(This blog is an updated post from 3 years ago [2/27/2010], as I reflected then about the significance of the time of year for United Methodist clergy going through appointment changes. Appointment time in United Methodism is always a little
From One Heart to Another
In 2 Corinthians, Paul is put in the position of defending his ministry. “Are we beginning to commend ourselves?” he asks the Corinthians. “You are our letters [of commendation],” he reminds them. Paul’s “defense” of the authenticity of his work
The Double-Edged Nature of Denominational Control
So, here is how things stand in United Methodist world: 1. People are still weighing in on the video wars between Bishop Scott Jones and Maxie Dunnam, et. al., on the “worldwide nature of the church” amendments. Good News’ “Perspective”
When Structures Strangle Relationships
My post of 3/27 was a tad cryptic and vague, not to mention gloomy. It’s hard to write about matters involving people one counts as friends and colleagues, especially when they are on opposite sides. I don’t want to cast
Watching a Denomination Die
While a grand old institution slowly crumbles, the people who have invested their lives in it look for every glimmer of hope, every shred of evidence to sustain the belief that, really, “we’re doing fine.” Even when we acknowledge trouble,