1. The Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of 2008 -- which met at Lake Junaluska, NC -- began on July 15 (Tuesday) and ended on July 19 (Saturday). Around 500 delegates from across the Southeast -- from Mississippi to Kentucky to Virginia to Florida -- gathered to worship, elect a bishop, and get down to some business.

2. From St. Peter's United Methodist Church, Patrick Mann and the pastor attended the conference as delegates. Patrick stayed in a hotel close to "The Lake." The Stallsworth's stayed in the Lake Junaluska Apartments, which reminded Marsha and Paul of married-student housing at Kansas State circa 1971. Vacationing during the week in an apartment in a house, Jenna, Christine, and Larry Miller were occasional, conference observers.

3. The big news of the conference was the election of Dr. Paul L. Leeland, from the North Carolina Conference, to the office of bishop. Paul has been a friend for over 30 years, since we were Duke Divinity School students in the mid-1970s. He has also been my District Superintendent for a couple of years and the Assistant to the Bishop of The Raleigh Area for a number of years. On the first ballot, Paul started strong with 117 votes (out of 504), which led the pack of 6 legitimate contenders. Five ballots later, Leeland had 298 votes of the 498 cast -- right at the 60% required for an election. A solid citizen of the Kingdom of God, Paul has visible gifts and generous graces for the tasks that await him in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. He will teach and lead the United Methodist clergy and laity there in an exemplary way.

4. The several who unsuccessfully campaigned for bishop were virtuous in defeat. From them, there was no extraordinary drama. Nor did they level charges of racism or sexism against the conference.

5. It was noted, by an insightful student of United Methodism, that Jurisdictional Conference is all about the bishops. The living bishops. The bishops who have gone on to glory. Those who would like to be bishop. Those who are campaigning to be elected bishop. The active bishops. The retiring bishops. The retired bishops. The bishops' wives. The bishops' accomplishments. The bishops' sermons. According to this wise man, the bishop-centeredness of Jurisdictional Conference is a hard habit to break.

6. The teaching was one of the most interesting parts of the conference. It concerned "Living the United Methodist Way," the theme of the conference. This theme was well taught by several professors from Duke Divinity School and others. According to Duke's Dr. Randy Maddox, "the United Methodist way" involves teaching the basics of Church doctrine, relying on the activity of the Holy Spirit, and practicing various forms of discipline. (Back in the early 1990s, the Sophia conference and its errant teaching gave rise to The Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church, which aspired to a true confession of the Church's faith [or good doctrine]. Now, nearly 20 years later, a Jurisdictional Conference is pointing out the importance of good doctrine. Thanks be to God!)

7. At one Service of Worship, all of the active and retired bishops of the Southeastern Jurisdiction were on stage. All of them, except two, were wearing stoles that had the United Methodist cross-and-flame logo. The stoles of Bishop Whitaker and Bishop Willimon lacked the denominational symbol. Perhaps these two bishops were subtly demonstrating their first commitment to the Church universal.

8. When all was said and done, most conference delegates would have agreed that jurisdictional conference should have been shortened this year -- especially since only one bishop was to be elected. The 2012 SEJ Conference might well have a briefer agenda.

9. Seminary deans reported (and boasted a bit). A budget was adopted. A slate of 2009-2012 nominations was accepted. Entertainment was enjoyed. Friendships were renewed. Breaks were relished. Long conversations were possible.

10. The risen Christ reigned over all this Jurisdictional Conference's high points and low points, inspiration and tedium, piety and politics. The Church of Christ continues to march into the future, toward the Kingdom's coming in fullness. It is good for us to be a part of this march.