For Annual Conference

Eternal God, in your wisdom and compassion you have bound us together - 

as churches, as districts, as annual conferences, and as a denomination.

Grant your continuing grace, we pray, to all who lead your church, 

that they may, with courage, humility and faithfulness, 

attend to the work you have placed before them.

As our pastors and delegates gather to do the work of our conference - 

May your grace go with them. 

May the wild creativity of your Spirit fill each space where they meet.  

May the bonds of friendship and fellowship be strengthened.

May peace that passes understanding dwell in them and flow through them.  

May they represent your Gospel so faithfully,

that even through meeting, voting, disagreeing, 

and (God, forgive us) disaffiliating from one another,

the world may know of your redeeming love.  

For with you, *nothing is wasted, 

And all things work together to bring about your kingdom.

Incite your church to holy action - 

to preach your uncomplicated love, 

to practice the radical welcome of our savior, 

to channel the effortless grace of your Spirit.  Amen. 

* The phrase “Nothing is wasted” is borrowed from Father Richard Rohr.  He’s used it many places.  I first encountered it in Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer.

For a few more thoughts about the UMC and the generations-long process that has led to this moment in time, check out this sermon from February of 2019 during the last General Conference.