Redefining Glory
By Rob Renfroe In 1875 a remarkable woman was born. Her name was Mary Bethune. Both her parents had been slaves. At the age of 5 she began working in the fields. But she took an interest in her own education. And she found a way to attended a small, one room,...
Moving Forward
By Keith Boyette In his book The Patient Ferment of the Early Church, Alan Kreider makes the case that Christians dramatically impacted the Roman Empire through their persistent, faithful living out of the lifestyle God calls them to in Jesus Christ. The world was...
Concurring and Dissenting Opinion of W. Warren Plowden Jr., Member of the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church
Par. 56 Article II. of the Constitution enumerates four specific instances in which the Judicial Conference has “authority” to act. It then enumerates a fifth instance in which the Judicial Council will “have such other duties and powers as may be conferred upon it by...
Misimpressions in Statement from the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops
By Walter Fenton- "The ruling is long and complicated," wrote Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky in a statement on behalf of the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops. Stanovsky was of course commenting on the Judicial Council's recent decision regarding the Western...
Bright Spots in a Confusing Decision
By Tom Lambrecht- Last week's decision by the Judicial Council regarding the election and consecration of an openly lesbian bishop in a same-sex marriage was very complicated and not entirely consistent. The Council strove to tailor its decision as narrowly as...
Good News Statement Regarding the Judicial Council’s Recent Decision
Good News greets with some dismay – as will many men and women in the pews – the Judicial Council’s convoluted and ultimately unsatisfactory ruling regarding the Western Jurisdictional Conference’s nomination, election, consecration, and assignment of Bishop Karen...
Call for Global Prayer and Fasting for United Methodist Church
To United Methodists from the Rev. Dr. Jerry Kulah, Central Conference Coordinator, UMC Africa Initiative (Liberia Annual Conference), and The Rev. Evariste Kimba, Coordinator, French & Kiswahili Region, UMC Africa Initiative (Democratic Republic of Congo). Dearly...
UM Church’s “Supreme Court” Hears Oral Arguments
By Walter Fenton- The Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church heard oral arguments this past Tuesday in the matter of the Western Jurisdictional Conference's nomination, election, consecration, and assignment of the Rev. Karen Oliveto as a bishop of the...
