Christian Conferencing

I am still processing my attendance at  the General Conference of the United Methodist Church  in Portland, Oregon in May .   In a few weeks,  I will find myself attending the Annual Conference Session for the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church at Lake Junaluska.   Christian conferencing is one of the things that the people called Methodists do.  John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, even said that Christian conferencing was a “means of grace” like worship and prayer. 

Steve was among the old friends I saw while I was in Portland.    We started in the ministry as pastors about the same time and in the same area of North Carolina.   I have been thinking in recent days about a time when Steve and I made a little trip to a landmark in Methodist History.    The time was the early 1980’s, and Steve and I were counselors at a week-long youth event being held at Louisburg College in Louisburg, North Carolina.    During a break one day,  we went to visit the Green Hill House just outside of Louisburg.

For those who have never heard of the Green Hill House or have forgotten, let me tell you about that Methodist landmark.  Following the Christmas Conference in Baltimore, Maryland  in December 1784 where the Methodist Episcopal Church was founded, the Green Hill House was chosen to host the first annual conference meeting of the brand-new church.   Methodist history buffs tell us that from April 20-24, 1785, twenty Methodist preachers from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia met in the attic of that home.

I don’t know if it  was the brashness of our youth or our ignorance that led us to knock on the door of that private home with no forewarning of its occupants.   A kind lady answered the door and welcomed us in as Mr. and Mrs. Hill welcome Methodist preachers long ago.     She led us upstairs to see the attic room where these early Methodist preachers conferenced under the leadership of  Bishop Francis Asbury and Bishop Thomas Coke. She told us that the early Methodist circuit riders did not need to worry about no nearby Holiday Inns or eating establishments  because Mr. Green Hill and his wife showed great hospitality by feeding the pastors meals and   allowing the preachers to sleep on the floor.

Many lament the debates on issues  that took place at the General Conference in Portland and will take place at Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska.    While many wistfully long for the “good old days”, the first Methodist Annual Conference that took place at the Green Hill House had its debates.    What issue did these Methodist preachers debate in April, 1785?   Why, they debated the issue of slavery.     This would not be the last debate that the people called Methodist had about slavery.  Later, that issue would divide the church.  Despite the debates that took place at the Green Hill House in 1785, there was something that knit this group of Methodist preachers together.   Though they differed in their opinions, they were united in their faith in Christ and their calling by him.   The apostle Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 4:4-6 where he writes:

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit. Likewise, you were called to the one hope of your calling. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all,who is above all, through all, and in all.                  Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall