Something Happened on the Way to General Conference

General Conference 2012 is approaching.  Petitions are submitted; delegates are elected; travel arrangements are being made; reimbursement accounts being tapped, as we speak.  One might get the illusion that it’s a big deal. I was part of the illusion.  Three times in the past twelve years, I applied to be a Page or a Marshall at General Conference.  Never expecting to be elected as a … Continue reading Something Happened on the Way to General Conference

Right Now, A Lot of Pastors are Writing ‘Last Sermons’

It is the night before the last Sunday in June.  For United Methodists that means ‘time to itinerate’.  Many churches across the connection are gearing up to say good-bye to their current pastors, even as they are anticipating the arrival of their new pastor.  Clergy are writing last sermons.  I am one of those clergy, as is my lovely wife.  At the end of what … Continue reading Right Now, A Lot of Pastors are Writing ‘Last Sermons’

I Love the UMC

Note: I have a file of things that I have written that never made it to their original destination.  Usually, these are impassioned defenses of something I believe, in which I find my own statements too strong.  Every now and then, I will go through this file and read these things.  In January, as I am reorganizing my files, I came across something I wrote that I wanted to … Continue reading I Love the UMC