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Progressive Christian

2012-06-13T10:10:10-05:00

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.

Dead Soil Produces Dead Souls: Thoughts on the Toxic Church

Last updated on: June 13, 2012 at 10:10 am By Christy Thomas

I hear the word “toxic” bandied about all the time, both applied to people and to churches. The word means poisonous, of course. Poison is “a substance with an inherent property that tends to destroy life or impair health” (from dictionary.com). So if we are in a “toxic” relationship or toxic church, we are in a situation that promotes the opposite of what most of us want to experience, which is life and health. Not too long ago, this question... Read more

United Methodist structure

worship attendance

2012-06-11T06:10:25-05:00

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.

Mystery Worship Six

Last updated on: June 11, 2012 at 6:10 am By Christy Thomas

Note: this is part of an ongoing series. Mystery Worship One is here; Mystery Worship Two is here; Mystery Worship Three is here. Four is here. Five is here. Reasons for Choice of Church From the time I made the decision to spend part of the Sabbatical in the London area, I’ve wanted to visit Holy Trinity Brompton church. This is the Anglican church that birthed the ALPHA course, a really wonderful way to explore the Christian faith in an atmosphere that is safe for questions... Read more

Holy Trinity Bromfield

mystery worship

2012-06-10T15:38:41-05:00

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.

Why It Matters: The Episcopal Situation in the North Texas Conference

Last updated on: June 10, 2012 at 3:38 pm By Christy Thomas

Jeffrey Weiss, a reporter with the Dallas Morning News, has asked these questions concerning the episcopal situation facing the North Texas Conference: “Why does this matter? And to who? Clearly, it’s a big deal to North Texas Methodist clergy. But who else should be paying attention? And why?” Here is my response: Does this Episcopal situation matter to anyone besides the United Methodist clergy? Three Levels On one level, and speaking on a short term time frame, no, not really.... Read more

North Texas Conference

united methodist church

2012-06-08T09:28:34-05:00

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.

Mystery Worship Five

Last updated on: June 8, 2012 at 9:28 am By Christy Thomas

Note: this is part of an ongoing series. Mystery Worship One is here; Mystery Worship Two is here; Mystery Worship Three is here. Four is here. No music and King James Language, mixed with warm welcome and unusual kneeling pads–that was Mystery Worship Five experience in a nutshell. That day, May 27, Pentecost Sunday, I attended the 8 am Eucharist at St. John’s Church, Belmont, http://www.stjohnbelmont.org.uk/. Two reasons for my choice: location–I saw it when riding with my daughter-in-law and realized I could walk there.... Read more

mystery worship; Anglican church; King James Version

2012-06-08T07:26:55-05:00

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.

The Language of Power and Pentecost: Bishops, Clergy and Gardens

Last updated on: June 8, 2012 at 7:26 am By Christy Thomas

Note: this is part of a larger body of writing I am currently working on with the theme of “The Sustainable Church” which is an extended metaphor of church as garden. I believe what I am learning has important applicability to the current situation in the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. How do plants communicate with the gardener that something has gone wrong? What means do they use to let the one with authority over them, i.e.,... Read more

North Texas Conference

Pentecost

spiritual illness

united methodist church

2012-06-06T04:15:49-05:00

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.

Fight Like the Devil and The North Texas Annual Conference at a Distance

Last updated on: June 6, 2012 at 4:15 am By Christy Thomas

I had been formally excused from attendance at the North Texas Annual Conference this year because of my sabbatical leave, but decided to watch as much of it as I could by livestream and to keep up otherwise by twitter and blog posts. Powerful reports filtered in of great worship, strong youth leadership, renewed energy, hope, connection and collegiality. The Nehemiah team did a great job presenting options for new delivery models as they held to the essential mission of... Read more

North Texas Annual Conference

Paradise Lost

reign in hell

2012-06-02T02:46:00-05:00

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.

Prayers for Annual Conference; unanswered questions to be addressed

Last updated on: June 2, 2012 at 2:46 am By Christy Thomas

Two weeks ago, Bishop Bledsoe invited the clergy of the North Texas Conference into dialogue. Yesterday, he announced his retirement. With Annual Conference starting tomorrow, I find myself deep, deep in prayer for all of us in the NTAC. I am in London on a three month Sabbatical that is also a journey of healing, both physical and spiritual, as I work on a project I am calling The Sustainable Church. I have learned this from my time in London:... Read more

guaranteed appointment

health insurance

questions to the Bishop

united methodist church

2012-05-28T03:16:31-05:00

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.

Mystery Worship Four

Last updated on: May 28, 2012 at 3:16 am By Christy Thomas

Note: this is part of an ongoing series. Mystery Worship One is here; Mystery Worship Two is here; Mystery Worship Three is here. Sunday, May 20, 2012, brought me to the Chiltern Church,described on their website as an independent, evangelical church with a heritage from the Plymouth Brethren Church. I chose this church for one simple reason: I could walk there. Nearly every other church in the area is a good two mile hike over very hilly streets. This one was a simple 1/2... Read more

2012-05-25T07:28:11-05:00

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.

Have We Lost Our Core Purpose?

Last updated on: May 25, 2012 at 7:28 am By Christy Thomas

Rev. Tom Griffith recently wrote an article about the structure of The United Methodist Church where he states that the core business of the church is NOT “making disciples of Jesus Christ.” He writes, If we truly believe in the Wesleyan concept of God working through God’s prevenient grace that brings a penitent to the point where s/he is ready to accept God’s saving grace, we must admit that we are not the ones who are doing the “saving” or creating... Read more

united methodist church

wesleyan concept

2012-05-21T03:55:07-05:00

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.

Mystery Worship Number Three

Last updated on: May 21, 2012 at 3:55 am By Christy Thomas

Note: this is part of an ongoing series. Mystery Worship One is here and Mystery Worship Two is here. For Sunday, May 13, my first Sunday in the UK, I had intended to go to Trinity Church Sutton, but discovered that they were combining services with Sutton Baptist Church, and the Anglican St. Nicholas Church. The three churches, all located almost next to each other, have combined services monthly in the evenings, and yearly during the main service time (10:30)... Read more

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