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Wednesday Night Update from General Conference 2020/2024

Dear Church, I am writing to you from Charlotte, NC on a historic day in the United Methodist Church. Through the simplest of motions, the General Conference removed language from our Book of Discipline that restricts LGBTQ+ participation in the church. By removing the restricting language, the General Conference frees its members, clergy, congregations and conferences to welcome, marry, ordain and employ LGBTQ+ people. The … Continue reading Wednesday Night Update from General Conference 2020/2024

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Monday at United Methodist General Conference 2020/2024

Today, I sat in on the first day of the last week of The General Conference of the United Methodist Church 2020/2024. Last week, delegates spent time in Legislative Committees pouring over nearly 1200 petitions. Much work has been passed out of committee and passed on the floor via consent calendar; notably, many petitions relating to “regionalization” of our church passed with little resistance. Today … Continue reading Monday at United Methodist General Conference 2020/2024

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Why I Have Hope for General Conference 2020/2024

Dear Church, As General Conference 2020/2024 opens in Charlotte, I wanted to share why I have hope for the church. Let me begin by saying I am a friend and lover of the church. It has taught me everything I’ve ever learned about faith, hope and love. (It has also been the venue for tremendous ugliness, but that’s for another post on another day.) Please … Continue reading Why I Have Hope for General Conference 2020/2024

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Why I’m Staying in the Church

There are many articles floating around these days detailing reasons why clergy are leaving the church. In an online discussion of one of them I asked “Are there any studies about why people stay?” Seeing none, I offer my own current perspective. This is not to rebut those who are leaving, though I will probably address similar ideas. Ministry is complex and there are many … Continue reading Why I’m Staying in the Church

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Church Lessons from the COVID Era

The world has been upended by the emergence of COVID-19 in late 2019. The changes it has wrought in our world are unprecedented in my lifetime. The loss of life has been staggering and personal. The loss of security is also profound. Furthermore, people’s faith in institutions and trust in each other has cratered! What is your go-to metaphor for this season we’ve endured? Is … Continue reading Church Lessons from the COVID Era

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Dear Mr. President: A Letter on Compassion for our Haitian neighbors

I sent this to President Biden this morning. Dear Mr. President,                                                                                September 21, 2021 “To whom much has been given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48). We have been given a lot in this country, have we not? As you know, many of our fellow Irish descendants came here on the heels of immense tragedy of hunger and famine. Where would you be had the … Continue reading Dear Mr. President: A Letter on Compassion for our Haitian neighbors

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Garage Church

Prolific 1980s pop philosopher William R Joel once said “Life is a series of Hellos and Good-byes. I’m afraid it’s time for Good-bye again.” Itinerant ministers become accustomed to saying Good-bye, it’s my turn again. I know these things stretch out and get annoying before they’re done. There is often a little bit of relief when the day to leave finally arrives: at least you … Continue reading Garage Church

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