Bishop Holston
Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, resident bishop of the South Carolina Annual Conference, has issued this statement:
As we walk by faith and not by sight into an uncertain future in our denomination, the Council of Bishops is preparing to ask for a called General Conference in early 2019 in order to respond to the findings and recommendations of the Commission on a Way Forward.
You have seen several statements from the Council of Bishops and others this week. I invite you to focus on these particular paragraphs of all of the information and opinions you are hearing:
“Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett and Bishop Al Gwinn, co-chairs of the Praying Our Way Forward Initiative, announced the second phase of the appeal, which involves each conference making a commitment to come together in prayer during a designated week. The effort would begin January 1, 2017, and continue into 2018. The first phase involved a commitment from bishops for daily prayer focused on the selection and initial efforts of the commission.
“We want the church and the Commission on a Way Forward to be led by God. This prayer emphasis puts us in a posture where as a church we are asking and listening for God’s leadership,” Wallace-Padgett said. “Our prayer focus is twofold: We are praying that God will help us to more effectively fulfill the mission of the church. And we are praying to be one in Christ.”
She said they are inviting persons to:
- Pray daily for the church’s effectiveness in fulfilling our mission of making disciples and for the outcome of the work of the Commission on a Way Forward;
- Participate in their conferences’ week of prayer;
- Fast weekly as they are able for The United Methodist Church and our future.”
God has called us together as United Methodists to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. As we continue to focus on our mission and ministry, may we fervently seek God’s guidance for the future.
Grace and peace,
L. Jonathan Holston
