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Progressive Christian

2019-03-05T16:38:22-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sears And The UMC: Both Bankrupt, Looking For Easter

Last updated on: March 5, 2019 at 4:38 pm By Christy Thomas

Sears and the UMC: both, bankrupt, looking for Easter. GC2019 lit the charge for the explosion for the UMC. The changing notions of how to shop set up the bankruptcy for Sears. I predict a resurrection for the Methodist world. We shall again develop workable methods so we may proclaim with joy the message of grace. Easter is just around the corner. Lent gives us space to ponder the death that must precede it. Before this disturbing and likely disastrous... Read more

The United Methodist Church

2019-02-28T18:19:43-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s Official: We Are The United Methodist Church That Hates Gays

Last updated on: February 28, 2019 at 6:19 pm By Christy Thomas

So, let’s pick up our crosses and do exactly that. Let’s be the church reborn. What we won’t be known as: “The United Methodist Church that hates gays.” The WCA, Good News and the African Methodists own that nomenclature. Check the front page of the nation’s major newspapers today: it will be splashed there. The New York Times headline is typical: United Methodists Tighten Ban on Same-Sex Marriage and Gay Clergy. After reading a few of the comments which showed the... Read more

The United Methodist Church

2019-02-26T17:12:25-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Hypocrisy Exposed Of The “Gay Sex Is Sin” Cadre

Last updated on: February 26, 2019 at 5:12 pm By Christy Thomas

The vote: hypocrisy exposed. Other’s people’s sexual activities (as long as it involves gay sex) are wrong and merit condemnation, but I get to keep all my sexual sins without that same condemnation. We’ve had a fascinating day. After what looked like a lot of deliberate slowing of the procedures in the first session, the Judicial Council delivered their report. A summary: they found substantive portions of the Traditional Plan unconstitutional and/or illegal. After that pronouncement, The Rev. Tom Berlin gave... Read more

Southern Baptists in UMC clothing

WCA

2019-02-26T12:21:46-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

GC2019: Morning Session, Bishops, Power And An Unconstitional Traditional Plan

Last updated on: February 26, 2019 at 12:21 pm By Christy Thomas

Bishops have no real power in the UMC. In other words, the Bishops may be the leash, but the dog is running this show. No command to “heel” will be heeded in any way. And, by the way, a significant portion of the Traditional Plan has just been declared unconstitutional. Although the morning session was scheduled to begin at 8:20 this morning, it didn’t actually begin until nearly 9 am. It opened with various corrections, comments, etc. about the official... Read more

2019-02-26T09:43:05-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

GC2019: Obsession With Other People’s Genitalia?

Last updated on: February 26, 2019 at 9:43 am By Christy Thomas

How far will our obsession with other people’s genitalia go? What about men who have disfigured genitalia? The Bible also bans them from work in the religious holy places? Should we not have genitalia checks? GC2019 reconvenes shortly. After yesterday’s deep disappointment, when the delegates voted to become the church of closed minds, closed hearts, closed doors, when the traditionalists celebrated their victory, when some teen, confused over sexuality and rejected by the church and very possibly by church-taught family,... Read more

The United Methodist Church

UMCGC2019

2019-02-26T08:54:40-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Monday Afternoon At GC2019: The UMC Has Just Died

Last updated on: February 26, 2019 at 8:54 am By Christy Thomas

The delegates have spoken and the UMC has just died: gays are irredeemably bad, evil and unacceptable. I can barely write about this. The delegates have been debating the inclusive One Church Plan, one three minute speech after another, since about 1:15 pm. Each side makes points that they feel are definitive. Nowever, as I see tight, tight votes on what are simple corrections and not substantive changes passing by one vote or not passing by a tie, I am... Read more

The United Methodist Church

UMCGC

2019-02-25T12:23:33-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

GC2019: Sleepless, Grieving Night At The Conservative Takeover

Last updated on: February 25, 2019 at 12:23 pm By Christy Thomas

My sleepless, grieving night accompanies my fatigue and my frustration as I see yet another conservative takeover. They’ve done a great job taking pages from the Southern Baptist playbook. As most people who are following the events of yesterday afternoon know, the results of the voting for the order of the petitions to be discussed in the legislative committee ended up with these top five priorities. Wespath Recommendations-pension liabilities and CRS Traditional Plan, except 90042 and 90048) 90032-90040, p. 182-186, 190-194 Disaffiliation–Taylor–New... Read more

church

religion

sexuality

conservative takeover

2019-02-24T15:12:26-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

GC2019: The Craziness Of The Organizational Day

Last updated on: February 24, 2019 at 3:12 pm By Christy Thomas

The real craziness of the organizational day is just about to start. I’m going to sign off here and start a fresh post. Forgive me for the typos and run-on sentences. All written quickly. Hope we all survive the afternoon. I started writing this at 10:30 am. To that point, opening at 7:30 am, we had spent an hour in worship. Then a break. Then singing. Then “setting the bar” of the Conference (I’ve yet to figure out what that means... Read more

2019-02-24T11:57:33-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What If The Holy Spirit Did Indeed Fall Upon Us? Could We Survive It?

Last updated on: February 24, 2019 at 11:57 am By Christy Thomas

Yes, should the Holy Spirit fall here, no one will walk away unchanged. We’ll all recognize ourselves as hopelessly in need of grace, utterly thankful when it falls upon us, and devoid of judgment over the other, knowing that we all stand in the same space. My bet for this Conference? The Holy Spirit will stay far away as the intent to split and to “get my way” resides solidly in the hearts of way too many delegates. We can’t... Read more

The United Methodist Church

2019-02-24T10:47:21-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sunday GC2019 Opening Worship: A Passionate Call For Unity

Last updated on: February 24, 2019 at 10:47 am By Christy Thomas

The words of Bishop Carter and his passionate call for unity ring in my mind. May they do so in the minds of these 864 people, whose hard work now awaits them. But I’m worried. Sunday morning: Worship started at 7:30 am. I was a bit late getting to the press box, but most others are late getting in at all as the lines to enter the dome are hundreds of people long–and it’s pretty cold out there. At least... Read more

united methodist church

Unity

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