Lifelong fellowship and proposals for change, in the June 25 Reporter

Greetings, e-Readers!

The Methodist movement has a history of strong small-group ministries, and the traditional Sunday school model helped make it happen. For our cover feature this week, Mary Jacobs talked with people who have been part of the same classes for more than half a century, and also looks at where the experience of Christian fellowship may be headed in the years to come. 

Church structure is on the minds of two of our columnists. In Wesleyan Wisdom, Donald Haynes proposes radical shifts in the way pastors are appointed (nothing like being retired to be able to say it how it is!). In Gen-X Rising, Andrew Thompson suggests simplifying how the UMC is structured in the U.S. to put it on par with the denomination worldwide. To help us deal with fellow United Methodists with whom we disagree, Debra Dean Murphy suggests we work at showing generosity—which is bigger than civility. 

We have a couple of entertainment items this week: If you like a good read on true crime, check out Rising Road, the tale of a Catholic priest’s murder in 1920s Alabama. And for a fictional yet true-to-life drama, associate editor Bill Fentum recommends The Messenger, newly released on DVD. 

Plus a Q&A with a member of the Episcopal-United Methodist dialogue team on seeking full communion; a look at missionaries sent from the Global South; information on what we’ve already guessed about clergy obesity; a Congo church’s masonry and carpentry school that’s transforming the lives of former child soldiers; History of Hymns and more.

Enjoy! 

Blessings,

Robin Russell, Managing Editor