Dr. Ashley Boggan and Rev. Paul Chilcote led a time of teaching and reflection. Photo by NCJ communicators.

On Thursday morning of the 2024 North Central Jurisdictional Conference, a special session focused on what to do as United Methodists moving forward post-General Conference in a time of renewal.

“How do we, as The United Methodist Church, kind of reverse ourselves a little bit, reform ourselves or renew ourselves to reclaim the movement that is the core of who we are,” said Dr. Ashley Boggan D., General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History.

Dr. Boggan, along with Rev. Paul Chilcote, an award-winning author and retired United Methodist minister and theological educator, led the time of reflection and asked, “What lessons can The United Methodist Church take from the history of the church moving forward?”

“A Rule of Life, like the General Rules, is at the heart of Wesley’s program on renewal in the life of the church,” said Chilcote. “A Rule of Life keeps us directed and focused. Otherwise, if you are here or there, you get scattered very quickly, and maybe even more importantly, you lose connection with the most important things.”

Chilcote said that, without question, John and Charles Wesley always focused their attention on love.

“We spend so much of our energy and time and probably our prayers on budget and financial stuff,” said Boggan. “How do we not let that be the driver of our conversations? How do we instead focus on who we will be and have faith that people will come along if we are defending a positive message of vision, unity, and love? People will catch on.”

Toward the end of the presentation, Boggan asked Chilcote, “What do you hope will make The United Methodist Church different going forward than any other denomination?”

“My hope and my prayer is that the United Methodism of the future will be known as the most loving and welcoming community that anybody has ever encountered,” said Chilcote.

Watch the “Lifting Every Voice for the Purpose of Multiplying Love” recording here.