Finding God’s “New Thing”
By Thomas Lambrecht -- As The United Methodist Church goes through this season of disaffiliation, there is much change ahead. Many disaffiliating congregations are uniting with the Global Methodist Church, forming a new Methodist expression that continues our historic...
Judicial Council Mandates Extra General Conference
By Thomas Lambrecht -- In two decisions just released, the Judicial Council has clarified several matters related to the upcoming 2024 General Conference and addressed some shortcomings in the Congo Central Conference. Another General Conference In Decision 1451, the...
Q and A with Senate Chaplain Barry Black
Interview by Drew Dyck- When Senate chaplain Barry Black finished his keynote address at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 2, the normally restrained crowd of religious leaders, politicians, and visiting dignitaries jumped to their feet and cheered wildly....
Just Resolution Announced in Complaint Filed Against Bishop Julius Trimble
By Walter Fenton- On February 15, Bishop Laurie Haller of the Iowa Episcopal Area confirmed that a church trial had been averted regarding a complaint filed against Bishop Julius Trimble of the Indiana Episcopal Area. The complaint stemmed from Trimble's handling of a...
An Invitation to Endless Church Conflict
By Walter Fenton- Most United Methodists have long recognized the debate over the church's sexual ethics and its teachings on marriage has reached an impasse. However, a legal brief submitted to the UM Church's Judicial Council (its "Supreme Court") argues otherwise....
Apportionments and the Viability of a Connectional Church
By Walter Fenton- Some United Methodists are pleased to pay them, others have come to loathe them, and still others have little or no idea they are contributing to them when they tithe and make gifts to their local church on Sunday morning. The "them" is...
The United Methodist Church Change in Financial Position Apportionment Funds December 31, 2016
Reclaiming Our Focus
In this short video, the Rev. Rob Renfroe, president of Good News and pastor of discipleship at The Woodlands UM Church (The Woodlands, Texas), talks about the imperative of being the church even in the midst of discord and...
Two Large UM Churches Vote to Leave Denomination
By Walter Fenton- Two large local United Methodist churches in the Mississippi Annual Conference have taken congregation wide votes to leave the denomination. Ninety six percent of the parishioners at Getwell Road UM Church in Southaven and 99 percent at The Orchard...
The UM Blame Game
By Walter Fenton- Two recent guest commentaries by the United Methodist News Service (UMNS) warrant a response. Both pieces are critical of conservative United Methodists. One, without evidence, makes a scurrilous claim about the work of evangelical groups at General...
New name points Mission Society into the Future
NORCROSS, Ga.—The Mission Society has unveiled a new name that aims to further sharpen the focus and effectiveness of its wide-ranging work among some of the least-reached peoples around the world. As TMS Global (www.tms-global.org), the interdenominational agency...
Dithering UM Leadership in West
By Walter Fenton- According to a United Methodist News Service article dated August 23, 2016, Bishop Grant Hagiya, president of the Western Jurisdiction's College of Bishops, said newly elected Bishop Karen Oliveto, an open lesbian married to a deaconess in The United...
