Dust on the Emmaus Road
Dust on the Emmaus Road By B.J. Funk Two followers of Jesus are walking from Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus, engrossed in conversation (Luke 24). Jesus has been resurrected just this morning. He walks up behind them and initiates the conversation. “What are you...
The Hope of Reconciliation
The Hope of Reconciliation TMS Global Interview featuring Bishop Eduard Khegay February 24th marked the one-year anniversary of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Bishop Eduard Khegay is the resident bishop of the Eurasia Episcopal Area in the Northern Europe and...
Loneliness & Loving Our Neighbor
Loneliness & Loving Our Neighbor By Jennie Lyons My hometown of Washington, D.C. was recently named the loneliest city in America. Another study found a growing number of Americans have few or no close friends at all. Most of us allow ourselves to get pulled ever...
Your Work Matters
By Timothy Keller (1950-2023) In honor of the passing of the Rev. Timothy Keller, longtime pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, we are reposting an excerpt from his book Every Good Endeavor (written with Katherine Leary Alsdorf) that served as the...
Are All Divisions of the Devil?
Are All Divisions of the Devil? By Rob Renfroe I don’t mind people thinking differently than I do. I often learn from such people, and I regularly benefit from considering opinions different than my own. But I admit I am upset when influential leaders express views...
Same-Sex Wedding Prompts Bishop to Act
Same-Sex Wedding Prompts Bishop to Act By Thomas Lambrecht Bishop Sharma Lewis (Mississippi) has responded to two clergy persons who performed a same-sex wedding in January. The Revs. Elizabeth Davidson and Paige Swaim-Pressley officiated at the wedding ceremony of a...
Two Churches, Two Faiths
Two Churches, Two Faiths By Rob Renfroe In last week’s Perspective I wrote about a professor at a United Methodist seminary whose lengthy article stated that the death of Jesus does not save us. In fact, Professor Miguel De La Torre wrote that such a belief...
Departing from the Faith
Departing from the Faith By Rob Renfroe “Jesus did not die for your sins.” That is the message a professor at United Methodist Iliff Seminary posted two days before Good Friday earlier this month. Professor Miguel De La Torre titled his article “What if Crucifixion Is...
United Methodist Disaffiliation Success Stories
United Methodist Disaffiliation Success Stories By John Lomperis Congregations who wish to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church (UMC) have a historic, rapidly expiring opportunity to keep their church buildings and parsonages. Despite the historic nature of...
Finding God’s “New Thing”
By Thomas Lambrecht -- As The United Methodist Church goes through this season of disaffiliation, there is much change ahead. Many disaffiliating congregations are uniting with the Global Methodist Church, forming a new Methodist expression that continues our historic...
Judicial Council Mandates Extra General Conference
By Thomas Lambrecht -- In two decisions just released, the Judicial Council has clarified several matters related to the upcoming 2024 General Conference and addressed some shortcomings in the Congo Central Conference. Another General Conference In Decision 1451, the...
Growth of Global Methodists
By Keith Boyette -- The process of church disaffiliation has completed its second wave, with churches disaffiliating through special sessions of their annual conferences in the fall. This piecemeal process of disaffiliation is not what we had hoped for when I joined...
