united methodist

Lambrecht: Don’t ignore Scripture in weighing UM position on homosexuality

May 20, 2013 Posted by Special Contributor 1 Comment

By Thomas A. Lambrecht, Special Contributor… I appreciate the opportunity to engage the views of the Rev. Thomas Ogletree, who currently stands charged with performing a same-sex marriage in conscious [...]

Gift of renewal – Donors provide retreat time for UM clergy

May 17, 2013 Posted by Special Contributor Leave a Comment

The Inn Above Onion Creek in Kyle, Texas, has been a popular retreat for UM pastors and spouses participating in an anonymously-funded renewal program. PHOTO COURTESY THE INN ABOVE ONION CREEK

By Sally Hicks, Faith & Leadership… Last October, Margot Porterfield and her husband, the Rev. Mark Porterfield, faced big changes in their life together. He was starting a new appointment as pastor at First United Methodist Church in Port Lavaca, Texas. She was going back to full-time work after five years. And with their two girls in college, they were coping with an empty nest. So when they were invited to take part in Renew, a retreat designed for United Methodist pastors and spouses, the timing was exquisite. Being able [...]

Thomas V. Wolfe named president of Iliff School of Theology

May 15, 2013 Posted by Sam Hodges, Managing Editor 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 [...]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Iliff, president, Syracuse University, Thomas V. Wolfe, united methodist

Faith in Action: Discovering the purpose and potential of confirmation

May 13, 2013 Posted by Andrew C. Thompson, UMR Columnist Leave a Comment

I spoke with a pastor not long ago who told me a shocking story about confirmation. He had arrived at a new appointment one June and discovered that—in his words—“all [...]

United Methodist woman helps arrange burial of Boston Marathon suspect

May 10, 2013 Posted by Sam Hodges, Managing Editor 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, [...]

Case ‘is’ a horror, but no reason to leave RCRC

May 6, 2013 Posted by Special Contributor 2 Comments

By Steve Copley, Special Contributor… The Kermit Gosnell case is as horrible as you think it is. And it illustrates precisely why it should not be used to argue for [...]

How will United Methodists respond to Gosnell horror?

May 6, 2013 Posted by Special Contributor 9 Comments

By Matt O’Reilly, Special Contributor… United Methodists have an impressive record for faithfully responding to tragedy. In the aftermath of the Newtown massacre, Methodist congregations responded with an outpouring of [...]

Ten reasons why UM bishops shouldn’t meet in private – from a retired bishop

April 24, 2013 Posted by Special Contributor 3 Comments

By Joe E. Pennel Jr., Special Contributor… As one of the retired bishops I join those who are concerned about the active bishops meeting as a closed “forum,” as they are scheduled to do in San Diego from May 5-8. The word “forum” is a public word. Its derivation comes from the open space or market place in an ancient Roman city. It is also used by organizations that hold public meetings for reflections and discussions around themes of common interest. It should be noted that the active bishops are [...]

Commentary: It’s time to re-think life tenure for U.S. bishops

April 5, 2013 Posted by Special Contributor Leave a Comment

By Joseph Stains, Special Contributor… One of the less-noted dialogues of General Conference 2012 that comes home for further review is the American way of electing bishops, untested, for lifelong tenure through retirement. While we have clung to this hierarchical model from our Anglo-Catholic forbears, worldwide United Methodism is bringing us fresh vision of shared servant ministry that compels us to rethink what we expect of fellow elders who assume the title of bishop. Term episcopacy, the electing of bishops for defined periods of eight years or less at a [...]

`Rio Texas Conference’ to be name of unified Southwest Texas and Rio Grande Conferences

April 4, 2013 Posted by Sam Hodges, Managing Editor Leave a Comment

The unified Southwest Texas and Rio Grande Conferences of the United Methodist Church will go by the name “Rio Texas Conference.” The team charged with implementing unification of the conferences [...]