Looking Back, Moving Forward
Looking Back, Moving Forward By K. Lynn Lewis Revival. Awakening. Outpouring. Manifestation of God’s presence. Gentleness. Glory. Peace. There are many descriptors spawned from the chapel service that began on February 8, 2023, in Hughes Auditorium at Asbury...
The Changing Shape of Methodism
The Changing Shape of Methodism By Thomas Lambrecht As many churches considered the option of disaffiliation, there has been a focus on the contrast between a traditional understanding of our Methodist doctrines and practices compared with how The United Methodist...
Giving Thanks
By Thomas Lambrecht- As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends, we are a nation that has experienced much suffering and tragedy within the last few months. Many families will gather around a makeshift table in a home that is being rebuilt...
Merely Lewis
By Philip Tallon On November 22, 1963, the world’s foremost Christian apologist died of kidney failure. Despite his literary fame, in the following week’s newspapers, his death was overshadowed by the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and received little notice. The...
Two Roads Diverged
By Tom Lambrecht- With apologies to Robert Frost, one of my favorite poets, he describes the current situation in The United Methodist Church in his poem, The Road Not Taken: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood." Two roads are diverging within United Methodism today,...
Remembering to pray
By Michael Yaconelli Children tell God what they are genuinely thinking. They are honest, simple, and direct. They understand that God is listening, and they understand that prayers are very important. Somehow when we become adults, we forget how important praying is....
Let’s Make a Deal, #UMC Style
Dr. David Watson, academic dean at United Theological Seminary, has provided thorough analysis of the interim report sent to the Council of Bishops from the Commission on the Way Forward. He offers an assessment of each of the three plans given to the bishops for...
The Ministry of Transformation
By Garry Ingraham- In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Jesus was spelling out his earthly purpose in contrast to the work of the spiritual darkness of "the thief" who comes...
Bishops consider 3 models for church future
By Heather Hahn, United Methodist News Service United Methodist bishops are exploring three possible models for how the church should handle LGBTQ inclusion. The models come to the bishops from the Commission on a Way Forward, which has the task of trying to find a...
Oliveto preaches an opening sermon before Council of Bishops
According to reporting from Heather Hahn (UMNS), United Methodist bishops find themselves “off the map” as they try to navigate a way forward through the church’s impasse over homosexuality, said Bishop Bruce R. Ough of the Dakotas-Minnesota area. “There is currently...
Judicial Council Maintains Status Quo on Church Law
By Thomas Lambrecht- The latest rulings by the Judicial Council illustrate that the impasse in our denomination over theological disagreements and the question of LGBTQ inclusion cannot be resolved by the church legal process. Church's Teaching Still Constitutional In...
Opinion: The temptations of division and unity
- By Donald W. Haynes The 21st century infighting about marriage, sexuality, and the Christian faith are obviating the relatively unrelated mistakes of the 20th century. That is the century when we lost membership and attendance inside the institutional church, and...
