Category Archive

I always enjoy this time of year. So many things happen, like Easter (of course), another change of seasons, “March Madness” (college basketball tournament), longer afternoons so more time outdoors, and so much more. These are just a few of the things I have grown accustomed to each happening year at this time and actually look forward to them, especially … Read More

When I was 18-years old, the summer after graduating high school, my pastor insisted on taking me to lunch before I left for college. Over hamburgers, he asked me whether I had ever considered that God might be calling me into ministry. As an 18-year old, I had some basic inkling I wanted to spend my life serving others – … Read More

As I write this, I am aware that our United Methodist General Conference is underway in St. Louis, Missouri. The meeting was called as a special session (we normally have general Conference once every four years and 2020 is our next regular General Conference) to address issues around human sexuality. The United Methodist Church has been debating this issue and … Read More

These past six days I’ve been in St. Louis, gathered with United Methodists from across the world for a Special Session of our General Conference. The intent of this Special Session was to find a way forward from our current impasse regarding the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in the life of our denomination. Rather than moving forward with the … Read More

In 1745, John Wesley established the first of what would become a yearly Conference, whereby Wesley had the opportunity to meet with his preachers and discuss matters of polity and procedures in the Methodist movement according to Wesley and the People Called Methodists by Richard Heitzenrater. At that first Conference in 1745, there were 3 members of the clergy and … Read More