In the light of the cyclone that has hit Myanmar, and the tragic loss of life, General Conference seems somehow less important that it did last Friday. Before reading my final post about General Conference I would invite you to pause to pray for the people of Myanmar who have lost loved ones. […]

Much of the day yesterday at General Conference was focused on petitions related to human sexuality and specifically on the church’s policies related to homosexuals. Throughout the conference demonstrators and sympathetic delegates demonstrated and rallied, asking the church to change its current prohibition against “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” being ordained, serving as pastors, and prohibitions […]

I was so proud this morning as our choir and orchestra led worship at General Conference and then later performed in concert at General Conference.  They represented you well and were inspiring!  I’ve had so many here at the conference comment on what a blessing they were.  I felt like a proud father.
This afternoon was […]

Monday night a proposal was brought forward to begin the process for developing a new hymnal for the United Methodist Church. Every 30 years, give or take a few, a new hymnal has been produced for our denomination. New hymns are included, some unsung old hymns are left out, language is updated, […]

The legislative committees began making their reports to the full General Conference today. This will continue through Friday morning. The most far reaching action taken today was the approval of a study that will bring to the 2012 General Conference a proposal to decentralize our denominational structure, giving greater freedom for the […]

There are hundreds of resolutions and proposals (over 1,000 if I remember correctly) that are submitted to the General Conference by laity, clergy, churches and other groups across the denomination - all asking for action by the United Methodist Church. Some relate to doctrine, others to positions on social issues, some to how we […]

It’s 2:00 a.m. and I’m just getting ready for bed after a long day at General Conference. The day began with in a most amazing way. Bishops and the heads of our General Agencies cast several visions for our denomination for the next four years and beyond - visions that were specific, exciting, […]

Last night General Conference began in Fort Worth, Texas.  This event, held once every four years, brings together the Council of Bishops and 900 delegates (1/2 laity, 1/2 clergy) from around the world in order to seek God’s will and to set the direction for our denomination for the next four years and beyond.  We’ll […]

I just finished speaking to our Spring confirmation class - 136 excited and energized 7th graders (and a few older youth as well) who are preparing to publicly profess their faith in Christ on Sunday.  As a part of my talk with the group each semester I invite them commit their lives to Christ and […]

This last week Lisa Miller of Newsweek called to talk with me about my chapter on abortion in my new book, Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White. The article is a short one that you can read here entitled, “
How Would Jesus Choose?” Already I’ve been forwarded links where folks, […]