tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119796362011-06-30T22:05:49.516-05:00A working preacher in Washington, D.C., wrestles with Scripture, the (sigh) United Methodist Church and his soul.Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.comBlogger541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1122752617607978192005-07-30T14:27:00.000-05:002005-07-30T14:43:37.613-05:00

Dear Friends:Untied Methodist has moved to a new location. The new address is www.untiedmethodist.com.I hope the new location will be friendlier to the browsers that have had a hard time reading this blog.Please notice that there is a new feed for short items in the right hand column. It is called "50wordsorless" . This can also be accessed directly at www.untiedmethodist.com/50wordsorless.At the

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1122564665844162872005-07-28T09:59:00.000-05:002005-07-29T11:32:51.723-05:00

Good News has issued a press release taking sides in the case of the Virginia pastor who was placed on involuntary leave of absence as the consequence of his refusal to allow an openly gay man to join his church in spite of his district superintendent's instructions to receive him.The Rev. James V. Heidinger II, president of Good News, said the involuntary leave voted by the Virginia Conference's

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1122229175020587732005-07-24T12:48:00.000-05:002005-07-29T11:34:51.956-05:00

On the last day (Sunday, July 17) of our time in Liberia, our hostess and guide Frances Porte invited us to attend worship with her. Her congregation, the First United Methodist Church of Robertsports, was meeting jointly with St. Peter's United Methodist Church, a congregation whose building is located a two-hour drive outside Monrovia. The combined service was held at United Methodist

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1121977260589449312005-07-21T15:08:00.000-05:002005-07-21T15:29:43.910-05:00

By Dean Snyder and Jane MaloneMONROVIA, Liberia - It is quite likely that a United Methodist will become the first woman to be elected president of Liberia, according to interviews with faculty members and students at Liberia's United Methodist University.University faculty members and students identified Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, formerly an official with the United Nations, the World Bank, and

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1121906403454594372005-07-20T19:07:00.000-05:002005-07-29T11:43:32.466-05:00

Steve Swecker, editor of Zion's Herald, has begun a blog at www.faithwriterblog.com/. Swecker is an excellent editor and Zion's Herald is an important magazine. It is good to have him blogging.It has long disappointed me that United Methodism has such a minimalist independent press. The United Methodist Reporter is independent, sort of. Much of its income comes from annual conferences and local

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1121901424988619112005-07-20T17:50:00.000-05:002005-07-23T20:41:40.823-05:00

By Dean Snyder and Jane MaloneGANTA, Liberia -- Sampson Nyanti is on his cell phone trying to get building suppliesdelivered from Monrovia. Workers are rebuilding Ganta Mission’s elementary school, and he doesn’t want the project stalled or workers idle for lack of materials.The workers’ salaries are being paid by a grant from USAID for which Nyanti is very grateful --only four Liberian United

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1121882231064392302005-07-20T12:36:00.000-05:002005-07-20T17:32:45.906-05:00

After returning from Liberia I found a letter in my mailbox from the Rev. Paul T. Stallsworth, the president of Lifewatch and editor of its newsletter. He wrote in response to my July 3 post entitled "Lifewatch, Reconciling Ministries, the United Methodist Building, and Lake Junaluska: Why We Worry."In his letter he gives me permission to make it public, so I will do so here, and then make a few

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1121815654159152952005-07-19T17:23:00.000-05:002005-07-19T20:21:09.523-05:00

By Dean Snyder and Jane MaloneBUCHANAN, Liberia – “Give me pen, not gun” reads a hand-written poster on the cafeteria wall of J.F. Yancy School at Camphor Mission near Buchanan, Liberia. The slogan is not hyperbole. Beginning in the early 1990’s, boys as young as 12 and 13 were recruited or forcibly drafted into rebel armies, given guns, and deployed to fight and kill other Liberians for more

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1120529781698923012005-07-04T21:15:00.000-05:002005-07-04T21:16:21.726-05:00

Tomorrow I leave for Liberia with a study team that will meet with workers and leaders of the Liberian labor movement. We will hopefully help to build a stronger relationship between the workers of Liberia and the United States.Next Sunday Jane will join me and we will spend a week visiting with our United Methodist brothers and sisters in Liberia.United Methodism, like the United States, has a

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1120446934093706482005-07-03T21:33:00.000-05:002005-07-04T10:04:23.840-05:00

The Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality, or Lifewatch, is a caucus within the United Methodist Church that wants to change our church's stance on abortion.An unsigned editorial in its June 2005 newsletter entitled "What Motivates Lifewatch?" states:"Why does Lifewatch exist? Why does Lifewatch do what we do? Why does Lifewatch witness within The United Methodist Church today?

