Richard Hearne

Lay of the Land: Getting to know gay people makes big difference

April 12, 2013 Posted by Special Contributor 15 Comments

By Richard Hearne, UMR Columnist… In the roughly 30 years I have been involved in local church, annual conference, jurisdiction and General Conference activities, I have been in many contentious [...]

Lay of the Land: Let’s face it – Following Jesus can be ‘untidy’

March 14, 2013 Posted by Special Contributor Leave a Comment

By Richard Hearne, UMR Columnist… In a recent episode of Downton Abbey, Matthew and Lady Mary Crawley are finishing dressing for dinner when Matthew wants to give Lady Mary an affectionate embrace. Lady Mary puts off the advance with the words, “That would make me untidy.” These words came back to me when I was leaving a tense but productive meeting at church, and one of my friends stated that they wanted to get off all committees and just go to church. What my friend was saying is that working [...]

Commentary: Two conversations that helped renew my hope

January 27, 2013 Posted by Special Contributor 2 Comments

By Richard Hearne, Special Contributor… As a member of the North Texas Conference delegation to the last three General Conference sessions and an annual conference lay leader from 2008-2012, I [...]

Kind words, hugs and pain at event for Bishop Bledsoe

August 27, 2012 Posted by Sam Hodges, Managing Editor Leave a Comment

Bishop Bledsoe at the farewell reception for him, given by the North Texas Conference on Sunday.

Bishop Earl Bledsoe said goodbye to the North Texas Conference at a reception for him Sunday that included many hugs and kind words, but also recognition of the pained circumstances of his departure. “I hold no ill will, no grudges, no nothing – but God’s love for you,” he told a crowd of about 250 at Trietsch Memorial UMC in Flower Mound, Texas. Bishop Bledsoe led the North Texas Conference for the last four years, but was involuntarily retired at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in July. The jurisdictional conference’s [...]

Committee votes to retire Bishop Bledsoe

July 17, 2012 Posted by Sam Hodges, Managing Editor 8 Comments

OKLAHOMA CITY – The South Central Jurisdiction’s episcopacy committee voted Tuesday night to retire Bishop Earl Bledsoe involuntarily, citing concerns about his administrative abilities. Such a move by a jurisdictional episcopacy committee apparently is a first for the United Methodist Church. The committee’s decision followed a negative performance review it gave Bishop Bledsoe for his four-year tenure in the North Texas Conference, and a request that he retire voluntarily. The vote for involuntary retirement was taken on a secret ballot, with 24 in favor, four against, and two abstaining, said committee chair Don House. Mr. House [...]

Lay of the Land: Getting to know gay people makes big difference

Lay of the Land: Let’s face it – Following Jesus can be ‘untidy’

Commentary: Two conversations that helped renew my hope

Kind words, hugs and pain at event for Bishop Bledsoe

Committee votes to retire Bishop Bledsoe

Professional Comic Turns Preacher

The United Methodist Reporter

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Related Sites

Lay of the Land: Getting to know gay people makes big difference

Lay of the Land: Let’s face it – Following Jesus can be ‘untidy’

Commentary: Two conversations that helped renew my hope

Kind words, hugs and pain at event for Bishop Bledsoe

Committee votes to retire Bishop Bledsoe

Professional Comic Turns Preacher

Log In

The United Methodist Reporter

Policies

Related Sites