The Assassination Attempt

July 13, 2024.Reading time 1 minute.

What a horrible day for America. Sincere prayers for former President Trump, for those injured or killed, and for all those terrorized by this senseless shooting. I have condemned every mass shooting, and I urge everyone to do the same with this one. Political violence is never the answer in a country run through democratic […]

This Fall’s Election And What We Don’t Know

July 3, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I haven’t said much about any of the recent political news concerning the debate, the SCOTUS decision, or who should/should not be the nominees this Fall. I’m still super hesitant to say anything, because there is so much noise and anxiety out there right now. Let me just make several quick points that reflect my […]

Jeff Davis Was Trying To Go To Texas

June 19, 2024.Reading time 8 minutes.

JEFF DAVIS WAS TRYING TO GO TO TEXAS Jeff Davis, he was trying to go to Texas.Thought that he could find some Rebels there.Robert Lee already had surrendered.Loss lay heavy in the Southern air.He tried to sneak across, from down in GeorgiaWhile all the rest, they fled to anywhere.But Jeff Davis, he was trying to […]

Jesus, Modern Families, and Families of Choice

June 14, 2024.Reading time 27 minutes.

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 […]

Remembering Ed Upton, And How Far We’ve Come

June 4, 2024.Reading time 14 minutes.

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, […]

Seeking Still

May 14, 2024.Reading time 2 minutes.

SEEKING STILL All my life I’ve searched for inner peaceTo make the voices ceaseA sweet releaseThat leads me to a calm And now and then I find a pathway thereSome moment without careA jewel rareLike truth inside a song But soon as I arrive, the destination’s goneI’m back upon a path that’s always winding and […]

“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. […]