My Perspective of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference

July 25, 2016 / By Rev. Rebekah ("Beckie") Sweet

Greetings to the precious family of the Upper New York Annual Conference!

I am so grateful for your loving, caring, and prayerful support during the 2016 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference held in Lancaster, Pa. As one of the candidates for the episcopal office endorsed by UNYAC, I entered into the interview and election process assured of your desire for the Holy Spirit to guide the Conference, and affect the elections needed for our future together. The sessions were intense, joy-filled, spirit-freeing, soul-binding, and relationship-forming.What a blessing!

I count it a privilege to have journeyed alongside amazing Christ-followers as candidates and delegates this past week. Through this experience, I learned much about myself and the church, in such a transformative way that I can say with conviction that I am forever changed. I pray that the fervor with which I conveyed my beliefs, convictions, learnings, hopes, and dreams for denomination's witness for Christ will not dwindle or be diminished.

And, indeed, the NEJ Conference elected two exceptionally gifted persons to serve in our midst as bishops, Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Bishop LeTrelle Easterling. Please pray for these bishops as they engage in a new form of servant-leadership within the United Methodist Church, that their witness and leadership will be dynamic and Christ-centered, and that their spirits will be guarded by the Spirit of our Living God. 

Every time people noticed the large number of youth and young adults attending the NEJ Conference from Upper New York, I was very proud to be a delegate from UNYAC!  It is clear to all that we are leaning into the future that God has in store for us as an Annual Conference and that we highly value the voices and contributions of our youth and young adults. They engaged fully in the conference, and took the opportunity to join in the conversations about the issues at hand. I was pleased to support them as they used their gifts and expressed their concerns in poignant ways.

I encourage everyone to read more about the proceedings of the NEJ Conference by visiting the NEJUMC website.  And then, enhance your understanding of the proceedings by engaging in conversation with our delegates. Each one will may have unique reflections on our discussions, spiritual discernment, political plays, worship, and future together. 

May the church rejoice in sharing Christ's love with the world!