United Methodist Reporter Blog

UMC's Jim Winkler arrested with other religious leaders in budget protest at Capitol

 

Jim Winkler, top executive of the UMC's General Board of Church and Society, was among 11 Christian and Jewish leaders arrested at the U.S. Capitol today for protesting how federal budget cuts would affect the poor.

The Hill newspaper reported that Winkler and the others held hands and sat down in the middle of the Capitol Rotunda area, and were arrested by Capitol Police for demonstrating within a U.S. Capitol Building. They were taken to Capitol Police headquarters for processing, the newspaper said.  

The Word Made Plain, in the Aug. 5 'Reporter'

Greetings Readers,

The new Common English Bible, sponsored by the United Methodist Publishing House and a handful of other denominational presses, takes risks to be reader-friendly. Our cover story looks at the translation team’s efforts to pair accuracy with “readability,” and at the buzz over some of its editorial decisions, including substituting “Human One” for “Son of Man” in certain of Jesus’ self-references.
 
Alan Heath has been named new CEO of UMR Communications, parent company of the United Methodist Reporter.  He comes to UMR from First United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas, where he has been executive director in recent years. But he also had a long career as an executive with a Dallas printing firm, and before that taught journalism. We have an article about his hiring, with comments from him and from the UMR board chair, the Rev. Steve Trout.
 
The season of annual conference gatherings has wound down, and most conferences again are reporting declining membership and attendance numbers. But some conferences are showing growth, and United Methodist News Service has a story providing details about the hopeful anomalies.
 
The Rev. Jan Richardson leads a contemplative worship service at First UMC, Winter Park, Fl., and is the author of In the Sanctuary of Women. Staff writer Mary Jacobs did a Q&A with her about the spiritual heroines she features in that book.
 
There’s a recently published book called Generation Rising: A Future with Hope for the United Methodist Church, and the editor is the Rev. Andrew C. Thompson, a regular columnist for the Reporter. Rebekah Miles, who teaches at Perkins School of Theology, reviewed the book for us.
 
We recently ran an essay by the Rev. Sky McCracken, a district superintendent in Kentucky, taking UM seminaries to task for not turning out stronger spiritual leaders. This week we run a cordial but firm response from a recent seminary graduate, the Rev. Ben Gosden.
 
In other commentaries, the Rev. Donald Haynes devotes his “Wesleyan Wisdom” column to the importance of pastors going “house to house” in visiting parishioners, as well as those who don’t go to church. And Rev. Thompson’s “Gen-X Rising” column looks at the UMC’s “State of the Church” report, finding it rather inattentive to the denomination’s growth outside the U.S.
 
There’s plenty more in this week’s issue, including our regular feature “History of Hymns” and an essay on creative writing as a spiritual practice.
 
As always, we welcome your comments and story tips.
 
Thanks for being a reader. 

Sam Hodges
Managing editor 

Alan Heath named CEO of UMR Communications

 
UMR Communications Inc., parent company of the United Methodist Reporter, has chosen Alan Heath as its new CEO.

Mr. Heath has most recently been executive director of a United Methodist church, but also spent many years as sales executive of a printing company. He taught college-level journalism early in his career.

He begins at UMR Communications on Aug. 15.

“Alan Heath stood out among the candidates for CEO of UMR Communications for several reasons,” said the Rev. Steve Trout, the non-profit company’s board chair. “His commitment to and understanding of the United Methodist Church is impressive.  We also see in Alan a man of conviction, humor, experience and humility."

Along with publishing the Reporter, UMR Communications provides printing and other communication services to annual conferences, churches and divisions of the UMC, among other customers.

“UMR offers me the opportunity to work with a team of great people to foster more effective communication within our great denomination,” Mr. Heath said.

He added: “I am especially delighted to help advance Christian mission through our working relationship with the Women’s Division. I have always been a strong supporter of United Methodist Women and am delighted to be a more direct partner in their ministries.”

Mr. Heath, 61, has been executive director of First UMC in McKinney, Texas, since 2006. It’s a growing church with nearly 3,000 members and a $2 million budget.

He spent 25 years at Taylor Publishing Co., in Dallas, ultimately serving as vice president of communications and vice president of collegiate sales.

Mr. Heath earned an undergraduate degree from Ambassador University in Big Sandy, Texas, and a master of arts from Texas A&M-Commerce. He taught journalism at Ambassador from 1971 to 1978.

He has been a member of Kavanaugh UMC in Greenville, Texas, for more than 25 years, serving in various lay leadership positions.

Mr. Heath and his wife, Carole Ann, have two grown children and four grandchildren.

United Methodist Building in D.C. featured in Washington Post story

The United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill is featured in a Washington Post story on faith and politics during the federal budget crisis. Click here.

IN THE BEGINNING, in the July 29 'Reporter'

Greetings Readers,

Many United Methodist clergy begin their careers at small rural churches. And with the opportunity comes plenty of challenges, as well as satisfactions. United Methodist News Service’s report includes a sidebar focusing on one young pastor as he moves on from the two churches he was assigned to lead right out of seminary.
 
The Rev. Terry Bair was weeks away from retirement when the epic tornado tore through Joplin, Mo. As pastor of a UMC church there, he found himself deeply involved in relief efforts. He discussed the experience with us for a Q&A.
 
Residents of a UM-affiliated senior citizens community in Michigan star in a “lip dub” music video that’s a big hit on the Internet. Staff writer Mary Jacobs tells how it all came about. 
 
