It was a great blessing to work with Bill Gepford this summer at Resurrection Online (www.rezonline.org). Today he is headed back to seminary at Perkins School of Theology. This summer, Bill pioneered online marketing, built community online each week, equipped simulcast worship locations and launched additional worship times throughout the week. Most of all, I […]
Category: church
I recently came across the proposal for a Twitter Communion service and its subsequent cancellation. As Pastor of Resurrection Online, I have spent a good deal of time considering how sacraments are made available for those that worship online. I am still working on articulating clear guidance for Resurrection Online attender. This proposal is particularly […]
Over the past few weeks, I have been pondering what it means to be part of a faith community. When I am in a group setting I am often aware of what may not make sense to a newcomer. I find this to be true in worship, events, camp, meetings, etc. I believe that this […]
I reflected about acceptance at camp and in the church several days ago. My friend, Ben Simpson, clarified for me a distinction in acceptance through sharing the following: Institutional acceptance is based on a characteristic of a particular institution, organization or community. Confessional acceptance is based on our confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and […]
I do not believe that I have seen an advertisement for a Vacation Bible School that had such clarity as this one.
I spent last week at a youth camp, Institute 2010: God’s All Stars, which is a ministry of the Conference Council on Youth Ministry of the Kansas East Annual Conference. This post is part of a series reflecting on the week and making applications for the local church. I have a tendency, for good and bad, […]
Today begins my first experience of Kansas East Youth Institute. From a promotional poster: For almost 100 years, young people have come to Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., to attend United Methodist Youth Institute. Institute is a tradition of the Kansas East Conference Council on Youth Ministry. Institute is a unique week of spiritual formation […]
An interesting article at Slate.com, The Almighty Dollar: Are preachers motivated by the desire to save souls or to make cold, hard cash? raises the question of clergy compensation. By researching data from the Oklahoma Annual Conference researchers found: “It turns out United Methodist congregations gave their leaders a $15 boost (in 2008 dollars) on average […]
As Pastor of Resurrection Online, I have heard from several others who are interested in starting an online worship service. I suggest the following: 1 – Ask the Right Questions Pastor(s), key staff and volunteers need to be able to have clear answers to the following questions: Why are we considering starting an online worship […]
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 […]
A few of the key points in favor of continuing guaranteed appointments include: Guaranteed appointments prevents a congregation from hiring or firing a clergy person based on her or his race, color, national origin, or sex. Guaranteed appointments prevents a congregation from hiring or firing a clergy person in response to their prophetic voice in […]
There are clear indicators of effective clergy that would ensure that she or he would receive an appointment regardless of whether her or his appointment is guaranteed in the United Methodist Church. There are also churches that are more and less healthy. In April, the Connectional Table of the United Methodist Church suggested that there […]
Rev. Andrew Conard 