Early in my ministry two things became apparent: 1) Good preachers, in the United Methodist tradition at least, read and read widely. 2) Leadership, in a parish, community outreach ministry and beyond is at least as much ART as it is SCIENCE.
In thinking about the future of Christianity and United Methodism in North America, I have seen the links between our natural worlds and faith worlds ever more clearly. I will be sharing many of these insights here -- and hope to have dialogue with many of you. Some of them will be found in talks I am giving at the North Texas Annual Conference sessions on June 14-15. Watch this space.
For over fifty years, United Methodist membership and attendance in the U.S. has been ebbing. What’s gone wrong? What shall we do? I admit that I have no easy solutions. I bring you no programs, formulas or catchy initiatives for a quick remedy to our dilemma. Currently, our situation is complicated by the pandemic, the divisions in our denomination, and the national challenges around truth-telling and low institutional trust.
Forever Beginning 