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1120363889457388272005-07-02T22:11:00.000-05:002005-07-03T06:50:47.770-05:00

I have been involved in two extended discussions about the resolution passed by the California-Nevada Conference defining sexual orientation as a status.One conversation has been happening here at Untied Methodist in the comment section of my post reporting on the passing of the resolution. John Wilks of A Preacher's Journey and I have been having a spirited discussion about whether the

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1120233119694978562005-07-01T10:32:00.000-05:002005-07-01T12:31:03.020-05:00

Locusts and Honey discovered a news story in The Guardian, a British newspaper, entitled "Methodist leaders vote to bless gay couples."Then, the British Methodist Conference issued a statement suggesting that the news reports were not necessarily fully accurate. The statement said: "Some of the national and local newspapers which have reported on the Conference debate have interpreted this in a

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1120188394337760182005-06-30T21:33:00.000-05:002005-07-01T15:49:13.730-05:00

The California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church passed a resolution June 17 defining sexual orientation as a status. (See here also.)The exact wording of the resolution is: "The California-Nevada Annual Conference hereby defines the word 'status' as including sexual orientation such as heterosexuality, homosexuality, bi-sexuality, and transgendered."The conference also passed

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1120129923966361172005-06-30T05:10:00.000-05:002005-06-30T14:46:25.333-05:00

Spirituality has become a commodity for sale on the competitive capitalist free market.I was struck by this reality when I read Jeff Sharlet's profile of Ted Haggard, pastor of a magachurch in Colorado Springs and president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), in the May issue of Harper's Magazine.Let me say quickly that I do not make reference, in this case, to Haggard's philosophy

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1120069277325216492005-06-29T13:15:00.000-05:002005-06-29T21:10:11.790-05:00

Rev. Rachel Lieder Simeon is conference superintendent of the Alaska Missionary Conference, one of the few U.S. United Methodist conferences reporting growth in both membership and attendance in 2004. The Alaska Missionary Conference, which has 28 churches, ended 2004 with 4,045 members, up 1 from 2003. Average attendance during 2004 was 2,609, up 15 from 2003. The Alaska Missionary Conference

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1119911154628955272005-06-27T16:52:00.000-05:002005-06-29T12:52:24.236-05:00

Ted Haggard (pictured right), pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Col., talks on the phone to President Bush or his staff every Monday. Haggard is president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE).Throughout the years, while not always agreeing with its stances, I have respected the NAE. As a senior in college 37 years ago my senior thesis for the political science department

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1119895428515023032005-06-27T12:24:00.000-05:002005-06-27T14:03:22.643-05:00

Dr. Paul Nixon serves as Conference Director of Congregational Development for the Alabama-West Florida Conference. His conference is one of the few United Methodist conferences reporting growth in both membership and attendance in 2004 ... and one of the very few that has been growing for more than two decades.Dr. Nixon's ministry includes planning and coaching new church starts, identifying and

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1119653028145398162005-06-24T17:26:00.000-05:002005-06-24T18:22:29.906-05:00

In response to recent posts a friend sent me this note:-----------------------------------Demographic research shows that the primary reason for the decline in membership in mainline churches and the growth of conservative churches has little to do with ideology and much to do with biology. Conservative church members have more children.According to findings published in the American Journal of

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1119566972313529382005-06-23T19:36:00.000-05:002005-06-24T09:40:07.386-05:00

Dr. Nancy Burgin Rankin serves as Director of Congregational Development for the Western North Carolina Conference. With half of U.S. conferences having announced their numbers for 2004, her conference is one of the few United Methodist conferences reporting growth in both church membership and average worship attendance.Dr. Rankin served as a pastor and district superintendent prior to becoming

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1119476254565496622005-06-22T22:56:00.000-05:002005-06-23T10:06:14.736-05:00

Several years ago Jane and I were in Zimbabwe to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the United Methodist Church there. About 10,000 people gathered nightly under a massive tent at Old Mutare Mission, the birthplace of Methodism in Zimbabwe. Some had walked for days to get there.One evening retired Bishop Abel T. Muzorewa preached. Even though he spoke in Shona and I couldn't

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1119293504209202642005-06-20T22:52:00.000-05:002005-06-21T10:16:40.366-05:00

Yesterday I posted last year's membership and attendance numbers from the 37 annual conferences that have provided reports so far to United Methodist News Service (UMNS). UMNS awaits 36 additional reports from the conferences in the United States, so half of the reports are in.You can see the numbers in yesterday's post entitled "No Comment."So, okay, in spite of saying no comment, I will

