For All the Saints …
For All the Saints ... By Scott N. Field - In America, Halloween is the second biggest holiday of the year, based on consumer spending. Without a doubt it almost completely overshadows the day from which it derives its name. “Halloween” is the contracted form of “All...
More “Mainstream” Misrepresentations
More "Mainstream" Misrepresentations - By Thomas Lambrecht - Last week’s Perspective addressed the arguments made by the “centrist” caucus group Mainstream UMC regarding the need for exit paths to be adopted by the 2024 General Conference. This week, I would like to...
The Global Methodist Church
By Walter Fenton - The Transitional Leadership Council, a 17 member team of theologically conservative Methodists, has released information on the Global Methodist Church. The council said the new church will officially come into existence when a United Methodist...
General Conference Postponed Again
By Thomas Lambrecht - On Thursday, the Commission on the General Conference announced that the 2020 General Conference, postponed once until August 29, 2021, has now been postponed again until August 29, 2022. At the same time, the Council of Bishops announced it is...
Regular General Conference postponed; Bishops call Special Session
Meeting on February 20, the Commission on the General Conference made a decision to further postpone the 2020 General Conference until August 29 – September 6, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minn. as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the safety of mass gatherings and...
Approaching Separation: A Rejoinder to Adam Hamilton
By Thomas Lambrecht - I recently expounded the primary reasons I see for separation taking place in The United Methodist Church. That article drew the response of the Rev. Adam Hamilton, who felt that my characterization of centrist and progressive understandings was...
Coalition of Traditional Leaders Continues to Support the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation
Over a year ago, a diverse group of United Methodist Church leaders released the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation. Never before had leading bishops, general church officials, and leaders of advocacy groups representing centrists, progressives,...
The Case for a Virtual General Conference, Part 2
By Thomas Lambrecht - In last week’s Perspective, I outlined why an in-person General Conference in 2021 is unlikely to occur as scheduled. The virulence of the Coronavirus pandemic and the slow rollout of vaccines to the global population make a return of...
The Case for a Virtual General Conference, Part 1
By Thomas Lambrecht - There is much anxiety about whether and how a General Conference will meet in 2021. General Conference was originally scheduled for May 2020, but was postponed to August 29 through September 7, 2021, due to pandemic travel and meeting...
Primary Reasons for Separation
By Thomas Lambrecht - As we approach a possible separation in The United Methodist Church this year, one of the important questions to answer is, “Why should we separate?” There are many reasons for the conflict in our church that have led us to this point. Rob...
Celebrating Cicely Tyson
By Steve Beard- Internationally-known for her six decades on stage and screen, award-winning actress Cicely Tyson died on Thursday at the age of 96. “I come from lowly status. I grew up in an area that was called the slums at the time,” Tyson said while receiving an...
Finishing Well
By Thomas Lambrecht - It may seem out of place to talk about finishing well when the year has just begun. The senior pastor at the church I attend just announced his planned retirement. He is the founding pastor of this church and has served well for over 43 years...
