Why I Doubt the UMC Can Handle Innovation
The Rev. Wes Magruder responds to the Rev. Rob Rynders' call for a season of innovation in The United Methodist Church.
View ArticleMatthew's Rules for a New Year
The Rev. F. Richard Garland gives us another example of how little children can lead us to spiritual wisdom.
View ArticleFood Pantries and Band-Aids
The food pantries that United Methodist congregations so love may fill an immediate need, but they're not addressing the root problems of hunger and poverty, contends the Rev. Wes Magruder.
View ArticleWhat to Do About General Conference 2016
What if The United Methodist Church threw a General Conference that did no legislating? That's the Rev. Wes Magruder's radical idea.
View ArticleSame-sex Couple to Wed at RMN Conference
Seminarians Mary Ann Kaiser (left) and Annanda Barclay plan to wed during Reconciling Ministries Network's convocation over the Labor Day weekend, and other same-sex couples are being invited to...
View ArticleThe End of the New MethoFesto — and a New Beginning
The Wes Magruder explains why he's abandoning his quest to offer suggestions for the future of the United Methodist institution, and turning instead to God's "new thing."
View ArticleGlobal Social Principles Possible?
Given the enormous cultural differences among United Methodists worldwide, is it possible to have a set of social principles that can reflect common values?
View ArticleUMC Heritage Site List: Global Fail
United Methodist advocates for a global church find troubling the lack of international places on the General Conference's list of UM Heritage sites.
View ArticleEducation and Internationalism in the UMC
The ability to function as a global denomination is predicated on cross-cultural understanding, which the UMC promotes through its connectional giving to higher education around the world, writes David...
View ArticleA Vision Full of Surprises
The dream of God is still alive and flourishing, as the Rev. F. Richard Garland finds on returning to seminary for his 50th class reunion.
View ArticleWhy Gays Should Be Glad Church Isn’t Safe
Any church that bears the name “United Methodist” automatically feels unsafe to homosexual persons because of the church's anti-gay stances. However, gathering is community is risky for everyone,...
View ArticleThe Artistry of Advent and Christmas
The Rev. F. Richard Garland invites us to plunge into a kind of "artistry divina," using the visual, musical and textual art of centuries to contemplate profoundly the wonder of the Incarnation.
View ArticleThe Shadow of Lent
The Rev. F. Richard Garland finds that he doesn't like the reflective season of Lent – the 40 days of spiritual preparation before Easter – but he finds that he needs its spiritual disciplines...
View ArticleRaising Down Leaders
A news article describing Texas Sen. Ted Cruz as the "Christian candidate" in the 2016 presidential race prompted the Rev. Wes Magruder to ponder the evangelical/charismatic code phrase "raising up...
View ArticleAbandoned and Forgotten
Newly appointed church official Bob Walters expresses his anger at how the UMC has abandoned its people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a devastating civil war has raged.
View ArticlePrepping for General Conference, African Style
North Katanga Conference from the Democratic Republic of Congo prepares to come to Tampa for the 2012 United Methodist General Conference as church leaders, not as beggars.
View ArticlePan-Methodist Vote to Come Before 2012 General Conference
United Methodists will vote on a full communion agreement with historically black Methodist denominations
View Article'Love Your Neighbor' Rescues Stranded Delegates
Volunteers with the 'Love Your Neighbor' coalition rescue 17 international delegates stranded at Tampa International Airport after weather delays.
View ArticleThere Is Strength in Serving
As the "unnamed woman" in a petition to General Conference, deaconess Rachel Harvey tells why she thinks working with Reconciling Ministries Network aligns with her Christian ministry.
View ArticleInternational Delegates Briefed on Key Legislation
A report from United Methodist Communications and the Methoblog on a legislative briefing for delegates from outside the United States.
View Article'Typical UMC Family' Serves at General Conference
Three members of the Kenaston family from West Virginia are active in various positions at the 2012 General Conference.
View Article'Imagine No Malaria' Success Celebrated
A "flash mob" that performed a "mosquito dance" joined "skeeter greeters" at General Conference April 25 to celebrate The United Methodist Church's success in helping to reduce malaria worldwide.
View ArticleMinistry with the Poor to Be Highligted
A major lunchtime event May 1 during the 2012 General Conference in Tampa, Florida, will highlight United Methodist ministries with economically disadvantaged people.
View ArticlePalestinian, Israeli Advocates Urge UMC Divestment
A Palestinian Christian and an Israeli Jew urged United Methodist delegates to support a petition to divestment from three companies that provide security products to Israeli military.
View ArticleIt Ain't Adam's Fault
Dr. Maria Dixon gives a process analysis of why the seeming compromise on restructure proposals for The United Methodist Church blew up in the final moments of the legislative committee's work.
