Annual Conference theme announced
The theme of the 2012 Annual Conference has been announced. "A Healthy World: Mind • Body • Spirit" will be held Wednesday, June 6 through Saturday June 9, 2012 at Calvin College in Grand Rapids.
This is the 44th Session of the West Michigan Conference and the final year themed on one of the four areas of focus of The United Methodist Church. "Combating the diseases of poverty by improving health globally" will explore three sub-themes; mind, body and spirit.
Preachers for the event include the dynamic author, pastor and sociologist Dr. Anthony Campolo (pictured right), Resident Bishop of the Ohio West Area Bishop Bruce Ough and our own Bishop Jonathan Keaton.
Tony Compolo has written over 35 books and blogs regularly at redletterchristians.org. Who is a "Red Letter Christian?" According to Compolo, one who "takes Jesus seriously by endeavoring to live out His radical, counter-cultural teachings as set forth in Scripture, and especially embracing the lifestyle prescribed in the Sermon on the Mount."
Bishop Bruce Ough is the spiritual leader of the 1,188 congregations in West Ohio. Currently he serves as the President of The General Board of Global Ministries. At their board meeting in October, Ough asked, "Are you ready to be sent. Are you ready to be sent again? Are you ready to be sent again, and again, and yet again? Until all are fed? Until all are found? Until all are healed?" He will ask the same of us as we examine global health issues.
The Rev. Stacy Minger and the Rev. Bo Rin Cho join Bishop Keaton as devotions preachers who will provide daily spiritual focus. Stacy is an assistant professor at Asbury Theological Seminary and Bo pastors the Korean UMC in East Lansing.
The three keynote speakers for the final day of Annual Conference, sometimes referred to as "Miracle Saturday," have been selected and will be announced soon.