Disqus - Latest Comments for UMJeremy

Re: If Looks Can Kill Then Words Can Murder: A Response to UMC Pastors

UMJeremy — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 15:16:36 -0000

Hi Patrick, my name is Jeremy and I'm the administrator of the UMClergy group that is the subject of this post. I'm an LGBTQ-inclusive clergyperson in Portland, Oregon and have participated in advocacy to change our shameful beliefs on LGBTQ persons since 2004.

I want to thank you for your comments and of showing United Methodists that our words matter beyond the immediate conversation on the screen. So often we think we are just discussing things with one another, but in the public sphere, our words have ripple effects and unseen repercussions. I am grieved at the words said and at your reception of them. Thank you for writing.

In the same sentiment of appreciation, I want to affirm both the public nature of our posts and the closed membership. Many denominations (Lutherans, Episcopalians) have similar groups but close them to outside viewing. We do not as I believe sunlight is the best disinfectant, and for every harmful comment made that you note above, affirming ones are made as well which I have accounts are transformative for some people. As well, since it is a UM clergy group, adding you to its membership would not have been appropriate. As a fellow blogger, I also get frustrated that my content gets discussed in arenas where I cannot reply, but that's the nature of our public discourse in social media: our control of our content ceases in the public sphere.

Blessings to you and your writings. May the church of the present and future be a place where both your son and my young daughters are named as beloved as we know them to be.

Re: Top 25 Fastest Growing Large United Methodist Churches, 2015 Edition

UMJeremy — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 19:05:53 -0000

Len, thanks for this list. I appreciate good data and analysis. I'm curious if you would be able to quantify the fastest-growing churches that do not reflect the culture around them? The outliers who are growing (even at a moderate rate) who do so despite a mismatch with the culture around them?

For example, evangelical churches growing in Texas is a reflection of the culture around them. Glide Memorial (not on the list) growing in San Francisco is a reflection of the culture around them. That's what I mean by matching the church with the culture--little wonder the best ones are growing!

I'd like to know who are the scrappy outliers who are growing in spite of not being a match. If you are not interested in such a list, how would you suggest someone goes about it?

Re: United (for now) Methodists and the same-sex debate

UMJeremy — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 18:06:12 -0000

I find it a bit disconcerting that you praised the Florida account which doesn't have any quotes from the progressive wing, while criticizing the Post article that didn't have any quotes from the traditionalist wing. Is it okay if it happens for one slant but not for the other?

Re: Attribute it to them Anyway

UMJeremy — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:19:37 -0000

That particular quote is by Kent Keith from 1968. http://www.paradoxicalcomma...

Re: Outside

UMJeremy — Tue, 06 May 2014 19:59:07 -0000

That's hilarious. I admit it took me a moment to figure it out but LOL.

Re: Why I’m not getting ordained this year

UMJeremy — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 16:39:56 -0000

Safe Sanctuaries (never being alone with a child) is a hard requirement to live up to, but it is one to which all who work with children and youth are called. As the person who enforced Safe Sanctuaries for 3 years and who continues to promote its ideals, I would agree with the committee's concern if the girl wasn't 18. If she was 18, then I don't understand the concern. Regardless, it would seem that would be a learning experience that you would have "gotten the lesson" rather than something to hold you back for a year. Sorry, brother.

Re: Methodist Church in Indiana Split on Whether Gay Employee Should Have Been Fired

UMJeremy — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 11:50:43 -0000

The history is less interesting than your colorful depiction. Like most institutions, language adapts to how the institution uses it. The language was originally that "homosexuals may not serve as clergy" and left it to the regions of United Methodism to define what homosexuality was. Progressive regions then defined homosexuality in very rigid terms so that LGBT people could still serve as clergy, whereas conservative regions defined homosexuality as anyone alleged to be gay. The term "self-avowed practicing homosexual" came about as an effort to reign in the more open progressive areas and to keep the gay witch trials from taking place in the more conservative areas.

I disagree fully with the term, but there's the history for you.

Re: Methodist Church in Indiana Split on Whether Gay Employee Should Have Been Fired

UMJeremy — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 11:45:07 -0000

**United Methodist clergyperson here.** While there are some reporting issues that don't give an accurate portrayal of Methodist church processes, the major point about the clergy feeling icky over working with a gay choir leader is spot-on. And shameful.

However, I contest Mr. Mehta's final paragraph, which states if you support LGBT inclusion and you are still Methodist, then you’re still part of the problem and not the solution.

