Finding Effective Leaders
Finding Effective Leaders By Rob Renfroe Recently I had a conversation with a friend who is grateful for the Global Methodist Church but who is concerned for its future. Not because of anything that is presently occurring but because “we’re all human and we all have a...
A Parting Thank You
A Parting Thank You By Rob Renfroe and Thomas Lambrecht Good News was founded in 1967 to be a voice for scriptural Christianity within what would in 1968 become The United Methodist Church. Now, fifty-seven years later, our board of directors and our executive...
“Mainstream UMC” Condemns Nigerian Bishop
“Mainstream UMC” Condemns Nigerian Bishop By Thomas Lambrecht In a recent fundraising piece, the self-identified centrist caucus group “Mainstream UMC” condemned the United Methodist bishop of Nigeria, Bishop John Wesley Yohanna. Its principal accusation...
Downsides of Regionalization
Downsides of Regionalization By Thomas Lambrecht The last Perspective spoke about the unfairness of “regionalization” in its treatment of Africa and other parts of the church outside the U.S. As I wrote, “The top agenda item for the 2024 General Conference in April...
Regionalization: the New Colonialism?
Regionalization: the New Colonialism? By Thomas Lambrecht The top agenda item for the 2024 General Conference in April for most progressives is to adopt “regionalization” as the new mode of United Methodist governance. This proposal would be a dramatic shift in how...
Start Off 2024 with an Act of Rebellion
Start Off 2024 with an Act of Rebellion By David F. Watson There’s nothing more central to the postmodern Western mind than radical autonomy. Put more simply, we can express the common mindset of our age as something like, “I’ll do what I want and be who I want. I’ll...
Leave Your Stuff Behind
Leave Your Stuff Behind By Maxie Dunnam Tucked away in the Old Testament story of Joseph’s journey into Egypt is a verse packed with far more meaning than appears on the surface. It teaches an eternal truth that we’d do well to consider as we enter the New Year....
Faith in a Time of Transition
Faith in a Time of Transition By Thomas Lambrecht Advent is a season of preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and preparing for his coming again. Advent reminds us that we are in the time “between the times.” We are in the time between Jesus’ first and...
Mary’s Devoted Heart
Mary's Devoted Heart By Dick McClain Growing up, I don’t recall having heard a sermon on Mary, the mother of Jesus. She did get dusted off every December for the Christmas pageant. But apart from her annual appearance reincarnated in the form of a budding young...
Marks of a Methodist 6: Perfection
Marks of a Methodist 6: Perfection By Thomas Lambrecht This edition of Perspective concludes our survey of the marks or characteristics of a Methodist, as put forward by Bishop Gerald Kennedy in his 1960 book of that name. We have seen that the marks of a Methodist...
Will Regionalization be an Option for Africa?
Will Regionalization be an Option for Africa? - By Jerry Kulah - It has become abundantly clear in recent times that the issue of “regionalization” has taken center stage within The United Methodist Church body politic. This is evidenced by the fact that some...
Giving Thanks (Even Now)
Giving Thanks (Even Now) - By Shannon Vowell - This is the first Thanksgiving in my adult life when the scripture verse that most accurately describes our collective mood seems to be Matthew 10:34-36. Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the...
