The United Methodist Church as “The Connection”

You may have been wondering why some (196) daily devotionals are called the Daily Devotional Connection. The word “Connection” (also spelt Connexion), was a phrase coined by John Wesley and shows the connectivity we have, not only with Asbury and the UMC, but also with other Methodists and Christians who receive the devotionals in the United Kingdom, El Salvador, Bolivia, South Africa and at Hope House Haiti.

United Methodist Church (UMC) leaders often speak of the denomination as "the connection."

The United Methodist Church structure and organization began as a means of accomplishing the mission of spreading scriptural holiness. Methodism's founder, John Wesley, recognized the need for an organized system of communication and accountability and developed what he called the "connexion," which was and continues to be a network of classes, societies, and annual conferences in the United Kingdom.

Connectionalism is the theological understanding and foundation of Methodist ecclesiastical polity (operational and governance structure), as practiced in most Methodist Churches throughout the world.

Today, the UMC continues to be organized in a "connectional" system, which "enables us to carry out our mission in unity and strength" (see Book of Discipline, ¶ 701). Every local church is linked to an interconnected network of organizations that join together in mission and ministry, allowing us to accomplish far more than any one local church, or person could do alone.

Within the connectional structure of The UMC, conferences provide the primary groupings of people and churches for discernment and decision-making. Wesley described Christian conferencing as a spiritual discipline through which God's grace may be revealed. At every level of the connection, church leaders and members come together in conversation, or conferencing, to discuss important issues and discover God's will for the church. The word “conference” thus refers to both the assembly and organization of people as well as the process of discerning God's call and will together.

We trust that you will feel part of “The Connection” through the blessings that come with these devotionals.

David Vatcher, Editor of The Connection Devotionals
 

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Revised: February 01, 2025

Website is not an official outreach of Asbury United Methodist Church.
All Devotionals are provided by Asbury by way of Lenten Booklets.

This is a private website that is a collection of devotionals published from 2014 to the present by Asbury United Methodist Church. 

In a 2016 church meeting, the design and hosting of the 2016 Advent devotions website was accepted on a no cost basis to the church.  Since then, yearly Advent and Lent devotionals plus "Connection" and related websites, such as this one, have been made available in the same spirit.

This particular website is a collection of devotionals from Advent 2014 to the present and includes all Advent, Lent and "Connection Series" devotionals published.  Excluded are 15 devotionals with copyright issues that are temporarily "hidden", pending clarification.

  The users are free to reference this website at their discretion.  The WebMaster is sensitive to the wishes of the church and will continue to host them in a proper and timely manner.