Back in the days when I blogged, I used to do this gimmick I ripped off from a NFL reporter from Sports Illustrated, back when people read magazines, where I'd hammer out ten random thoughts. Thought I'd do that today, for reasons that will become obvious. 1) It was announced today that my son, Xavier, will be the Instrumental Music Director for the Ayersville Local Schools. I can't say that this is his first "real" job, because he had to go to basic training at Fort Jackson in order to serve in the 122nd Army Band. Seems like that's as grown up a job training as someone could go through. But it is his first full-time position in music education, as he nears graduation from Bowling Green State University in two weeks. Congrats Xavier. Dad loves you and is very proud of you. And for the rest of my kids reading this, I am inordinately proud of all of you. Love each of you with all my heart. In fact, if you're in Pittsburgh tomorrow night, go see " Andy ...
While I'm sure there will be another wave of disaffiliating congregations in 2023, I think we can safely say this will be the largest wave of congregations making their way out of the denomination. After what seemed like years of a denominational logjam where dreams, fears and rumors of division or schism floated about the UMC, the dam has broken. About 10-15% of the UMC's here in North America will be looking to exit at specially-called annual conference sessions focused on disaffiliation before the end of the year. Admittedly, the challenges, already daunting, for the United Methodist Church will now be multiplying as large swaths of members and clergy leave. But if you want to know the truth, the Global Methodist Church faces even more daunting challenges. They are discovering that the denomination they envisioned, isn't coming, and never will come, into fruition. Instead, GMC leadership will be forced to contend with five challenges they did not anticipate, and will n...