“Incompatible” Is Gone

May 2, 2024.Reading time 10 minutes.

And now, we exhale.At least, I do. Now, except for a few more tiny “jots,” the harm is fully gone. The Original Sin of the United Methodist Discipline regarding human sexuality, the word “Incompatible,” is gone.Everywhere from our polity and law, now. The margin was 76%, and included an amendment that came from an African […]

It’s Time To Finish the Journey

May 2, 2024.Reading time 4 minutes.

I am still holding my breath. It’s probably my age.It’s definitely my PTSD. What is happening at General Conference is truly headspinning and filled with such joy for our FUTURE.But there is one final sin of the PAST, yet to go. I’m still holding my breath for the removal of our Social Principles’ “Incompatibility Clause,” […]

General Conference 2024 Daily Updates

April 26, 2024.Reading time 54 minutes.

I’m going to update this blog post each day during the 2024 General Conference, as a way of keeping folks informed, and offering my own view as to what’s happening. Some quick background, before we get started…Feel free to scroll past this lenthy opening part, if you feel you already know enough about United Methodism.But […]

An Honest Accounting of “Missing” African Delegates

April 24, 2024.Reading time 10 minutes.

There are as many as 100 International Delegates not at United Methodist General Conference this year, many of whom are from Africa. This has caused many questions. Allegations have been made that General Conference failed to communicate with them quickly, or the American government failed to issue visas quickly. Calls have been made to investigate. […]

Table Rules (“Crowded Table,” Highwomen Cover)

April 23, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

General Conference starts today, and I am thinking about this song and what might happen these next few weeks. I don’t think it’s an accident that I was introduced to this song by clergywomen colleagues. We were all sitting around a fire pit on a clergy retreat two years ago (I had my guitar…) when several […]

The UMC and USA are “Center-Left”

February 1, 2024.Reading time 10 minutes.

The United Methodist Church is now a Center-Left denomination.America is a Center-Left Nation. These are the twin theses I want to put before you today. After the past several years of bitter and partisan theological infighting, our separation into UMC and GMC is now complete. Studies show fully one quarter of former-United Methodist Churches have […]

The 2023 NT Conference: “A New Day”

June 16, 2023.Reading time 41 minutes.

Dear Kessler Park Members and Friends: What follow is a longish summary of what has just taken place this week as the North Texas Conference met in Plano, Texas. I can’t apologize for the length. Because, honestly, a LOT happened, and you need to know about it. Let me start at the very end, because […]

Open Letter To Our Pride Flag Vandal

June 8, 2022.Reading time 3 minutes.

To the Pride Flag Vandal, I don’t know who you are. I don’t know your motivations. I don’t know why you chose to cut down our KPUMC Pride Flag from the flagpole on our property. But I thought I’d write you a short note today. Please know that we, the members and staff of Kessler […]

What Divorce Professionals Can Teach the UMC

June 7, 2022.Reading time 18 minutes.

For some years, I’ve been telling you I sensed a “split” was coming in the UMC, but that I couldn’t predict just how that would happen. Ideally, a split would be affected by an orderly process, authorized by the General Conference. But, as all Methodists know, that meeting is again delayed Nature abhors a vacuum, […]

30 Years of Watching Divorce Court: Part 1

December 7, 2019.Reading time 9 minutes.

Heads up, Methodist friends. Pay attention to this news about SMU. What does this mean? Plain and simple, this is not a WCA plot. This IS an attempt by SMU to “protect its assets.” Pure and simple, that’s what this is. And nobody should be surprised by this. Nor should they be surprised that the […]