United Methodists are part of an interfaith lobbying effort to protect the poor in the federal budget cutting that Congress and President Obama are trying to plan. UMNS reports.
 
In commentaries, we have a typically candid piece by the Rev. Dan Dick, who argues that real change in the UMC will  come when congregations take responsibility for their fate and for spreading the gospel. Retired Bishop Woodie White shares what he’s reading this summer, and the Rev. Lovett Weems and the Rev. Tom Berlin explain why the “so that” exercise is crucial for church leaders engaged in decision-making.
 
We offer much more in this issue, including a Faith & Leadership interview with author Anne Lamott, a Religion News Service review of Paul Simon’s new and surprisingly spiritual CD, and our regular feature History of Hymns, which this time considers the altar call standard “Just As I Am, Without One Plea.”

We welcome your story tips and comments at news@umr.org.
 
Thanks for being a reader. 
 
Sam Hodges
Managing editor

Name change for Campus Crusade for Christ

 

 

Campus Crusade for Christ is changing its name to "Cru." A press release answers the basic questions, and attempts to head off criticism for dropping "Christ."

Melanie Overton named to top post at GHEM

 

Melanie Overton has been chosen assistant general secretary for schools, colleges and universities at the UMC's General Board of Higher Education & Ministry. For details, click here.

VBS `MANS UP,’ in the July 22 'Reporter'

Greetings Readers,

Vacation Bible School has long been a female province, but some UMC churches have successfully recruited men as volunteers. Staff writer Mary Jacobs reports on what works in getting men involved, and on some other wrinkles in how VBS is being run.
 
Hundreds of UM clergy have recently signed statements pledging to officiate at same-sex weddings or civil unions, in defiance of church law. Our story looks at how the statement movement got going, how it grew, and what it might mean for a denomination that remains divided over the issue of homosexuality.
 
Annual Conference season has wound down, and United Methodist News Service provides a survey of what happened at the meetings. Many conferences put a special focus on providing relief to areas hard hit by the many natural disasters of late.
 
UMNS also has a story on how the denomination’s General Board of Pension and Health Benefits is trying to make sure that church investments honor church social principles.
 
In features, we have Mary Jacobs’ review of the book The Digital Reformation and associate editor Bill Fentum’s review of the feature film A Better Life. 
 
Commentaries include Donald W. Haynes on the joys and challenges of working in a small-membership church, and Andrew C.  Thompson on how effective faith formation for youth requires great expectations.
 
There’s plenty more in this edition, including History of Hymns, which this week looks at “Go, Make of All Disciples.”
 
Please let us hear from you at news@umr.org, if you have comments or story ideas.
 
Thanks for the keeping the faith with us.
 
Sam Hodges
Managing editor 

They're "Feelin' Good!"

 

You may have caught this on The Today Show this morning - a fun video that's going viral, and being touted as the nation's first "LipDub" performed solely by residents of a retirement community - and there's a Methodist connection!

Ben Boruff, young UM leader, calls for change on various fronts

Ben Boruff just turned 22, but he’s served on the UMC’s Connectional Table and Call to Action steering committee. Managing editor Sam Hodges caught up with him for a Q&A.
 

Raised-Bed Religion, in the July 15 'Reporter'.

Greetings eReaders,

Community gardens feed the body and soul, and they’re an increasingly popular ministry option for churches, including the United Methodist variety. Special contributor Kathy Goolsby talked to volunteers in a number of UMC gardens, and to experts on the theological implications of serving by growing food.
 
At 22, Benjamin Boruff is a prodigy among United Methodist lay leaders, having served on both the Connectional Table and Call to Action steering committee. He’s a passionate, and pretty outspoken, advocate for change in the denomination. I caught up with him for a Q&A.
 
The recent church trial of the Rev. Amy DeLong, a lesbian pastor from Wisconsin, seemed to underscore divisions in the United Methodist Church over homosexuality. United Methodist News Service’s Heather Hahn reports on the denomination’s history with the issue, on the DeLong trial and other developments of late, and on how things are likely to play out at General Conference 2012.
 
This has been a brutal year in terms of natural disasters, but United Methodist churches have stepped up by providing supplies to the United Methodist Committee on Relief. UMNS has the story.

Missy Buchanan devotes her latest “Aging Well” column to Wally Chappell, a 91-year-old retired UM pastor who is just out with a collection of his sermons – all written at age 75 or later.
 
In other commentaries, retired Bishop Woodie W. White writes about surviving life’s storms, Perkins School of Theology professor Alyce McKenzie reports on how a mission trip to Honduras gave her insight to the “body of Christ” image, and campus minister Eric Van Meter cautions United Methodists about choosing numerically successful churches and pastors as role models.
 
There’s plenty more in this issue, including History of Hymns, with a focus on “O Worship the King,” and staff writer Mary Jacob’s review of Adam Thomas’ new book Digital Disciple.
 
Where we’re based, in Dallas, Texas, the temperatures have consistently been hitting the triple digits – or the “double fifties” as a friend of mine says. So it’s a good time to stay inside and read what’s happening in the United Methodist Church.
 
If you have comments or story ideas, message us at news@umr.org. Thanks for keeping the faith with us.

Sam Hodges
Managing Editor

UMC and the `death tsunami'

 

 

From the Florida Conference, there's concern about the United Methodist Church and the looming "death tsunami." Click here.

Anne Lamott on faith, writing, tennis ...

 

Anne Lamott has a considerable following, owing to such books as "Bird by Bird" (about writing) and "Traveling Mercies" (about Christian faith.)

Click here for an interview she did with Faith & Leadership.