CHICAGO: Today the Connectional Table begins a month-long series on Christian Conferencing as part of the #CTTalks online forum. The forum was designed to create conversation around key topics related to General Conference leading up to the event in May 2016.
Each Monday in November, a video will be posted that addresses the principles of Christian Conferencing for delegations to use these as they gather together to prepare for General Conference.
The first video on November 2 features Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader and Bishop Christian Alsted, both representatives from the Committee on Faith and Order, discussing how Christian Conferencing is central to our Wesleyan identity.
“Christian Conferencing is so much more than polite disagreement or mere civility in the midst of controversy,” explains Bishop Christian Alsted. “Christian Conferencing is to be the church. It is to come together in worship, prayer and conversation to be shaped by Scripture, to listen, discern and grow together. Christian Conferencing is a means of grace.”
#CTTalks is intended to engage delegations and individuals through study and discussion of the issues that will be addressed at General Conference 2016. Weekly video posts will include interviews with United Methodist bishops, Connectional Table members, and other leaders from across the denomination. Delegates were invited to ask questions of the interviewees in advance via Twitter using the hashtag #CTTalks. This is a resource that can be used by individual delegates and with entire delegations as they prepare for General Conference.
There will also be an accompanying one-page conversation sheet with questions for delegates to use to continue the dialogue. The videos and the conversation sheets will be available on the Connectional Table website.
General Conference will be held May 10-20, 2016, in Portland, Oregon.
About the Connectional Table
The Connectional Table oversees the coordination of mission, ministries and resources across the denomination. Created at the 2004 General Conference, The Connectional Table was formed to serve as both the visioning body of the church and the steward of resources to carry out the vision of the denomination worldwide.
Media Contact:
Meredith Hoxie Schol
EMAIL: Connectionaltable@umc.org
PHONE: (773) 714-1517
