Countdown Begins to United Methodist Leadership Gathering in Calgary

With excitement and earnest prayer, organizers and participants of the Leadership Gathering are making final preparations for the first-of-its-kind United Methodist event, now less than three weeks away. The gathering, set for Oct. 20-24 at Knox United Church in Calgary, Canada, aims to help the denomination move past a challenging period of church disaffiliations and embrace a future guided by God’s calling.

In the lead-up to the event, organizers have released resources, including devotions and a podcast, to engage United Methodists globally in the gathering’s purpose. These materials are intended to foster participation and reflection among the broader church community. Additionally, a survey of United Methodist youth and young adults has been compiled to inform discussions at the event.

Stephanie Henry, a co-convener of the event’s design team and lay member of the Pacific Northwest Conference, emphasized that the gathering is not solely about the 300 participants in attendance. “We want the rest of the church to feel like they’re a part of the process, part of the history, part of what’s happening,” she said. This inclusive approach reflects the event’s goal of involving the entire denomination in its mission.

The Council of Bishops and other organizers have planned the gathering as a discerning body, distinct from the denomination’s General Conference. Unlike a decision-making assembly, this event prioritizes prayerful discussion over parliamentary procedures. The theme, “Emboldened by the Spirit: Imagining a Church Yet to Be,” underscores the vision of a renewed and reimagined United Methodist Church.

Council of Bishops President Rubén Saenz Jr., co-convener of the design team alongside Henry, highlighted the pivotal decision made following the 2024 General Conference. “The choice before the council was: Are we going to spend the next decade managing decline, or are we going to begin to imagine a church yet to be that the future generations will receive and value?” Saenz expressed hope that participants will explore how the denomination’s structures might evolve to support a vision of “loving boldly, serving joyfully, and leading courageously.”

Participants are encouraged to engage in advance by prayerfully reflecting on questions provided by organizers, downloading the Whova conference app, and entering into a covenant based on John Wesley’s principles of doing no harm, doing good, and attending to all the ordinances of God. This preparation reflects the event’s emphasis on spiritual commitment and communal responsibility.

The Leadership Gathering represents a significant step in the United Methodist Church’s journey toward renewal, offering a platform for reflection, discernment, and collective vision. As the event approaches, it stands as a testament to the denomination’s ongoing commitment to spiritual growth and communal unity.

Source: Read the original report