Beloved of God, As we look toward to Feb. 23-26 and the Special Session of General Conference, anxieties are running high, uncertainty permeates the air, and last-minute appeals are being made to influence delegates’ votes. These are, without a doubt, trying times in the life of our denomination.
By Rev. Leo Yates, Jr.* Questions. There were a lot of questions from the first day of class all the way through the last day of class. Addictions, both substance-related and behavioral addictions, and social support were among the topics of discussion and study during the...
NOTE: Faith leaders in the Washington, D.C. region have issued a call to justice and hope in light of the ongoing federal government shutdown in an open letter to President Donald Trump, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell. The letter calls on them to end...
"Your calling is to point to the light you see," says the Rev. John Nupp. Explore more about God's call in your life.
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the...
It appears to me that it will require a miracle for this denomination to survive (here in the United States) another 20 years. Not only is the 2019 General Conference fraught with peril, but even more foreboding is the 20 year prognosis for all historic denominations in the...
By Rev. Bryant M. Oskvig* I serve as a Chaplain at a Catholic University, and for the last few months, I have been part of conversations, panels, and dialogues around the crisis due to the recent revelations of abuse and cover-up that have occurred in the Roman Catholic Church. The number...
Ancient church mothers and fathers often greeted one another with the phrase, “Give me a word.” This greeting led to the sharing of insights and wisdom. Today we continue this tradition with this monthly column. Expect By Mandy SayersLead Pastor, Glen Mar UMC, Ellicott City Advent...
By Ginger Gaines-Cirelli* Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli The language of “resistance” has a long history. I’m not a political theorist or activist; I’m a pastor-theologian and a follower of Jesus. Thus, the language of “resistance” for Christians evolves through...
The following are excerpts from Evan Moffic’s upcoming book, First the Jews: Combating the World’s Longest-Running Hate Campaign (Abingdon Press, 2018). Evan is a rabbi in the Chicago area who leads Congregation Solel, a synagogue of 500 families. He blogs regularly...
