Cynthia B. Astle
The Mysteries of Death
The death of her beloved mother-in-law, Evelyn Grebe, resurrects the age-old questions about the deepest mysteries of life and death, writes Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
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We're Overlooking Our Most Compelling Covenant
United Methodism's current debates over who has broken or kept "the covenant" ignore the most compelling covenant of all -- our baptismal vows, writes Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
Phyllis and the Pope: Loving the Unlovable
The convergence of Pope Francis' U.S. visit with the death of religion expert Phyllis Tickle underscores something significant for fractious United Methodists, namely Jesus' call to love the unlovable, writes Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
UMC's Welcome to Catholic LGBT Group Proves 'Equally Blessed'
Arch Street United Methodist Church in Philadelphia showed brotherly love for a Catholic group devoted to LGBT inclusion when the group was refused entry to a Catholic event visited by Pope Francis. Read more
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Here's What I Have to Say About Baltimore
The eruption of violence in Baltimore in the wake of the police custody death of Freddie Gray prompts a response from UM Insight coordinator Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
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Indiana's RFRA and the UMC: A Moral Imperative
The furor over Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration – seen by critics as granting businesses license to discriminate against LGBTQ people – reflects The United Methodist Church's own dilemma over its anti-LGBTQ stances. Read more
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Emotional First Aid for United Methodism
A TED talk by psychologist Guy Winch awakens Insight coordinator Cynthia B. Astle to the United Methodist Church's need for "emotional first aid." Read more
Eric Basir
I'm Unpacking for General Conference
Cynthia B. Astle has decided not to bring to St. Louis thoughts and emotions that will keep her from seeing God working at the special General Conference. Read more
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Breaking Out of the Prison of Mistrust
The coming 2019 General Conference will start with a day of prayer, but its focus ought to be on dispelling the mistrust that pervades The United Methodist Church, writes Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
Surrendering to Scripture's Authority
What is the true authority of scripture, its lists of rules or its witness to God's heart for reconciliation? asks Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
The Fire Next Time
We face a direct existential threat from climate change this Advent, and our seasonal reflections must turn us toward radical action to stop it, writes Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
Dispute over Glide Church Heads to Court
After a breakdown in negotiations, Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño announced that a lawsuit has been filed by the California-Nevada Annual Conference against Glide Memorial UMC to reclaim its downtown San Francisco property. Read more
Lessons from Two 'Insightful' Missions
Sharing with NASA's Martian lander the name of this online journal gives Cynthia B. Astle an opportunity to ponder the importance of their similar missions: to find "new things" of both science and God. Read more
Blessing the Animals
October wasn't all pipe bombs and horrific shootings. There were also moments of grace. Read more
Praying the Mourner's Prayer
In the wake of the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue, Cynthia B. Astle reflects on the many ways her life has entwined with Jewish friends. Read more
The Race War Is On, But It's Not What You Think
Observe the differences between the ways that two prophetic pastors were treated when speaking truth to power, and you'll understand what's happening with race in America, writes Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
Sociologist-Pastor Takes Impartial Look at UMC’s Divide
Dr. Dale McConkey applies principles of sociology research and John Wesley's theological method to The United Methodist Church's division over homosexuality in a new book with a fact-based focus. Read more
South Carolina UMC Readies to Aid Community after Police Shooting
Pisgah United Methodist Church is preparing to serve its Florence, S. C., community in the wake of one of the nation's worst police shootings that took place barely a mile from the church campus. Read more
Recovering from the Wound That Never Heals
Institutional power structures in society and in church, in which women who speak out about sexual abuse they've suffered are disbelieved, must be overthrown by Christians committed to overcoming evil with good. Read more
U. S. Conferences Waiting to Assess Damages from Big Storm
Remnants of Hurricane Florence are still dropping rain on U.S. regions, and flooding continues to threaten many locations. Read more
Wesley Bros: Of Videos and Cards
Along with the new "animated Wesley" videos from United Methodist Communications, the Wesley Bros playing cards offer a surprising tool for teaching Methodist history, writes Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
I’m Religious AND Spiritual – and So Are You
A new "religious typology" offered by the Pew Research Center suffers from a basic flaw – it fails to recognize that it's possible to be both religious and spiritual, writes Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
Western Wildfires, Eastern Flooding Threaten United States
With 127 wildfires burning in the West and flash floods continuing to threaten the East in the United States, United Methodists are urged to continue supporting the church's efforts at disaster relief and recovery. Read more
Complaint Against Jeff Sessions Dismissed as 'Political, not Personal'
Alabama-West Florida Conference leaders determined that the complaints brought against the U.S. attorney general referred to actions related to the performance of his public service, not personal behaviors. Read more
Could Challenging Our Assumptions Be the Answer for UMC Unity?
A talk by the Rev. Adam Hamilton on interpreting the Bible offers a way to keep the United Methodist Church together: dropping our assumptions about scripture and one another. Read more
Once More, with Feelings
Panelists at the July 16-18 Uniting Methodists' conference in Dallas spoke with deep emotion about being accepted by the church and about their devotion to seeing the church stay together. Read more
Uniting Methodists Pray, Strategize
Combining revival with strategy, Uniting Methodists lay out their plan to promote acceptance of the 'One Church' unity model at the 2019 General Conference. Read more