More “Mainstream” Misrepresentations
More "Mainstream" Misrepresentations - By Thomas Lambrecht - Last week’s Perspective addressed the arguments made by the “centrist” caucus group Mainstream UMC regarding the need for exit paths to be adopted by the 2024 General Conference. This week, I would like to...
Why “Mainstream UMC” Is Wrong About Exit Paths
Why "Mainstream UMC" Is Wrong About Exit Paths - By Thomas Lambrecht - In an article riddled with factual errors and distortions, Mainstream UMC (the “centrist” caucus in the UM Church) called for “an end to disaffiliations through paragraph 2553.” They maintain that...
Getting United Methodism Unstuck
By Thomas Lambrecht - The dust is clearing after an eventful last few months for The United Methodist Church. General Conference is postponed in-person to August 2022. A special virtual General Conference was scheduled for May 8, 2021, and then canceled. The...
Abundant Life
By Shannon Vowell - Spring pushing white and lavender and pink into dazzling prominence as the gray and brown disappear. Easter joy writ large on the landscape. Alongside the greening, something new in my neighborhood, a winter-is-over ritual: Regiments of...
When Movements Lose Direction
By Windfield Bevins - Methodism swept across the American frontier like an uncontrollable prairie fire. That is hardly how we would describe it today. There are great benefits in considering some of the things that led the decline of Methodism. What lessons can...
An Overlooked Flock
By Terry Mattingly - While working on the 1985 book Habits of the Heart, the late sociologist Robert N. Bellah met “Sheila,” who described her faith in words that researchers have quoted ever since. “I can’t remember the last time I went to church,” she said. “My...
A Journey in Discernment
By Jennifer Jones - I almost didn’t go on the “GreenLight” mission trip. I had already participated in a fair number of short-term mission trips and had already visited the country where the team would be going. I was concerned whether the experience would...
Dungeon Grace
By B.J. Funk – Joseph was around seventeen when his cruel brothers sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt. These folks were all kin, descending from half brothers Isaac and Ishmael. So much for loving your relatives. It took 30 days for Joseph and...
