The theme of General Conference 2004 was “Exalting Christ – Empowering the Church”.

The site of the 2004 General Conference was Grand Rapids, Michigan, a bustling city of 197,000+ people, serving over 1 million people in the Greater Grand Rapids region.

Highlights of the Conference

• The Pastoral Letter from the General Superintendents reported that 224,948 people were converted to Christ (a 46.1% increase over the last quadrennium). Total membership worldwide has increased to 306,015 (a 13.7% increase). Worship attendance worldwide has increased to 323,068 (a gain of 5%). 135 new churches have been planted in North America. 500,000 people have seen the JESUS Film, with 60,000 responses. Spanish-language ministries has more than doubled, from 38 in 2000, to 98 in 2004. The Church's web site, www.wesleyan.org., has averaged over 2,200 visitors per day, with 73 converts and 97 rededications over a three-year period. This is cause for rejoicing and for re-doubling our efforts to keep the main thing (evangelism and disciple-making) the main thing.
   
• Drs. Wilson, Holdren and Arminger were re-elected as General Superintendents for the new quadrennium.
   
• The Department of Spiritual Formation was created. This will combine Children, Youth, and Adult ministries under one General Director, thus improving the effectiveness and coordination of the Church’s ministry to these important groups.
   
• A Memorial was read and debated that would have seen the number of General Superintendents reduced from three to one. It was defeated with a 79% “No” vote.
   
• A series of actions were taken concerning the worldwide Wesleyan Church that is a welcome sign of its internationalisation: 1) The Wesleyan Holiness Church of the Caribbean was established as its own General Conference; and 2) Wesleyan World Fellowship was replaced by The Charter of the International Wesleyan Church. The International Conference will give spiritual and ecclesiastical oversight to The Wesleyan Church worldwide. More on this exciting action will be forthcoming at District Conference on Tuesday, July 6th at Beulah Camp.
   
• For those interested in matters relating to the structure and governance of the Church, the Judiciary of the Wesleyan Church was revamped in order to relate it more closely to Christian and biblical guidelines, giving greater emphasis to non-adversarial types of discipline and making it more user-friendly.
   
• The Taskforce on Public Morals and Social Concern had its structure revised to increase its effectiveness in informing the Church’s awareness of matters of concern.
   
• Our District Superintendent was elected to the General Board of Administration.
   
• A Federal Marriage Amendment statement was adopted by the Conference giving voice to our opposition to same-sex marriage.
   
• A slight revision of the statement found in The Wesleyan Discipline (par. 246) on The Resurrection of the Dead was made in order to bring it in line with our accepted Wesleyan theological position on the doctrine.
   
• A sabbatical for pastors was enacted.
   
• Worship at the public evening rallies reflected the eclectic nature of church worship in the Church today. One rally speaker in particular addressed issues relevant to the direction of the Church - Dr. Leonard Sweet. I would encourage you to order his important message from headquarters, for it will surely impact the way your church will want to serve this present age

A Personal Note

I was moved and impressed by the influence of The Wesleyan Church worldwide. We are now serving Christ in 88 nations of the earth, with influence that far exceeds the size and perceived influence of our original Zion.

Like Wesley, the world is truly our parish and the message of heart holiness is transforming lives on a global scale that far surpasses anything our early church leaders would or could have dreamed probable.

On the closing day of the Conference, I quietly slipped away to a balcony overlooking the delegates as they enjoyed a time of refreshment and fellowship. My spirit was moved by what I saw from my elevated vantage point.

Faces from many nations of the earth populated the hall and rich conversation was being had by those from every state and station of the Church. Whites mingled with blacks, North Americans with Asians and Australians, and Europeans were comfortable sharing fellowship with South Americans and those of the East. All this was occurring under the banner of The Wesleyan Church and the blessed superintendence of the Holy Spirit.

It seemed I could hear the words of Jesus echo through the corridors of my heart and mind:

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17: 20-23 NIV)

That state of the Church is strong and the message of disciple-making and entire sanctification is alive and active in the hearts of those who serve under our banner.

To God be the glory!