View Article'Don't You Have Faith Yet?'
Bishop David K. Yemba puts an essential question of faith before General Conference in his April 30 sermon during evening worship
View ArticleGeneral Conference Adopts 'Plan UMC' Structure
General Conference adopts a structure plan assembled by a group of some 20 delegates after negotiations broke down in legislative committee. The UMC's agencies to monitor discrimination against women...
View ArticleThe Sins of the Fathers: Concerns about Loss of Justice in New Compromised...
Erin Hawkins, top executive of the General Commission on Religion and Race, expresses her views that Plan UMC guts the church's objective of monitoring for racial justice.
View ArticleWhat Have We Done?!?
The Rev. Amy Lippoldt describes the background of the General Conference action to do away with guaranteed clergy appointment.
View ArticlePreamble to Social Principles Changed
Changes to the preamble to the United Methodist Social Principles attempts to acknowledge the vast cultural differences in the global denomination.
View ArticleComing Soon: A 2012 General Conference Archive
Announcing the development of an archive of UM Insight articles related to the 2012 General Conference
View ArticleIn Search of Vitality
The Rev. Dr. John H. Southwick of the General Board of Global Ministries compares statistics from the Towers Watson study used with the Call to Action's Vital Congregations program with a wider survey...
View ArticleDid the Demographics of 2012 Delegates Matter?
Elaine Moy of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women reports on the demographics of delegates to the 2012 General Conference as compiled by the General Council on Finance and...
View ArticleYou Can Leave the Church, But You Can't Leave Community
The Rev. Wes Magruder looks at the question of whether a true follower of Jesus Christ can actually leave the church.
View ArticleCall to Action/Connectional Table Archive
This section contains articles published prior to the 2012 General Conference regarding United Methodist structure and vitality efforts. It is not currently updated. For current articles please see our...
View ArticleMinistry Study Archive
This section contains articles published prior to the 2012 General Conference regarding United Methodist ministry. It is not currently updated. For current articles please see our Issues section.
View ArticleGlobal Nature of the Church Archive
This section contains articles published prior to the 2012 General Conference regarding United Methodist global nature. It is not currently updated. For current articles please see our Issues section.
View ArticleFinances Archive
This section contains articles published prior to the 2012 General Conference regarding United Methodist global nature. It is not currently updated. For current articles please see our Issues section.
View ArticleGeneral Conference Reflections: Fear and Distrust
Between the 2012 General Conference and his own momentous annual conference session, young adult leader Ricky Harrison of North Texas pondered the need for less fear and more trust across the UMC.
View ArticleRestoring the Dimension of Trust
The Rev. F. Richard Garland ponders what it takes to establish and maintain trust in personal and community relationships.
View ArticlePreaching Is Pointless Unless It's Political
The Rev. Wes Magruder explores why it's important for preachers to speak to today's issues -- including the Affordable Care Act -- through a gospel lens.
View ArticleDiscipleship Drift, or Why John Wesley Won’t Let Me Leave the UMC
On his revived blog, "The New MethoFesto," the Rev. Wes Magruder candidly examines the culture shock of returning to a drifting American United Methodist Church after years as a missionary in Cameroon,...
View Article'Methodist:' Noun or Adjective?
The Rev. Wes Magruder asserts that today's United Methodist Church more closely resembles John Wesley's Church of England that his Methodist movement -- and likewise needs a new form of discipleship.
View ArticleWhy Becoming a Church Was the Worst Thing That Could Have Happened to Methodism
The Rev. Wes Magruder explores how becoming a settled denomination killed the transformational energy of the Methodist movement.
View ArticleHoly Passion, or Why the UMC Needs to Rediscover 'Society'
John Wesley knew the value of a community of Christian friends to help believers live for Jesus -- something The United Methodist Church has forgotten, writes the Rev. Wes Magruder.
View ArticleMay We Never See Another Day Like It
The Rev. Rebekah Miles ponders the Discipline, accountability, race and repentance in the process that has brought the involuntary retirement of Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe.
View ArticleI'm Moving to Chicago ...
The Rev. Andy Oliver outlines the reasons he will leave his family behind in Florida to accept a position as communications officer for Reconciling Ministries Network in Chicago.
View ArticleChanging the Methodist Narrative
We need to stop talking about the "dying" United Methodist Church and talk about where our loving God is at work in the world, and where we should be, writes the Rev. Wes Magruder.
View ArticleAnd Are We Yet Connected?
Surely being “connectional” means something deeper and more significant than an organizational model and an administrative style, argues the Rev. Wes Magruder.
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