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 […]

Northaven’s Steps Toward Same Sex Marriage

January 19, 2014.Reading time 10 minutes.

This morning at Northaven Church, our Emeritus Pastor, Rev. Bill McElvaney, announced his intention to perform same sex weddings. Bill has led our church, our city, and helped lead our denomination, for forty years. He continues to lead us now. The people of Northaven gave him a five-minute standing ovation at the conclusion of his […]

Rev. Bill McElvaney Intends to Perform Same Sex Weddings

January 19, 2014.Reading time 8 minutes.

As a part of the “Follow Your Heartbreak” series at Northaven Church this morning, Rev. Bill McElvaney has announced his intention to preside at same sex weddings. The full text of this remarks is below. Rev. McElvaney is a retired United Methodist Elder, and emeritus pastor of Northaven Church. In addition to a successful pastoral […]

Elaine Heath: ” A New Set of Questions about Sex and Sin”

January 10, 2014.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Elaine Heath: ” A New Set of Questions about Sex and Sin” Worth passing on. I think she nails it here: “It is past time to ask new, better questions about sexual virtue and sexual vice. The springboard for the new questions is not genitalia but imago Dei, the inherent sanctity and dignity of human […]

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 […]

Beyond Tears to Action

December 22, 2013.Reading time 9 minutes.

Earlier today, I posted an incredible video from United Methodist Bishop, John Schol of the Greater New Jersey area. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth your time: As I did briefly this morning, I want to publicly thank Bishop Schol for what he has said here. I believe his tears are real and heartfelt. […]

Thank you, Bishop John Schol

December 21, 2013.Reading time less than 1 minute.

A video of Bishop John Schol, Resident Bishop of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. I thank him for his willingness to put this message out there. I know there will be Reconciling friends who are deeply cynical about the UMC’s ability to actually do the things he calls for here. But I appreciate that […]

Autumn, And The Far Too Long Line

December 4, 2013.Reading time 10 minutes.

I commend to you this blog, written by Autumn Dennis, about her decision to remove herself from the ordination process in the United Methodist Church. Titled, “A Time to Stay and a Time to Leave,” you can find it at RMN today. She describes her recent decision this way: “I cannot pledge to uphold that […]