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1119230997753537152005-06-19T20:07:00.000-05:002005-06-21T10:23:25.593-05:00

This information is taken from the United Methodist News Service's 2005 annual conference reports as of today:North Central JurisdictionDakotas Annual ConferenceJune 8-11, Bismarck, N.D.Membership stands at 43,136, down 548 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 22,930, down 186.Detroit Annual ConferenceMay 20-22, 2005, Adrian, Mich.Membership stands at 101,917, down 2,751 (3

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1119025219176120052005-06-17T16:30:00.000-05:002005-06-17T17:11:05.883-05:00

Twenty-five years ago when I was a campus minister, one of the students in our group was determined to stop being gay. When everything else failed, he entered an aversion therapy program.He went to a hospital several times a week. There he was hooked up to monitors to measure his vital signs. The therapist would then project erotic pictures onto a screen. When the monitors indicated that he might

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1118869233182491332005-06-15T22:30:00.000-05:002005-06-16T09:21:21.113-05:00

I was tempted to entitle this post "Is the IRD Part of a Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy?" but decided that would be too sensationalistic.It is, however, the sort of question one is left asking after reading the new book from Zion's Herald magazine, Hard Ball on Holy Ground: The Religious Right v. the Mainline for the Church's Soul.The IRD -- Institute for Religion and Democracy -- is a conservative

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1118679014400947802005-06-13T11:02:00.000-05:002005-06-13T11:44:44.670-05:00

Sermon preached June 12 at Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington, DCI’d like us to pretend we are Baptists or Plymouth Brethren this morning and actually get out our Bibles and look at the Scripture with our own eyes.First, let’s turn to Mark 10: 28-30:Mark 10:28 Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."29 Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1118544567061090662005-06-11T21:41:00.000-05:002005-06-13T05:24:42.043-05:00

Several southern annual conferences are considering a resolution intended to increase the power of the Southeastern and South Central Jurisdictions on denominational boards and agencies, according to Jay Voorhees at The Methoblog.The resolution requests a ruling of the United Methodist Judicial Council about the way the secretary of the General Conference interprets the very complicated formula

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1118353392039621282005-06-09T16:06:00.000-05:002005-06-10T15:48:57.660-05:00

The Rev. James Farmer, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Prince Frederick, Md., is a 2005 recipient of the Harry H. Denman Award for Evangelism presented by the Baltimore-Washington Conference. He was recognized because of his effectiveness in reaching people who join the church on profession of faith -- brand new members as distinct from those transferring from other congregations or

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1118173878246942172005-06-07T22:38:00.000-05:002005-06-09T17:31:27.276-05:00

I have just ordered a copy of the Zion Herald magazine's new book Hardball on Holy Ground: The Religious Right v. the Mainline for the Church's Soul, edited by Stephen Swecker. Swecker is a smart and balanced guy, a thoughtful and skilled editor, so I will read the book. Still, the appearance of another book on this topic makes me nervous.Like United Methodism @ Risk: A Wake Up Call written by

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1117903561759740262005-06-04T10:53:00.000-05:002005-06-04T12:48:29.123-05:00

Friends report that Zimbabwe is peaceful despite a draconian government blitz that has destroyed "informal shelters" (wood shacks that people pieced together for housing in high density suburbs), food stands, and shops.The operation, which began about three weeks ago, is being called "Operation Murambatsvina" or "Operation Restore Order." It has apparently displaced tens of thousands of people

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1117633401734697522005-06-01T08:33:00.000-05:002005-06-03T09:11:34.483-05:00

A group of United Methodist Church leaders want to discover what United Methodists are passionate about. What is our "main thing"?A bishops' task force on unity and the new Connectional Table, a body established by the 2004 General Conference to coordinate the work of the general agencies, have begun an effort to discern "the main thing that we [United Methodists] are all so passionate about" so

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1117560211018542402005-05-31T18:00:00.000-05:002005-05-31T18:01:50.150-05:00

Can anyone help me understand William Abraham?Years ago, maybe 1998 or 99, I heard William Abraham defend the United Methodist Discipline's position on homosexuality in a lecture given at a theological institute sponsored by the Baltimore-Washington Conference. I didn't understand what he was trying to say when I heard him say it years ago, so I was pleased to discover that his lecture has been

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1117460214177389382005-05-30T08:35:00.000-05:002005-05-30T09:05:15.893-05:00

