Q & A

Q&A: Bishop takes on the church, through a novel

February 28, 2013 Posted by Special Contributor Leave a Comment

After writing dozens of books, United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon decided to try his hand at a new genre: fiction. A lover of novels, he believes works of fiction are uniquely capable of expressing truth. “I think that fiction gets at truth in very special ways,” said Bishop Willimon, who retired in 2012 after serving eight years as bishop of the North Alabama Conference. “There’s a complexity that fiction deals with that one can’t deal with in more prosaic writing.” His newly published novel, Incorporation (Wipf and Stock), tells the [...]

Filed Under: Q & A Tagged With: bishop will willimon

Q&A with Kent Millard

February 25, 2013 Posted by Sam Hodges, Managing Editor Leave a Comment

Under Brad Stevens, the Butler University men’s basketball team has built an amazing record, twice reaching the NCAA Finals in a field of much bigger schools. Coach Stevens and his wife Tracy are active members at St. Luke’s UMC in Indianapolis, Ind. The Rev. Kent Millard, retired pastor at St. Luke’s, has co-written with Judith Cebola a new book from Abingdon Press called Lead Like Butler: Six Principles for Values-Based Leaders, which elaborates Mr. Stevens’ philosophy. Dr. Millard answered questions from UMR’s Sam Hodges, who edited the interview as follows. [...]

Q&A: A stand for Christian universalism

February 21, 2013 Posted by Amy Forbus, Special Contributor Leave a Comment

Can everyone be saved through Jesus Christ? The Rev. Heath Bradley, associate pastor of preaching and Christian education at Pulaski Heights UMC in Little Rock, Ark., thinks so. In his [...]

Q&A: On knowing and editing H. Nouwen

February 15, 2013 Posted by Mary Jacobs, Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Many people have come to know Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) through his prolific writings on the spiritual life. John Mogabgab came to know him personally—from 1975 to 1980, Dr. Mogabgab served as an assistant to Nouwen. Recently, he edited A Spirituality of Homecoming, the latest in an Upper Room Books series based on Nouwen’s writings. Dr. Mogabgab is special projects editor at Upper Room Books and the founding editor of Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life. He spoke recently with staff writer Mary Jacobs; here are excerpts. You knew [...]

Filed Under: Features, Home Center Position 2, Q & A Tagged With: Henri Nouwen, John Mogabgab, Mary Jacobs, Q&A

Q&A: Lenten study on Jesus’ miracles

February 8, 2013 Posted by Mary Jacobs, Staff Writer Leave a Comment

In his new book, The Miracles of Jesus: Meditations and Prayers for Lent (Upper Room Books, 2012), the Rev. Wessel Bentley says the miracles of Jesus, performed 2,000 years ago, can still change hearts and lives today. Mr. Bentley, an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, is a part-time lecturer in the department of philosophy and systematic theology at the University of South Africa and lives in Pretoria, South Africa. He answered questions from staff writer Mary Jacobs via email; here are excerpts. What led you to [...]

Filed Under: Features, Q & A, Resources Tagged With: Mary Jacobs, Q&A, Wessel Bentley

Q&A: UM Bishop Willimon takes on the church, through a novel

February 1, 2013 Posted by Sam Hodges, Managing Editor 1 Comment

After writing dozens of books, retired UM Bishop Will Willimon decided to try his hand at a new genre: fiction. A lover of novels, Willimon said that works of fiction are uniquely capable of expressing truth. “I think that fiction gets at truth in very special ways,” he said. “There’s a complexity that fiction deals with that one can’t deal with in more prosaic writing.” “Incorporation” tells the story of Hope Church, a large church in the Midwest run by a “senior managing pastor” named Simon Lupino and a staff [...]

Q&A: Don’t rule out a renaissance of religion in North America

January 29, 2013 Posted by Daniel Burke, Religion News Service Leave a Comment

Despite a deep drop in the number of Americans who identify with a particular faith, the country could be on the cusp of a religious renaissance, says Frank Newport, editor-in-chief [...]

Filed Under: Features, Home Center Position 4R, Q & A Tagged With: Daniel Burke, Frank Newport, God is Alive and Well, Q&A

Q&A: Words to recharge men’s spiritual lives

January 24, 2013 Posted by Mary Jacobs, Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Derek Maul wants to inspire more men to go “all out” for their Christian faith. That’s the topic of his recently published book, 10 Life-Charged Words: Real Faith for Real Men (Upper Room Books, 2012). Mr. Maul worships at First Presbyterian Church in Brandon, Fla., where his wife, Rebekah, is senior pastor. He answered questions via email from staff writer Mary Jacobs; here are excerpts. So, in 10 words or less, what are the 10 words? Jesus, excellence, passion, capacity, Scripture, holiness, clarity, prayer, authenticity, community. Or, for a less [...]

Filed Under: Features, Q & A, Resources Tagged With: Derek Maul, Mary Jacobs, Q&A

Q&A: Growing a UM college into a university

January 18, 2013 Posted by Sam Hodges, Managing Editor Leave a Comment

Marianne Inman stands in front of Classic Hall, the last subject of her last capital campaign as president of Central Methodist University. The building, shuttered for more than 30 years, reopened last fall after a $5.5 million drive. PHOTO COURTESY CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY

Marianne Inman will retire as president of Central Methodist University in June, after 18 years in the job. Under her leadership, the Fayette, Mo.-based school has seen a five-fold increase [...]

Q&A: Tough love for ‘spiritual but not religious’

January 11, 2013 Posted by Mary Jacobs, Staff Writer 4 Comments

So you’re spiritual, but not religious? “Please, stop boring me,” retorts the Rev. Lillian Daniel. Her Huffington Post blog on the topic went viral in 2011, and now she’s published [...]

Q&A: Bishop takes on the church, through a novel

Q&A with Kent Millard

Q&A: A stand for Christian universalism

Q&A: On knowing and editing H. Nouwen

Q&A: Lenten study on Jesus’ miracles

Q&A: UM Bishop Willimon takes on the church, through a novel

Q&A: Don’t rule out a renaissance of religion in North America

Q&A: Words to recharge men’s spiritual lives

Q&A: Growing a UM college into a university

Q&A: Tough love for ‘spiritual but not religious’

Professional Comic Turns Preacher

The United Methodist Reporter

Policies

Related Sites

Professional Comic Turns Preacher

Log In

The United Methodist Reporter

Policies

Related Sites