No one can agree to share their toys so we will all go home with no change in structure? @pastor_clayton Parliamentary pandemonium broke out in the final General Administration Committee [...]
Read More...Same sex marriage allowance defeated in committee
April 28, 2012 Posted by 11 Comments
The Committee on Ministry & Higher Education rejected sub-committee work that would have recommended another historic shift in the United Methodist Church. Submitted legislation sought to allow each Annual Conference to decide whether or not to allow same sex unions in their churches and by their pastors. The measure was defeated by a written ballot vote of 34-44. Amy Lippoldt of Kansas West spoke against the petition despite her previous support of other legislation that seeks to make the church more inclusive of homosexuals. She worried about the implications of [...]
Read More...Historic shift proposed by Comm. on Ministry & Higher Ed
April 28, 2012 Posted by 3 Comments
The Committee on Ministry and Higher Education tackled an aggressive agenda of legislation this morning that could lead to a radical shift in the United Methodist Church. Guaranteed Appointments…not for [...]
Read More...Sub-Committee Votes to End Guaranteed Appointments with Attached “Mueller Amendment”
April 27, 2012 Posted by 2 Comments
Sub-Committee 1 of the Committee on Ministry and Higher Education was hard at work this afternoon addressing petition #20303, which is an amendment that would effectively end guaranteed appointments. A [...]
Read More...Young Methodists React to Call to Action
April 26, 2012 Posted by 1 Comment
Even as the Rev. Adam Hamilton argued for the Call to Action reforms at General Conference last night, Twitter lit up with commentary from young people across the connection. While there were supportive words, much of the reaction was negative. Josh Hale (@expatminister) observed from Texas: “I’m seeing lots of Twitter chatter that challenges tonight’s CTA proposal…& little that buys in.” But interviews with young Methodists at General Conference, provided a fuller, more nuanced reaction. And Mr. Hamilton may have helped his cause by meeting with the younger attendees earlier [...]
Read More...UM Twitter sub-culture leads to global feedback
April 26, 2012 Posted by Leave a Comment
TAMPA, Fla.—Even before opening worship at General Conference, a prophetic post went up on Twitter: “Twitter is about to be ridiculously overloaded with Methodists and their iPhones.” So it was. [...]
Read More...Seminarians Explore General Conference
April 26, 2012 Posted by Leave a Comment
Seminarians from Drew Theological School are among the crowds of United Methodistst who have flocked to Tampa Bay for General Conference. They’re here as a part of a course studying [...]
Read More...Laity Address Speaker Opens Up in Press Conference
April 25, 2012 Posted by Leave a Comment
“I know that people want to stop talking about this issue and I would like to stop talking about it too because I would like for all to welcomed to the church and to ordination…regardless of sexual orientation.” Amory Peck, one of the three speakers who offered the Laity address this morning, shared before a room of reporters at General Conference this morning. Though Peck did call the church to inclusivity, she did not speak to the issues of sexual orientation during her address. When asked by the United Methodist [...]
Read More...UMC Twitter Sub-Culture Grows at General Conference
April 25, 2012 Posted by 2 Comments
Lauren Roden (@laurenmroden) prophesied yesterday afternoon: “Twitter is about to be ridiculously overloaded with Methodists and their iPhones. #gc2012” Her prediction has proved accurate. Since the beginning of General Conference, [...]
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Rev. Mike Baughman preaches on ‘dehydration’ of church
Note: The Rev. Baughman preached this sermon June 3, at opening worship of Annual Conference 2012 of the North Texas Conference. Greetings beautiful people of the North Texas Annual Conference. I am so grateful to stand before you this day as we enter into this time of Holy Conferencing. I give thanks to Bishop Bledsoe for inviting me to preach today and for his leadership of this annual conference. I give thanks to the good people of Custer Road. It is good to see so many people whom I love [...]
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