UMNS Photo by Mike DuBose
2012 Round Tables
Delegates to the 2012 General Conference sat at round tables in hopes of facilitating better "holy conferencing."
The Commission on the 2016 General Conference on Friday, Oct. 28, also approved the theme for the gathering in downtown Portland, Ore.
The theme will be “Therefore, Go” from Christ’s Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. The same passage also serves as inspiration for the denomination’s mission “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” It also has the advantage of being easily translated into multiple languages.
Nordic and Baltic Episcopal Area Bishop Christian Alsted, an ex-officio commission member, first suggested the 2016 theme.
The Rev. Lynn Hill, the chair of the commission’s program committee and a member of the Tennessee Annual (regional) Conference, noted worship leaders and other organizers will be able to invoke the theme in a variety of ways to expand upon the Christian message.
Some possible directions include:
- “Therefore, go … in love”
- “Therefore, go and baptize”
- “Therefore, go work for peace.
–Heather Hahn, United Methodist News Service