Best Laid Plans, in the March 30 ‘Reporter’

Greetings e-Readers!

The main proposal for restructuring the UMC’s general agencies has found fans but also many critics. As General Conference approaches, alternatives have emerged, including one called simply Plan B. Our story tries to sort out where things stand with roughly a month to go before the big legislative gathering in Tampa, Fla. 
 
A mission team from the Yellowstone Conference recently went from Montana to Angola to understand the lives of United Methodists there, and to show support. Kristen Cates is a Montana newspaper reporter and a United Methodist. She was on the trip, and it’s her report, first published in the Great Falls Tribune, that we are happy to share.
 
Recent congressional testimony by law student Sandra Fluke brought criticism, then an apology, from radio host Rush Limbaugh. Both Ms. Fluke and Mr. Limbaugh are United Methodists. UMNS has the story of how they ended up making news together.
 
A more independent future awaits the United Methodist Women, if General Conference gives its approval. Staff writer Mary Jacobs reports on the organization’s hopes and tentative plans.

In commentaries, the Rev. Suzanne Duchesne argues that real repentance for crimes against Native Americans will take more than the scheduled service at General Conference. And the Rev. Donald Haynes devotes his “Wesleyan Wisdom” column to new and old techniques that he has found work in building or re-building a vital congregation.
 
Elsewhere in this issue, the Rev. Kenny Dickson offers a DVD review of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, with a focus on what it can teach Christians who have responsibility for someone with autism. And C. Michael Hawn devotes his History of Hymns column to “Ah, Holy Jesus,” including the English translation of its lyrics by British writer Robert Bridges.
 
And please check our website for more General Conference coverage, including many of the stories and commentaries that appear in our 24-page special supplement previewing the big event. 
 
We welcome your 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

[Kevin]

Suzanne Duchesne is writing about manifest destiny and the guilt we bear for it or some such. Wasn't that more than 160 years ago? European culture clashed with native American culture and bad things happened. I get that. When do we stop apologizing and move on? We cannot unring that bell. The real question is where do we go from here? I could not really tell what she was saying on that. Perhpas I am desensitized since the native problem where I grew up was resolved three hundred years ago. The natives are long gone but many of their place names remained.

[Mark]

The article on Ms. Fluke was exceptionally unbalanced. The opposition to the birth control mandate was not based on using birth control pills as a medical treatment. It was based on an objection to forcing people to pay for something against their conscience or against their church's religious teaching(like reckless sexual activity or abortafacients or sterilization).

While no one defends the Limbaugh statement, here we have Ms. Fluke attending an expensive law school the vast majority of Americans could not afford and sanctimoniously asking for someone else to pay for her birth control products (which are readily available and inexpensive). That takes gall. Also unmentioned in the article by Ms. Gilbert is the fact that Ms. Fluke is a political activist, and the Book of Discipline condones sexual relations only within marriage.

[Jim]

Both articles referenced above boil down to a single thing--political correctness. So long as liberal progressives make all of the choices for the American people--and the liberal progressives are doing that--our country will be pulled quicker and quicker to the left and that social agenda. The united methodist church follows hook/line/sinker the direction the country is going.

Keep looking up!! Signs and wonders are happening every day..............................