High Noon Blog

Trust is being lifted up as a major problem in the United Methodist Church (Ricky Harrison's take and Sky McCracken's take).  While I appreciate the concern about trust, the United Methodist connection will not work if we do not trust each other, I think trust is not the problem.  Trust is only a symptom of a much larger problem. The larger problem is that the United Methodist … [Read more...] about Trust

One surreal experience of ministry is listening to others talk about ministry.  Particularly, hearing two sides of a shared experience.  As a pastor in a connectional system, I get to hear different versions of a church's story.  Often I hear a pastor's perspective and also the congregation's perspective. I have often heard congregations blame their pastors for their current … [Read more...] about Context

With all of the hullabaloo over guaranteed appointments possibly still being in effect, I find myself conflicted.  On the one hand I really am against ending guaranteed appointments without defining what we mean in terms of effectiveness (see my posts on accountability, power, and general thoughts on guaranteed appointments).  So it should be good news on one level.  If … [Read more...] about Ducks In A Row

Recently I heard a sermon on "claiming the Holy Spirit."  As I was listening to the sermon, I found myself agitated.  While everything the preacher said was technically correct, the sermon did not resonate with me.  I started to wonder if the Spirit was a gift or a conquest. At the heart of the sermon was the idea that if we claim the Holy Spirit, we could have power.  Our … [Read more...] about Claiming the Spirit?

To read part one, click here. *** I first started to think about the differences between churches and societies when I read an early version of  "The Systems That are Congregations" by the Reverend Taylor Burton-Edwards.  What really jumped out at me in the essay was how churches over time moved away from disciple-making.  It should be noted that Burton-Edwards uses the word … [Read more...] about Churches Versus Societies – Part Two