State of the Church

The highlight of the evening session was the address by Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, our General Minister and President, on the state of the church. Dr. Watkins used the text from the previous evening, Jesus's call to his disciples, "You give them something to eat," and coupled that with Moses's directive to the people of Israel to "choose life, that you may live."

In her message, Dr. Watkins lifted up the many ways in which Disciples have chosen life, even in a context of death, and are responding to the call to give something to eat. At the forefront was the response of Disciples following the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast. Hear what some folks along the gulf are saying about Disciples.

"Disciples keep showing up."

"You Disciples sure live up to your name."

With our regional, ecumenical and international mission partners, Disciples are finding new ways to choose life.

Dr. Watkins also challenged us, and it's a challenge we need to hear over and over again. Gil Rendle told a group of judicatory leaders that we have become too good at rehearsing the story of our own demise. Meanwhile, to borrow from Mark Twain, rumors of our demise are greatly exaggerated. It is time for us to stop rehearsing the stories of our demise, and instead tell the stories of all the ways Disciples are choosing life.

A lot of good ministry is happening across the life of this church. Let's make our word good. Let's tell stories of life that express our faith as people who serve a God of resurrection!