Why “Mainstream UMC” Is Wrong About Exit Paths
Why "Mainstream UMC" Is Wrong About Exit Paths - By Thomas Lambrecht - In an article riddled with factual errors and distortions, Mainstream UMC (the “centrist” caucus in the UM Church) called for “an end to disaffiliations through paragraph 2553.” They maintain that...
United Methodist Clergy Trends: Fewer, Older
United Methodist Clergy Trends: Fewer, Older - By Thomas Lambrecht - Lovett Weems of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership has released his annual report on the state of UM clergy, particularly focusing on the number of young clergy (under age 35). This has been a...
Learning God’s Ways
By Thomas Lambrecht - We human beings do not like to be told what to do. Our DNA was formed in disobedience and rebellion in the first garden, when Adam and Eve decided they knew better than God. We sometimes feel bound or restricted by the law. We tend to obey those...
Of What Spirit are We?
By Thomas Lambrecht - “When the days drew near for [Jesus] to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way, they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his...
Snake in the Manger
By Steve Beard - One of my dear friends bought a Christmas tree ornament featuring the Grinch in a Covid-19 mask muttering, “2020: Stink, Stank, Stunk!” That exasperation and frustration is shared by so many. Thankfully, some of our holiday traditions were able to be...
Traditionalist Apprehension about a Post-Separation UMC
By Thomas Lambrecht - Last week, I reported that the Western Jurisdiction was beginning a yearlong campaign to prepare for General Conference and the ensuing separation provided by the “Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.” This very appropriate...
Western Jurisdiction Prepares for Separation
By Thomas Lambrecht - Last week, the Western Jurisdiction announced that it “is beginning preparations for the next General Conference by recommitting itself to be a faithful, inviting, open, safe and loving place for all people.” Its nearly year-long campaign, called...
What Is a Traditional Methodist?
By Thomas Lambrecht - Traditionalist United Methodists have wrestled for several years with the question of what to call ourselves and what label to use. The need for a label became acute in 2016 when the General Conference authorized a commission to look at possible...
What Is Truth?
By Thomas Lambrecht - "What is truth?" Pontius Pilate asked that compelling question during his interrogation of Jesus prior to condemning him to the cross (John 18:38). For Pilate, that question was a cry of despair -- he had given up on ever finding the answer. It...
Making Moral Choices
By Thomas Lambrecht - Over the last two weeks, we have looked at results from a recent survey conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University under the direction of Dr. George Barna. We saw that many Americans are confused about who God is...
Confusion About God
By Thomas Lambrecht - What is God like? That seems to be the most fundamental question any religion has to answer. Each religion has their own answer to that question, which in turn makes each religion distinctive. Christianity has a particular answer to that question...
Losing the Gospel
By Thomas Lambrecht - What does it mean to be saved? How is one saved? These questions are at the heart of the Gospel. John Wesley famously wrote, "I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no...
