Christian Nationalism: Disregarding Bodily Autonomy

The MAGA-GOP really IS saying “my choice” to the autonomy of actual women.
But theologically they also say “my choice” to “the Body of Christ.”
The two are, horrifically, interconnected.

One is the actions of actual human men toward human women, demanding an ownership of actual women’s bodily autonomy.
The other is a prior “theological ownership” over Jesus….demanding the control of the Body of Christ.

Read More

The Election, The “Overstory” of “They Live,” and Jesus

If all goes according to plan, this will be my final writing before the 2024 election.I find myself not only anxious about the election itself, but about what might be coming after.So, instead of political election talk, I’d like to turn to societal and theology talk. It was probably in the early 1990s that I […]

Read More

Jesus, Modern Families, and Families of Choice

Each week, I have the joy of watching a group of parents and children play in Roberts Forest. A few of these are members of our church, but most of them are simply part of the large number of neighbors we serve by maintaining and support that holy space. Also, last week, I watched with […]

Read More

Remembering Ed Upton, And How Far We’ve Come

This evening the North Texas Conference of the UMC will ordain an openly gay man who has been faithfully serving the church of my confirmation: Lovers Lane UMC. And this has me thinking about Ed Upton. When I first came to Northaven UMC in mid-2001, Ed was a member of our Staff Parish Relations Committee, […]

Read More

“Incompatible” Is Gone

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 […]

Read More

It’s Time To Finish the Journey

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,” […]

Read More

General Conference 2024 Daily Updates

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 […]

Read More

An Honest Accounting of “Missing” African Delegates

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. […]

Read More

Long, Tortured Thoughts About the Long Torturned Journey to General Conference 2024

This week, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church will begin in Charlotte, North Carolina. This will be the first “regular” General Conference since 2016. I thought I would put down a few thoughts ahead of this potentially momentous week for the new United Methodist Church. These will be a combination of personal reflections […]

Read More

The 2023 NT Conference: “A New Day”

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 […]

Read More