Categories
church ministry

#UMC Bishop Scott Jones’ Statement on #HCR in the US

Kansas Area Bishop Scott Jones released the following statement March 22, 2010 regarding the United Methodist Church’s role in the passage of health care reform over the weekend. Please feel free to share these remarks. Bishop Scott Jones’ statement: The United Methodist Church has had a concern for health care for more than 250 years. We […]

Categories
ministry

Guidance from the Board of Ordained Ministry

Two weeks ago, I went before the Board of Ordained Ministry for my ordination interview. After all the questions that they had for me, I had the opportunity to ask, “What advice do you have for someone who is in his fourth year of ministry?” I received some great responses. Be open – You may […]

Categories
faith life ministry

Confession via Phoneline to the Lord?

While listening to a podcast of Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! this week, I heard of the true story of a phone confessional that gives you the following options: For advice on confessing, press one. To confess, press two. To listen to some confessions, press three. As a United Methodist, I believe that confession, both […]

Categories
church ministry renewing the church

Notes on “Virtual Religion in the 21st Century”

Several months ago, I received a copy of several articles that explore the intersection of religion and the internet. I want to record some of my notes on the articles and at the same time share them with you. “Believe It or Not: Virtual Religion in the 21st Century” [PDF Link] by Susan E. George […]

Categories
church ministry renewing the church

Four Narratives for Online Spiritual Community

Several months ago, I received a copy of several articles that explore the intersection of religion and the internet. I want to record some of my notes on the articles and at the same time share them with you. “Considering spiritual dimensions within computer-mediated communication studies” is another article by Heidi Campbell that was published […]

Categories
faith ministry

4 Ways to Consider “Spiritualising the Internet”

Several months ago, I received a copy of several articles that explore the intersection of religion and the internet. I was fascinated. I had no idea that there was scholarly work being done on the subject. My background in biology and small experience in research combined with my current job description as Pastor of Resurrection […]

Categories
church ministry

Zimbabwe: Photos and Locations (7 of 8)

As much as I have tried to explain in text what the trip to Zimbabwe was like, there is nothing like photos and locations to see what it was like. I created a log of our trip on Google Earth (http://earth.google.com/) which you can download below. You can “fly” to each of the locations that we […]

Categories
annual conference leadership ministry

My Ordination Interviews

Today I am traveling to Salina to be interviewed by the Board of Ordained Ministry for admission to full connection and ordination as elder in the Kansas West Annual Conference. I have prepared the paperwork: Ordination in the UMC: Doctrinal Papers Ordination in the UMC: Bible Study Ordination in the UMC: Sermon I have prepared […]

Categories
changing lives ministry united methodist church

Zimbabwe: Mission Centres (3 of 8)

In several of the districts that we visited in Zimbabwe there was a mission centre that in many cases was founded over 100 years ago. These were locations that started to be places of ministry when missionaries from the United States came to what was then Southern Rhodesia. These sites often had a hospital, school, […]

Categories
church ministry renewing the church

Zimbabwe: Roofs (2 of 8)

One of the most common ministry needs that we saw was the need to complete a roof. Whether for a parsonage or a sanctuary, the congregation was able to put in the labor to make bricks, build the foundation and lay bricks to build the walls for the structure. This was able to be completed […]

Categories
changing lives ministry

Zimbabwe: Hospitality (1 of 8)

A few weeks ago, I had a great trip to the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference with a delegation from the Kansas West Annual Conference. One of the overwhelming characteristics of the culture was a focus on hospitality. At nearly every site that we visited there were drinks and snacks that had been prepared for us […]

Categories
annual conference ministry united methodist church

Ordination in the UMC: Sermon

A few weeks ago, I made a proposal to make publicly available the documents produced by candidates for ministry in The United Methodist Church. To that end, I have published my Sermon for Admission to Full Connection and Ordination as Elder in the Kansas West Annual Conference. You can find the document online at http://j.mp/69Bnng. I have licensed my […]