Articles about developments of alternatives for the future of The United Methodist Church: discussions of options, other expressions of the Methodist or Wesleyan Way, new alignments, petitions and resolutions approved in annual conferences, etc.
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
UM & Global Recommended Viewing
by David W. Scott
August 27, 2019
While much of the Post-Way-Forward Gathering of UM Scholars focused on the US context, a few presentations looked at the relationship between the US and the Central Conferences.
Darryl W. Stephens presented on "United Methodism at the End of White Christian America."
Anne Burkholder's presentation on fine-grained attention to vote counts, however, indicates just how difficult building coalitions for change in the UMC is. ... [Read his summary of their points and follow the links to the presentations themselves.]
UM & Global blogmaster Dr. David W. Scott serves as Director of Mission Theology at the General Board of Global Ministries.
- Four, Three, Two, One: Four Words, Three Rules, Two Standards, One Grace
by William B. Lawrence
August 19, 2019
UM-Insight Editor's note: This text comes from Rev. William B. Lawrence's presentation to the gathering of United Methodist scholars April 7-8 at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, Tex. The text may differ slightly from his oral presentation. The accompanying photos are taken from presentation slides. Both text and images are republished here with the author's permission. The video of Dr. Lawrence's presentation can be viewed here.
[My note: The important speech may be read at UM-Insight.org, and is well-documented with footnotes. The introduction and a major conclusion is highlighted here. Please read the complete presentation or better yet, watch it at the link above. This presentation was presented at this event in Dallas. See also Bishop Oliveto's ruling of law.]
Read more: Speech: Four Words, Three Rules, Two Standards, One Grace
By the Rev. William B. Lawrence
Aug. 15, 2019 | CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (UM News)
For those United Methodists who think our denomination was not confused enough, we can thank the Commission on the General Conference for confounding us a little further.
In an Aug. 10 news release and a report by United Methodist News, we learned that the commission conducted much of its recent meeting behind closed doors in Lexington, Kentucky, and in that meeting concluded that the voting process by General Conference on legislative matters has been corrupted.
Read more: Commission on General Conference added to confusion
- Bishop Richard Wilke: A plea to the United Methodist Church
- Diverse group of United Methodists explores separation
- Plans canceled for GC2024 in Philippines
- Connectional Table Approves Legislation Creating New U.S. Structure
- Mainstream UMC Survey Results Show Urgency
- Scholars gather to champion LGBTQ inclusion
- Petition Process Open for 2020 General Conference
- Judicial Council Docket - October, 2019
- Church leaders look at options for future of denomination
- Apportionment collection rates down after GC2019
- Conferences Mull Denomination's Future
- What does it mean to Dissolve The United Methodist Church?
- Where The Money (Doesn't) Come From
- Bishops Release Rulings of Law on Ordinations, Finances
- Two Bishops Offer Plan for UMC Future
- Arbitration: A Possible Help in the Coming Separation
- UMC Bishops pose five questions to Judicial Council on Traditional Plan
- A Letter to Centrists
- General Conference is Broken; Annual Conferences Are Not
- US elections see shift in GC2020 delegates
- 76% of US Annual Conferences Reject Traditional Plan
- How To Restructure The UMC
- "Where Do We Go From Here?"
- June 20 Marks Four Significant Elections
- Inclusive Methodists secure Jurisdictional Conference majorities
- Recommended candidates offer open letter to leaders and colleagues
- A Texas-Size Wakeup Call for WCA
- "Know When To Hold 'Em, Know When to Fold 'Em..."
- Mountain Sky Conference Report
- An Open Letter to the WCA
- How The West Can Help the Rest
- Annual Conference 2019 Petition Results
- A Primer on UM Apportionments
- UMC-Next: Reports and Docs
- Methodist Movement New England
- Loved and Liberated: Our Movement Forward Proclamation
- Summit Plans Inclusive Methodist Movement
- Creating a Future with Hope
- How will denominational divide affect mission?
- Petitions to the 2019 Annual Conferences
- Bishops Meet, Plan, and Ask Judicial Council For Ruling
- Journalist Cynthia Astle on Secret Meetings
- 'Does The UMC Have A Future?' Christy Thomas says No
- What's Next? Hamilton and Coyner
- Stith: GC 2019: Myths and Realities
- UMNS: Centrists, progressives to discuss church's future
- Options for the Future
- An Open Letter to Adam Hamilton