Silencing United Methodist Voices
By Rob Renfroe I have now been banned in two states. Ok, that’s a bit of an overstatement. Two annual conferences, each covering an individual state, have determined that I may not speak to their churches. Even though I am still a United Methodist elder. Even if I am...
Loneliness & Loving Our Neighbor
Loneliness & Loving Our Neighbor By Jennie Lyons My hometown of Washington, D.C. was recently named the loneliest city in America. Another study found a growing number of Americans have few or no close friends at all. Most of us allow ourselves to get pulled ever...
Litigious Progressives
By Walter Fenton- In yet another bid to overturn The United Methodist Church's sexual ethics, the Denmark and California-Pacific annual conferences are asking the Judicial Council to rule out of order a key provision in the Book of Discipline. According to motions...
Closer to a Way Forward
By Rev. Thomas Lambrecht- Last week the Bishops' Commission on a Way Forward for the Church held its fourth face-to-face meeting. With nine total meetings scheduled, we are still not even halfway to the end of our process. We are...
Remembering Dr. Kenneth C. Kinghorn
By James V. Heidinger II Dr. Kenneth Cain Kinghorn, 87, passed away peacefully at his home on July 23, 2017. Where does one begin in describing such a fruitful and productive life as his? Ken was a highly-respected author and teacher among Wesleyans literally around...
The Wesleyan Family Tree
The Wesleyan Family Tree By Kenneth C. Kinghorn (1930-2017) John Wesley invented no new theological doctrines. “Whatever doctrine is new must be wrong,” he wrote, “and no doctrine can be right, unless it is the very same ‘which was from the beginning.’” Mr....
The Rise of Theological Liberalism and the Decline of American Methodism
Guest Perspective from Dr. William J. Abraham As The United Methodist Church prepares for an unprecedented called General Conference in 2019, Seedbed Publishing recently released an important book to help us understand the deeper theological debates that have led to...
Commission to Meet Amidst Growing Divide
By Walter Fenton- The Commission for a Way Forward will gather for its fourth meeting in Chicago, July 19-21, as it searches for a way to break the impasse in an increasingly divided church. According to a press release, the 32-member commission indicated after its...
Good News statement to Commission on a Way Forward
Members of the Bishops’ Commission on A Way Forward, my colleagues at Good News and I thank you for your service to the church which is time consuming and, no doubt, emotionally draining. We have been praying for you and will continue to do so. Bottom line, we pray...
Rookie Mistake
By Walter Fenton- Writing to churches and clergy in the Iowa Annual Conference about financial challenges the conference faces, new Bishop Laurie Haller wrote, "Some of our clergy and congregations are making the decision to withhold apportionment payments to protest...
Judicial Council Denies Motion for Reconsideration
By Walter Fenton- The United Methodist Church's Judicial Council has declined a request to reconsider a portion of its April 2017 decision regarding the consecration of an openly lesbian bishop. In a brief email to Mr. Richard Marsh, an attorney representing the...
John Grenfell, Jr., Pastor, Advocate, and Friend
By Walter Fenton- Lifetime Good News Board member the Rev. John Grenfell, Jr. died this past Sunday, June 25, 2017. He was 86 years old. John was one of those United Methodist pastors who never really retired; he was not the retiring type. He played ice hockey into...
