Bishop Ward describes the agenda for five gatherings to discuss the work of the Commission on a Way Forward and proposals going to the February 2019 General Conference.
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
This week, I am enjoying being out in the annual conference with many of you. At Annual Conference last month, I asked you if it would be helpful to gather to talk more about the work of the Commission on a Way Forward and the proposals which are coming toward General Conference in February relative to our ministry with LGBTQI persons.
We have configured five of these gatherings in response to your invitations to please come and have conversation. The gatherings are taking place in Sanford, Fayetteville, Durham, Greenville and in Rocky Mount. Laity and clergy are coming together and the delegation members and I are present. As we begin the conversation, we read scripture, sing “Amazing Grace,” have prayer and then ask the gathered group what questions bring you here. What brings you out on a beautiful summer night when you might be at home sipping lemonade on your deck or porch? Those questions then become the agenda for the meeting and we engage them in conversation with the gathered group.
The suggestion has come that we post a “Frequently Asked Questions” page on our website. We will use the questions that are posed in the gathering this week for that page and it will be posted later in July.
Thank you for your continued prayers, for your confidence in all that God is doing and for the good spirit that we experience in every place. It is a gift of God.