola the first night (after many excited squeals from Sara and a plethora of interesting road signs) to stay with my Uncle and Aunt.  That was an experience all in itself, as we stayed in their motor home since they had just moved into a new house a month ago.  On Friday morning we woke up, ready to hit the road for the last leg of our journey, and lo and behold, there was a massive rainstorm moving through the area.  We decided to leave right then (thinking we could outrun it (ha!))- about three hours later we had only gone 100 miles because the rain was so heavy we couldn't see the road! We could hardly see the front of the car! It was intense, but we finally got to Sara's destination, Clearwater, which is a suburb Northwest of Tampa.  She is working as an intern just like me at a church up there.  The church seems like it will be an amazing fit for her, and we got to meet a few of the students she will be working with, which was equally awesome.  Saturday morning I headed down to my neck of the woods, Lakewood Ranch.  This is the second year I've worked here.  I work as an intern in the youth department in a church.  Last summer was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had, so naturally, when they offered me the position again this summer, I instantly said yes.  This year, the general ministry intern (from Duke) and I are living with an older lady who is a member of the church.  She is an absolute sweetheart, has a huge house (the other intern and I each get our own rooms) with a swimming pool.  Above all, she is extremely nice; she cooked us dinner the first night here, and it was delicious! Today marked my first official day as an intern again, and it was so great to see my students from last year!  The other intern and I were introduced at both worship services this morning, I attended sunday school, and Sunday evening youth activities.  I just got home from my day- youth ministry is many things, but it is certainly not relaxing!  I'm tired and tomorrow is my first real day in the office, so I'm calling it a night- 

General Conference

This last week I went to the 2008 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. It was fortunately (for me at least) held in Ft. Worth, so it was really easy for me to get over 4 or 5 times. As a first time visitor to conference, I was absolutely stunned. For you non-Methodists, I'll briefly give you the lowdown. Every four years, an elected body (composed of half-clergy (pastors), and half- lay (non pastors)) come together to decide what 'we' as the 'United Methodist Church' believe. This is one of the most remarkable features (to me at least) of the UMC. The church is committed to reaching people in the most effective way possible, and additionally, is committed to moving "with the times" on appropriate issues (see the definition of appropriate later!). I got to hear debate about apportionment dollars (from the word portion- kind of like income tax for churches, except if you don't pay it, the church doesn't come after you), homosexuality (a guaranteed hot topic), the definitions of local and lay pastors and their rights and responsibilities, as well as the status and role of young people in the church. I am a self-proclaimed conference nerd, having attended annual conference (similar to general conference, but usually on a state level) from a young age. I love to hear debates, peoples' opinions, and experience how different cultures interact with one another. No surprise I ended up studying anthropology in college, but I digress... What was the most amazing thing to me was the immense cultural difference represented in the delegates. The UMC has a presence in 60 (ish?) countries around the world, from Angola to the Philippines, Denmark to Germany. What is so remarkable to me is that people come speaking numerous different languages, having different opinions and ideas about things, and yet, they are all united under a common denominator. I could look at the African brothers and sisters and know that while I may not be able to say 'hello' to them, we had an understanding and commitment to the ideals that John Wesley set forth long ago. The first day I was there, I went to a women's welcome luncheon with one of the pastors at the church I serve in the summer. First off, going around with her was absolutely incredible. She is connected out the gazoo- I met pastors, delegates and district superintendents (the administrators (who are pastors) over a city or region within the annual conference) from Virginia, Georgia, the Philippines, the Pacific Northwest and Colorado, all in a span of a couple of hours. Additionally, the keynote speaker for the luncheon was a dynamic woman who challenged women to take an active role in ministry, and to not live with a spirit of timidity, but with one of boldness. It was really an empowering moment for me (and makes me question my choice to not pursue full-time ministry immensely). Overall, it was a really great experience. One frustrating moment that I observed: the church was examining changing its stance on the ordination (to be made a pastor) and role within the church of homosexual, trans-gendered and bisexual persons. This debate is obviously a hot one, one which is currently causing quite a bit of division in the Episcopalian church- One day I got there right as a 15 minute recess for a 'witness' was being granted. I quickly found out that the witness was a mourning by homosexual, bi-sexual, and trans-gendered individuals that the previous day's resolution regarding these persons didn't change the current language in the social principles or book of discipline. The two pastors on either side of me stood up when the witnesses took the floor, and I instinctively stood up with them. My boss leaned over and asked me if I knew why I was standing. I observed that only about half of the persons in the auditorium were standing as the processional passed by me. I quickly realized that those standing were standing in support of these persons. I stayed standing. I suppose this tells you much about my political and theological leanings, but I had never been more convicted to do anything in my life. I will certainly address this issue further in another post, but the moral of the story is, that it made me sad to see that half of the persons in the auditorium couldn't (or wouldn't) stand in support of these persons. Even if you don't support a belief, you should at minimum support an individual, who is a unique creation of God. Anyway, this is long, and I could ramble forever. More adventures from GC to come. Also, countdown to Florida is currently at 9 days! Holy Smoke! I can't wait. It's ridiculous, really.