In the Church
Practicing Faith
The Conversation on the Other Side of the Red Sea
Be it the LMC, the GMC, or the UMC or any other movement/denomination that ends in “MC”, there is a strong temptation to take aim at the other we see being “irresponsible” while our side is “faithful." Read more
Apr 8, 2021
11:23 AM
Casting Out the Caster-Outers
Among the many genius things of Jesus, one of the most brilliant things of Jesus is his ability to use the very mechanism of the systems against itself. Jesus only does what the leadership of the temple had been doing – casting people out. Read more
Mar 31, 2021
1:37 PM
What About Those Satan Shoes?
The Satan shoes are awful to us because they reveal to us that we know what we pretend to not know, writes the Rev. Jason Valendy. Read more
Mar 31, 2021
1:37 PM
Jesus as the Means
It is easy (and lazy if you ask Jason Valendy) to chalk the story of Moses being denied the promised land up to some moral or ethical imperative for leaders, but there's more to it. Read more
Mar 29, 2021
3:40 PM
Global Nature
Two Pandemics at the Same Time
COVID-19 amplified healthcare disparities between White and non-White people. Now as vaccines are being made available, non-White people still are being vaccinated at lower rates than White people, despite their higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Read more
Mar 25, 2021
12:16 PM
Short Term Mission after the Pandemic
While much remains uncertain about the future of the pandemic, leaders are beginning to feel confident enough in the future to begin talking about the "new normal" or "next normal" that will affect all aspects of church life, including missions. Read more
Mar 23, 2021
8:32 AM
Picasa
St. Patrick and Mission from the Margins
It's easy today to think of St. Patrick as central to both Christian faith and Ireland's history. But at the beginning of his missionary labors, what would most have struck his contemporaries about Patrick was not his centrality but his marginality. Read more
Mar 17, 2021
10:17 AM
Ordained Ministry
Clergy Under Complaint: A Broken Process
A guest column from Hacking Christianity recounts the broken United Methodist process of bringing a complaint against a clergyperson. Read more
Apr 7, 2021
Specific Examples
Yes, the Bible is a collection of books, testimonies, and letters, but it is more: the scriptures were written to change lives and restore relationships – with God and with one another. Read more
Apr 6, 2021
Local Church
Virginia Church Contemplates Racism in the Ranks
Anonymous letters to the Rev. Chenda Innis Lee criticizing her manner of dress uncovered racist attitudes in the congregation at Fairlington UMC in Virginia. Read more
Apr 8, 2021
Contrary to What You’ve Heard, Study Finds Churches Thrive with Racial Diversity
Having a racially diverse congregation offers a good path toward local church growth, according to a new comprehensive study of The United Methodist Church. Read more
Apr 7, 2021
Finance and Administration
Northeastern Bishops Announce Retirements, Temporary Assignments
Two bishops in the Northeastern Jurisdiction will retire on Sept. 1 and the areas they currently serve will be administered by active bishops from adjacent areas. Read more
Mar 29, 2021
Judge Rules for SMU Over Jurisdiction
A judge has ruled for Southern Methodist University over the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church in a lawsuit over who controls the Dallas school, but the jurisdiction has filed an appeal. Read more
Mar 23, 2021
UMC Court Clarifies Decision on Clergy Session Voting
The Judicial Council added specific language to four paragraphs in the 2016 Book of Discipline to ensure that those directly involved in certain administrative matters would not vote on recommendations brought to the clergy session. Read more
Mar 23, 2021
