First Impressions of a first time attendee at General Conference 2004 Pittsburgh, PA

by Robin Blair

Thursday morning. 4/29/04

Big convention center, nice city, lots of churches and hotels ballrooms for folks to gather outside the convention center itself – seems like a well conceived plan and choice for a big international conference. Hotels are rather expensive, but I suppose that is the way it is in a large city like, Pittsburgh PA.

First person I see when I walk into the convention center itself is Bishop Violet Fisher! She was engaged in conversation so I just sent a ‘hello Bishop!” from across the hall with my hand in the air – she heard me, smiled and waved. It felt welcoming.

I went into the large Cokesbury display area because that is where the traffic flowed to see what was fitting to sell at an international convention of United Methodists. I found mostly good and services that every church could use and perhaps would like to have – an then some more. Covetous thoughts began to emerge from this Pastor’s mind as I began to picture shiny new exterior signs for my charge, floor to ceiling banners for the fellowship hall and even a lovely ceramic communion cup. I got back under control quick enough and moved on to conversation with an artist who makes fabric arts pieces for wear and worship centers. His work was exquisite and I invited him to accept as a gift two of my CDs of music for children; he invited me to accept a scarf that he dyed and decorated with batik patterns of children’s faces. I am still feeling pretty welcome at the convention at this point.

A quick conversation with a retired Bishop (who was also very welcoming) sent me to the table display for the Bishop’s Initiative on Children and Poverty, to strike up an engaging conversation with the gentleman who was tending the booth. I was educated and welcomed by him and came away with more than I could have anticipated in spirit and energy.

I note with much interest the obvious international population walking around the floors. There are women and men not dressed in western ‘business’ clothing,’ the colors of clothing are bright and patterned and compelling me to look more closely. I smile and nod and feel intimidated a bit because I do not want to be too forward and just walk up to say hello..where are you from…what was your journey to this place like? I don’t know the language I hear them speaking, but it is lovely to my ear. I think, ‘what a wonderful God to have created so much beauty- in people, on people, around people.’ God is good.

Then, in the midst of my joy, I remember that many of these folks may have been some of the individuals that had difficulty obtaining a Visa for entrance to the United States. I still appreciate the faces and colors of clothing, but now I look with my heart to see a trace of anything else I might recognize at a glance.

I headed up to the legislative committee rooms to begin sitting an observant vigil. I am here to observe, learn, pray and expand my theological horizons to take note of how the Spirit moves in things like parliamentary procedure, legislation, differences, respect, patience, prayer, worship – old friends, new friends and everything else.

I will try and let you know how the journey progresses.

 

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