Will Regionalization be an Option for Africa?
Will Regionalization be an Option for Africa? - By Jerry Kulah - It has become abundantly clear in recent times that the issue of “regionalization” has taken center stage within The United Methodist Church body politic. This is evidenced by the fact that some...
Giving Thanks (Even Now)
Giving Thanks (Even Now) - By Shannon Vowell - This is the first Thanksgiving in my adult life when the scripture verse that most accurately describes our collective mood seems to be Matthew 10:34-36. Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the...
Is the Protocol Constitutional?
By Thomas Lambrecht - The Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation provides a way for amicable separation to resolve The United Methodist Church’s conflict over the authority and interpretation of Scripture, particularly related to ministry to and...
How to Have a Virtual General Conference
By Thomas Lambrecht - More concerns have been raised recently about the possibility of having a normal, in-person General Conference in August 2022. The sluggish vaccination process in Africa (I am not sure about the Philippines) means that many delegates have not...
The Structure of Things
By Thomas Lambrecht- As Christians, we believe God created the universe. He created it with a certain structure. That structure is reflected in the physical universe – what we call the laws of physics (and biology). He also created the universe with a certain moral...
Distinctions, Differences, and the Future of Methodism
By Thomas Lambrecht What will the proposed new Global Methodist Church look like? How will it operate? In what ways will it be different from what we have been accustomed to in The United Methodist Church? These questions weigh on the minds of people who are thinking...
If They Do These Things Now
By Rob Renfroe - Not long ago I spoke via Zoom to the Zimbabwe General Conference delegation. They have asked several persons representing all theological views to talk to them about the future of the United Methodist Church. The man who spoke before I did would...
The Spirituality of Work
By Thomas Lambrecht - Labor Day is a holiday in honor of work. Too often, Christians have adopted a secular understanding of work. We view it either as drudgery or as an idol to which we devote all our time and energy. But work is a spiritual endeavor. We are to...
Mt. Bethel UM Church and North Georgia Conference Remain at an Impasse
Statement from Mt. Bethel UM Church, Marietta, Georgia: The Mt. Bethel members authorized by the church’s Administrative Council to mediate, along with legal counsel, met [August 28, 2021] in good faith with legal representatives of the North Georgia Annual Conference...
Dissecting “Inclusiveness” Theology
By Thomas Lambrecht - In a sermon preached in the run-up to the 2019 General Conference, Bishop Elaine Stanovsky (Greater Northwest Episcopal Area) promoted the One Church Plan and her vision for the inclusiveness of the church. That vision reflects the understanding...
Speaking Up for Women
By Thomas Lambrecht - Now that the Taliban has taken over Afghanistan, many are concerned about the future for women and girls in that country. The Taliban has a history of oppressing women and depriving them of human rights, as well as administering harsh...
Why We Need a Denomination
By Thomas Lambrecht - Denominations are not in vogue right now in American culture. For the past 20 years, the non-denominational church movement has grown across the country until its congregations make up a significant portion of the Body of Christ in the U.S. and...
