A Parable Imagine you’re a high school physics teacher. You go to school; you work hard to pass your exams. You get certified. You’re no Einstein, but you’re no Joe Schmo either. Yes, you had plenty of support along the way, but in the end you worked hard to earn your position. You know about physics, and you know about school. Last year, the State … Continue reading Who’s in Charge? A Church Conflict Inquiry
One more reflection from my time at General Conference 2020. On Monday, April 29, we heard a moving report on Africa University. It was founded in 1994 by United Methodists as a way to lift the entire continent in a substantial way. It’s founding was a dream 100+ years in the making. Is it the last major mission project we’ve completed? I couldn’t help but … Continue reading On Africa University, a reflection from General Conference 2020/2024
One of the highlights of attending a portion of General Conference 2020/2024 was to worship with the global church. The house band was excellent, often beginning a familiar hymn then singing it in French and Korean. There were several guest musicians including a Filipino choir, a large choir from a neighboring church and several Native American delegates singing Hallelujahs in their native language and scale. … Continue reading Memorials at General Conference 2020/2024
A LOT happened at General Conference. I was there for much of the second week, even for most of the headlining moments. But in the midst of all the hoopla was a petition that touched me on so many levels. This petition, (Petition number 21027) was about encouraging Annual Conferences to provide ways for disaffiliated, former United Methodists to return to the denomination. On one … Continue reading My Favorite Moment at 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
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
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
or What the Council of Jerusalem can tell us about General Conference 2019. Introduction After Easter, I’ve been exploring Acts with my congregation. The concept was ‘let’s see what people did with the news that Jesus rose from the dead’. The second understanding was that Pentecost gave the Holy Spirit-the fiery courage to take the gospel to all the world, but the resurrection of Jesus … Continue reading Council of St. Louis?
We aren’t going to let any mace stop us. We are masters in our nonviolent movement in disarming police forces. They don’t know what to do. I’ve seen them so often. I remember in Birmingham, Alabama, when we were in that majestic struggle there, we would move out of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church day after day. By the hundreds we would move out, and … Continue reading Martin Luther King, Jr: Sacramental Theologian
Everything I’ve ever learned about loving my LGBTQ neighbors as myself, I learned through the United Methodist CHurch. Everything I’ve learned about fully including, welcoming and valuing LGBTQ people in the church and society at large, I learned through the UMC. This weekend, while the church was spinning from the Judicial Council’s decision regarding Bishop Karen Oliveto, I was with the United Methodist Women training … Continue reading On Bishop Oliveto
