Freedom Fugitives
Freedom Fugitives -- By Shannon Vowell I write on June 19th or “Juneteenth,” the newest federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the day – June 19, 1865 – when news of Union victory and universal emancipation finally reached Galveston, Texas, by way of Maj. Gen....
Good News Archive — Methodist Heritage: Peter Cartwright (1785-1872)
Good News Archive: Methodist Heritage: Peter Cartwright (1785-1872) -- By Edmund Robb III Good News, March-April 1976 In the fall of 1818, Peter Cartwright was invited by one of the prominent Presbyterian pastors of Nashville to preach in his church on Monday evening....
Why Is an Exit Path Necessary?
By Thomas Lambrecht - The depth of disagreement within The United Methodist Church over marriage and human sexuality, and over the authority and interpretation of Scripture, means that it will be nearly impossible for all opposing groups to continue living together in...
Reference Committee Decides on Petitions
By Thomas Lambrecht - Of the 99 petitions submitted to the special called General Conference in St. Louis on February 23-26, 78 have been cleared to be considered by that body. This includes all the main plans and proposals that have been under consideration. A...
Why do so many bishops support the One Church Plan?
By Robert Sparkman - At the 2016 United Methodist General Conference, delegates voted to accept a proposal by the Council of Bishops to set up the "Commission on a Way Forward" to study how to deal with the conflicts within the church related to homosexuality. The...
The One Church Plan and the Rise of “Global South”
By Luther Oconer In May 2018, a majority of United Methodist bishops agreed to endorse the One Church Plan (OCP). This plan entails the removal of restrictive language in the United Methodist Book of Discipline pertaining to the practice of homosexuality. If these...
Is History an Argument for the One Church Plan?
By Thomas Lambrecht A recent newsletter published by Mainstream UMC argues that, just as the church changed its understanding and teaching about slavery, the role of women in the church, and divorced clergy, the church can change its understanding and teaching about...
French: The One Church Plan and the Rise of “Global South”
Par Luther Oconer En mai 2018, une majorité des évêques Méthodistes Unis ont convenu de donner leur appui au Plan d'une Église Unique (en sigle PEU). Ce plan consiste à supprimer les termes restrictifs dans le Livre de Discipline de l’Église Méthodiste Unie concernant...
Korean pastors voice skepticism about One Church Plan
"If the One Church Plan passes, KUMC would have difficulty in accepting an LGBT bishop assigned to the Korean UMCs due to its cultural and moral traditions," said the Rev. Paul Chang, executive director of the denomination's Korean Ministry Plan. "The new definition...
Update on San Francisco’s Glide Memorial UMC
By Thomas Lambrecht - New action has taken place by the California-Nevada Annual Conference filing suit against Glide Memorial United Methodist Church over Trust Clause issues. Such action shows what might happen in the event other congregations try to leave the...
The Limits of Methodism
By Thomas Lambrecht - It is refreshing to discover that, for at least one very progressive bishop, there is a limit to how progressive a church can be before it ceases to be Methodist. Bishop Minerva Carcaño of the California-Nevada Annual Conference has been in the...
Finding a Faithful Way Forward
By Thomas Lambrecht - "Here we are today, unable to face the reality of a deeply divided church that can no longer function in a healthy way in unity. And we are unable to consider an option that graciously and respectfully allows congregations and clergy to go their...
