wfn.org | Bishop tells conference 'It's a spiritual matter'

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

May 6, 2004 GC04-083

By Danette Clifton*   
 
PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - Bishop Robert E. Fannin told the 2004 United Methodist
General Conference that "most of the questions, concerns and opportunities
facing the church are spiritual matters." 
 
In his sermon during the May 6 morning worship service, Fannin, episcopal
leader of the Birmingham Area, also told those gathered, "The world is
craving to hear the Good News, and we need to find the spirit and the
enthusiasm to say, 'He lives, He lives and He lives in the United Methodist
Church!'"
 
During the service, worshippers experienced the global nature and spirit of
the United Methodist Church with the music of  the Mytischi United Methodist
Church Choir of Moscow, Russia. Before the sermon began, the congregation
stood, held hands and sang, "We were baptized in Christ Jesus."
 
During the sermon, Fannin told worshippers, "We the people called United
Methodist and we the people called Christian must recapture in our words,
actions, programs, worship and vision a spirituality that speaks to today's
world." He continued, "I believe that as new generations of seekers for
truth, we must once again merge mind and heart so as to speak with authority
about the story of Jesus and His love."
 
Fannin told a story of meeting a woman at a car rental counter who had
recently visited a United Methodist church and reported to him that the
service was the "deadest thing" she had ever attended. He warned the
conference that if she, and other seekers like her, visit another United
Methodist church, no matter what its style of worship, it will depend on "the
presence of the Spirit" whether these seekers will want to become a part of
that community of faith.
 
He also challenged the General Conference with the words of John Wesley,
founder of the Methodist movement: "Give me 100 preachers who fear nothing
but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be
clergy or lay, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom
of God upon earth." 
 
Fannin told the delegates from around the world, who have spent the last
eight days debating and voting on various issues, "If we cannot agree that
our primary task is the presentation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then
some of you got on the wrong bus, came to the wrong town and the wrong
conference."
 
###
 
 
*Clifton is director of  communications for the North Alabama Conference.

News media contact: (412) 325-6080 during General Conference, April 27-May 7.
After May 10: (615) 742-5470. 

 
 

 
 

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org