It has been 649 days since my last blog post.
Much has changed since then.
- Our children are 3 and 2, respectively.
- I switched from WordPress.com to a WordPress installation, thereby starting over on traffic and links.
- I am beginning my third year as the pastor appointed to serve First UMC of El Dorado, KS.
- We have a brand new back lawn and a new roof at the parsonage.
- I am a member of the Great Plains Annual Conference.
What has not changed is that I am blogging to contribute to the renewal of the church. My hope is that this will be accomplished by:
- Making resources available which I have developed for use in the local church
- Contributing to a middle way / extreme center theological position online
- Sharing who I am with the congregation to which I am appointed and the annual conference in which I serve.
- Sharing a distinct voice with background of serving as an appointed pastor for six years at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and currently at First UMC El Dorado.
Will you please share your thoughts, feelings and opinions about what will help accomplish this purpose?
Rev. Andrew Conard 
7 replies on “Some Things Change and Some Things Stay the Same”
I’m thinking that I need more of an explanation for the 2nd point- middle way/extreme center theological position(?)
Kim – Thanks for the comment. This is a great question. In short – there is a wide range of theological positions on a wide variety of topics and I find myself in the “center” and not at one of the extreme ends (left / right; conservative / liberal etc.) I will write more in a post later this week. Great to hear from you!
“In short – there is a wide range of theological positions on a wide variety of topics and I find myself in the “center” and not at one of the extreme ends (left / right; conservative / liberal etc.)”
I like that Andrew. I am leading a “Seeing Gray” class this fall at Rez Downtown in KC. Adam’s book is such a great way to flesh out what it means to live in the center.
Have a great week.
Blessings, Bob
KC Bob – Thanks! Glad that you like it. Seeing Gray class sounds interesting. Is it essentially a book study? Is there something more / and / or different to it? It might be something I would be interesting in offering.
I am using the Abingdon Press Seeing Gray video series and Participant’s Guide Andrew. Each person in the group gets the guide and can optionally purchase the book. I use all three (videos, guide and book) to draw folks into conversation about the things that draw us to the extremes and how we can develop a grayer approach to polarizing issues. Here are the weekly topics (first week is the intro):
1. Where Faith and Politics Meet
2. Christ, Christians and Culture Wars
3. How Should We Live? The Ethics of Jesus
4. Spiritual Maturity and Seeing Gray
5. What Would Jesus Say to America
I think that it is a great offering as it is short (6 weeks) and helps people to develop a different way to think about the issues that tend to divide us.
Feel free to email me (kansasbob@gmail.com) with follow up questions as I cannot get your blog comments via email.
Many blessings to you Andrew!
KC Bob – Cool! Thanks for the additional information. I will let you know if I have any additional questions. Thank you for the blessings!
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