Every year in September, the senior leadership of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa gathers for Conference. If you're not familiar with the language, that's another word to add to your Methodist lexicon - Conference (not a conference), but a gathering of leaders at Conference. Yes, it's a bit confusing :)
This year, Conference is special: it will be preceded by a three day Mission Congress, which is the culmination of a journey over the last couple of years that our church has called the Pilgrimage of Renewal. Beginning with a call from our Presiding Bishop, Rev Pumla Nzimande, the MCSA has been listening to feedback from members and communities, asking ourselves where we need to grow and be renewed and what that will look like. The Mission Congress will involve nearly 400 delegates from across the sub-continent and our aim is to discern what God is saying to us in the areas of Spirituality, Discipleship & Evangelism; Prophetic Witness & Social Justice; Leadership, Governance and Ministerial Well-being; Sustainable Resources and Innovative Communication; and African identity and contextual theology.
Our deep hope is that this will be more than a talk shop and that the findings of the Congress will shape the decisions to be made at Conference this year in wise and practical ways. I will be privileged to be a part of the Mission Congress (and will be heading up to Joburg after the 09h00 service). Please pray that God will speak and we will hear during this important week.