Today has been a tense day. All Conference has been working up to this moment, the day of the elections for the Connexional Officers, including the post of Chairman and General Superintendent, currently held by the Rev. Reuben Dove. Behind the scenes there has been much debate over who is the best person to take the Connexion forward.
The day started more lazily than usual; we missed the first sessions to catch up with outselves. It was also good to avoid being asked we thought should be G.S.; itwould be prejudicial for us to be seen to support one person over another.
We made Conference in time for another address by the Dean, a passionate plea for unity amongst God’s people.
After lunch and further stabs at speaking Krio, it was time for the vote. This was a loud and enthusiastic affair as expected. Great care was taken to ensure that no accusation of vote tampering was made, and that procedure was followed. As the votes came in there was laughter and great grace displayed by winners and losers, and much affection for nominees shown. Rev. Theophilus Nicol, a fellow Liverpool FC supporter won the position of Assistant G.S. and in the final act of Conference, Rev. Reuben Dove lost out to Re. Sallu Koroma. Reuben was generous to Sallu. It will be strange not working with him after all these years, but I am sure that our frindship will continue.
Conference has been good. We have learnt much about our family here, and got to know many of them well. That said, I am glad that we shall be returning to visiting the churches and schools again – we’ve spent too many hours sitting on hard benches!
Another day at Conference. It is fascinating being there, getting to know everyone and seeing for ourselves what they are passionate about and how they run ther affairs. It was a packed day yesterday with reports from the schools and churches and various Connexional groups. We also had a talk from the Dean at Freetown Cathedral – an hilarious man. We didn’t follow everything he said – catching the Krio when spoken in a large church isn’t always straightforward. He was certainly very well taken by the delegates and ministers.
After the day’s sessions, we managed to take a quick walk before returning for a meeting with our agents and Reuben. This was very good – it is extremely hard to maintain a proper relationship by email. We were able to talk over a number of important issues face to face. They are all in their different ways great people.
The day finished with an evening communion service. This was a very formal affair with Anglican style liturgy and hymns. Enjoyable, but we were also very releived to get back to our beds (around midnight after we had had a bite to eat).
Ben’s story telling skills were put to good use yesterday – two stories in one sermon and everyone was touched by them. Ask him about the story of the little boy who met God on a park bench and you may find why teh folk at conference were so moved by his speaking.
amazing fact this evening – we have just watched Liverpool (sadly) lose to Arsenal! Isn’t God good?
Fascinating day at the SLM Conference. No mention of hoovers (for those who are kind enough to forgive my failings about meetings) but there are plenty of substitutes! People are very passionate about the business of the Church and although it was a bit tricky to follow everything because of the language difference it was quite exciting!
Great to meet lots of people and to practice names – Attu for example I had tried to remember by thinking it sounded like a sneeze but then I talked with him in the afternoon and calle him Tissue which was not quite the same!!!He was very forgiving though.
Pray for wisdom for the business decisions – God is at work among his people here and they need his grace and wisdom.
Today was the first day of Conference. This is the annual gathering of all of the ministers of the churches in the Sierra Leone Connexion, delegates from their churches, and other guests such as representatives from the Bible Colleges and the Bible Soceity. They meet for worship and to do the business of the Connexion such as electing the leader of the denomination. This is currently the Rev. Reuben Dove, who for many years was our Head Agent, one of the Sierra Leonians we ‘employ’ to coordinate our business in SL on our behalf.
Today was mainly opening speeches and Reuben’s report which was fascinating. It is always good to hear what they have been trying to acheive, what has worked and what has not. They also got to listen to a talk by me. Although they love telling stories, they rarely use them in their sermons. This, however, is something I love to do, and so I told them a version of the Prodigal Son with a Freetown twist! Thankfully it seemed to go down well – I always worry about causing offence through not realising what things are considered inppropriate in their culture.
I also got to perform a ceremony I had hoped to do last year when Reuben passed on the role of Head Agent on to Rev. Sylvanus Alba Nicol, an insightful man with a wickedly dry sense of humour. We had hoped then to be able to publically mark the great work Reuben had done for us over the years, and it was good to be able to finally do this.
Much of Conference we don’t fully understand because of the Krio they speak, but it wonderful to see everybody all at once. Tim is coping well – and just about managing all the names!
The first week of our visit will be mainly taken up with their denomination Conference at which I am giving a talk on Tuesday. I’ve just received the programme from Reuben, click on the pictures to see what’s going on: