These aren’t traditional churches. Instead of stained glass, there are views of emerald surf. Instead of cushioned pews, there are bar stools.  The dress code is strictly casual. But the spirit still moves among the sunburned and sandy footed. Warm breezes carry uplifting messages and music to those who worship at the water. This summer, Christians and [...]

Here We Go Again In the wake of the recent clergy trial in Wisconsin that doled out a 20-day suspension for a United Methodist clergywoman for performing a same-sex union, a United Methodist pastor in Minnesota has already conducted a handful of ceremonies for same-gender couples. Here we go again. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, [...]

By Mary Jacobs The Vacation Bible School at Bailey Memorial United Methodist Church in rural Rosemont, W.Va., may be small—38 kids this year—but it’s breaking new ground. Bailey’s program was a test run of Cokesbury’s new VBS curriculum for 2012, entitled Operation Overboard. Directing was church member Albert Simon—who believes he’s the only man to [...]

By Donald W. Haynes What a thrill to see a feature on the rural church in the July 1 issue of the United Methodist Reporter! An equal thrill at my own annual conference this year was to see something I had never experienced before—an entire evening devoted to a film and live testimonies of what God [...]

By Irene Ting-Ting Lai “Just as I Am, Without One Plea” Charlotte Elliott UM Hymnal, No. 357 Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Charlotte Elliott, a Victorian hymn writer, was [...]

By Jason Byassee Like many Methodists with a stake in both the church and the academy, I read the Rev. Sky McCracken’s commentary (in the July 5 Reporter) with more than a little interest. Mr. McCracken offers a damning indictment of the failure of our seminaries to produce disciple-making pastors, with a hint that perhaps the [...]

By Renee Elder Congregations routinely celebrate college-bound youth with farewell gifts and parties featuring slideshows of pre-school Christmas pageants, high-school mission trips, and almost everything in-between. But youth leaders and pastors who want to extend the relationship into the months and years ahead often struggle to find the right approach. “It’s hard,” says Carol Ellis, [...]

By Heather Hahn (UMNS)
A recommended budget of $603 million for the 2013-2016 operations of the denomination’s general agencies will go before General Conference in 2012. The figure represents a 6.04 percent reduction from the previous four years and marks the first time a smaller budget will go before the church’s top legislative body for approval. General Conference could adjust the recommendation when it next meets April 24-May 4 in Tampa, Fla.

By Tom Lambrecht
It is wonderful to see Hollywood making a movie that is wholesome and meaningful, rather than simply entertaining. “Utopia” has it all—beautiful imagery, a compelling storyline, good acting, and a redemptive ending. Robert Duvall lays aside his “tough-guy” image to portray a man of strong character and wisdom, making a life-changing difference in the life of a lost young man.

By Joel B. Green (Circuit Rider)

A close reading of the New Testament brings to the forefront two indisputable claims about the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. The first is that Jesus’ demise at the hands of Roman justice, represented theologically in the motto “Christ crucified,” is the means for comprehending the eternal purpose of God as this is known in Israel’s Scriptures. The second is that the significance of Jesus’ death is woven so tightly into the fabric of God’s purpose that we may never exhaust the many ways of articulating its meaning for our salvation. It is therefore ironic, and not a little distressing, that the crucifixion of Jesus seems so little discussed and even less understood in today’s congregations. I want to reflect on these two claims in order to press the question, How can the cross of Christ be good news?