The Both/And Solution
The Both/And Solution By Thomas Lambrecht A recent article by Jefferson Knight, a Liberia General Conference delegate, crystalizes the “critical decision” (in his words) facing United Methodists in Africa. He sees disaffiliation in Africa as a threat to “disintegrate...
African Delegates’ Urgent Requests Unanswered
African Delegates' Urgent Requests Unanswered By Thomas Lambrecht We are less than six weeks from the opening session of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference. That is why it is troubling that African delegates continue to be beset with delayed responses from...
A Momentous Year
By Thomas Lambrecht It is hard to wrap our minds around how things have changed in The United Methodist Church over the past year. Last January, we were looking forward to a General Conference meeting in August 2022. The Protocol of Grace and Reconciliation through...
Considering Methodist Options
By Thomas Lambrecht By the end of this year (2022), about 2,000 local churches will have disaffiliated from The United Methodist Church. Hundreds more will do so next year. Where will they end up? A few will remain as independent Methodist churches. The vast majority...
Why Disaffiliating Churches Should Not Be Charged for Their Property
By Charles L. Harrell The Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference (BWC) is one of those conferences that Good News and the Wesleyan Covenant Association has identified as imposing egregious terms on disaffiliating local churches, particularly the levy of 50 percent of...
Charting a New Direction for the UMC (Part II)
By Thomas Lambrecht With the recent election of thirteen new bishops, the active Council of Bishops will be made up of one-third new members on January 1, 2023. As such, they will play a powerful role in setting the direction of The United Methodist Church into the...
Charting a New Direction for the UMC (Part 1)
By Thomas Lambrecht -- With the recent election of thirteen new bishops, the active Council of Bishops will be made up of one-third new members on January 1, 2023. As such, they will play a powerful role in setting the direction of The United Methodist Church into the...
Methodist Heritage: Spirit May Join Many Protestants
Methodist Heritage: Spirit May Join Many Protestants By Louis Cassels, United Press International April 6, 1967 Published in The Ledger & Times (Murray, Kentucky) The ecumenical spirit has persuaded Protestants and Catholics to accent one another as brothers in...
New wave of United Methodist bishops elected
United Methodist News – After electing 13 new bishops during their November 2-5 meetings, the denomination’s five U.S. jurisdictional conferences announced episcopal assignments effective January 1. Jurisdictional leaders recommended electing 14 new bishops; however,...
Name That Bishop
By Rob Renfroe -- This editorial will be a bit different. It’s an invitation to play a game titled “Name that Bishop.” Bishops in The United Methodist Church play a critical role. They not only provide administrative oversight and vision for their episcopal areas,...
Fit for a Queen
By Steve Beard -- Richard Griffin, a former member of the royal security detail to Queen Elizabeth II, tells a delightful story about walking with the monarch near her beloved Balmoral Castle in Scotland and meeting two American tourists. “It was clear from the moment...
Africa Again the Stepchild?
By Thomas Lambrecht -- This week, 14 new bishops are being elected in the five jurisdictions of the United States. In a few weeks, three bishops will be elected in the Philippines and one bishop in Central and Southern Europe. All these newly elected bishops will be...
