Gay Couple Files Complaint for Refusal of Wedding
A gay couple who are members of a United Methodist congregation in North Carolina have filed a complaint against their pastor because he refused to officiate at their wedding, in keeping with United...
View ArticleThe Only Two Avenues for Viable Change in This #UMC Chaos
The Rev. Jeremy Smith evaluates various proposals for the UMC to resolve its current conflicts and make substantive changes in its structure.
View ArticleGenerous Spaciousness -- A Review
The Rev. Drew McIntyre reviews the book "Generous Spaciousness" by Wendy VanderWall-Gritter, who explores the church conversation about homosexuality.
View ArticleUnconditional Love and Leelah Alcorn
The death of transgendered Leelah Alcorn prompts the Rev. Andy Bryan to ponder the nature of God's unconditional love.
View ArticleIre, Joy Follow Resolution of Complaint Against Bishop Talbert
General Conference legislation to enforce penalties against clergy who perform same-gender weddings appears to be on outcome of the complaint resolution against retired Bishop Melvin Talbert for...
View ArticleStopping the #UMC Rollercoaster
Reactions to the just resolution of a complaint against Bishop Mel Talbert for officiating at a same-gender wedding prompt the Rev. Jeremy Smith to suggest a way off the roller-coaster battle over LGBT...
View ArticleDream UMC Hosting #UMC Human Sexuality Conversation
Dream UMC, a grassroots organization of United Methodists concerned with the denomination's future, will host a Jan. 26 online conversation on human sexuality for the Connectional Table
View ArticleWhy Same-Sex Marriage is a Communion-Dividing Issue
The Rev. Tom Lambrecht of the Good News evangelical caucus summarizes why his constituents think the church's stance against accepting homosexual practice is so important.
View ArticleUnited Methodist Educators Adopt Statement on Social Crises
United Methodist educators expressed their concern about the current debates in the church over social crises with a statement on " justice and human dignity."
View ArticleA Word About Injustice
Watching demonstrations April 28 as the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on same-gender marriage, Chett Pritchett of the Methodist Federation for Social Action ponders the interwoven nature of human...
View ArticleWhen Will Things Change?
The Rev. Will Green outlines how -- and if -- he thinks The United Methodist Church can change from its current forms of identity and operation.
View Article7 Questions for Potential #UMC Schismatics
As discussions around breaking up The United Methodist Church over acceptance of homosexuality, the Rev. Drew McIntyre poses a check-up for those who say they'll leave.
View ArticleAppeal to Scripture as the Ultimate Authority Leads to Schism
The latest developments across The United Methodist Church have convinced the Rev. Christy Thomas that United Methodists of all persuasions who won't uphold the Book of Discipline should indeed leave...
View ArticleDoing Away with the Western #UMC?
The Rev. Jeremy Smith analyzes two proposals that appear to eliminate the UMC's Western Jurisdiction, which in reality is doing a much better job at discipleship than the other four U.S. jurisdictions.
View ArticleA Gift of Love
Taking another's pain into ourselves, even when we differ sharply in our views, may offer the best way for the bond of baptism to help United Methodists avoid dehumanizing one another, writes Cynthia...
View ArticleSuspend the Sorrow
The forced resignation of the Rev. Benjamin Hutchinson because he is a gay man who married his partner causes the Rev. Steve Harper to recall a bishop's plea for the UMC to suspend its retributive...
View ArticleAddressing the #UMC Elephant: 4 Lessons
The Rev. Evan Rohrs-Dodge finds encouragement for The United Methodist Church's discussion on homosexuality through events at this year's Greater New Jersey Annual Conference.
View ArticleBoy Scout Solution: A Way Forward for the #UMC?
The Rev. Jeremy Smith sees instructive connections between the Boy Scouts of America's decision to allow gay men as Scout leaders and The United Methodist Church's conundrum over the acceptance of...
View ArticleFix Society. Please.
The killing of a transgender woman known to her church prompts the Rev. Laurie Haller to demand justice for the small community of transgender people.
View ArticleWhen Christians Disagree
The Rev. Mike Slaughter finds that Christians' disagreement over the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality brings an opportunity to put selfless love above political or theologicaly...
View ArticleEnough Is Enough
When we equate news of bigotry with the suffering of infants, it's time to check our priorities, writes Cynthia B. Astle.
View ArticleThe Problem of Converts and Public Policy
The process of Christian conversion provides a predictable framework for the actions of someone like #Kim Davis – and that framework is more commonplace than we think, writes the Rev. Jeremy Smith.
View ArticleThe Latest Episode of Methodists Behaving Badly
The Rev. Bill Trench likens the latest round of "Gotcha!" over United Methodist actions to a TV reality show.
View ArticleReconciling Ministries Network's Statement on Ginny Mikita
Reconciling Ministries Network, an unofficial United Methodist association of individuals, groups and local congregations supporting LGBT inclusion, issued a statement criticizing the revocation of...
View ArticleLet's Talk About On-Line 'Ordinations'
Geoffrey Kruse-Safford, a seminary-trained United Methodist layman, examines the recent controversy in which a Michigan clergy candidate was removed from both her candidacy and her church membership...
View ArticleMichigan Area Clarifies Information on Ginny Mikita
The office of Michigan Area Bishop Deborah Lieder Kesey released a statement clarifying the actions taken by United Methodist authorities against clergy candidate and church member Ginny Mikita.
View ArticleRomans 1 Isn't Anti-Gay. It's Just Plagiarized That Way
The "clobber" passage from Romans 1 used to reject homosexuality as a valid sexual expression doesn't really say what the common interpretation says, asserts the Rev. Jeremy Smith.
View ArticleJesus Would Have Met with Kim Davis and Gene Robinson
Meeting someone isn't the same as endorsing their actions, writes the Rev. Morgan Guyton about the uproar over Pope Francis meeting Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who refuses to give marriage licenses...
View ArticleA Better Way Forward: A Short Response to 'A Way Forward'
The Rev. John D. Copenhaver Jr. offered this response to the proposal "A Way Forward" regarding the UMC's conflict over the acceptance of homosexuality.
View ArticleReligious Landscape Study Describes U.S. United Methodists
Research findings about American United Methodists from the extensive Religious Landscape Study are both surprising and sobering in the approach to the 2016 General Conference, writes Cynthia B. Astle.
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