And something happened
May 13, 2016 / By Michelle Bogue-Trost
If you ever wonder what we mean by a "global connection," come to General Conference sometime. The worldwide nature of the United Methodist Church is evident, everywhere you look and everywhere you go. You can hear languages from across the world next to you in lines, in worship, at the microphones in plenary, at snack breaks, and on the street as we gather and recess. The world is present here in Portland, and for the first time in my experience, English-speakers were able to experience simultaneous translation with headsets as delegates who speak little to no English took the floor (as international Delegates have done for years). It's positively Pentecostal, which is appropriate, given the liturgical season.
Yesterday, we began our work in legislative committees, the small groups assigned to review and possibly amend, then suggest recommendation or rejection to the plenary body once the General Conference assembles next week. Our work yesterday began with small group conversations regarding the worldwide nature of the United Methodist Church. This was a unique addition to the process, and included introductions of each delegate present. My table comprised delegates from Cote d'Ivoire, Congo, Hungary, the Philippines, and the United States, requiring translators fluent in English, French and Swahili. At one point, the Congo delegates spoke through the Swahili translator, who spoke French to the French translator, who rendered it into English for the USAmericans. Each delegate listened with patience and grace, some delegates pitching in when they knew a word that was escaping the translators, learning more about each other, hearing about each other's ministries and families, discovering the richness of life experiences the delegates bring, as well as what the church is like beyond each of our contexts.
And something happened.
Strangers became acquaintances, conversations about common threads learned in the time of introduction continued beyond the session and out the doors. Greetings were exchanged even today, and when we reassembled for our work, it was like sitting with friends--USAmericans trying out their rusty high-school French, Congolese asking in basic English about children and grandchildren, women of different continents talking about the UMW. And so we began our work.
One of the questions for the small group yesterday was something along the lines of: what does the UMC need to continue/further our worldwide connection? The answer reiterated around the table was, "This. We need this." Relationship. Listening. Hearing each others' stories. Translating when necessary. Helping each other find the words. Finding commonalities to begin more conversations. Coming together again in peace and friendship and doing our work in connection.
It requires deep and open listening to hear the Spirit speak. I believe we did.