I Love Youth Ministers

Dear youth ministry friends, Having spent the past weekend at our annual conference's annual winter youth event, I just wanted you to know that I love you. You have a task that is more likely to result in condemnation than praise when some mom feels that little Johnny has been slighted, or when that spontaneous … Continue reading I Love Youth Ministers →

NYWC Nashville

The 2008 National Youth Worker’s Conference moves at the end of this week to Nashville, and I’m going to be there for part of the event. Are you going to be there? Leave me a comment and let me know. BTW, I would love to have some visitors for our 8:30 a.m. worship service this … Continue reading NYWC Nashville →

Can we talk? Can we listen? The Possibility of Reconciliation

This coming Monday, a group of persons will be gathering at the Arlington United Methodist Church in a first attempt to address the concerns raised in the recent actions of the TN Conference Council on Connectional Ministries to discontinue the staff positions for youth and children's ministries (see the bottom of this article for a … Continue reading Can we talk? Can we listen? The Possibility of Reconciliation →

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. →