But now, says the Lord —the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel: Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you. When...
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.
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 is with profound sadness that I share the passing of Rev. Maurice Moore, the father of Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, and a retired clergy person of this conference. Rev. Moore's faithful service spanned four decades as he served numerous congregations. With an itinerant servant's heart, Rev...
Editor's note: Bishop Easterling shared this 'sacred poem' on Facebook on Oct. 27, the day of the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings. I do not know exactly what lies ahead; how far we will have to travel on the road of unrest. I cannot foretell the number of bombs that will have to explode or the...
By Bishop LaTrelle Easterling Families are often torn apart by divorce. Persons who once had love and concern for each other, spent holidays and celebrations together, who claimed one another beyond bloodlines suddenly are not speaking at all. Persons once so close you couldn’t slide a...
Beloved, As I attempt to process the reality that another shooting has occurred within the bounds of our Conference, taking the life of three persons and ending with the self-inflicted death of the shooter, the words of Thomas Moore's hymn, "Come, Ye Disconsolate" (UM Hymnal, #510), rose in...
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. When I learned of the shooting at the Gaming Convention in Jacksonville, Fla., yesterday, I felt grief and profound sadness. But, if I’m honest, I also became angry – a bit enraged at this new instance of...
As the facts continue to come to light and speculation as to motives is debated, one undeniable truth confronts us all — families once again grieve and mourn the senseless loss of life in our community. At this time, pray for those who have lost loved ones, those who are fighting for...
This denomination has been wrestling with the matter of human sexuality since 1972. The restrictive language was written into our Book of Discipline at that time, and we have been dealing with the ramifications and repercussions ever since. Men and women of deep faith and good intention have...
