UM-Insight is carrying several posts by United Methodist bloggers who are reflecting on the state of the United Methodist Church.
The UMC: Single-Issue Driven, Bad at Math, and War Weary
Dissolution is No Solution
The UMC: Matted Hair and Wrinkled Ladies
The UMC: Single-Issue Driven, Bad at Math, and War Weary
by Sky McCracken
August 29, 2019
My beloved denomination is getting ready to wage war again for General Conference 2020...I'm not a delegate and I am not submitting any legislation. I've decided to become a conscientious objector in this season. I was a soldier long enough in a war that is going nowhere. It's starting to feel a little bit like Vietnam...In my opinion, our denomination is headed toward the same ending of the Vietnam war: nothing will be accomplished, everyone will be upset and blame the "other", and many will bear scars that will forever remind them of the war...Besides breaking the first General Rule (do no harm), we are fighting the wrong war. [Continue reading]
Dissolution is No Solution
Part 1
by Rev. Stan Copeland
August 29, 2019
"A respectful and responsible, yet pointed critique of the Indianapolis Plan”
Like many in the “center” of United Methodism I have been taken aback by some of the Mainstream UMC articles as being somewhat abrasive. These feelings have been more about style, than about questioning the “hard truth” the articles have uplifted. The last article exposed the tactics and strategies of the “conservative coalition” (WCA, Confessing Movement, Good News, and IRD), and sadly I vouch for the accuracy. ... [Continue reading this centrist's plea to be heard.]
The UMC: Matted Hair and Wrinkled Ladies
Christy Thomas
August 28, 2019
[Christy writes about how their new dog's hair got into a tangled mess that took 8 hours to "fix." She writes:]
The UMC is an intertangled mat
But this intertangled mat only too well pictures the ongoing mess in The United Methodist Church. Please, right now, take the time to read the excellent work by Dr. William B. Lawrence. He writes of the many ways that GC2019, also known as the “I hate gays” conference of our church, violated the very basis of the Methodist movement....We all need to know the background. We must have informed people if we are ever going to untangle this mat and find our graciousness and become the aroma of Christ again. [Continue reading...about the importance of trust.]