The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true...
Why We Need the Nicene Creed
Why We Need the Nicene Creed By Jerome Van Kuiken My son just joined the Air Force. As part of his training, he memorized the Airman’s Creed. It’s a summary of the core facts and values that demand his loyalty as an airman and that define the community that...
A Love Story
A Love Story By Bonnie McClure Can I tell you a love story? Lately, I’ve been thinking about different types of love. Culturally, we are trained quite extensively on familial love – the love we have for family, and romantic love – the love we have for a partner or...
Killing Stone to Baptismal Font
Killing Stone to Baptismal Font By Steve Beard Remarkably, after 45 seasons CBS’s “Survivor” is still a certifiable television hit. Millions of viewers tune in to watch the travails of contestants in a Robinson Crusoe-style tropical setting. Coral reefs, whitecapped...
Turmoil After General Conference
Turmoil After General Conference By Thomas Lambrecht The actions of the 2024 General Conference are reverberating around the church. Right now, they are mostly reverberating around Africa. Some African bishops have yet to return home, but members are hearing reports...
Rev. Mike Schafer Selected as GM Church’s First Connectional Operations Officer
Rev. Mike Schafer Selected as GM Church’s First Connectional Operations Officer By Walter Fenton June 5, 2024 After an extensive search process, the Global Methodist Church’s Transitional Leadership Council confirmed at its Monday, June 3, 2024, meeting that...
Côte d’Ivoire votes to leave denomination
Côte d’Ivoire votes to leave denomination Only few days before the 2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church was held in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bishop Thomas Bickerton of New York told his fellow bishops that they should be prepared for big...
United Methodism in Africa is not for sale to Western Cultural Christianity
United Methodism in Africa is not for sale to Western Cultural Christianity By Dr. Jerry Kulah A month ago, the worldwide United Methodist Church (UMC) concluded its postponed 2020 General Conference, held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from 23 April to 3 May 2024. The...
What Would Regionalization Look Like?
What Would Regionalization Look Like? By Thomas Lambrecht Before pivoting to today’s topic examining the likely evolution of regionalization, it is important to note some significant developments in the aftermath of the 2024 UMC General Conference. Anxious...
The Myth of Neutrality
The Myth of Neutrality By Thomas Lambrecht As observers continue to unpack the significance of actions taken by the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, one myth continues to float around the blogosphere: the General Conference merely returned the UM...
Wiping the Slate Clean
Wiping the Slate Clean By B.J. Funk October came quietly into my kindergarten class that year. I had worked hard to help my children settle into somewhat peaceful days. They knew my rules. They knew how to act. After many years of teaching, I learned that a teacher...
A Partnership in Healing
A Partnership in Healing By Jenifer Jones It’s hot and dusty outside the Methodist Faith Healing Hospital in Ankaase, Ghana. Vendors sit beneath umbrellas, selling food for families to purchase for themselves and their patients. Cars drive past on a tan-orange...
