Taking My Ball and Going Home: A Response to Rev. Andy Langford’s Letter
Posted by Brad S in Uncategorized on May 16, 2012
We were all disappointed with the outcome of GC 2012 in our own way. Some are mad because the Church was not opened up to all persons. Some are mad because there was no viable restructure plan passed. Some are mad about the 9 million dollars the whole thing cost. We all know there are [...]
We Can Do Better: General Conference 2016
Posted by Brad S in Uncategorized on May 10, 2012
I have spent the last few days decompressing and thinking about General Conference 2012. I have read many blogs, tweets, and Facebook posts with many different opinions. The one consistent theme between conservative, liberal, male, female, gay, straight, clergy, laity, and episcopacy is that no one is happy about what happened in Tampa. Another consistent [...]
A Rollercoaster Ride: General Conference 2012
Posted by Brad S in Uncategorized on May 5, 2012
Thirty minutes before time for scheduled adjournment, the Judicial Council dropped a bomb of epic proportions. Plan UMC, the plan the delegates of General Conference spend days crafting, after the plans they spent months crafting did not pass the legislative committee, was ruled unconstitutional because it “commingles” with the powers of the Council of Bishops. [...]
A Matter of Trust: GC2012
Posted by Brad S in Uncategorized on May 1, 2012
Today (Tuesday May 1) the delegates of General Conference voted to end the tradition of guaranteed appointment in the Church for full elders. This has caused a buzz on Twitter and Facebook. Supporters claim this is a way to get rid of ineffective clergy and help the Church grow. They also claim that regular working [...]
Social Media and General Conference Part 2
Posted by Brad S in Uncategorized on April 27, 2012
The conversation about social media and its possible effects on General Conference has expanded. This is a good thing. Social media’s role in the Church is new and needs to be discussed. So far most of the discussion has surrounded the use of sarcasm and snarkiness in tweets by delegates and those of us in [...]
Social Media and General Conference
Posted by Brad S in General Conference, United Methodist Church on April 26, 2012
Francis Asbury, and Thomas Coke could have never imagined how communication would evolve 228 years after they first met in Baltimore. Back then communication took days, weeks, or even months, especially if it was on its way back to England. I wonder if Asbury and Coke would have dared to defy John Wesley and be [...]
Trayvon Martin: A Long Way Yet to Go
Posted by Brad S in Uncategorized on March 21, 2012
A couple of years ago my wife and I were leaving a church fundraiser and driving through our little town of Pulaski, TN on our way home. I was, carelessly, playing with my radio and as a result a swerved a little bit and made a couple of wide turns. I did these in front [...]
John Piper Twisted Theology on Twisters
Posted by Brad S in Christianity, Church, Compassion, John Piper, Religion, Uncategorized on March 5, 2012
Almost every time there is a natural disaster there is a Christian leader who tries to explain it as God’s punishment for whatever region it befalls. Last Friday there was a historic outbreak of tornadoes and severe weather that claimed 39 lives and countless homes and businesses. Today mega-church pastor and “theologian” John Piper posted [...]
Call to Action is not a zero-sum game.
Posted by Brad S in Call to Action, Christianity, Church, General Conference, Pastors, Religion, United Methodist Church on February 15, 2012
As the United Methodist Church gets closer to General Conference in April, the rhetoric surrounding the Call to Action (CTA) is heating up. The Feb/Mar/Apr edition of the Circuit Rider is mostly dedicated to discussion of the CTA. Bishop Will Willimon, in his own peremptory way, posted his support on his blog this week. As [...]
A Masculine Christianity?
Posted by Brad S in Christianity, Church, John Piper, Mark Driscoll, misogyny, Pastors, Religion, United Methodist Church on February 2, 2012
Earlier this week, popular neo-Calvinist pastor John Piper made some controversial comments during a conference held at his church. His comments were that Christianity was designed by God to be more masculine than feminine. This got the Christian blogosphere humming. Rachel Held Evans, a great, emerging voice in Christianity today, challenged men in the blogosphere [...]
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