Well, the Special General Conference for the United Methodist Church is done. For those of us who are LGBTQ and allies, the result was shocking and hurtful.
Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
The New Orthodoxy and Me
For the last few years, I've been impressed with a growing number of writers and bloggers, mostly from Methodist circles, but from some other traditions as well who seem to be carrying the Neo-Orthodox/Post-Liberal banner that had seem somewhat dormant for a while. I've been attracted to this stream of Protestantism after finding both evangelicalism... Continue Reading →
Sermon: All the Small Things
We might be called at times to do difficult things, like those who took part in the civil rights marches in the 1960s, all the while facing angry mobs of people. But most of the time, it involves doing a small thing. This is why Jesus talked about how great an act was of giving someone a cup of water.
What’s Missing?
For the last few months, I've been following a blog called Via Media Methodists. The purpose of VMM is: 1."To offer an alternative beyond the current polarization in The United Methodist Church; 2. To raise the level of discourse within The United Methodist Church; and 3. To practice what we preach." After a few bit... Continue Reading →
Why Being Nice to The Gays Won’t Save Your Church*
This past week, the Presbyterian Church (USA) meeting in Detroit, approved pastors being able to marry same sex partners in states where same sex marriage is legal. According to Presbyterian polity, it still has to get the approval of the majority of presbyteries (there are 172) before it becomes the law. Judging Facebook and Twitter... Continue Reading →
Sermon: “But We Had Hoped…”
Luke 24:13-35 Third Sunday of Easter May 4, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while the leader was describing the change which God works... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be Prophetic, Part Three
It was two years ago, that I wondered aloud what it meant to be prophetic. I've heard that phrase a lot in many of the progressive circles I've been in, but I've always wondered if what is called prophetic is nothing more than espousing your ideology and wrapping it up in God-language. What does it... Continue Reading →
Some Thoughts on the Frank Schaefer Case
I haven't followed the news about Methodist minister Frank Schaefer as closely as I should have. For those who know even less, Frank Schaefer faced a church trail for going against the Book of Discipline by marrying two men (one of who happened to be his son). What I do know about the affair has... Continue Reading →
Jesus Is Not a Fashion Accessory
There are folks who tend to focus on the "numbers" taking place in Mainline Protestantism with concern. One example is an article written in 1987 by William Willomon and Robert Wilson. They looked at the numbers and didn't like what they see: The Methodist and the Evangelical United Brethren Churches each began to experience a... Continue Reading →
What J.C. Penney, Sears and Montgomery Ward Taught Me About the Mainline Church
Ever since it appeared a few weeks ago, I've been thinking about John Vest's blog post called "The Vine is Dying." The Presbyterian pastor from Chicago has been involved in finding ways to help the Presbyterian Church (USA) rebound after decades of decline and his February 27 post was one borne of frustration with the... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 