District Training Events Strengthen Our Connection

            Saturday morning about 100 people gathered in Wharton for the Southwest District Training event.   Members of Wharton FUMC greeted us in the Fellowship Hall with hot coffee, juice, fruit and homemade breakfast breads.  What a treat!  After a short devotional, we adjourned to our classes.  In my “How to be an Effective Lay Leader” class, there were nine people, all of whom were from rural or small town churches.  We had the lay leaders from Lissie, Needville, Bay City, Wharton, two churches from Richmond, and even one visitor from Ohio.  She shared with us that she and her husband “winter” in Wharton with their daughter who lives in town.  The group spent quite a bit of time talking about the challenges facing the lay leadership of small town and rural congregations.  There was a rich discussion and, as usually happens, I think I learned more than the people who were “taking” the class!

            Sunday afternoon between 600 and 700 people gathered in FUMC Houston, West Campus’ sanctuary for the South Central District Training Event.  As I entered the building, I was greeted by a church member, shown where to pick up my name tag and packet, and given directions to my room and refreshments.  Worship began with beautiful organ music, moved into lively contemporary praise music, and ended with a spirited devotional presented by DS Lawrence Young.  Dr. Don Waddleton gave the keynote address.

            In my session I had about 28 people who gathered to hear me talk about my vision for the laity of our church — a vision of enthusiasm and empowerment.  They were an incredibly gracious audience while I spoke and engaged me in conversation afterward.  One gentlemen challenged some of my discussion.  His words really pointed out to me that I truly have much to learn about our United Methodist Church and that I come at everything I do from the perspective of a large, suburban, largely Anglo church.  Most of the churches present on Sunday were African American inner city churches.

            In the course of two short days, I experienced a wide variety of the churches we serve as part of the Texas Annual Conference.  Saturday I met and spoke with laity from small town and rural churches.  Sunday morning, I attended worship at my own church, St. Peter’s United Methodist church in Katy.  Sunday afternoon I shared worship, learning and fellowship with laity from African American inner city churches.  I truly enjoyed this rich diversity of religious experiences and I hope to continue to meet and get to know laity from all over the Texas Conference.

            These types of training opportunities are one of the unique things about being a Methodist.  We are truly connectional and when laity meet one another, share ideas and stories, our connection becomes stronger. Many of clergy have known each other for a long time.  They went to seminary together, they knew each other from growing up going to District Camp, they serve on committees together and they see each other at District events.  As laity, unless you attend Annual Conference, training events are one of the only ways to connect. 

            Although the church in Wharton is much smaller than the one in Houston, although the size of the gatherings was completely different, and although the congregations represented are very different, in both events the hospitality of the host church was extraordinary.  Both of these churches have clearly mastered the practice of  “Radical Hospitality.”

            If you haven’t attended the annual leadership training in your District yet, you may not have missed it. Several are scheduled for this next weekend.  Call your District office for more information. 

            And, it is not too late to take advantage of the Conference “Celebrating a Call to Lay Ministry,” sponsored by The Methodist Hospital.  It begins on Thursday evening and will provide opportunities to meet laity from our own conference and others.  You can get more information on the Conference website,  www.txcumc.org.    In the meantime, if you attended one of the training sessions from last weekend and have questions for me, comments or just want to stay in touch, email me at tayleah@comcast.net.

Showers of Blessings,

Leah Taylor