No explanation is required when claiming that Christmas is truly one of the most significant seasons of the church year. Most would assume that statement to be accurate not only for United Methodists but also for any Christian faith. And indeed it is. The birth of Jesus, the coming of the long-anticipated Messiah - it is a season marked with special songs of celebration; the spirit of giving abounds; and peace on earth, good will to all is the universal hope of all people.

But, for United Methodists in America, the Christmas season is all this and even more. At 10 a.m. on December 24, 1784, the first General Conference was called to order in Lovely Lane Chapel in downtown Baltimore, Md. Lovely Lane Chapel is no more, but its location is marked by a bronze plaque attached to a wall. This Conference was called the Christmas Conference because it continued through Christmas week.

According to Methodist historian A. B. Hyde, the Conference opened with the reading of a letter from John Wesley. The letter declared Wesley's unwillingness to violate the order of the National Church, to which he belonged, and his conviction that in America no such order prevailed.

According to the writings of Francis Asbury, "It was agreed to form ourselves into an Episcopal Church, and to have superintendents, elders and deacons." Asbury was elected, ordained deacon, then elder, and then consecrated as superintendent. Others were also ordained deacons and elders. Considerable discussion followed concerning The Rules of Discipline, and a plan was considered for the establishment of Abingdon College.

The Conference continued for 10 days. Sixty men were present, only 14 of whom had been traveling for as much as five years. Those 14, plus four from England, formed "The Senate" of the Conference. At the Conference the attendees declared their allegiance to John Wesley during his life, and they agreed to obey Wesley in all matters concerning church government. They also declared their intention to keep union with the Methodists of the Old World.

In other business, the Conference established measures for the elimination of slavery. Every member of the conference was to emancipate his slaves within 12 months and was not to be admitted to the Lord's Supper until he had done so. The duties of the preachers were fixed, and their compensation was set at $64 yearly, and the same to his wife, plus $16 to each child under six and $22 for each child under 11. The preachers all agreed to refuse any fees, presents or perquisites at weddings, baptisms and burials. Even with these meager wages, the preachers agreed to each pay $2 yearly to a "Relief Fund" to help care for preachers in dire circumstances and to help widows and orphans.

According to A. B. Hyde, "The moral temper of the Conference was the key to their success. Truth and unselfish love of the general welfare illuminated all their thoughts and showed the way to their conclusions."

It is the Christmas season. The people called Methodist have much to celebrate at this time of year.