Well, I’m writing you this morning from Charlotte, NC in the last few days of the postponed General Conference of 2020 of The United Methodist Church. This is the first comic in this series that I’ve drawn “on the go” without my trusty fancy tablet, just a sketchbook, photoshop and the horrible track pad on my Mac with which to color it in. I have only been at GC for three days, as an observer and an exhibitor.  I have not been on the delegation, who meet tirelessly all day every day to prayerfully and intentionally move the denomination forward. I am exhausted, and I know they are beyond wiped out, so please remember to thank a delegate when you see them.  I will say that the spirit, the vibe, the soul of this meeting feels…like church.  I mean, maybe, like what I aspirationally thought church was meant to be like.  We don’t always get along or understand each other, but we try to understand.  We try to work together for resolutions that allow each one to be the church in their local context.  So much of the toxic and painful fighting and mistrust of previous conferences feels…out of line and unwelcome here.

Don’t get me wrong. General Conference is still BORING AS ALL GET OUT.  It’s a legislative process, yall.  Anyway, today’s comic is releasing before some major decisions will be made (or not made?) today, and so I cannot predict what the spirit will be like these last few days.  But I hope today’s comic captures more of the spirit that I have experienced here recently.

PS.Today I introduce Fanny Crosby, the famous Methodist blind hymn writer, as Daredevil, or maybe Dare Angel? In any case, the Woman With No Fear!  Also, Anna Howard Shaw makes her debut as Spider Gwen! If you look closely at her ribbon, you’ll find my favorite quote of Shaw’s, “I care nothing for all the political parties in the world so long as they stand for justice.”  I feel like that captures the vibe I’ve felt at this GC, and a sentiment that feels sooooo United Methodist to me.

 

If you’re not at GC 2024, please don’t miss it! You can find live-streaming, schedules, and so much more at ResourceUMC.org!

 

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