I recognize there is debate about how to determine what makes a clergy person effective. Whatever criteria is used, when a clergy person is determined to be ineffective she or he should find another job before the end of the appointive year. This doesn’t mean being kicked out of the church or Christian community. It […]
Tag: UMC
Some of the hoopla around guaranteed appointments is around the question – How do you determine what makes for an effective clergy person? That’s easy. Straight from paragraph 340 of the Book of Discipline, an effective clergy person will… love God and love their neighbor. preach, teach, lead worship and engage people in witness. provide […]
If I could change one thing in the United Methodist Church today, I would end guaranteed clergy appointments. Here are the top 10 reasons to end this practice: 8. Ineffective clergy will be more easily removed from leading a United Methodist church. 7. Effective clergy will be responsible for a increasing number of churches. 6. […]
Yesterday I focused a lot of my energy around the covenant between the Kansas West and Zimbabwe East Annual Conferences. It was my responsibility to pull together the team that shared stories of the trip and presented the legislation. While not speaking, I probably got more anxious than was strictly necessary trying to corral the […]
The annual conference season has begun in The United Methodist Church. This week I will be attending the Kansas West Annual Conference in Salina, Kansas. I hope to post each day this week about annual conference. According the the 2008 Book of Discipline ¶601, “The purpose of the annual conference is to make disciples of […]
I have enjoyed being involved in #SMCKC, the Social Media Club of Kansas City. I have learned a lot from others, particularly over the past few months in presentations on social media efforts from various local companies. In addition, conversations have proven to be fruitful. So why not #smcumc? A Social Media Club for The […]
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 […]
Sometimes history can be found just under our noses. Sometimes in our attics. And every so often we can find it in our local church archives! Such is the discovery of a rare audio recording of the Evangelical United Brethren Declaration of Union worship service of 1946. The recording was made on two transcription disks […]
The debate in the United Methodist Church about homosexuality and whether it is “incompatible with Christian teaching” or if “a self-avowed practicing homosexual” should be ordained has continued for many years. No matter where you stand on these issues, I wholeheartedly recommend listening to the following story from This American Life. The story is “81 Words: […]
I invite you or someone that you know to apply for a summer internship at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. I am looking for a 20 hour / week intern to work with Resurrection Online. Interested in this or the other 10 summer interships at Resurrection this summer? Find out more at http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/employment/internships/. […]
Several months ago, I read the post The Pollyanna Principles for Social Change, which lead me to The Pollyanna Principles. From the website: The Pollyanna Principles The Ends: 1. We accomplish what we hold ourselves accountable for. 2. Each and every one of us is creating the future, every day, whether we do so consciously […]
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 […]
Rev. Andrew Conard 