DID YOU GO?
Six ministers review
Convocation '07

The theme was "Come to the Mount." The dates were Feb. 5-8. In all, 303 Holston clergy attended Ministers' Convocation for four days of worship, workshops, fellowship, and free time. What were their impressions? Here are six, submitted at the invitation of The Call.

Workshop: Blessed are the Peacemakers
Neal Christie listed things so quickly I couldn't write them down: causes of conflict, violence, war, types of violence. If you came to this workshop thinking the only war was in Iraq or that peacemakers are only needed in the Middle East, you had a lot to learn. Peacekeepers would be an improvement in places like that, but peace-building can be used to change systems and culture.

Christie, an elder from the Greater New Jersey Conference serving with the General Board of Church and Society, took us from extremes of violence, such as racism, to more subtle expressions, such as ignoring and neglecting, which are at the root of war and violence. He showed us that peacemaking is essential in every personal relationship and includes learning to listen to each other, as well as working for social justice.

So, if you were thinking that peacemakers are only needed overseas, look around. Maybe you could start with your neighbors or within your own family.
- Rev. Tom Reed, First Pennington Gap, Big Stone Gap District

Worship
How do you bring people into the presence of God? How do you meet the needs of clergy and laity who prefer traditional over contemporary, homily over liturgy, praise choruses over hymns? What I saw and felt was true in every service at Convocation: Worship is not about our needs. It is about praising our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The preaching, music, and Taize service all focused on bringing us into God's presence. The theme of "Blessed are the Meek" caused us to recognize our humility and reliance upon the One who shows us grace in spite of our weakness. I hope I speak for all who were at the worship services; I came back with a renewed sense of how "blessed" I am.
- Rev. Bill Akers, Beaver Ridge UMC, Oak Ridge District

Felllowship
Ministers' Convocation is a time of communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ, a time of renewal as we share about our successes and failures, and a time of revival as we challenge each other to "keep on keeping on" until we meet again.

We witnessed earnest conversations around the tables at meal times. We heard stories that stretched the bounds of the believable. We laughed with each other and at ourselves. We caught up on family situations.

During the workshops we opened ourselves to more serious conversations as we sought to wrap our minds around serious issues. Fellowship was part of these sessions, but it became more focused and driven as we sought to bravely assess where we stood on the topic of the day.

At worship and Bible study, we found ourselves able to let go and fellowship with God. We sang with gusto, passed the peace to those we don't know, heard the Word with a common ear, prayed for each other, and received Holy Communion as the fellowship of all believers.
- Rev. Betty Furches, First Farragut UMC, Oak Ridge District

Workshop: Blessed are the Meek
Unfortunately, I was only able to attend one session of the path led by Cecille Adams, personal and professional coach with the Creative Coaching Center. However, I enjoyed the session that I attended. We looked at all the aspects of what "meek" means, both positive and negative. We also looked at ways to apply being meek to our daily lives and our ministries without being a walking carpet. Jesus was direct, yet he was meek in all that he did. I received much out of this workshop that I took back home with me. For example, I have a hard time accepting compliments and receiving help; I realized that part of being meek is being able to do this.
- Rev. Maria Grimm, Thornspring/Wesley Memorial UMC, Wytheville District

Bible Study
I did not know what to expect when James Howell started his lesson, especially since I had not heard of him before. What I learned and appreciated from Dr. Howell was that we can enjoy a good Bible study without including translation comparisons, Greek word play, and exegesis. With the Beatitudes, I was expecting a detailed comparison between the words "blessed" and "happy." Instead, I learned that sometimes what we pastors need to hear are not the things we heard in seminary or read in one of our numerous commentaries. We need to hear about real-life situations that point us to the text and make us say, "Yes, Jesus knew exactly what I am facing." This means more to me than knowing the difference between blessed and happy.
- Rev. Jason Gattis, Keith Memorial UMC, Cleveland District

Conclusion
If the Rapture includes the indescribable jubilation of worshipping the living Christ, then "rapturous" best describes the responses overheard after the close of Convocation. The end began suddenly as Catherine Nance beamed us back to mountaintop experiences of church youth retreats. As she spoke of Saturday night circles at Camp Lookout when all were touched by the Spirit, we remembered our own encounters of incarnate grace when our hearts, souls, minds, and strength were in proper working order.

It's almost impossible to follow Nance, but our faculty panel met the challenge offering ways of living into God's realm by becoming bearers of blessings. Words were lifted about recent visitors from Holston walking alongside Sudanese as ambassadors of Christ working toward reconciliation.

Once again we reached the mountaintop as Bishop James Swanson preached about Christ knowing whom he addressed and the crowd knowing Christ was blessing them. By the time the bread was broken and the cup of suffering and blessing was shared, grace flowed rapturously through us all.
- Rev. Dennis Loy, Boone's Creek UMC, Johnson City District

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