Three things I hold

I am a member of both my Annual Conference's Delegation to General Conference 2020, and of our Conference Task Force exploring whether and how Methodists in New England might become a new and inclusive Methodist movement. Between juggling these roles and my own passion for the future of ministry in my local Methodist church and…

To Bishop KO with Love

Next week, the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church will rule on cases concerning out LGBTQ clergy in the denomination. While the outcome of these cases will certainly have a huge impact on the global UMC, no matter what that outcome is, I'm distressed by the mischaracterization of what the cases address. The Judicial…

UMC, this is the moment.

I try not to be too dramatic. Okay, maybe I try not to be needlessly dramatic. But I'm convinced that with hindsight it will be clear: This is the moment that a new structure for an existing denomination-- or an entirely new denomination-- will begin its birth pangs. I hope it's that first thing, hear me.…

How did we get here?

The New England Annual (regional) Conference of The United Methodist Church experienced a watershed moment this week-- so many watershed moments that it's clear this is not a moment, but a movement. I speak not only of the passage of an Action of Non-Conformity with the General Conference of our denomination, but of the whole…

Only Love Can Do That

Saturday night, I had an experience that I can only describe as something between a conversion and an affirmation, while sitting (briefly) on the floor of the Church & Society 2 legislative committee. Grace at General Conference? I know. I came in as a substitute for my friend and a member of our delegation, LaTrelle, who…

Sermon: Standing in the River

"Standing in the River" (September 27, 2015) In a message inspired by and based upon the Bible studies of Rev. Grace Imathiu at RMN/MFSA's Convocation "Gather at the River," we remember and commit to the need to hold space for one another. We will stand in the river and wait with love, until all people…

Sermon: All Means All

"All Means All" (September 13, 2015) We begin a sermon series on the Beloved Community, examining the marking of the people of God, being formed into community. The first aspect of this community is that all of us are welcome. That means all of us-- every person, and also all of us-- our whole selves.…

Sermon: What’s to Stop Me?

"What's to Stop Me?" (May 3, 2015) While we tend to see so many labels and categories, fragmenting humanity into different boxes, Jesus and his early followers broke down these barriers and eliminated the separations between people in creating a new beloved community. As Phillip and the traveler on the road to Gaza discover, there…

The White Echo-Chamber

I'm offering these reflections honestly, as part of my own thinking and growing, and to share what I see. I'm claiming no special awareness or insight, and I really don't want to compare how enlightened I am to anyone else. Spoiler: not very. You probably have more non-white friends than I do, and that's cool.…

ReBlog- A Call for In-Home Separation

I think there are several ways to accomplish [something less than schism for The UMC], but to me the most promising involve the creation of an United States (or Jurisdictional) Central Conference/s, and a two-volume Book of Discipline, with the option of emending the second volume in each Central Conference. Kind of a way, I hope, of holding together those things we do well-- our ministry and mission, our Social Principles (SOME of them-- I'll get to that), our ways of funding and equipping local ministries across the globe-- and allowing one another the grace and space to carry out our ministries in our contexts. As Wesley would say, in essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity.