Alongside Scripture reading, fasting, prayer, and holy communion, John Wesley taught that Christian conferencing is a means of grace—an intentional practice through which people encounter God’s transforming grace.

This vision calls us to embody Christ’s love not only in what we say, but how we say it and how we treat one another. Holy conferencing creates space where truth can be spoken in love, where listening is as vital as speaking, and where connection is sustained even across difference and disagreement. It is a way of being together that seeks understanding before winning, and communion before conclusion.

Holy conferencing during laity session of Annual Conference 2025. Photo by Kris Aves.

At its heart, holy conferencing is a spiritual practice where God is present in our conversations, guiding, correcting, healing, and drawing us into deeper unity. It invites us to slow down, to pay attention to one another, and to recognize that every voice carries dignity and worth. In this way, our conversations become more than exchanges of ideas; they become moments of grace.

As we look ahead to the Annual Conference session in June, we recognize this gathering as more than an annual event on the calendar. It is an expression of the means of grace at work among us. Throughout the session, we will worship together, celebrate the ministry of the church, and hear reports that reflect the life and mission of our conference. We will engage in conversations, consider legislation, and make decisions that shape our shared future.  

In all of this, holy conferencing becomes essential. It shapes how we engage with one another in plenaries, lunch-and-learn sessions, small-group conversations, and informal interactions. It reminds us that every voice matters and that every exchange is an opportunity to reflect Christ’s love.

This year, I invite you to embrace holy conferencing as a practice of hope. In a time when differences can easily divide us, choosing to remain in holy conversation is itself an act of hope. When we listen deeply, speak truthfully, and extend grace generously, we bear witness to God’s love and presence among us. Hope is not merely a feeling; it is a way of being together. We practice hope as we dream, discern, and work together for the good of the Body of Christ. 

As we gather in June, may our holy conferencing be rooted in love and guided by the Holy Spirit. And may it lead us not only to wise decisions, but to deeper connection, renewed trust, and a shared vision for the ministry to which God calls us.