Teaching Methodism 101

2 08 2010

I believe remembering who we are as United Methodists is a key to revival within the denomination.

I enjoy teaching and I particularly enjoy teaching Methodism 101 – What does it mean to be a United Methodist and what difference does that make in my life? Last month, I had the great opportunity to teach two different times. On July 18, I taught the first of a three week teaching series at Resurrection about What is a United Methodist? During the week of July 18, I taught 14 students about Methodism at Institute 2010: God’s All Stars.

I want to share with you the outline that I used for these classes and similar opportunities. Please feel free to use it, update it and share with me what you put together. You can find my outline for teaching Methodism 101 online at http://j.mp/bSpjV6


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Categories : ministry, renewing the church, united methodist church

What to Do with Unhealthy United Methodist Congregations

7 07 2010

I recognize there is debate about how to determine what makes a congregation healthy.

What to do with an unhealthy United Methodist congregation is more difficult to determine than what to do with inffective United Methodist clergy.

Kick them out of the denomination? In some cases, this might allow the congregation to become healthier. It clearly doesn’t help unity in the church.

Appoint a new pastor? This may or may not have results. Understanding the congregation as a family system suggests that this may not have much impact.

Put them on probation? A period of time with focused efforts at renewal may be helpful, however there may not be much of an incentive.

Can you help me out with what to do with unhealthy United Methodist congregations?


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Categories : annual conference, church, ministry, renewing the church

The Sacraments via Electronic Communication

15 04 2010

One of the questions that I continue to consider as Pastor of Resurrection Online is how the sacraments are made available to those that worship online. I recently ran across one take on this subject from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Visit http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/innews/699.shtml and scroll down to find “The Sacraments via Electronic Communication.” I encourage you to read the entire article. Here is an excerpt:

“The Secretariat for the Liturgy has received several inquiries concerning the celebration of the sacraments via various types of electronic communication. The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance via telephone, participation in Mass via television or the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation via video conference have on occasion been proposed. However, electronic communication via telephone, television, video conference or internet is not sufficient for the celebration of the sacraments. The celebration of the sacraments requires the physical and geographic presence of both the gathered faithful and the bishop, priest, deacon or other presiding minister.”

This is a decision of a particular denomination in a particular location. What are your thoughts, feelings or opinions about sacraments via electronic communication?


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Categories : ministry, renewing the church

Lutherans and the UMC – Gay Clergy and Full Communion

21 08 2009

I just read the following article: Lutherans to Allow Sexually Active Gays as Clergy.

In addition, the ELCA Adopts Full Communion Agreement with the United Methodist Church.

I am not sure how these are going to co-exist. According to the above article, “Full communion makes possible a variety of joint ministries, sharing of resources and interchangeability of clergy.”

How will clergy be interchangeable among the denominations if there is disagreement about whether a self-avowed, practicing homosexual can serve as a clergy person?


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Categories : church, faith, united methodist church

UMNS = FAIL on the Constitutional Amendments

1 08 2009

United Methodist News Service = FAIL

This morning I was reading news on the USA Today app on my iPhone when I came across this headline, Methodists defeat gay-related membership policy, with the lead sentence:

United Methodists have defeated amendments that would have made church membership open to all Christians regardless of sexual orientation and furthered the creation of a new, U.S.-only governing body, according to the denomination’s news service.

I was surprised to hear the news on the constitutional amendments first through USA Today and not from any denominational source. I was also surprised that the decision had been made so soon, I was under the impression that it would be several more months until the final tally was known as votes were still taking place around the world.

I found the article from the United Methodist News Service under the headline: U.S. conferences disapprove structure proposal. According to the statistics in this article:

  • 29% of annual conferences in the United States have not reported results of voting.
  • 67% of annual conferences in the denomination have not reported results of voting.

According to the article, “For a proposed amendment to be ratified, two-thirds of the aggregate number of voting annual conference members must approve.” The results from the US don’t matter. What matters is the entirety of votes from across the globe. Two-thirds of annual conferences in the denomination haven’t even reported their votes yet.

