Personal and Ideological Inroads to full LGBT Inclusion in the United Methodist Church now that General Conference 2016 is here

I support the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the United Methodist Church. I got to this place through the progression of both my understanding and my faith. My understanding of LGBT inclusion has come from several realizations both ideological and personal. My Ideological Inroads to LGBT Inclusion Scripture is not the ultimate authority I love the Bible, so much so that I take it at its word. And the … Continue reading Personal and Ideological Inroads to full LGBT Inclusion in the United Methodist Church now that General Conference 2016 is here

cegr76May 17, 2016May 17, 20163 Comments

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UMC + AME + AME Zion + CME + Union AME = Worthy use of time at GC2020

Note: This was written before the Black Lives Matter protest at General Conference. I will update as soon as I feed and bathe the kids and put them to bed. [Done. See below.] Original Post: I wish I had submitted a petition to General Conference calling for the United Methodist Church to initiate conversation to unite with our African Methodist sisters: the AME, AME … Continue reading UMC + AME + AME Zion + CME + Union AME = Worthy use of time at GC2020

cegr76May 16, 2016May 16, 2016Leave a comment

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Dude, I love the United Methodist Church, but I can also live well without it: A thought or two on Schism.

About a year ago, a family circumstance forced me to reconsider my profession as an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. The family circumstance called for a greater income that I could ever hope to make in the church. I informed my DS and bishop of the circumstance and began to look for work. There were lots of intriguing options and I submitted about a dozen resumes and … Continue reading Dude, I love the United Methodist Church, but I can also live well without it: A thought or two on Schism.

cegr76May 16, 2016May 15, 20161 Comment

Bible Leads

Bible Leads: Luke 7:36-50

TEXT Luke 7:36-50 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe … Continue reading Bible Leads: Luke 7:36-50

cegr76May 2, 2016May 2, 2016Leave a comment

Bible Leads

Bible Leads: John 1:35-42

TEXT John 1:35-42 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means … Continue reading Bible Leads: John 1:35-42

cegr76April 27, 2016Leave a comment

Bible Leads

Bible Leads: John 21:1-19

TEXT John 21:1-19 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will … Continue reading Bible Leads: John 21:1-19

cegr76April 11, 2016April 11, 2016Leave a comment

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Missing Mommy: A Book Review

In a week of holy grieving, let’s remember that not all grieving gets resolved through immediate, physical resurrection. The very nature of death is that the deceased doesn’t come back. Missing Mommy by Rebecca Cobb is a book for children who have lost a parent. It is difficult to read not only for the subject matter but for the stunningly gracious manner in which it is … Continue reading Missing Mommy: A Book Review

cegr76March 24, 2016March 15, 2016Leave a comment

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Book Review: “David and Goliath”

I recently completed David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. The subtitle is “Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants”. It’s left me with some cool new thoughts about the church. This is the first Gladwell book I’ve read and his reputation for storytelling is well-earned. David and Goliath is divided into 3 parts, with the Introduction helping us understand the David and Goliath story … Continue reading Book Review: “David and Goliath”

cegr76March 17, 2016March 14, 2016Leave a comment

Bible Leads

Bible Leads: Luke 19:28-40

TEXT Luke 19:28-40 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it … Continue reading Bible Leads: Luke 19:28-40

cegr76March 14, 2016March 14, 2016Leave a comment

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What is the holy life today?

Holiness, in OT terms, is being “set apart”. God set apart the Sabbath from the other days. The commandment is to keep the Sabbath “holy” by setting it apart from the other days. God makes things holy by division. Israel was set apart to be a light to all nations; Levites were set aside to maintain Israel’s holy covenant with God; special meals were set aside to … Continue reading What is the holy life today?

cegr76March 8, 2016Leave a comment