Dissecting “Inclusiveness” Theology
By Thomas Lambrecht - In a sermon preached in the run-up to the 2019 General Conference, Bishop Elaine Stanovsky (Greater Northwest Episcopal Area) promoted the One Church Plan and her vision for the inclusiveness of the church. That vision reflects the understanding...
Back to Our Future
By Mike Lowry, Bishop of the Central Texas Conference The harsh reality is that we are in a post-Christendom age. No longer does the Christian faith, and more specifically the United Methodist Church, assume a leading societal position. During my first year or so as...
Straight Talk
Operation Narnia to help needy children Operation Christmas Child is partnering with the upcoming film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, set for release on December 10. Through this partnership, Narnia fans will be encouraged to participate in...
United Methodist revival in Zimbabwe
By Priscilla Muzerengwa (UMNS) — They come by the thousands, many leaving their homes for nearly a week to gather on an open patch of ground. There, they will raise their hands above their heads, waving and clapping, singing songs of praise and dancing before the Lord. Many will stay up all night in praise and prayer, climbing nearby mountains for private conversations with God during breaks. And the faithful, such as Emily Makunike, will be revived.
The altar of everything
By Liza Kittle–“The altar of everything” reverberated through my thinking as I attended the Women’s Division board meeting in April 2010. The initial gathering was held at the Tillman Chapel, located on the ground floor of the Church Center for the United Nations, a 12-story building owned and operated by the Division and positioned directly across the street from the United Nations.
Deciding what to teach (and what not to)
By Duffy Robbins–The marquee sign out in front of the Unitarian Church made me smile. It read, “Bible Study tonight. Bring scissors.” I envisioned a group of earnest Unitarians sitting around a comfortable room discussing which passages of the Bible should be cut out of the holy text so that God’s words might be a little easier to digest.
Breaking with denomination, Foundry UM Church votes to perform same-sex marriages
Members of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. voted 367 to 8 on Sept. 26 to allow same-gender marriages to be performed in its building. Foundry is among many congregations in Washington that have been discussing same-sex marriages since the city...
Remembering Bishop James K. Mathews
By Heather Hahn (UMNS) — Retired United Methodist Bishop James K. Mathews, who had a lifelong passion for mission work and evangelism, died September 8 in Washington, D.C. He was 97.
