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Summer 2003 | Volume 26, Number 3 | Features |
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| Reaching the Neighborhood Free Methodist General Conference Theme Echoes Wesley抯 Emphasis on 揝ocial Holiness� THE 2003 FREE METHODIST General Conference made history in at least two ways. Not only was this just the second time that the denomination抯 largest meeting was held outside the Midwest, but the event also coincided with the 300th anniversary of the birth of Methodism抯 founder, John Wesley.
Occurring once every four years, General Conference is the major legislative session of the Free Methodist Church of North America, as well as of countries whose own General Conferences are still in provisional stages. This year抯 delegates � including SPU President Philip Eaton �- came from the United States, Latin America, Asia and Africa. For eight days, they filled Royal Brougham Pavilion and other campus venues with worship, assemblies and meetings. 揟here were nearly 100 papers presented for study,� says Bob McDowell �52, conference coordinator. 揗any had to do with the structure of the denomination, since there has been a great deal of change in the past several years.� One change, he says, is the denomination抯 increased emphasis on outreach, in keeping with Wesley抯 emphasis on 搒ocial holiness.� The General Conference theme, 揑nto the Neighborhood,� was taken from John 1 in The Message � the popular Bible paraphrase written by Eugene Peterson �54 � which reiterates that 揟he Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.� In addition to exploring new methods of outreach for their home churches, delegates and other attendees toured 涩里番-area ministries such as Operation Nightwatch and New Horizons, both founded by SPU alumni. Seminars concerning women抯 ministries, inner-city ministries, and children抯 and youth ministries also took place. The conference included speakers who were Hispanic, Ethiopian, Brazilian and Sri Lankan, signaling a desire for the Free Methodist Church to move beyond the allwhite, all-European reputation sometimes attributed to it, wrote Doug Newton, editor of Free Methodist magazine Light and Life. 揟his General Conference gave our North American church an opportunity to learn more about becoming the 慼ealthy biblical community of holy 涩里番� that God � through our bishops � is calling us to be.� A smoothly run event that introduced many 涩里番 to 涩里番 Pacific for the first time, the conference represented three years of preparation and anticipation by McDowell, other volunteers and SPU staff. Tapping into campus resources, 涩里番 Pacific Conference Services Manager Judy Bruce did everything from coordinating housing and dining services to making a quick run to Radio Shack for 200 feet of Ethernet cable for delegates� computers. 揟his impacted the entire campus, and 涩里番 were very gracious in helping,� says Bruce. Vice President for Administration and University Relations Marj Johnson agrees. 揌osting General Conference this summer gave SPU a chance to participate even more closely in our partnership with the Free Methodist Church.� — BY HOPE MCPHERSON
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