It is a big, complicated world, and I'm trying to make sense of it. I get the feeling, often, that others also want to try to understand what is going on. The world of religion and politics is a big mess. How can normal churchgoing Jesus-loving folks navigate the issues of our time without being anxious messes? I believe that we can track developments in our world to know how to pray, while simultaneously not being overwhelmed by the anxiety that it can cause in so many. In fact, I think that is part of our job as believers. All of us are trying to minister to people who are drinking from the firehose of popular culture. We need to see it for what it is in order to free others from it. Anyway, if you're interested in processing just a few of these things with some prayer and commentary, consider joining me.
Of the different topics available today, I know I want to cover a recent tweet by Drew McIntyre, questioning if the disaffiliation season of the UMC has caused a "brain drain." The question interests me, so I want to process the thread with you. If you want to read it for yourself, here is a link: https://x.com/DrewBMcIntyre/status/1801734356492300328
I'm publishing this here first to convey my thanks to those of you who have supported my work. Thank you.
Episode 1 takes up marriage, divorce and remarriage. Going into Johannesburg, our Book of Doctrines and Discipline told the world who could marry and never once used the word "divorce." On the last morning of General Conference, in about fifty minutes of floor debate, that changed. I walk Petition 1020 through its whole life: the language we inherited, Jonathan Lee's petition, the committee's 35–1 vote, and Saturday on the floor. That meant Rich Hoffman's amendment, Matt O'Reilly's rewrite, a motion to send the whole thing away for six years, and a final vote of 329–41.
Then we open Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 and ask what the church said, and what it chose not to say. I land somewhere between grateful and uneasy, and I want to hear where you land. The free discussion guide sets the old and new texts side by side, gives both sides in the delegates' own words, and has ...
I don't know why the live stream didn't work today. Here is what I did:
Update: I know I said I would start back up this week. I could easily start the morning live stream back up, but I have been feeling like I need to do some wrap-up on General Conference. It just took me some time get clear on what I would feel good about doing. And I finally got some really good thoughts together after a lot of percolation. Early next week, I should be publishing some very decent work on explaining some of the more impactful developments in Johannesburg. For right now, I'm aiming at eleven episodes dealing with:
1. Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage: how the church put words about divorce into our Book of Doctrines and Discipline on the final morning
2. Sex and Gender Identity: the rewriting of ¶302.8
3. Protecting the Unborn and the Mother: our new language on abortion
4. The Racial Theology Resolution: Resolution 1466, adopted and then defeated on a revote
5. The Articles of Faith: a new doctrinal standard for the Global Methodist Church
6. Restrictive Rules and the ...
