Pastor puts light on Easter message | www.tennessean.com

Jay Voorhees, pastor of Antioch United Methodist Church, transformed a cardboard box used to send bodies to crematoria into an altar.He taped pictures of a crucified Jesus around the rim and placed a big cross atop, surrounding it with candles. The words, "It is finished," hung to the side. Voorhees put a church pew a … Continue reading Pastor puts light on Easter message | www.tennessean.com →

A Letter to Rachel

Rachel posted a comment in my post on the update from the Bishop. This is my response. Rachel,First of all, I am neither the apologist for the Bishop nor the CCOM leadership. When I heard about this situation, I expressed my concerns to the Bishop. He responded to me and allowed me to share his response … Continue reading A Letter to Rachel →

An Update from the Bishop

I just received the following message from Bishop Wills clarifying some of what he told me: I misunderstood Loyd on at least two points and I have written Beth and apologized.First, Beth was not told about this new direction and organization. So, it is unfair me to have told you that she knew 6 months … Continue reading An Update from the Bishop →

In the interest of transparency…

…I am going to reply to a couple of comments on the last post here on the front page. Jason wrote: My greater concern is that what is being expressed is that the positions are being eliminated. Maybe it is legalese to get through the removal of staff without a lawsuit. But if the positions … Continue reading In the interest of transparency… →

Youth Ministry SNAFU #2

Mark Hagewood makes some good points in his comment on my previous post. While I am too tired to give a complete response, I feel like I need to clarify a few things: I absolutely agree the communication has been horrible in regards to this situation and that the correct action in trying to facilitate … Continue reading Youth Ministry SNAFU #2 →

Change is hard. Communication is harder.

When I woke this morning I padded sleepily out to the computer to check the weather forecast and to see if I had received any mail. I was surprised to see several messages on Facebook and opened them to hear voices of dismay over the news that two staff members at the Tennessee Conference Council … Continue reading Change is hard. Communication is harder. →

Attention All Classic Rock Fans

Amazing Young Organ Player Rocks Out - Watch more free videos Is there any chance I can get this girl to play organ in our church?

Two Dangerous Words

I sometimes wonder if the two most dangerous words for the Kingdom of God aren't:"I need..." "I want to give to you disciples," Annanias said, "...but I need to hold some back for myself." "I want to promote racial reconciliation in the church, but I need a place that meets my needs in worship." "Yes … Continue reading Two Dangerous Words →

TULIP Blooming

That secret may already be out. Although only 10 percent of SBC pastors identify themselves as Calvinists, nearly 30 percent of recent seminary graduates do, a groundswell that could spark more Oklahoma-like conflicts. Some of the denomination's leading Reformed thinkers come from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, including its president, Al Mohler, and … Continue reading TULIP Blooming →

Help with language…

One of the legacies of the modernity was (and is) the rise of the science and art of taxonomy, which is the categorization of species and things into specific identifying groups. While this taxonomic impulse certainly offers benefits to understanding the world, the down side of the call to name and categorize is that it … Continue reading Help with language… →

Ministry on the catwalk?

I once was talking with a pastor friend of mine who was sharing their wisdom regarding the nature of serving as the senior pastor of a church. This person drew on an image that they had gleaned from one of the major church consultants of the Schaller, Easum, Bandy school, and suggested that it was … Continue reading Ministry on the catwalk? →

A Last Minute Opportunity

For the past couple of months I have been thinking about and trying to pull together an event on spiritual practices to be held in our church in preparation for Lent. Today a few key things came together, so I am pleased to announce the following event for any who are interested in coming closer … Continue reading A Last Minute Opportunity →

Preaching on Baptism

I am about to start a series of sermons on baptism, coming especially from the United Methodist perspective. Like all of us I'm sure, I have fallen into the pattern of certain cliches and formulas to "explain" baptism, some of which are helpful, but some are probably less so. SO, I would be interested in … Continue reading Preaching on Baptism →

Merry Christmas McKendree…

...from the state and the feds. I reported on this situation early on, but the following letter from Ron Lowrey, District Superintendent of the Cumberland District and a board member at McKendree pretty much describes the situation and the problems ahead. On December 30, 2007, there will be a change in the nursing care services … Continue reading Merry Christmas McKendree… →

McKendree Village: A Few Thoughts

I've been posting these cryptic notes on the recent situation at McKendree Village, but haven't had time to really comment on my thoughts. A good friend of mine is legal counsel for the Metro Nashville Health System, which includes the Bordeaux Long Term Care facility. Bordeaux recently went through a similar proceeding, which has since … Continue reading McKendree Village: A Few Thoughts →

McKendree Village # 2 — A Statement From McKendree

For more than 40 years, McKendree Village has earned a solid reputation for providing quality services and care. We are accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission as well as the EAGLE Accreditation Commission. Everyone associated with McKendree Village is deeply committed to our mission to provide quality retirement living and health care services for … Continue reading McKendree Village # 2 — A Statement From McKendree →

Mopping floors as an act of ministry…

One of the ongoing tensions in pastoral leadership is the tension between offering clear leadership to the congregation, and role of empowering lay people for ministry. I think if you were to ask most any pastor, authoritarian or not, they would give lip service to the notion of empowering persons for ministry. After all, the … Continue reading Mopping floors as an act of ministry… →

A Note For Veteran’s Day

I sent the following e-mail to my folks yesterday, and share it for your edification. Dear friends, As we were leaving yesterday, someone asked me why we didn't make any note of Veteran's Day in worship. Of course, I hit myself in the head over forgetting to recognize our veterans, for their service to our … Continue reading A Note For Veteran’s Day →

Restoring Methodism: What is our scriptural and theological base?

This is a continuation of a series began this past summer reviewing the book “Restoring Methodism: 10 Decisions for United Methodist Churches in America” by James B. Scott and Molly Davis Scott. I knew that I would have problems with “Decision 8” in Restoring Methodism when I realized that the scriptures passages used by the … Continue reading Restoring Methodism: What is our scriptural and theological base? →

Jim Holsinger and the Trust Clause

A seven-year legal battle between the United Methodist Kentucky Annual (regional) Conference and an affiliated foundation has ended in favor of the conference. The outcome also upholds the United Methodist “trust clause” pertaining to local church property. News - Across the Church - UMC.org. This was the first I had heard about the legal battle … Continue reading Jim Holsinger and the Trust Clause →