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Progressive Christian

2019-01-10T12:33:41-05:00

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.

Slogging through General Conference on our way to implosion

Last updated on: January 10, 2019 at 12:33 pm By Christy Thomas

First: you want to know why the UMC is so stuck? Read this piece I wrote for the United Methodist Reporter. We’re a muddy administrative impossibility. As for me, it is Tuesday, late afternoon. Still one more hour of legislation. The presiding Bishop decided to speak in French as an act of hospitality to our many African delegates. so all the US delegates get to wear earphones. Have no idea what/if the observers hear. In the press room, we just... Read more

2019-01-10T14:20:55-05:00

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.

Fatigue, Fights, Questionable Biblical Interpretation: A week into General Conference

Last updated on: January 10, 2019 at 2:20 pm By Christy Thomas

I’ve backed away from blogging a bit. Too many emotions hitting, not able to sort it out, too many articles I need to write, too much utter fatigue. But oh so many thoughts!!! So, time to leap in. Twice now, I have attended breakfast planning meetings held by Good News, a conservative action group that holds the goal of reclaiming the UMC for orthodoxy. For me, they represent my past that I needed to leave for the sake of my... Read more

2019-01-10T12:43:27-05:00

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.

General Conference, Day Four: in worship love, in practice ???

Last updated on: January 10, 2019 at 12:43 pm By Christy Thomas

My back, arms, butt all ache. Too much sitting, too much typing, too much tension. My heart aches. Too much anguish. Wonderful morning worship–read all about it here. We heard loud and clear: If we don’t declare murderers and racists incompatible with Christian teaching, it’s time to stop declaring homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching. The message and music lead us to praise God, to love each other. And then the delegates go into their legislative committees and . . .... Read more

united methodist church

2019-01-10T13:55:46-05:00

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.

No I/Thou, Only We/They at General Conference

Last updated on: January 10, 2019 at 1:55 pm By Christy Thomas

It is official: we will not speak with each other at General Conference. We will only speak at each other. And we will do so in three-minute increments, limited to only three arguments for and three against. Yes, we will “decide” extraordinarily complex issues with an archaic method utterly unsuited to the way humans actually enter into life-changing dialogue with each other. But that is the decision of the “United” Methodist Church. Or rather, in my extremely cynical moment, the... Read more

2019-01-10T14:02:00-05:00

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.

General Conference Day Two: And Are We Yet Caffeined Up?

Last updated on: January 10, 2019 at 2:02 pm By Christy Thomas

I didn’t get around to eating today. We left the house early and our live-in cook for the team, Charles Harrison, who also functions as the chauffeur and two dozen other absolutely necessary things, needed to get four of us to a meeting. So, a cup of black tea and a couple of tiny clementines held me until about 2:30, when I suddenly thought, “I’m ravenously hungry.” Taking my gluten-free, lactose intolerant body for a stroll, I looked for a place in the... Read more

2019-01-10T14:05:33-05:00

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.

24 Hours into General Conference: Sinking in the Graveyard of Procedural Stuff

Last updated on: January 10, 2019 at 2:05 pm By Christy Thomas

The Rev. Don Underwood, at his sixth General Conference as delegate and his ninth overall, stated in a morning briefing with the North Texas Conference delegates, “We are sinking further and further into the graveyard of procedural stuff. We can’t even get to the rules.” No joke. The schedule of General Conference calls for a 6:30 pm dismissal. At the last GC, the dismissal time was 9:30 pm, leading to entirely too-fatigued delegates and presiding Bishops and may have been... Read more

2019-01-10T14:07:55-05:00

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.

General Conference, Day One, Late Afternoon

Last updated on: January 10, 2019 at 2:07 pm By Christy Thomas

I’m tired. I admit it. And this is just the first day, and a half day at that. I’ve been observing/writing since early morning. I just finished writing up the first worship service with its clarion call for unity in diversity, a call that almost sent a gasp of discomfort through the room. The speaker was Bishop Warner Brown from San Francisco. He spoke strongly about our need to honor Wesley’s “catholic spirit” and hold our differences with integrity but... Read more

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GC2016

2019-01-10T14:13:28-05:00

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.

General Conference Day One: A Beautiful Morning for a Gay Ordination

Last updated on: January 10, 2019 at 2:13 pm By Christy Thomas

OK, Portland is gorgeous. Lovely flowering bushes sweetly frame the craftsman-style bungalow, an Airbnb rental where I’m staying with the United Methodist Reporter team. Delicious coolness kissed the morning air as a cloudless blue sky belied Portland’s reputation as a place that rains all the time. I would be happy just to sit outside and read a book, or wander into one of the many local shops, or take a miles-long walk through the charming neighborhood surrounding us. But we... Read more

united methodist church

2019-01-10T14:19:30-05:00

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.

An Ancient Base, A Modern Overlay, the Christian Challenge, and General Conference

Last updated on: January 10, 2019 at 2:19 pm By Christy Thomas

Shortly (actually not so shortly as my flight has just been delayed) I leave for Portland, Oregon to observe and write about the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. As always, it promises to be contentious. In my sleepless moments last night, I pondered the whole nature of Christianity. Here we are, trying to send out a current and impactful message of hopeful grace but . . . Our faith is built upon a religion that sprang from the ancient middle east... Read more

2016-05-06T16:10:37-05:00

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.

Why the Upset? After All, Marrying Off Children Is Biblical

Last updated on: May 6, 2016 at 4:10 pm By Christy Thomas

I used to tell my sons, “Just concentrate on your studies and becoming well-rounded young men. I’ll pick your wives for you and then present them to you when it’s time.” They properly ignored me and each married a woman far better than I could have ever chosen. However, in the past few days, cyberspace exploded with the news that a group associated with quiverful theology was planning a “Let Them Marry” retreat. For those unfamiliar with it, quiverful is a movement... Read more

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