Ervelyne Bernard

While visiting my mother in Tikehau (French Polynesia) in March of this year, I came across her collection of World Conference notebooks and hymnals. They were religiously stacked on a shelf. Next to pictures of my family, they were some of her most valued possessions. Members of the Community of Christ church on that small atoll treat World Conference material and souvenirs the same way my mother does. It was humbling to browse through those notebooks and read some of the past resolutions presented to the Conference, the various schedules, and other reports, in French. It was soothing to hear the stories of relatives about their World Conference experiences, to feel their excitement when they would remember a particular worship or a sermon of the prophet-president.

Every other year, my life comes to a screeching halt. World Conference takes over my entire life. Starting in February, before World Conference, I start receiving material to translate into French for Conference: resolutions, long reports, schedules, revised programs, orders of worship, etc. My life is paced to the rhythm of frequent twelve-hour work days, numerous meetings, and countless sleepless nights in order to meet printing deadlines.

However, as we get closer to opening day, other feelings start taking over: intense excitement at the idea of seeing my family and friends from all over the world again, the relief of speaking my native language for a full week, the joyful anticipation of witnessing an incredible array of cultures, dances, songs, perspectives, reflections, gatherings, and worship styles.

I spend most of Conference week in the Translations (interpreters) booth. What I witness from there leaves me with a sense of incredible awe. I get a perfect view of the worldwide church. I see delegates and visitors coming from different backgrounds and cultures, speaking many languages, kissing hello as Europeans do, bowing as Japanese and Indians do, hugging as North Americans do, wearing different styles of clothing and shoes, and sitting next to each other in peace and community to reflect, discuss, and vote on crucial issues for the future of our church and embrace together God’s call to build his kingdom.

As I travel throughout the year to Europe, French Polynesia, or Africa on various assignments, I hear testimonies, and stories of church members about World Conference. I see delegates and visitors in their native environment, surrounded by their family and friends. For most, World Conference was a life-changing experience. They made life-long friendships there, and felt they belonged to a church that gives them a chance to be heard. They felt empowered when sharing their culture, language, and food with others from faraway lands.

For a week, at World Conference, we become a true community and a reflection of what Zion is: namaste, love, diversity, fellowship, universal communication, and no more boundaries. For a week, we exchange perspectives with respect for each other. For a week, we feel, touch, hear, smell, and see the expression of the love that God instills in us as we, together, pray and reflect on our call as a church. For a week, we share meals with our neighbors from Zambia, the Netherlands, Oklahoma, Mexico, Independence, Australia, etc. For a week, we become true brothers and sisters, frères et sœurs, whose eyes are set on the same point beyond the horizon. For a week, we share the peace of Jesus Christ.