This is a collection of many links to articles and sources for more articles, mostly regarding the General Conference of 2019 and its aftermath. Most are from U.S. United Methodists. Articles from outside the US will appear on the Central Conference Voices page; articles from LGBTQIA+ individuals and sites will appear on the LGBTQIA Voices page. See also the articles on "Divide or Stay," "UMs Speak Out," and other pages under the GC 2019 category.
Bishop Karen Oliveto's Witness
Hope Is Still Alive!
There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Hear Mark Miller's setting here.
Conferences Speak Out
A number of conferences, Boards of Ordained Ministry, and pastors speak out on the recent votes at General Conference 2019.
United Methodist News Service is the official news gathering agency of the 13-million member United Methodist Church. It is staffed by professionally trained journalists who are committed to the work and mission of The United Methodist Church. Find the latest news on GC2019 and general news of the UMC.
- For LGBTQ Youth (including link to Trevor Lifeline)
- Judicial Council to Review Outcomes of GC2019
- List of Legislation to be Reviewed (PDF)
- Commentaries and Blogs
- Are United Methodists ignoring Wesley? -- John Yeaman
- The plan of 'gracious inclusion (the Simple Plan) -- Althea Spencer Miller
"A forum for discerning God's future for The United Methodist Church, hosted by St. Stephen UMC, Mesquite, TX." The editor and publisher is Cynthia Astle, long-time journalist. Some articles will appear on other pages, especially LGBTQIA and Central Conference voices.
Confirmation Class and Bishops Respond to Judicial Council (plus many news stories!)
Why the traditional plan isn't grace-full (Jack Amick, Director, Global Migration at UMCOR)
German Church Won't Follow Traditionalist Plan
Interpretation of African Bishops' Statements (David Livingston)
The UMC Has Just Died (Christy Thomas)
Holding Traditionalists Accountable For Their Actions (Randy Miller)
Gerrymandering the #UMC: Behind the Traditional(ist) Plan Power Grab (Jeremy Smith)
Orthodox Christian Bishop Grove Explains Why He Doesn't Support the Traditionalist Plan
Hacking Christianity
HackingChristianity (HX.net) is the personal website of the Rev. Jeremy Smith, a United Methodist Elder serving as Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington (USA).
- List of Responses to GC2019
- J. Philip Wogaman, ethicist: Flawed UMC Arguments Against Change
- Where I Am Right Now
- For Such A Time As Now
- Why Don't You Just Leave?
- The Betrayal of Good News: How a 2004 Blueprint created the #GC2019 Endgame
- On the "Cruelty" of the Traditionalist Plan on Clergy Pensions
- On the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA)
- On the Traditionalist Plan: "More of the Same"
- with links to many more of Jeremy's writings
- On some central claims of the WCA
- The UMC is already “substantially different” from the vast majority of Christendom
- The "incompatibility" clause was not "carefully crafted."
- More conversation means change, not a reason to give up and leave.
- Resurrecting the UMC: The Simple Plan
- Rage Against the UMC: The Traditionalist Plan
- Realigning the UMC: The One Church Plan
- Reversing the UMC: The Connectional Conference Plan
Snarky Pastor's Rants
Rev. Sara Baron, an elder in Upper New York Conference, reflects on the Plans:
- Is the UMC Dead?
- The Devil in the Details: on the effect on pensions of "disaffiliation." "Stealing!"
- The Un-"gracious Exit" Plan
David Livingston Blog
- A Glimpse Behind the Curtain at GC
- On what's wrong with the Traditionalist Plan, Part 1
- On what's wrong with the Traditionalist Plan, Part 2
- On what's wrong with the Traditionalist Plan, Part 3
- Interpretation of African Bishops' Statements
Jack Harnish: Coming Out Methodist
Gil Caldwell
Gil Caldwell is a retired member of the Mountain Sky Conference of The United Methodist living in New Jersey. He is a veteran of the U.S. civil rights struggles,
- Will the Judicial Council Be As Brave as the US Supreme Court in 1954?
Gil compares the stakes for the Judicial Council in April, 2019, with the Supreme Court desegregation decision. - Have we been blind to a coup taking place in the UMC?
Gil refers to Lloyd Nyarota's article above, and points out parallels between "negrophobia" and homophobia. - Be The Way Forward
Gil suggests a way to be part of the change (from RMN) - Contradiction at the Heart of United Methodism
Gil enters a discussion with M Barclay and Cynthia Astle about the "Embrace Love" UM slogan - How Will We Change Our Minds?
Gil reflects on a story: "I didn't mean you..." - How Long Will We Look Like the Southern Baptists?
A prescient look ahead from 2017.
Other
Dave Gauger, president of Gauger Media Service, Local bigotry left untreated metastasizes into violent hate (Note: his use of "Article IV" is ambiguous: I believe he means Pars. 161G and 304.3 especially.)
Rob Renfroe, a leader of the UM "Confessing Movement," addresses a Texas Annual Conference dinner in May, 2018. Warning: not supportive of LGBTQIA welcome.
Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City area, at the Uniting Methodists convocation, July, 2018.
Speech Against Modified Traditionalist Plan (at GC)
Historical Perspectives
- Elaine Robinson: Thoughts upon GC2019 via Methodist history
professor of Methodist Studies and Christian Theology at Saint Paul School of Theology at Oklahoma City University - Ashley Boggan: Timeline, 1964-2014 (PDF)
PhD. Student, Drew University, Intern at the Connectional Table of The United Methodist Church, Compiled May 2015 - Interview with Ashley Boggan about the context and origin of the "incompatible" language in 1972, and her reflections on the GC2019.
- Robert W. Sledge: The Saddest Day: Gene Leggett And The Origins Of The Incompatible Clause, Methodist History, 55:3 (April 2017). More on the context of the 1972 General Conference, with a focus on the role of Gene Leggett, and the origin of the "incompatible" language.
- Leon Howell: United Methodism @ Risk: A Wakeup Call (2003)
The Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD), created by right-wing secular foundations, has targeted the UMC, Presbyterians, Lutherrans... Their plans have come to fruition at GC2019.
UMC
The official site of The United Methodist Church, maintained by United Methodist Communications, with information about nearly all aspects of the UM denomination. This page is the entry to information about the General Conference 2019 and includes links to tracking legislation, news, video stream archives, and the "Daily Christian Advocate," the record of the Conference, with all legislation, votes, etc. The Advance edition is published ahead of the meeting; the Daily's are published after each day. The final one is not yet available (March 16, 2019).
Video Stream archives (in sections of each day)
Pastoral Letters and Sermons (send submissions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
See also this page listing conferences, boards of ordained ministry, cabinets, and not just pastors.
- Pastors at Peoples UMC, WIsconsin
- Pastor Mark at St. Andrew UMC, Highlands Ranch, CO
- Salt Lake City Pastors: Elizabeth McVicker, C. Dennis Shaw, Russell Butler, Rob Bruendl, Gary M. Haddock, Kimal James, Olga Hard, David Sauer, Marv Vose
- Lincoln Nebraska Pastors (FB Post)
- Michigan Clergy
- Bishop Julius Trimble, Indiana; Letter to Young People
- Bishop Grant Hagiya (Cal-Pac) (Youtube)
- North Georgia Pastors (FB Post)
- BIshop Sue Haupert-Johnson at St. Mark UMC, Atlanta (audio sermon)
- Beth LaRocca-Pitts, St. Mark UMC, Atlanta (audio sermon)