What the Regionalization Agenda Tells Us about the Future of the UMC, Part 1
What the Regionalization Agenda Tells Us about the Future of the UMC, Part 1 -- By Thomas Lambrecht -- In a recent article, Mainstream UMC (a centrist advocacy group within The United Methodist Church) outlines the case for the regionalization of the church. They...
Surf City Disaffiliation or Eviction?
Surf City Disaffiliation or Eviction? -- The Los Angeles Times recently published a comprehensive 2,000 word piece about the excessively costly disaffiliation process for traditionalist United Methodist congregations in Southern California. It is worth reading...
“Mainstream UMC” Caucus Distorts Again
By Tom Lambrecht - The special-interest "centrist" caucus group known as "Mainstream UMC" is running a campaign to show that "harm" is being inflicted on LGBT persons in our United Methodist Church by our accountability process and to call for an end to trials. The...
Will the UM Church Be the First?
By Tom Lambrecht - Over the last 20 years, I have witnessed friends and colleagues in other mainline denominations struggling with principled disagreements over the definition of marriage and the role of LGBTQ persons in the church. It was always clear to me that...
Reading Scripture: Skepticism, Suspicion, and Trust
By David F. Watson - Last semester I taught a class called Wesleyan Biblical Interpretation. We read a considerable number of Wesley's writings along with a couple of secondary texts. Rereading these primary and secondary sources led me to ponder anew the vast...
Indianapolis Plan Values Amicable Separation (Part II)
By Thomas Lambrecht - As noted last week, the conversation group working on the Indianapolis Plan has come to agreement and submitted the final version of a plan for an amicable separation in The United Methodist Church. You can read the first part of my analysis of...
Indianapolis Plan Values Amicable Separation (Part I)
By Tom Lambrecht - The conversation group working on the Indianapolis Plan has come to agreement and submitted the final version of a plan for an amicable separation in The United Methodist Church. As the document states, "We seek to move away from the caustic...
As We Pray, So We Believe
By David F. Watson - Many have noted that what we call "contemporary" worship isn't so contemporary anymore. It's a feature of the "attractional" model of church growth, embodied so well in Willow Creek and like-minded megachurches that popped up in the 80's and 90's....
Top Priority
By Tom Lambrecht - As I participate in conversations around the church seeking a way to resolve the crisis facing The United Methodist Church, I have become aware that different people have different goals. A person's top priority will affect how they evaluate a...
Dissolution or Separation?
By Thomas Lambrecht - The deadline for submitting petitions to General Conference 2020 is less than three weeks away. So far, three major plans for "separation" have been released. More are in the works. The UMC Next Plan proposes to remove all the restrictions in...
What General Conference Accomplished
By Thomas Lambrecht - Here is a brief summary of the accomplishments of the special called 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church held in St. Louis. Given the opportunity to support the full court press of the majority of North American bishops in...
Focus 3: Why is an Exit Path Necessary?
By Thomas Lambrecht Whatever the outcome in St. Louis, some congregations and clergy will be unable to live conscientiously within the boundaries established by General Conference. From the beginning, the Commission on a Way Forward (COWF) acknowledged that an exit...
