Centrists Describe Future UMC
Centrists Describe Future UMC -- By Thomas Lambrecht -- The last two Perspectives (here and here) extrapolated what the future United Methodist Church might look like on the basis of a foundational article from Mainstream UMC (a centrist advocacy group within The...
What the Regionalization Agenda Tells Us about the Future of the UMC, Part 2
What the Regionalization Agenda Tells Us about the Future of the UMC, Part 2 -- By Thomas Lambrecht -- In last week’s Perspective, I surveyed a recent article by Mainstream UMC (a centrist advocacy group within The United Methodist Church) outlining the case for the...
Waiting for the Church’s Future
By Tom Lambrecht - It is fitting that we take the month before Christmas (the church season of Advent) as a time of waiting. Historically, the church calendar teaches us to eagerly await the celebration of Christmas and all the joys and excitement we experience during...
A Crisis of Identity
By Tom Lambrecht - The current crisis in The United Methodist Church is often portrayed as a crisis of unity. The unity of our denomination is threatened by deep theological disagreement and the refusal of some parts of the church to abide by the decisions of General...
Gratitude and the Rock of Ages
By Steve Beard - I can still faintly visualize it. Many years ago, I was watching the first game of the NBA Championship series when it was announced that the rock band U2 would be performing for the half-time show. U2’s concert was in Boston while the basketball game...
Both Conservative and Liberal
By Tom Lambrecht - The United Methodist Church inherited from the Church of England via John Wesley the idea of "the middle way." For Anglicans, this "middle way" meant the church could be both catholic and reformed (the two major theological poles in the 1500's and...
Advice to UM Pastors and Churches: Know What You are Going to Do!
By Shane Bishop - I have played competitive softball since I was fourteen years old at every imaginable level. Up to a handful of years ago, I played over a hundred games each season and now in my late fifties, I still play twenty or thirty. For much of that time I...
WCA Global Gathering: Report from Tulsa
Envisioning a New Methodist Movement -- By Walter Fenton, Wesleyan Covenant Association -- Over the course of two inspiring days at Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) set forth its vision for a new,...
Bishops issue A Call to Deeper Conversations Regarding New Expressions of Methodist Witness
Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything that I’ve...
Judicial Council Leaves Traditional Plan Intact
By Tom Lambrecht - The Judicial Council has rebuffed several challenges to the implementation of the Traditional Plan as adopted at the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. These decisions mean that the provisions adopted can take effect January 1, 2020, as planned....
A Primer on the Conflict (Part II)
By Tom Lambrecht - In conversations and emails, I have frequently heard frustration and confusion regarding the situation in The United Methodist Church. Perhaps a succinct overview of our conflict will be helpful to people who are lost in the details or new to...
A Primer on the Conflict (Part I)
By Tom Lambrecht - In conversations and emails, I have frequently heard frustration and confusion regarding the situation in The United Methodist Church. Perhaps a succinct overview of our conflict will be helpful to people who are lost in the details or new to...
