Editor’s note: This is the final sermon in a series on John Wesley’s General Rules for the United Societies.
For the past four weeks we have been thinking about rules. For the past four weeks, I have been trying to suggest that those of us who follow in the Methodist tradition have been given a [...]
Bishop Janice Huie, President of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, pledged $1.5 million for bednets for Cote d’Ivoire when she attended the Clinton Global Initiative this week. Her participation in the Initiative is reported by United Methodist News Service. Participants in the Clinton Global Initiative are asked to make a pledge [...]
Thanks to David Frumm for a great line that speaks–media is sacred space. Frumm refers to the words of the late Pope John Paul II that “the use of the techniques and the technologies of contemporary communications is an integral part of its [the church’s] mission in the third millenium.“
People are more “present” in media [...]
the fam, dogs and all will be heading into the hills & woods with the youth. it's a good sized group, around 28 youth plus adults. much of the group is younger, which is cool too. don't expect too much...
Verizon’s reversal of its ban on text messages by the prochoice organization NARAL is yet another incident in what will be an on-going test of the limits of free speech in a deregulated communications environment. It’s to Verizon’s credit that the corporation changed its ruling. But it’s a reminder to all that free speech is [...]
The announcement yesterday of wholesale staff cuts at the National Council of Churches writes another sad chapter, perhaps the next to last, in the recent history of this once-proud organization. Even with a strategic plan in place the next meeting of the General Assembly might better be billed the death watch because the layoffs send [...]
i am now the guy in charge of uploading and getting the youth worker movement podcast episodes online and out there... i have uploaded episode two, which can be downloaded directly from the youth worker movement site (which you need...
Sojourners blog is here but it doesn’t contain the email letter. That is a subscription worth getting.
The Washington Post summarizes Senate reaction to the veto threat including strong comments against it by leading Republican Senators such as Sen. Orrin Hatch.
Reacting to the President’s claim the bill would subsidize families earning as much as $83,000, the [...]
Today, I received the first mail from a church group/agency that I'm getting because I am a General Conference delegate. This is the beginning of what will be several months of lots and lots of mail. As a delegate, you typically get books, DVDs, CD-Roms, packets of letters from congregations, brochures, etc., from interested United Methodists trying to communicate their views and hopes for GC to the delegates.
When I was a lay delegate to GC in 2000, I was a senior in
college. Mail is scarce in college, and you are always wishing for more. (What you don't realize is that the mail grown-ups get is mostly bills. Later in life, you will get more of these than you ever wanted.) The months leading up to GC 2000 were excellent - lots of mail, everyday. I enjoyed reading over the materials, looking at what was motivating people to go to the trouble and expense of contacting 1000 delegates.
Today, I still have some of the materials - some were concise summaries of particular points of view. The vast majority of mail I received was on issues of human sexuality, and some of the resources were good at hitting on key scripture verses, summarizing major arguments, etc. But did any of the mail I received impact me in terms of how I voted at General Conference? I'm not sure.
I try to remain open to where God's voice is calling us to go as a church. In the midst of the rules and debates and tensions of General Conference, sometimes God's voice is a hard thing to hear. On major issues, like human sexuality, where I've already given lots of thought and time and energy to figuring out what God wants from us, I can't imagine changing my mind by something I get in the mail, or someone's two minute speech on the floor of Conference. Is that wrong? I guess it
could happen. But it would be hard, and probably take a parting of the clouds and a dove descending. Maybe that's exactly what we need!
But on other issues, over time, with study, with resources, I can see my position changing. In 2000, I voted
against legislation that would have made the UMC in the United States into a central conference like other central conferences. Similar legislation will be brought this time around, and now, I'm convinced making this change is critical to the future of our denomination. What brought this change of mind about? I can't pinpoint it exactly. My work with
GBCS has played a role. My understanding of how the church works, and where the church is and isn't headed. I'm not totally sure. Still, I'm glad to know that I can change my mind, change my understanding of what God wants from me/us. If there is no hope for God talking to us in new ways, there's really no hope for the church, and not much point in General Conference. Of course, I'm sure some would say that's exactly the case....
What has led you to change your mind about an issue of faith?
An interesting discussion of Hillary Clinton’s religious influences is occurring on the web and in the newspapers.
Michael Gerson, former speechwriter for President Bush, says Hillary’s well-articulated and genuine faith would serve her well among religious voters turned off by Rudy Guiliani’s pro-choice history. By Gerson’s reckoning, the preponderance of Hillary’s values, based on United Methodism’s [...]
I just got a message via Facebook that I share with the hope of hearing back from you regarding the question:
Hey Jay… I was just wondering if you know of any pastors who are using emerging church ideas, postmodern ideas in rural settings. I’m working on a research paper and am looking for some on [...]
As he reflects on the means of grace found in Jesus' command to visit the imprisoned, Kevin Baker shares from his own experience as a prison chaplain.
Rather than simply criticizing our own denomination, Bishop White suggests that United Methodists should make certain we're looking at what's right with the church even as we describe what's wrong with it.
erin said that for our anniversary she was going to give me some new seasons of shows. this excites me, i was getting tired of not finding something to brainlessly be entertained by (i think she wanted some for herself...
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth sermon in a series on John Wesley’s General Rules of the United Societies.
Once upon a time, there were three brothers who decided that they were going to become authorities on the violin. They had grown up hearing wonderful fiddle music, and they wanted to make mastering this instrument [...]