Reasons for Affiliating with the Global Methodist Church
By Thomas Lambrecht As churches are disaffiliating from The United Methodist Church over theological and ethical differences with the denomination, they are considering where to affiliate next. There is a small percentage that are choosing to remain as independent...
The Importance of Staying Connected
By Thomas Lambrecht As many United Methodist congregations are discerning their future, a small percentage who choose to disaffiliate from the denomination are choosing also to become an independent congregation. Given the dysfunction of The United Methodist Church...
What Is Unity?
By Thomas Lambrecht- In the wake of the September meeting of the Commission on a Way Forward in Berlin, I would like to reflect on the balancing act that the Commission is engaged in as it formulates its proposal for the Council of Bishops and the called 2019 General...
Another Complaint, No Consequences
By Thomas Lambrecht As has become all too common, another complaint against a pastor for celebrating a same-sex wedding has been resolved without any discipline. In other words, the case has been "resolved" without any form of authentic resolution. The Rev. Ben...
New Room Renewal
"Great periods of Christian revival in the U.S. need not be consigned to the church's circuit-rider past," writes Heather Hahn of United Methodist News Service. "Even without the saddle sores and sawdust trail of yesteryear, a new generation of Christians can be just...
Uniting Methodists Leaning Left
By Walter Fenton Uniting Methodists is a new caucus group that has entered as a "new voice" in the battle over the United Methodist Church's sexual ethics, teachings on marriage, and its ordination standards. It joins a long roster of groups formed by concerned United...
At the Center of What?
By Walter Fenton- In his recent respectful, but critical appraisal of so-called United Methodist "centrism," Dr. Kevin Watson, Assistant Professor of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies at Candler School of Theology, says he has "no idea to what extent [the Rev. Adam]...
Happiness vs. Holiness
By Rob Renfroe- If you were to summarize one rather stark section of the Apostle Paul’s message to the Corinthians, it might be: God loves you and has a dangerous plan for your life. He reminds the congregation that he has “been in prison more frequently, been flogged...