September 17, 2024
By Rev. Dr. Scott Field, President
The WCA Outlook this week will be blessedly brief.
Many in the WCA/GMC world are currently “running at Mach 2 with their hair on fire.” It’s “Go Time”! The long-awaited Convening Conference of the GMC arrives this week. We’re about to turn the corner from “provisional” to more “permanent”, from a looser relational network to policies, from drinking and sloshing around in the new wine of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring to making the new wineskins so this new wine can be more reliably and regularly available to others. “So the world will know”, right?
Two observations and one suggestion:
My inference here is that Jesus compared the presence and impact of the Holy Spirit to the wind (John 3:8). Though there are various opinions and perspectives among GMC members, pastors, congregations, and delegates that will need to be considered and decided in San Jose, our “flock” will launch more quickly and with fewer ruffled feathers if we all, members, pastors, congregations, and delegates, face together toward the breath of the Holy Spirit upon the Convening Conference.
15 … the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16 NLT)
This week as delegates and observers make their way to San Jose and others of us are awaiting the outcomes of the GMC Convening Conference, let’s all face into the wind of the Holy Spirit by “withdrawing to a lonely place” to pray. All of us facing together toward the freshening breeze of the Holy Spirit will enable a steady launch of the GMC with, I trust, a minimum of ruffled feathers. And speaking of trust, most all of us have experienced the refreshing joy of trusting one another as the Holy Spirit has poured out this stream of renewal. Keep leaning into the trust we have been extending to one another.
Join me as we pray for the Global Methodist Church taking flight.
These are exciting and challenging days. All of us are under a divine commission “so the world will know” the Matchless Name and the unfathomable love of Jesus Christ,Lord of the Universe and Hope of the World.
Here’s a sample to prime the “prayer pump” for you right now, taken from the GMC Convening Conference Prayer Guide.
“September 16th
Declare His glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. (1 Chronicles 16:24)
“God, these words of Scripture remind us of the theme of our Convening General Conference: “So the World Will Know.” As we prepare to gather, keep our eyes fixed upon that ultimate purpose. Pour out your Holy Spirit on the Global Methodist Church in order that people from every tribe and tongue and nation will cry, “Hallowed be thy name.” and will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.” (Steve Seamands, Kentucky, USA)
For daily prayer prompters this week and next, click here.
You can livestream the Convening Conference through the GMC YouTube channel here.
The primary mission of the Wesleyan Covenant Association is to act as advocate and ally on behalf of churches globally that seek pathways out of the United Methodist Church and into the Global Methodist Church.