It’s Time. (Past Time, Really)

April 13, 2016.Reading time 13 minutes.

Dear General Conference Delegates From Around the World, I’m writing you today about issues of LGBTQ inclusion, which will be before you at General Conference in Portland. My message to you is not just that “It’s Time,” but that “It’s Past Time.” The Clock Has Stopped. You Can Restart It. My first message is that […]

The Jot and Tittle of Ginny Mikita’s Situation

September 5, 2015.Reading time 13 minutes.

This week, the United Methodist world has been up in arms at the treatment of Ginny Mikita. Mikita, a lay woman from a church in Michigan, has been summarily removed from church membership by her annual conference authorities, because she obtained an online ordination for the purpose of presiding at the same sex wedding of […]

Troubled Times

April 9, 2014.Reading time 6 minutes.

Somehow, I missed the big news yesterday that sixty conservative UM clergy had a conference call, the purpose of which was to discuss separation of the denomination. I first found out about it via my friend, Christy Thomas, and her excellent blog this morning. While I wince at her use of “inquisition” here. (We’re nowhere […]

Do You Believe Now?

February 26, 2014.Reading time 1 minute.

In January, our Emeritus Pastor Rev. Bill McElvaney announced that he will perform same sex weddings. Several weeks ago, George and Jack announced their plan to be married this coming Saturday by Rev. McElvaney. Today, a federal judge strikes down Texas’ ban on same sex marriage. For several years, I have been saying that the […]

Dear Big Middle

January 24, 2014.Reading time 6 minutes.

Dear Big Middle,* Today I start a series of short blog entries, aimed at The Big Middle of the United Methodist Church. “Big Middle” is a term of endearment. Many people believe you Big Middlites actually hold the key to our being able to move forward on the issue of same sex marriage. I agree […]

Let the penalty fix the “crime”

January 22, 2014.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Originally posted on We Your People, Ours the Journey:
Here we go again… A month after the Board of Ordained Ministry in Pennsylvania stripped Rev. Frank Schaefer of his ordination credentials for officiating at his son’s wedding and refusing to state he would follow the entirety of the Book of Discipline in the future, the…

Media Coverage of Bill Mac’s Decision to Perform Same Sex Weddings

January 21, 2014.Reading time 2 minutes.

It’s been a busy couple of days, since Bill McElvaney’s announcement that he will perform same sex weddings. Lot’s of stories popping up in the media and blogs today, and even more coming in print later this week. If you missed the original story, here’s Bill’s statement that has caused all the fuss. Here’s my […]

Not Everybody Gets To Be Martin Luther King

January 20, 2014.Reading time 5 minutes.

“Do Justice. Love Kindness. Walk Humbly with God.” Not everybody gets to be Martin Luther King Jr. I suppose that’s relatively self-evident. But on the day we celebrate his legacy, it’s an important point not to miss. I happen to believe the next great Civil Rights struggle –the struggle of LGBT justice– is the grandchild […]

What Jesus Says About Homosexuality

December 23, 2013.Reading time less than 1 minute.

There is much confusion in our culture as to precisely what Jesus says about homosexuality in the Bible. Given the passionately held anti-gay stance of many churches, most people assume Jesus must have spoken harshly and extensively on the topic. In an effort to clarify, we’re providing a high resolution photo of the precise passage […]

The Heart of Christmas is Love

December 23, 2013.Reading time 17 minutes.

The heart of the Gospel is love. The heart of the Christmas season is love. Love is the final driver, the final goal –the first, last, and middle command– for all of us who follow Christ. In the Christmas season, we celebrate this love of God for us, as made manifest in the birth of […]