You have to be joking. The UMNS really published a story with data this incomplete? Unfortunately, yes.

The United Methodist News Service wrote a story too soon from one side of the story with incomplete data.

United Methodist News Service = FAIL


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Categories : church, ministry, renewing the church, united methodist church

#6qumc – Where is it leading? (4 of 5)

1 07 2009

Another question that has been asked of 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church,

“Where is it leading?”

Ultimately, I pray that this project is leading where God wills.

The stated purposes of the project are:

  • Raise important questions for next steps in the life of the denomination.
  • Provide guidance for future face to face gatherings.
  • Shape the discourse across the denomination.

In addition, I hope that 6qumc will raise conversations that lead to the fruit of God’s kingdom being produced in the lives of people across the denomination – both inside and outside the church.

After September 30, 2009 the top six questions in each topic will be compiled and made available, possibly through print publication, but certainly via the web.

I believe that next steps will become clear over the course of the project. In the meantime, I believe that the conversation may be more fruitful than the results. It is hard for me to say for certain.

What do you suggest?

To participate visit: http://bit.ly/6qumc

To read more, visit: http://www.umcyoungclergy.com/6qumc


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Categories : renewing the church, united methodist church

#6qumc – Your Invitation (2 of 5)

29 06 2009

I am excited and encouraged by 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church.

The purpose of this project is to:

  • Raise important questions for next steps in the life of the denomination.
  • Provide guidance for future face to face gatherings.
  • Shape the discourse across the denomination.

6 Questions is for all the people of The United Methodist Church. Some strategies of the project include:

  • Publish an article about 6qumc in every conference newsletter.
  • Invite each District Superintendent to take part and bring the project to a district meeting.
  • Gather small groups in local churches to discuss the project
  • Add topics as suggested every two weeks
I invite you to:
  1. Visit http://bit.ly/6qumc to participate
  2. Become a fan on Facebook.
  3. Spread the word with suggestions at http://www.umcyoungclergy.com/6qumc

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Categories : renewing the church, united methodist church

6 Questions for The United Methodist Church

25 06 2009
The UMC has:
  • 1 Mission
  • 3 simple rules
  • 4 areas of focus
  • 5 practices

Now…

“Leaders do not need answers. Leaders must have the right questions.”

— Lovett Weems

Purpose of 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church (6qumc)

  • Raise important questions for next steps in the life of the denomination.
  • Provide guidance for future face to face gatherings.
  • Shape the discourse across the denomination in the USA.

You are invited to:


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Categories : united methodist church

Church Planting – What if…

4 06 2009

What if entrepreneurial small group leaders were asked to equip others to invite people to Christ and multiply small groups?

What if these groups participated in worship and discipleship together?

What if these leaders were asked to oversee the networks of small groups which they helped to initiate?

What if faithful and effective leaders were encouraged to organize a group of groups as a local church?

What if these new churches sought to be recognized by the United Methodist Church, instead of the denomination starting new churches?

    What if it was facilitated by a live internet stream of worship from leading churches?

    In this way, an internet live stream of worship could be used to raise up leaders and plant churches. This would serve to create new places for new people and develop principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.


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    Categories : church, leadership, renewing the church

    Young Adult Clergy Booth at Kansas West Annual Conference

    27 05 2009

    Last week, I was part of the Kansas West Annual Conference. It was a great conference. I tried a new thing and reserved a booth for young clergy. This had several positive outcomes, including:

    • Gathered a (perhaps) comprehensive list of young adult clergy within the annual conference
    • Increased awareness of young adults in ministry in the conference
    • Created space to share words of wisdom about ministry
    • Created space to share dreams for the denomination
    • Shared information about 40 Days of Prayer and Exploration 2009

    I felt that it was a significant step in encouraging young people in ministry within Kansas West.

    Thanks to Jeff Slater for the photos!


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    Categories : annual conference, renewing the church

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