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