By Thomas Ogletree, Special Contributor… As a lifelong United Methodist, an ordained elder in the New York Conference, and a scholar specializing in theological and social ethics, I am profoundly [...]
Read More...UMR Communications, including United Methodist Reporter, to close
May 16, 2013 Posted by 14 Comments
Finding no viable plan for reversing financial losses of recent months, UMR Communications will cease operations on May 31. UMR Communications (UMRC) publishes the United Methodist Reporter in print and digital formats and online, and provides printing and communication services to churches and other nonprofits. The final print Reporter will carry the date June 7, but will be mailed and printed by May 31. The UMRC board reluctantly but unanimously voted this morning to close during a tearful meeting at the nonprofit’s Dallas office. “At one time, our ministry produced nearly [...]
Read More...Thomas V. Wolfe named president of Iliff School of Theology
May 15, 2013 Posted by Leave a Comment
The Rev. Thomas V. Wolfe has been named president of Iliff School of Theology in Denver, a United Methodist School. He’ll be the 14th president of Iliff, and comes from Syacuse University, where he has been senior vice president and dean. “We are excited to have Dr. Wolfe join us,” said Jim Wilkins, chairperson, Board of Trustees, Iliff School of Theology. “He currently leads more than 350 Syracuse University employees in the areas of Health and Wellness; Discovery and Engagement, Inclusion, Community and Citizenship; and Central Services. His leadership and management [...]
Read More...UMs get, give help in hard-hit West, Texas
May 14, 2013 Posted by Leave a Comment
The Rev. Jimmy Sansom apologized for his inability to recall exactly where he went first on the day after a fertilizer plant explosion brought death and widespread destruction to his [...]
Read More...Two clergy hit the highway to save lives
May 13, 2013 Posted by Leave a Comment
The goal of beating malaria in Africa put two United Methodist clergymen on the road in hilly East Tennessee. And they weren’t riding in automobiles, either. The Rev. Charles Maynard walked 100 miles from April 21-25 in the Holston Conference’s Maryville District, visiting 17 United Methodist churches to promote Holston’s ambitious goal for assisting the UMC’s Imagine No Malaria campaign. As he walked, the Rev. Randy Pasqua pedaled, covering 130 miles by road bike over two days, and visiting 19 churches with the same message. Mr. Pasqua described his journey [...]
Read More...United Methodist woman helps arrange burial of Boston Marathon suspect
May 10, 2013 Posted by 2 Comments
A United Methodist woman in Richmond, Va., said she was acting out of Christian compassion in helping to arrange the burial of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings. “Jesus tells us to love our enemies, not hate them after they’re dead,” said Martha Mullen, in a phone interview. “That’s why I kind of got this ball rolling.” Ms. Mullen, a 48-year-old counselor in private practice who studied at a United Methodist seminary, was distressed at news accounts about the difficulty of finding a burial place for Tsarnaev, [...]
Read More...Bishops ‘get act together’ in San Diego meeting
May 9, 2013 Posted by Leave a Comment
Active bishops of the UMC wrapped up their meeting in San Diego on Thursday, emerging with no action items or joint statements, but insisting the time had been fruitful. The sessions at The Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa were not open to the press, though the bishops did invite press coverage of a visit they made to the gritty California-Mexico border, to underscore the importance of the immigration issue. Greater Northwest Area Bishop Grant Hagiya compared himself and his colleagues to dysfunctional family members who have been too polite to one another. He said [...]
Read More...Retired UM pastor faces possible church trial for officiating at gay son’s wedding
May 6, 2013 Posted by 5 Comments
A new, high-profile episode in the United Methodist Church’s struggle over homosexuality has emerged, with a retired UM pastor and Yale Divinity School dean, the Rev. Thomas Ogletree, facing a possible church trial for presiding at the wedding of his gay son to another man. The UMC’s Book of Discipline forbids clergy from officiating at same-sex unions, and also holds that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. The New York Times reported that Dr. Ogletree had refused a complaining pastor’s request, in a mediation meeting, to apologize or say [...]
Read More...Bishop’s book draws on faith, leadership theory, martial arts
May 2, 2013 Posted by 1 Comment
Greater Northwest Area Bishop Grant Hagiya earned a third-degree black belt in karate, as well as a master of divinity and a doctorate in organizational leadership. His new book Spiritual Kaizen: How to Become a Better Church Leader (Abingdon Press) draws on this varied background. Bishop Hagiya answered questions by email from managing editor Sam Hodges. Here’s an edited version of the exchange. Can you sum up, in a sentence each, how your faith, leadership training and martial arts experience are guiding you as you serve the UMC in a [...]
Read More...Rabbi speaks again, thanks to Perkins School of Theology archivist
April 26, 2013 Posted by Leave a Comment
The prophetic voice of a late Dallas rabbi, one who had close ties to Southern Methodist University, will be heard again, thanks to a curious archivist who wasn’t content just to file away some reel-to-reel tapes he found in a library storage room. SMU’s Perkins School of Theology will, on May 5, hold an event to mark the debut of the Rabbi Levi A. Olan Digital Collection. It contains more than 200 sermons that Rabbi Olan preached over Dallas radio. Perkins’ Bridwell Library is making both text and audio of [...]
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