Books for General Conference, in the Jan. 20 'Reporter'

Greetings e-Readers!

The United Methodist Publishing House has a tradition of bringing out books intended to inform debate at General Conference. With the quadrennial gathering not far away (April 24-May 4), a handful of such books are making their appearance, from such UM authors as Lovett Weems, Rudy Rasmus and Gil Rendle. Staff writer Mary Jacobs previews the books and talks to the authors, as well as to Neil Alexander, leader of the publishing house.
 
The UMC’s pension board has decided against investing in for-profit prison companies, saying that to do so would violate the denomination’s Social Principles. United Methodist News Service reports.
 
African-American leaders of the South Central Jurisdictional Conference held their annual meeting and posed tough questions to a bishops’ panel about denominational reform proposals, including restructuring of church agencies and what the standards should be for determining “vital congregations.” Amy Forbus covered the meeting for UMNS.
 
Derek Maul is a veteran religion writer, and the author of a new book, Reaching Toward Easter. Staff writer Mary Jacobs did a Q&A with him.
 
Bread for the World, a venerable hunger relief agency that enjoys considerable support from the UMC, has issued its annual report on hunger, and is calling for policies that support local farmers. UMNS has the story.
 
In commentaries, special contributor Matt O’Reilly, responding to an earlier guest commentary in the Reporter, argues that repentance and the pursuit of holiness are required of those pursuing ordination. Gary Shockley of the General Board of Discipleship provides an update on church planning in the UMC, including different forms the work is taking.
 
Missy Buchanan uses her latest Aging Well column to argue for involving all generations in mission work. Donald Haynes writes about the upcoming General Conference, and more, in his Wesleyan Wisdom column. And special contributor Timothy Larsen writes about learning from reading Bonhoeffer that it’s important to be faithful in small things.
 
There’s plenty more in this edition, including C. Michael Hawn’s History of Hymns column, this time on “Lord, You Give the Great Commission,” and a UMNS feature on the ZOE Ministry Orphan Empowerment Program in Africa.
 
We welcome story tips, comments and brief, civil letters to the editor. Send to news@umr.org.
 
Thanks as always, for keeping the faith with us. 
 
Sam Hodges, managing editor

Comments

[Jim]

Following is a paragraph taken directly from the latest commentary by Dr. Donald Haynes:

"Long ago we buried the paradigm of the annual revival meeting, which was the Second Great Awakening vehicle of evangelism for well over a century. I carry no brief for the return of the revival meeting. Lots of baggage caused its demise, but the sadness is that nothing replaced the revival as a means of congregational renewal or personal conversions. In more recent years the “Walk to Emmaus” has been a vehicle of life-changing experiential grace, but it never got the traction for widespread revivifying of congregations. Accuse me of piosity if you will, but only changed lives can create changed congregations. Let us dig for this General Conference in “the quarry from which we were dug.”(Isaiah 51:1b, CEV) We call that quarry, “Aldersgate.”"

The Walk to Emmaus is a wonderful experience for anybody from any denomnation or from no church at all. Folks have rededicated their lives. Folks have met their Savior on the weekend for the very first time. Even pastors have had their call renewed.

Why has the movement sputtered?!? UMC clergy--at least in our community--often times have been turned off by "Spirit-filled" laity. Folks in the pews who are turned on to their faith apparently become/became stumbling blocks for clergy who want to keep their thumb on everything.

Clergy from other denominations or from nondenominational congregations, on the other hand, embraced this lay led movement and invited their folks to go, and,then looked forward to the renewed vigor their people brougt back with them after completing the weekend. Some UMC clergy in this community are jealous of those clergy guys from other churches who have been so lovingly embraced by particpants on the weekend.

Bended knee and ernest prayer and a Holy Spirit encounter is what will ultimately bring back the umc...

[Mark]

I congratulate Matt O'Reilly for his reasonable, insightful commentary regarding candidates for ordination. His discussion points to the need to move beyond accusing people of hatemongering or homophobia for simply following the dictates of reason, conscience and Scripture.

That does not justify an unloving attitude toward anyone, but straight talk on this issue is long overdue. If one's primary means of self-identification centers around sexual orientation then they have a problem with perspective that needs addressing even before the issue of sexuality is brought up. In short, "who we are" involves much more than sexual orientation; equating the two is often done for political purposes more than anything else.

Gay people, per se, are not barred from ordination. It is how they respond to their orientation that makes all the difference. The church should be a place where people are welcome, it should not be a place where sin is welcome. We must understand the difference between loving the sinner and affirming the sinful. Confusing the two is to confuse the mission of the church.

Science has not suddenly enlightened us on the topic of homosexuality, but an agenda-driven interpretation of science has emboldened a small number of self-centered activists to pursue a course of division within the culture and Christendom. Some may be motivated by a desire for justice, but many are animated by selfishness.

We must learn to reason together on this issue, but we must do it within the confines of clear Biblical teaching and historical Christian understandings. Otherwise our guidelines will quickly become capricious and arbitrary.