A Better Way
By Walter Fenton While the vast majority of theologically conservative United Methodist local churches are waiting to part ways with their denomination once the General Conference adopts a plan of separation later this year, others are not. In late January, Frazer...
A Foretaste of the Census to Come
By Carolyn Moore So much of what gets published these days regarding the state of Christianity paints a desperate picture. We’re led to believe that in our lifetimes, the Christian movement could well wither on the vine. And in our corner of the world, maybe. There is...
Why the Wesleyan Covenant Association?
By Bill Arnold- The Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) is a new alliance of congregations, pastors, and laypeople, coming together to enhance and support vibrant, scriptural Christianity within United Methodism. The question for many is why? Why form the WCA? And...
The New Anti-Methodists
By Chris Ritter- There is a new movement developing about which everyone in the church should be wary. While claiming to be faithful to the church, they are starting an organization that could potentially replace it. Like modern-day Pharisees, they promote a...
We Don’t Actually Believe All That
By Walter Fenton- “How effectively can a church retain the lukewarm or uncertain if it keeps its most controversial teachings while constantly winking to say, ‘Don’t worry, we don’t actually believe all that?’” Although New York Times columnists Ross Douthat wrote the...
Lesbian Pastor Takes Involuntary Leave
By Heather Hahn- A complaint against the Rev. Cynthia Meyer, a lesbian pastor in Kansas, has ended with her taking an involuntary leave of absence at least until the conclusion of the next General Conference. The resolution, announced August 3, averts a church trial....
Conflict Shifts to Judicial Council
By Thomas Lambrecht- In the aftermath of General Conference, Annual Conferences, and Jurisdictional Conferences that exhibited the conflict between progressive and traditionalist perspectives, the focus of attention now shifts to the upcoming meeting of the Judicial...
Is It Time for the Itinerancy to Go?
By Donald W. Haynes- In today’s ecumenical religious environment, the current model of United Methodist itinerancy has become more a liability than an asset. Here are a few reasons. • With over 60 percent of current United Methodists having come from other communions,...
