The 12 Steps of Congregational Change — Setting the Stage

About a year and a half ago, a new member to our church community came with a request. He shared that he and his wife were recovering alcoholics, and that they were dedicated adherents to the AA 12 Step Movement, attending meetings almost every night. He noted that there were no meetings in our immediate … Continue reading The 12 Steps of Congregational Change — Setting the Stage →

A Prayer for Memorial Day

Prayed at the May 27, 2013 Old Hickory Memoial Day Observance God of us all, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, we gather this morning as a community, friends, neighbors, citizens together of your world and our nation. We gather to remember in a special way those who have sacrificed their lives in war. We lift up … Continue reading A Prayer for Memorial Day →

Waffling on Transparency

Over the past couple of days I've read a couple of articles by friends regarding the decision of the active (currently serving) United Methodist bishops to have a closed meeting (which they call a forum). Generally the responses have been negative toward the bishop's decision, suggesting that the lack of transparency further erodes trust in … Continue reading Waffling on Transparency →

I am haunted by the waters….

A song in progress.... I am haunted by the waters flowing from the start of time. The streaming fountain of forgiveness and the claim of love sublime. So I step into the waters and immerse myself in you, and you send to me your Spirit filling me with love and truth Chorus: Make your way … Continue reading I am haunted by the waters…. →

Random Thoughts on the Resignation of a Pope

I awoke this morning to discover that Pope Benedict XVI has announced his intention to resign, effective February 28. As a United Methodist and non-Roman Catholic, I don't have a dog in this hunt and as such probably have little authority for commenting on the resignation of a pope, but as I was reading the … Continue reading Random Thoughts on the Resignation of a Pope →

Well good luck to ya…

Today we learned that Cokesbury (I guess in their desire to meet the adaptive challenge that Neal Alexander talks about on a regular basis) will be closing down all their brick and mortar stores choosing instead to place their future in on-line sales. I confess that I received the news with a bit of a … Continue reading Well good luck to ya… →

Well good luck to ya…

The Ministry of Resources

A week or so ago I was asked by a colleague in ministry who is in a new appointment to come talk to his finance committee. He was new in ministry and his church had just reconstituted a functioning finance committee and languishing for several years. They were looking for training on what they … Continue reading The Ministry of Resources →

The Future of the United Methodist Church

I met Mike Baughman through a curtain in a convention center in Tampa. I was working for the United Methodist News Service as a social media maven. Mike was in a similar role for the United Methodist Reporter. Our desks were next to one another, and I had a great time getting to know him, … Continue reading The Future of the United Methodist Church →

A note from a pastor of a wounded congregation

A few days ago I posted a link to a website which shared some information from members of a congregation who felt that they have been marginalized by the denominational hierarchy in their annual conference. As I stated in that post I fully recognized that they represented one side of what is very likely a … Continue reading A note from a pastor of a wounded congregation →

VIVID

It’s not very often that I write here about happenings in my ministry in the local church. Some might suggest that this is because I’m too concerned with general church concerns, and that my inattention to what’s going on at the Old Hickory UMC is a sign of my ineffectiveness as a pastor. But the … Continue reading VIVID →

A Letter from a Wounded Congregation

When I wrote my letter to Bishop Willimon, I really didn't expect it to receive the response it did. As a result, I've received several (many?) messages and e-mails thanking me for verbalizing what they would have liked to say to our United Methodist bishops, but were afraid to do so in fear of retaliation … Continue reading A Letter from a Wounded Congregation →

I Love our Bishops

In my recent letter to Bishop Willimon in response to his United Methodist Reporter commentary I was pretty hard on our bishops in my attempt to address what I heard the Bishop say about the lack of trust of the General Conference in Tampa. Somehow, he implied, the Council of Bishops were the victims in all … Continue reading I Love our Bishops →

Ken Carter on our focus in ministry

Ken Carter is a friend, colleague, mentor, and I hope will soon be a bishop. He wrote a great blog post reminding us that much of what we need to move into the future is already at our disposal. This paragraph resonated with me: Our gift to the individual seeker and to a jaded and … Continue reading Ken Carter on our focus in ministry →

An Open Letter to Bishop William Willimon

Dear Bishop Willimon, This morning the net was abuzz with commentary about your UMR article on "Church by Committee." Frankly there was little in the article that surprised me for I've known you long enough to know of your disdain for the system that we are both part of. I have heard you speak pretty … Continue reading An Open Letter to Bishop William Willimon →

A Letter to Tony Jones from a United Methodist

This morning emergent guru and bomb-thrower Tony Jones used Bishop Willimon's latest UMR commentary as a justification for shutting down the United Methodist Church. He suggested that all young clergy should get out while the getting is good: I just hope that enough of you young UMC clergy have the temerity to stand up and … Continue reading A Letter to Tony Jones from a United Methodist →

George Tinker calls GC2012 to Repentance

The Service of Repentance continues as I speak, but I need to offer a quick word of thanks to Dr. George Tinker for his prophetic word which taught all of us a history that has been pushed under the carpet, and calling us to communal repentance with a gentle spirit that was challenging and yet … Continue reading George Tinker calls GC2012 to Repentance →

Now Watch This…

A Vision for the Church…

Watch this. Now!

A MethoBlogger at General Conference

The details are still being finalized, but I can now announce that I will be part of the team from United Methodist News Service reporting from the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Tampa this April and May. They are bringing me along as a sort of blogger in residence, including a social … Continue reading A MethoBlogger at General Conference →