WOW!
How can I share my World Conference experience when it was like a month of events and a year of emotions all packed into one full (so full!) week?
I am an accountant, so let’s do this by the numbers:
2,000+ – delegates who assembled in Independence, Missouri last week to confer, fellowship, worship and connect. Plus, four remote sites in other countries to provide greater access for those who couldn’t get visas to come to the U.S.!
164 – attendance at the standing-room-only fully-affirming Harmony worship, where apostles and other members of World Church leadership served communion and offered blessing for participants. For me, the words of affirmation, solidarity, and challenge offered as part of the communion message were some of the most moving of the week, and that’s saying something!
6 – new apostles ordained in one service! That’s a LOT of new energy on the rostrum. I can’t wait to see what’s to come!
5 – five more things that bear mentioning: Tahitian choir! African women’s choir! Latin American praise band! Catherine Mambwe’s homily (short sermon) from Council of Twelve Ordination Service (if you listen to one worship service online, consider this one?) and fun, music and snacks every night on the World Plaza after worship.
4 – the number of events I wanted to attend on our “free” night, which included the Western Field Reception hosted by our outgoing apostle Shandra Newcom, the Latin America Field Reception (where I was invited to tag along with Karina and Alba from the Tecate Congregation, who made a ton of friends with leaders and members of that delegation), Outreach International Reception (at their beautiful downtown Kansas City space – please check out their amazing and ongoing work around the globe), and Harmony worship, described above. SO many fun things to do! SO many friends, old and new, with whom to connect!
3 – years until the next World Conference!
2 – the number of super cute grandchildren of mine I was able to squeeze in time with between World Conference events (story time at the Delaware with a 3-year-old and a 6-month-old, anyone?) Hit me up for pictures at Reunion!
1 – the number of female Prophet-Presidents and the number of non-Western members of the First Presidency the church has had. I am so proud to be part of a church that mentors, supports, ordains, and celebrates ever greater diversity in the highest levels of church leadership. The ordinations of Stassi Cramm to Prophet-President, Bunda Chibwe to Member of the First Presidency, and Mareva Arnaud-Tchong to Presiding Evangelist were conference highlights that were incredibly meaningful to me.
Michele McGrath
Community of Christ Pacific SW Int'l Mission Center