I grieve that the answer to “Does the UMC have a future” is “NO.” I grieve so deeply that I’ve been unable to write. I’ve spent endless hours in my garden, knowing yet again that there are two things almost guaranteed to break the heart: gardens and churches. And mine is broken. But the “Bible-believers” won. May God, the one they don’t believe in and have excluded from their fellowship, have mercy upon their souls. No. There is no future… Read more
April 3, 2019
A Time Off To Heal; Remy Writes Instead
April 3, 2019 By Christy Thomas
4 Comments
I admit it is difficult for me to identify now with the extremely ununited “United” Methodist Church. Many sit here with me, praying, waiting, watching to see what the power-brokers in the church will do. Part of me wants to contribute to those conversations. Other parts say, “let it go. After all, Remy writes.” After blogging my way through the sad debacle of the specially called 2019 General Conference (i.e., the “sex” conference) of The United Methodist Church, I needed… Read more
March 10, 2019
The IRD’s Mark Tooley Reveals All: The Full African Takeover Of The UMC
March 10, 2019 By Christy Thomas
24 Comments
Yes, Mark Tooley reveals all. However, I feel sure the Wesleyan Covenant Association people, who now have gotten their hopes fulfilled by continued exclusion of the LGBTQIA community, will be delighted to make sure the African church stays fully funded. It would be unthinkable for them, who hold to the stance that they take the highest of high moral roads, to sever their relationship with the African Methodists now or in the foreseeable future. In an editorial of the Friday,… Read more
March 8, 2019
The UMC: Leaving Behind The Hope Of Dialogue
March 8, 2019 By Christy Thomas
17 Comments
In late February this year, delegates from The United Methodist Church met and, leaving behind the hope of dialogue, pushed the win/lose discussion to its furthest limits. The most likely future: a split that will devastate many and leave what has been a powerful connection in shredded shambles. When my husband and I married about 3 ½ years ago, one particularly difficult task faced us as we combined households: what to do with all the books. Both of us love… Read more
March 5, 2019
Sears And The UMC: Both Bankrupt, Looking For Easter
March 5, 2019 By Christy Thomas
13 Comments
Sears and the UMC: both, bankrupt, looking for Easter. GC2019 lit the charge for the explosion for the UMC. The changing notions of how to shop set up the bankruptcy for Sears. I predict a resurrection for the Methodist world. We shall again develop workable methods so we may proclaim with joy the message of grace. Easter is just around the corner. Lent gives us space to ponder the death that must precede it. Before this disturbing and likely disastrous… Read more
February 27, 2019
It’s Official: We Are The United Methodist Church That Hates Gays
February 27, 2019 By Christy Thomas
415 Comments
So, let’s pick up our crosses and do exactly that. Let’s be the church reborn. What we won’t be known as: “The United Methodist Church that hates gays.” The WCA, Good News and the African Methodists own that nomenclature. Check the front page of the nation’s major newspapers today: it will be splashed there. The New York Times headline is typical: United Methodists Tighten Ban on Same-Sex Marriage and Gay Clergy. After reading a few of the comments which showed the… Read more
February 26, 2019
The Hypocrisy Exposed Of The “Gay Sex Is Sin” Cadre
February 26, 2019 By Christy Thomas
11 Comments
The vote: hypocrisy exposed. Other’s people’s sexual activities (as long as it involves gay sex) are wrong and merit condemnation, but I get to keep all my sexual sins without that same condemnation. We’ve had a fascinating day. After what looked like a lot of deliberate slowing of the procedures in the first session, the Judicial Council delivered their report. A summary: they found substantive portions of the Traditional Plan unconstitutional and/or illegal. After that pronouncement, The Rev. Tom Berlin gave… Read more
February 26, 2019
GC2019: Morning Session, Bishops, Power And An Unconstitional Traditional Plan
February 26, 2019 By Christy Thomas
2 Comments
Bishops have no real power in the UMC. In other words, the Bishops may be the leash, but the dog is running this show. No command to “heel” will be heeded in any way. And, by the way, a significant portion of the Traditional Plan has just been declared unconstitutional. Although the morning session was scheduled to begin at 8:20 this morning, it didn’t actually begin until nearly 9 am. It opened with various corrections, comments, etc. about the official… Read more
February 26, 2019
GC2019: Obsession With Other People’s Genitalia?
February 26, 2019 By Christy Thomas
3 Comments
How far will our obsession with other people’s genitalia go? What about men who have disfigured genitalia? The Bible also bans them from work in the religious holy places? Should we not have genitalia checks? GC2019 reconvenes shortly. After yesterday’s deep disappointment, when the delegates voted to become the church of closed minds, closed hearts, closed doors, when the traditionalists celebrated their victory, when some teen, confused over sexuality and rejected by the church and very possibly by church-taught family,… Read more
February 25, 2019
Monday Afternoon At GC2019: The UMC Has Just Died
February 25, 2019 By Christy Thomas
196 Comments
The delegates have spoken and the UMC has just died: gays are irredeemably bad, evil and unacceptable. I can barely write about this. The delegates have been debating the inclusive One Church Plan, one three minute speech after another, since about 1:15 pm. Each side makes points that they feel are definitive. Nowever, as I see tight, tight votes on what are simple corrections and not substantive changes passing by one vote or not passing by a tie, I am… Read more
get the latest from
The Thoughtful Pastor
Sign up for our newsletter
Browse Our Archives
TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian
