8/4/2022
The moral obligation to be intelligent and the ability to recognize, appreciate, and account for complexity have something to do with being mature in Christ.
10/25/2011
Do you remember when twitter was a bird’s song? text was ink on a page? applications were something you filled out for college admission? outlook was an attitude toward life? facebook was your family photo album? GPS was a Good Passenger in the adjacent Seat? and Skype was simply a typographical error? The world is changing at an accelerated pace. When we don’t try some new things, we ...
10/6/2011
One October the congregation to which I was appointed began a conspiracy. I am not sure how it got started. I just knew I was at the center of it. Every day something mysteriously showed up at my desk. Flowers, chocolate, a small gift, a personal note of thanks. Every day. For no apparent reason. I couldn’t imagine what I had done to deserve this. I was used to occasional notes of thanks...
8/23/2011
We are a church with high aspirations. You should see the list of all the annual conference teams. They are trying to accomplish every good idea someone has had at some time, with the really good intentions of being responsive to people and expanding the circle of those with whom we are in ministry. The problem: we have become so wide in our scope of ministry that we are facing ...
8/23/2011
Following her husband’s death, a member of a congregation I once led was rummaging through some old files in preparation for moving to a new apartment. She ran across a clipping from the World War II era that she passed on to me. I dropped it in a file of my own and recently ran across it as I perused and purged papers as I settled into my new office at the Minnesota Church Center. It ...
8/23/2011
By Dan Johnson Following her husband’s death, a member of a congregation I once led was rummaging through some old files in preparation for moving to a new apartment. She ran across a clipping from the World War II era that she passed on to me. I dropped it in a file of my own and recently ran across it as I perused and purged papers as I settled into my new office at the Minnesota ...
8/22/2011
Almost every measurement of the United Methodist Church’s work at making disciples, where we count people, shows decreases. Almost every measurement related to giving and financial assets, where we count dollars, shows increases. Bishops, Cabinets, benefits officers, treasurers, and chairs of conference councils on finance and administration, pension boards, and boards of ordained ...
8/17/2011
“Efficiency Our Aim, Scholarship Our Watchword, Character Our Goal” was the motto of Parker College, Minnesota United Methodism’s little-known second college. Parker College was founded in 1886 by Baptists in Winnebago and run by Methodists from 1912 to 1924. Parker College was dedicated to educating rural youth of southern Minnesota. Continuous emphasis was put on creating a good ...
8/17/2011
Church historians and others who take care of historical documents: Do you wonder what to do with piles of photographs of many sizes, shapes, and conditions? Photographs provide a special challenge as they need different care than regular paper documents. Here are some guidelines for photo care. First, when possible, store photographs separately from other paper documents. Because of the...
8/17/2011
Delegates to the 2012 General Conference will have hundreds of pages to read and understand as they prepare to vote on items that will have lasting implications for the church and individuals who serve the church. The items relating to pension and benefit changes for United Methodist clergy are among the most complex pieces of legislation that delegates will consider. During March I ...
7/25/2011
At annual conference session, Bishop Sally Dyck drew our attention to the “nones”—people who indicate “none” when asked their religious affiliation. This is the fastest growing “religious” group in America. They may be spiritual, but not religious. They may be emerging adults or mature adults. They may have roots in one or more faith traditions or be severed from any heritage of faith. ...
Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
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