Skip to content

Rankin File

ruminations, fulminations, and cogitations on the spiritual life

Menu

  • Home
  • Publications
  • Speaking
  • Audio / Video
  • Book Reviews
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Feed
Rankin File

theology

The Problem is Still Theological

A friend of mine pointed me yesterday to a tweet that states flatly, “‘Orthodoxy’ is code for white privilege, homophobia, racism and sexism.”  There you have it.  One group of United Methodists thinks another group of United Methodists (1) stubbornly

Stephen Rankin May 16, 2016 Ministry, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 20 Comments Read more

Looking for My Family

Imagine this scene: a group of twenty or so United Methodist leaders are gathered in a circle for the opening prayer of a weekend training in spiritual formation.  The leader begins with asking each member of the group to center

Stephen Rankin May 21, 2013June 5, 2013 Christian Life, Doctrine/Theology, Higher and Theological Education, Ministry, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 8 Comments Read more

How Do We Think about Israel/Palestine?

The conflicts of Israel and Palestine, always simmering and recently boiling over, have entered our awareness again.  Again, we confront the tensions of viewpoints and the complexities of opinion about whom to hold responsible and what to do.  Academics wax

Stephen Rankin November 28, 2012November 28, 2012 General, Preaching/Teaching, Religion, United Methodism No Comments Read more

George McGovern the Quintessential Methodist?

Senator George McGovern was 90 years old when he died Sunday last.  In some ways, it seems to me, Dr. McGovern (Ph.D. from Northwestern U.) was quintessentially United Methodist.  Pondering how produces some worthwhile reflection about the church’s  current identity

Stephen Rankin October 24, 2012 Ministry, Religion, United Methodism 9 Comments Read more

Should GC Delegates Have to Demonstrate Theological Qualifications Beforehand?

Should GC Delegates Have to Demonstrate Theological Qualifications Beforehand?

People who seek to become naturalized citizens of the United States must pass a test to qualify for the privilege of reciting the citizenship oath.  And it’s an oral test (see http://www.uscis.gov).  No guessing on multiple choice questions. Still worrying about

Stephen Rankin May 16, 2012July 5, 2012 Doctrine/Theology, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 2 Comments Read more
  • « Previous

Archives

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

Recent Comments

  • Stephen Rankin on The Troubling Use of “Information”
  • Corine Willilams on The Troubling Use of “Information”
  • 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

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

 

Tags

Adam Hamilton Bible bishops Book of Discipline Christian Smith Christian witness Christmas Civil Rights college students congregations Constitutional Amendments discipleship doctrine Easter Emergent Christianity Emerging adults evangelism Faith General Conference God higher education homosexuality incarnation Jesus John Wesley Jr. Judicial Council Kathleen Garces-Foley leadership love Martin Luther King nones pro-life Religion resurrection sexuality spirituality spiritual maturity theology Tim Clydesdale United Methodist United Methodist Church United Methodists United States Witness
Copyright © 2025 Rankin File. All rights reserved. Theme Spacious by ThemeGrill. Powered by: WordPress.
  • Home
  • Publications
  • Speaking
  • Audio / Video
  • Book Reviews
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Feed