…of the continuing rhetorical battle between different camps in the church. One group objects to male language about God.Another thinks that attempts to be sensitive to language is simple political correctness and not at all a means for inviting the former group into conversation. Both sides are convinced of their “rightness,” and in the strength … Continue reading Sometimes ya just get tired… →

If you are reading this through the methoblog.com feed, you will want to visit the site, and the site has moved to version 3.0 and you will need to update your rss feeds. Folks subscribed via feedburner are okay, but if you have a direct subscription to methoblog.com you probably need to make some changes. … Continue reading CHANGES AT THE METHOBLOG →

We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams… --Willie Wonka For many years I was aware of the phrase above from one of my favorite movies of all time – Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. What I didn’t realize, however, was that this line wasn’t original to Willie, but in … Continue reading We Are the Music Makers →

This past Thursday I had the privilege of attending a special gather of the General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegations of the Tennessee and Memphis Annual Conferences in which they received presentations from a variety of agencies and individuals on pending legislation coming to Annual Conference. As a part of that event, I was able to … Continue reading Practices Versus Values of Church Vitality →

Due to the great response we've received about the Missional Manifesto for the People Called United Methodist, we have created a separate site for you to review the document, express your support, and join in conversation on the future of the church.  Come check us out at http://www.missionalmethodist.org.

Earlier today I was reading a post by the ever supercilious Bishop Will Willimon in which he offered his critique of those who who questioned the bishop’s Call To Action initiative, suggesting in his take-no-prisoners fashion that those who asked questions of the initiative were simply invested in maintaining the status quo. “I am confident … Continue reading Casting a Vision for the People Called Methodist →

This is a continuing letter to a friend of my who was recently named as a new District Superintendent in his annual conference. You can read earlier installments, here, here, here, here, and here. Dear ________, During the past week to 10 days I’ve offered some of my thoughts on some of the things that … Continue reading Letter to an Incoming D.S.–The Final Chapter →

This is a continuing letter to a friend of my who was recently named as a new District Superintendent in his annual conference. You can read earlier installments, here, here, here, here, and here. Dear ________, During the past week to 10 days I’ve offered some of my thoughts on some of the things that … Continue reading Letter to an Incoming D.S.–The Final Chapter →

This is a continuing letter to a friend of my who was recently named as a new District Superintendent in his annual conference. You can read earlier installments, here, here, here, and here. Dear ______, You know it’s pretty arrogant of me, a simple country pastor, suggesting that I know anything about what is required … Continue reading A Letter to an Incoming D.S.–Part 5 →

This is a continuing letter to a friend of my who was recently named as a new District Superintendent in his annual conference. You can read earlier installments, here, here, here, and here. Dear ______, You know it’s pretty arrogant of me, a simple country pastor, suggesting that I know anything about what is required … Continue reading A Letter to an Incoming D.S.–Part 5 →

This is a continuing letter to a friend of my who was recently named as a new District Superintendent in his annual conference. You can read earlier installments, here, here, and here. Dear _______, I’ve spent some time on building relationships, which is a key component of your new job. In a sense, my next … Continue reading A Letter to an Incoming D.S.–Part 4 →

This is a continuing letter to a friend of my who was recently named as a new District Superintendent in his annual conference. You can read earlier installments, here, here, and here. Dear _______, I’ve spent some time on building relationships, which is a key component of your new job. In a sense, my next … Continue reading A Letter to an Incoming D.S.–Part 4 →

A Letter to an Incoming D.S. – Part 1 A Letter to an Incoming D.S. – Part 2 Dear _______, I’ve spent some time talking about the relational side of your new job, and the more I think about it the more convinced that it all comes down to relationships. In a very real way, … Continue reading A Letter to an Incoming D.S.–Part 3 →

A Letter to an Incoming D.S. – Part 1 A Letter to an Incoming D.S. – Part 2 Dear _______, I’ve spent some time talking about the relational side of your new job, and the more I think about it the more convinced that it all comes down to relationships. In a very real way, … Continue reading A Letter to an Incoming D.S.–Part 3 →

Letter to an Incoming D.S. – Part 1 Dear ______, As I suggested in the previous post, relationship building is a key component of the task ahead of you. It’s with that in mind that I offer my next proposal: 2. Don’t have district meetings. Instead create relational space. Almost every new D.S. that I … Continue reading Letter to an Incoming D.S.–Part 2 →

Letter to an Incoming D.S. – Part 1 Dear ______, As I suggested in the previous post, relationship building is a key component of the task ahead of you. It’s with that in mind that I offer my next proposal: 2. Don’t have district meetings. Instead create relational space. Almost every new D.S. that I … Continue reading Letter to an Incoming D.S.–Part 2 →

Last week one of my friends from seminary shared that he was about to be appointed as the United Methodist District Superintendent of a large city. As I usually do, I shared both congratulations and condolences. As we’ve chatted back and forth via Facebook, I got the idea of sending him a letter outlining some … Continue reading A Letter to an Incoming D.S.–Part 1 →

Last week one of my friends from seminary shared that he was about to be appointed as the United Methodist District Superintendent of a large city. As I usually do, I shared both congratulations and condolences. As we’ve chatted back and forth via Facebook, I got the idea of sending him a letter outlining some … Continue reading A Letter to an Incoming D.S.–Part 1 →