Radiant Scars
Radiant Scars By Stephen Seamands The marks of death that God chose never to erase, The wounds of love’s eternal mark, When the kingdom comes, with its perfect sons, He will be known by the scars. –Michael Card As its cover story, the March 27, 2000, issue of Newsweek...
The Both/And Solution
The Both/And Solution By Thomas Lambrecht A recent article by Jefferson Knight, a Liberia General Conference delegate, crystalizes the “critical decision” (in his words) facing United Methodists in Africa. He sees disaffiliation in Africa as a threat to “disintegrate...
African Delegates’ Urgent Requests Unanswered
African Delegates' Urgent Requests Unanswered By Thomas Lambrecht We are less than six weeks from the opening session of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference. That is why it is troubling that African delegates continue to be beset with delayed responses from...
He Wants You Back
He Wants You Back By BJ Funk My oldest son texted words that hit like a large brick thrown at my stomach. He wrote, “My birth mother passed.” I wasn’t prepared for this. I remember that joyous moment when the lady with the adoption agency placed this baby in my arms....
TMS Global Celebrates 40 Years
TMS Global Celebrates 40 Years By Jenifer Jones In November 1983, the Christian missions organization began when 34 United Methodist pastors and mission-minded individuals gathered in St. Louis. They had watched the decline in the number of United Methodist...
GMC Convening Event to be held in Costa Rica
GMC Convening Event to be held in Costa Rica By Walter Felton (Global Methodist Church) “Prayer teams and networks all around the Global Methodist Church are daily calling on the Lord for His empowerment and presence at the church’s convening General Conference,” said...
Extending Fair Disaffiliation Options
Extending Fair Disaffiliation Options By Thomas Lambrecht The main agenda items for the Renewal and Reform Coalition at the 2024 General Conference meeting in Charlotte, NC, April 23-May 3 relate to providing new disaffiliation pathways for churches and annual...
Rethinking Regionalization
Rethinking Regionalization By Thomas Lambrecht The top agenda item for the 2024 General Conference in April for most progressives is to adopt “regionalization” as the new mode of United Methodist governance. This proposal would be a dramatic shift in how the UM Church...