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Adam Hamilton

An Open Letter to Adam Hamilton and Other Centrists: Where Lie the Boundaries?

Dear Adam (Hamilton) and Other Centrists, When I wrote, recently, about my conviction that the current United Methodist Church needs to divide, I don’t think I made sufficiently clear that I recognize this admission as a sign of failure. Sometimes,

Stephen Rankin March 25, 2021March 25, 2021 Ministry, Preaching/Teaching, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 19 Comments Read more

Figuring Out What Unsettles Me about “A Way Forward”

Adam Hamilton’s powerful communication gifts, his love for Christ and the church, and his notable leadership skills have placed him in a position of great influence.  From this platform he appears to be doing all he can to sway us

Stephen Rankin May 11, 2015May 30, 2015 Ministry, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 2 Comments Read more

Does God Talk to Us or Not?

In all our United Methodist fussing with one another, one question consistently emerges in my mind: do we think that God actually talks to us?  How would we recognize divine speech if we think God does talk to us? At

Stephen Rankin June 18, 2014 Doctrine/Theology, Ministry, The Church, United Methodism 3 Comments Read more

General Conference (Slightly Proleptic) Postmortem

I’m not a fan of punditry, even of the ecclesial kind, but I guess I’ll set aside scruples and weigh in on the United Methodist General Conference as it presses toward the finish.  One question once again stands out: just

Stephen Rankin May 4, 2012 Ministry, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 4 Comments Read more

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Recent Comments

  • North Texas Congregant on A Bishop Reinstated
  • Carylon Flax on Boundary Questions Refuse to Go Away
  • Danny Blue on Dogma as Drama – Thank You, Dorothy Sayers
  • James W Lung on An Open Letter to Adam Hamilton and Other Centrists: Where Lie the Boundaries?
  • Stephen Rankin on Boundary Questions Refuse to Go Away

Categories

  • Book Reviews
  • Christian Life
  • College Ministry
  • Doctrine/Theology
  • Emerging adults
  • General
  • Higher and Theological Education
  • Ministry
  • Preaching/Teaching
  • Religion
  • The Church
  • Uncategorized
  • United Methodism
  • youth ministry

Meet Steve

I serve as Executive Director of the Spiritual Maturity Project, a ministry some of us have recently started.  For 25 years I worked in higher education as a professor and chaplain and before that as a pastor.  I love to help people grapple with big and basic questions to grow into real ,grown-up Christian discipleship.

I ruminate on all manner of theological, biblical, historical, and cultural topics. I believe followers of Jesus need to be more like members of Issachar’s tribe, able to read the times. Read more

 

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