Fifth-generation Kansan, United Methodist preacher, husband, and father. Passionate about teaching, preaching, and fostering inclusive communities. I am dedicated to advancing racial reconciliation and helping individuals grow spiritually, and I am excited to serve where God leads.
In the final session of the Mainline Emergent/s gathering, Brian McLaren responded to a question about the purpose of middle level judicatories – for example, district superintendents and districts in the United Methodist Church. Some of his response: If we destroyed the denominational structure today, we would start rebuilding it tomorrow, but it might look […]
In the final morning of the Mainline Emergent/s gathering, Karen Ward spoke about some of the practices that they share as a community at Church of the Apostles. They are focused around three core questions, which they find people in their community to be asking: Who is God and does God matter? What is the […]
I originally wrote this on November 30, 2006… During Staff Chapel on November 30, Adam Hamilton spoke on Part IV of Thomas Merton’s Life and Holiness. On page 73 of Life and Holiness, Thomas Merton writes: It is quite possible to “believe in Christ,” in the sense of mentally accepting the truth that he lived […]
The worst thing you can do is take this home and try it out next Sunday. There is a process of leading people through change. —Brian McLaren – In reference to the Mainline Emergent/s gathering. Diana Butler Bass spoke in the plenary session this afternoon – translating emergent practices for mainline denominations. I found one […]
Nanette Sawyer, pastor at Wicker Park Grace, and Troy Bronsink responded to Doug Pagitt during the first session this morning. I found one of the particular interesting ideas presented was Doug’s view that: Church communities ought to be cauldrons of theological participation and imagination. Cauldrons – what a great word. He was referring to the […]
Day 1 at the Mainline Emergent/s event included hearing from, among others, Brian McLaren, Karen Ward, Tony Jones, Holly Rankin Zaher and Dixon Kinser. It is an interesting mix of being an event in which there is a main speaker for plenary sessions, but also conversation is encouraged as the primary means of learning and […]
I arrived this morning to sunny Atlanta, Georgia and made my way via MARTA to Columbia Theological Seminary. I checked in, moved into the room and headed off to eat lunch. I am rooming with Jay from Only Wonder Understands. I met Steven Blair, pastor at First Light Gardner, for lunch and we spent the […]
Well, the test period did not last too long. I will be moving this blog to WordPress. Please use the following link: https://thoughtsofresurrection.wordpress.com Thanks!
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend The Summit here at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. It is an event designed around the Annual Church Conference that celebrates the past year, looks forward to the year ahead and seeks to inspire living the vision of the church. In 2006, the Journey […]
FYI – I have been working on a new blog located at: thoughtsofresurrection.wordpress.com. I have been intrigued with what I perceive to be some additional functionality of Word Press. On Church Communications Pro, there is a new series: Word Press for Churches. With the pages and other features of Word Press it could be used […]
This morning I had the opportunity to screen the upcoming movie Amazing Grace along with other church leaders from the Kansas City area. Amazing Grace will be released on February 23, 2007. The movie tells the story of William Wilberforce who was a leader of the effort in the 19th century to end the slave […]
I am considering a switch from Blogger to Word Press. This site will be the location of Thoughts of Resurrection unless other notice is made. However, I would be interested in your thoughts and comments on https://thoughtsofresurrection.wordpress.com/. I am particularly interested in your thoughts in: layout design differences in the sites your suggestions Please comment […]
Rev. Andrew Conard 