Bill McKibben has been one of my favorite thinkers ever since I read his book The Age of Missing Information back in the mid-90s.To write The Age of Missing Information, McKibben spent 1,700 hours watching cable television from Fairfax, Va., the cable system with the most channels at the time, and then he went camping in the Adirondacks to see if there was anything he might learn from nature that

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1117274878451677782005-05-27T22:01:00.000-05:002005-05-29T08:00:05.250-05:00

It is annual conference season here in the birthplace of American Methodism. We are meeting in a fine hotel in Baltimore, the city where the first Methodist conference in America –ever– was held at Lovely Lane Methodist Church in 1784. The accommodations back then were, I’m sure, less luxurious.My congregation presented a resolution to annual conference this year. (For the text of our resolution,

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1116953969699784342005-05-24T18:19:00.000-05:002005-05-25T19:16:29.536-05:00

Two new books about exactly the same topic fell into my hands without any effort on my part, so I thought I ought to pay attention. One of the books was given to me by its author who is a member of my congregation. The other was given to me because it was nominated for an award and a member of the organization making the award thought it would interest me.Both books are about the the long and

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1116863298894614952005-05-23T09:35:00.000-05:002005-05-25T08:34:20.916-05:00

Albright College, Reading, PennsylvaniaSunday, May 22, 2005Scripture: Micah 6: 6-8; Matthew 5: 38-48It was 40 years ago this coming August that my father drove me here to this campus from our home in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. He helped me carry my suitcases up to the second floor of Albright Court, gave me a $20 bill (which was more money then than it is now), and drove home without me.It was

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1116602737703158772005-05-20T10:59:00.000-05:002005-05-20T11:02:39.813-05:00

John the Methodist at the Locusts and Honey blog is doing a series of Methodist Blogger Profiles, and has just posted one on me. (Blush)His three profiles so far are of Dave Warnock, a British (he is quite brilliantly British, I think) Methodist, who blogs at 42; Cole Wakefield, a Nashville Methodist, who blogs at Christian Dissent (Cole also does a radio show on Radio Free Nashville); and now

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1116520043391291292005-05-19T18:21:00.000-05:002005-05-19T18:37:43.413-05:00

Since we have asked you to share sermons on selected texts this week as a way of helping each other with our preaching, and since this has required that you become vulnerable to one another and to me, I thought it would be only fair that I take the risk of sharing a sermon with you on the same texts we assigned to you.We have been basing our sermons on the lectionary readings for the seventh

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1116112663132002282005-05-14T18:17:00.000-05:002005-05-14T18:17:43.136-05:00

Liberia Jane Originally uploaded by untied methodist. I confess that I have just learned how to post photos. Here are some pictures from our trip to Liberia to attend the United Methodist annual conference there. It was a powerful and rich experience. Here Jane Malone, my wife, is honored by the annual conference and presented with a traditional dress.

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1116111763660318492005-05-14T18:02:00.000-05:002005-05-14T18:18:38.763-05:00

Liberia ProcessionOriginally uploaded by untied methodist. The beginning of the ordination service during the Liberia annual conference. The experience of ordination was very powerful. The Spirit was very much present and moving.

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1116111715245318892005-05-14T18:01:00.000-05:002005-05-14T18:19:02.346-05:00

Liberia DeaconessesOriginally uploaded by untied methodist. Just a few of the dozens of deaconesses who were consecrated during the Liberia annual conference. Dressed in white, the deaconesses filled a section of the First United Methodist Church of Monrovia where annual conference was held.

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1116111658095859372005-05-14T18:00:00.000-05:002005-05-14T18:19:28.486-05:00

Liberia coconutOriginally uploaded by untied methodist. Following two days of fasting to prepare spiritually for annual conference, members of the Liberia annual conference are served peices of coconut and of a root whose name I do not recall to break their fast.

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1116111505082655232005-05-14T17:58:00.000-05:002005-05-14T18:19:45.546-05:00

Liberia BannerOriginally uploaded by untied methodist. A banner outside the First United Methodist Church of Monrovia welcomed us to annual conference sessions.

