Back in the days of the Circuit Rider in the Methodist Church, preachers had charges...it could be any number of congregations that were about a day's ride apart...he would ride his horse to the different congregations; ideally he would preach and serve communion monthly. The other Sundays the congregation would have meetings; possibly there was a lay speaker who filled in and ran the service (of course there was singing! Gotta sing in the Methodist Church!) Annually the charges would meet and go over the business of the charge (including things like how much each congregation would kick in to pay the preacher!). This was called a Charge Conference (everything is a Conference of some sort in the church!)
It's now the 21st century and United Methodist churches still hold annual Charge Conferences!
Ours at Canvas Community Church was today (Carter drove his car instead of riding a horse) and I was presented by Amy (our SPRC chairman) requesting the church's approval of my candicacy for ordained ministry. They approved me...so now I can check off another box on my list...only about 75,000 boxes to go!
Yours in Christ,
Elizabeth
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