Every year the UMC has what is called "Annual Conference." In my experience of AC, it is a business meeting in which we hand out awards and pass a budget thank those retiring hear from the bishop's spouse (who know's why?) and the bishop. Oh yes, and at AC is where the UMC ordains people.

This AC, is by far the most memorable. Not only was I ordained (see June 7th post) but I developed this paper. I am not sure if it will get any larger for anyone to read it (in fact if I cannot get it to remain small and illegible, then I may just take the picture down), but it is a list of names that was suggested to me as young adult clergy who would were willing and able to serve as delegates to another conference (General and Jurisdictional if you really want to know.)

This little slip of paper has become for me everything that I do not want to do and be in the UMC. Not that I would not mind serving as a delegate to future conferences, but that I do not ever want to be caught up in a swirl of running around the floor of AC trying to organize and get the word out about what young clergy to vote for.

I am posting this as a reminder to myself that we are to be the change we wish to see in the world and by doing what I did was not being a positive change agent. Systems are a powerful thing and can wrap us up in a heartbeat if we are not vigilant to what is happening. I am forever thankful to Nancy Allen and Jim Conner for talking me off the ledge of insanity

On a more positive note, one of the delegates to AC from Arlington Heights, Robyn, snapped a photo of me in some swank 3D glasses. I have decided that I want glasses.

Thirdly, for future reference, we need to post the twitter feed live next year. There are some really great lines in this year's feed such as:

steveheyduck Steve Heyduck

Churches should need land like Israel needed a king. #ctc11

Aly_Donaldson Alyssa Donaldson

I feel like all the #ctc11 tweeters are creating the biggest database of inside jokes and inside understandings ever.

steveheyduck Steve Heyduck

What would it look like if lay elected clergy & vice versa? Should that make a difference? #ctc11

marianne_brown Marianne Brown

I don't know how I feel about the frequency I'm hearing "the cluster groups will help that." #ctc11

gravleyp Paul Gravley

We need to do a better job of teaching the whys in what we do in worship, but do it actually in worship! #ctc11

marianne_brown Marianne Brown

"Honey, it's Holy wine, there's no backwash." -Adam Hamilton #ctc11

gravleyp Paul Gravley

There is something theologically fantastic about the idea of holy backwash! #ctc11

steveheyduck Steve Heyduck

Best clergy candidates: effective clergy who are not interested. #ctc11

minimar7 Mary Spradlin

I want to be an effective pastor. That's not the only reason I brushed my teeth this morning! #ctc11