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1116084723616274542005-05-14T09:27:00.000-05:002005-05-15T09:41:02.366-05:00

John Juech has gracious given me permission to post portions of an e-mail he wrote me from Liberia. John is a Foundry person currently working with the UN in Liberia. He was responding to an essay found here.Rev. Snyder,I just finished reading the article about Liberia that you wrote for the United Methodist News Service. (I found it at http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=7268) Thank you so much

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1115938234208355292005-05-13T16:53:00.000-05:002005-05-14T17:31:11.753-05:00

After the dialogue in The Question I Am Most Often Asked By People Visiting My Church's Website -- Part One and Part Two, (both of which would be helpful to skim before reading this post), I received this e-mail from my dialogue partner:Dean,Thanks for the thoughtful response!.It seems to me that, in your view, there is little or no absolute truth, only that truth at which each individual arrives

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1115572134973107872005-05-11T16:30:00.000-05:002005-05-11T16:39:10.463-05:00

Several weeks ago I got a note from one of our Sunday School teachers. The children had been studying the story in the Gospel of John of the wedding at Cana that Jesus, his mother, and his disciples attended. In the story, Mary mentions to Jesus that they have run out of wine at the wedding. Jesus answers Mary by saying: "Woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." (John 2:4

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1115556027438736862005-05-07T19:38:00.000-05:002005-05-08T09:41:57.496-05:00

Last week the executive committee of the Council of Bishops issued a statement about the appeals court decision in the Beth Stroud case that surprises me. The pronouncement includes three surprising statements:1) The bishops on the executive committee encourage "all United Methodists to be patient;"2) The bishops say the appeals committee has reversed the trial verdict "based upon some

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1115242777460228522005-05-04T16:08:00.000-05:002005-05-05T14:52:03.796-05:00

When Ministry Gets ToughMark 9: 14-29I don't mean when ministry is hard work. Ministry is often hard work, satisfying work, but still work, still hard. We shouldn't expect ministry not to be hard work. I mean when ministry gets tough.I was fortunate. My first appointments after seminary were hard work but they weren't tough. My first appointment was to a declining, aging congregation that lacked

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1114799114621891142005-04-29T13:24:00.000-05:002005-05-04T17:26:19.443-05:00

After posting "The Question I Am Most Often Asked By People Visiting My Church's Website -- Part One," I received this thoughtful response from the person who had e-mailed me the original question:Dean,I read your blog, and thanks for your words. You touched on the scriptural verses pertaining to homosexual practice and rightly noted that they all cast it in a negative light. I don't understand

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1114017453816367452005-04-20T12:14:00.000-05:002005-04-20T12:17:33.816-05:00

Commentary: Amid sad context, Liberia’s story inspiresA UMNS CommentaryBy Dean Snyder and Jane Malone*The danger of visiting Liberia, as we did in February during the 2005 Liberia Annual Conference, is that a visitor might easily confuse the context with the story.The context is a nation that has experienced more than two decades of violence and years of political and economic devastation. It has

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1113683535896668312005-04-18T16:36:00.000-05:002005-04-18T15:43:13.986-05:00

A friend who is working on a thesis about why Christians seem to do such a poor job of caring for the earth suggested I read a statement entitled "God's Earth is Sacred: An Open Letter to Church and Society in the United States. " The document was written by a group of 11 Christian theologians and ethicists convened by the National Council of Churches.Among the members of the group are two people

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1113515045178378802005-04-14T15:17:00.000-05:002005-04-15T14:25:13.726-05:00

Several weeks ago I was sitting in my living room with an amiable British guest, a Methodist pastor visiting from England. His mood changed, however, when I happened to mention the decision of the Methodist Church of Cote d'Ivoire to become part of the United Methodist Church (UMC). The Protestant Methodist Church of Cote d'Ivoire (the Ivory Coast) had historically been affiliated with British

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1112888583919654192005-04-13T08:39:00.000-05:002005-04-13T15:11:21.000-05:00

Here is an true-life example of the question that I am most often asked after people visit my church's website or read certain of my sermons:I am a new Methodist in Texas who came across your church website. Great website by the way.I have noticed that your church strongly emphasizes an acceptance of homosexual practice. Knowing that there are numerous biblical prohibitions against homosexual

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1113345761754272442005-04-12T17:39:00.000-05:002005-04-12T21:14:49.116-05:00

It was the afternoon of the first Easter. Earlier in the day, the women followers of Jesus had discovered that the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid was empty. But it was now later in the day.Two of the followers of Jesus were walking on the road to Emmaus. They were not two of the twelve disciples, actually there were only 11 left. The 11 disciples were still back in Jerusalem. These were two

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11979636.post-1112835329242467182005-04-06T22:14:00.000-05:002005-04-07T10:13:55.233-05:00

Rough thoughts:One of them was named Cleopas, but we really don't know who these two are who are walking on the road to Emmaus, away from the rest of the disciples who are back in Jerusalem. We don't know why they have left Jerusalem and are headed toward Emmaus. They clearly are not part of the eleven because the eleven are still in Jerusalem (Luke 24: 33). They must be two of the rest mentioned

Dean Snydernoreply@blogger.com0