The long sessions of the conference were held in the tabernacle and were led by the bishop responsible for our area. One of the bishops began inviting the conference superintendent to sit beside him [now her] during the conference sessions. This then, became the standard – still practiced today.
Two microphones were situated one on each side at the front of the tabernacle. Anyone addressing the conference [or giving a report] was to come forward and use them. Eventually time limits were set for reports and comments and a ‘time-keeper’ was designated to ring a bell when their time expired. But these guys were creative: I remember R. D. Merkle (Rochester District Superintendent) once beginning by saying: “I want to say something before my time begins!” That got a lot of laughter! Others just kept on going even though the timekeeper kept ringing the bell!
Debates were common, frequent, fervent and animated! These debates involved lay people and ministers. Strong opinions were expressed, and convincing arguments presented. Then, when a motion [or the bishop] closed the discussion period, a vote would take place. Once the decision was made, everyone accepted it as the will of the conference!
Humor often surfaced during these debates! I always felt that some of our pastors at that time could have made a good living as ‘stand-up comedians’. It was as though they were trying to ‘one-up’ each other. These sessions were NOT boring! I could name names, but not many would remember them. There were differing opinions and votes that had to be taken up to five times to get a majority, but unity always prevailed. I always felt proud to be a part of it!
The worship times were rich and blessed and were frequently marked by periods of shouting and perhaps even a few walking the aisles and praising the Lord! As a young person I experienced a tangible presence of the Lord MANY TIMES! One song that almost always evoked a significant response was “It Is Well With My Soul”.
A tradition that has passed was called ‘Complimentary Resolutions’. Everyone looked forward to it at the end of the conference – just before the reading of the pastoral appointments. [I had the privilege of doing these several times!] A designated person was to put together – during the sessions – a synopsis of the events and actions of the conference. They were always poetic in form. They would recapture the humor, heat, blessings and high points of our time together. These rhyming reports evoked laughter, ‘Amens’ and tears!
Then, the bishop would rise to read the pastoral appointments for the coming year. Things were extremely secretive in my earliest days – sometimes even pastors didn’t know if they were being moved or not. The crowd would swell to nearly 700 as the end of the conference drew near. Some called them the ‘disappointments’ because their pastors were moved. Pastoral families were thrown into chaos as they discovered – along with the crowd – that they were being moved to a new church! One pastor jumped out the door on the platform because he was so upset over the change that had been announced!
The bishop would pray and the crowd would be dismissed! The excitement was over till the next year and it was time for everyone to go back to work and grow their church!
*WIWAK = when I was a kid
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