106 Florida churches file lawsuits
By Thomas Lambrecht It was announced this week that 106 United Methodist congregations in Florida have filed lawsuits against the annual conference after invitations to negotiate an amicable exit were ignored and rejected by the Florida Annual Conference. The...
Editorial: Be Forewarned
By Rob Renfroe Will the post-separation United Methodist Church be “the big tent” denomination that centrist pastors and bishops claim it will be? Leading centrists tell us that there will always be a place for traditionalists. The beliefs of conservatives will be...
Brief Notes from Around the Connection
Financial Challenges in Yellowstone In a recent note to the churches of the Yellowstone Annual Conference, Bishop Karen Oliveto and her cabinet wrote: "As we prepare for Annual Conference, we want to let you know of a critical situation facing the Yellowstone Annual...
Delay, Delay, Delay…and More Delay
By Walter Fenton- The Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops of The United Methodist Church cannot take "no" for an answer. Less than seven weeks ago the denomination's Judicial Council (it's "Supreme Court") ruled, "A same-sex marriage license issued by competent...
Commentary: Moving from Moderator to Advocate
By Walter Fenton- Florida Bishop Ken Carter recently released a video citing seven reasons why he believes The United Methodist Church will remain united. This is a notable move since Carter is one of three moderators for the denomination-wide Commission on a Way...
New York Clergy Member Resigns from Board of Ordained Ministry
The Rev. Chuck Ferrara, until recently a member of the New York Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, sent the following letter to Bishop Thomas Bickerton: Dear Bishop Bickerton, I know you are somewhat familiar with my background. But just in case you...
Two Boards of Ordained Ministry Spurn Judicial Council Rulings
By Walter Fenton- The Boards of Ordained Ministry of both the New York and Pacific Northwest Annual Conferences have announced they will not abide by recent rulings of The United Methodist Church's Judicial Council, the denomination's final arbiter of church law. In...
Largest Congregation in Mississippi Parts Ways with UM Church
By Walter Fenton- The largest local church in the Mississippi Annual Conference in terms of worship attendance and one of the 25 fastest growing churches in the U.S. has now officially exited The United Methodist Church. According to lead pastor Bryan Collier, The...