Like all blanket statements, it ignores that not all UM churches are blanket identical. There's a huge number of UM churches in the West and in the North and pockets scattered throughout the South that are part of the Reconciling Ministries Network, which supports full inclusion and finds enough goodness in the UMC to not abandon it to the wolves. Unlike other churches, there are ways to be Methodist without supporting the status quo and indeed actively acting--like I am--to change it.

You can find a Reconciling church here: http://www.rmnetwork.org/fi...

Leaving does not always solve problems. The Southern Baptist Convention was taken over by conservatives a few decades back and the progressives left. Now, they have no moderate voices left in their denomination. There's no solutions to that entrenched ideology other than slow decline. Instead, in the UMC, we have the opportunity to continually shape polity and practice with the goal that one day--like women ministers and black ministers serving white churches--justice will overcome.

Re: How Was It?

UMJeremy — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 16:45:33 -0000

The deviled eggs were DELICIOUS.

Re: The OT’s Most Important Command (Brueggemann Style)

UMJeremy — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 11:56:01 -0000

Thanks for the link, Scot!

Re: Does Barney Frank Really Deserve to Be ‘Humanist of the Year’?

UMJeremy — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 13:49:20 -0000

I think your concerns about an 11th hour Humanist being given an award parallel those in the Christian mindset when it comes to deathbed conversions. Some are frustrated that those who choose a lifetime of piety are written in the same Book of Life as those who convert after a lifetime of non-piety. But those who are truly evangelical celebrate both lifetimes because they both end up in the same place of eternal salvation.

Perhaps for the humanist viewpoint, Barney Frank has now been written into the book of human history as a Humanist. He is part of your mindset and culture, even close to the end of his political life. He will be written into history as supporting the Humanist causes. Is that not something to celebrate?

While both mindsets lament what "could have been," it seems that each person matters to each movement. But those that celebrate the longtime activists and the recent "converts" or "affiliates" alike seem to be a more nuanced understanding of the movement's goals than those who lament the unfairness or injustice or lack of strategic motivations of this decision.

Disclosure: I'm a United Methodist clergyperson. I am presenting the mindset that I see as a parallel, not promoting its validity.

Re: The Sparrow on AMC?

UMJeremy — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:36:08 -0000

Ugh. I couldn't handle the book. Got through about 30% and had to pass on other books. Just so slow...sorry if that tarnishes my scifi-theo cred.

Re: Religion and Science Fiction around the Blogosphere

UMJeremy — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:23:13 -0000

Thanks for the link, Professor!

Re: Experimental Theology

UMJeremy — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:30:57 -0000

We use it in my local church to help us work together as a team. There's 14 people on staff, so one day we had an Enneagram consultant come in and help us understand each other better. They are not meant to be prescriptive on one's own, perhaps, but best used to explain the differences between different people in a group work environment.

Re: Shocking STR8 Kiss: Anakin & Padme

UMJeremy — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:44:36 -0000

Post Luke and Leia. Then it gets really really shocking.

Re: Shocking STR8 Kiss: Anakin & Padme

UMJeremy — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:22:57 -0000

Watch out. You are messing with the Gospel here.

Oh, it's the Prequels? Nevermind. Carry on.

Re: What Wesleyans Can Learn from John Calvin

UMJeremy — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:17:26 -0000

I think it is only a cursory reading of Wesley that would elicit a Calvinist perspective. Wesley was highly resisitant to Calvin and Calvinism and, as you note, his strongest influences were the polar opposite of Calvin.

While one can always learn from the practices and successes of other people, the overriding theology is not something that Wesley would strongly embrace. The article focuses on Calvins practices in one situation--admirable, for sure. But any less admirable than Wesley's commitments to cities and communities in England and America?

I just don't see the value in articles like this that seek to make the neo-reformed movement more palatable to Wesleyans when there's plenty of the same inspiration in Wesley's own history without the theological baggage of Calvin. Why do you?

Re: On Installing a New University President

UMJeremy — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:09:06 -0000

*snort*! Well said, sir!

Re: Millions of Pumpkin Seeds Suddenly Cried Out in Terror

UMJeremy — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:39:23 -0000

Glad you enjoyed it, Professor!

Re: Bricks, Pot and Porn

UMJeremy — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 22:16:53 -0000

That'll preach!

Re: Jesus Reigned at Wild Goose

UMJeremy — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:28:38 -0000

In my UM ordination process, I was knocked for one paper because I didn't use the word "forgive" at all. They were right, I never used it. I used terms like "reconcile" and "wholeness" and "moved past" and "to love although." But I never used their buzzword and was knocked for it.

I think there's a self-fulfilling prophecy when you are predisposed towards a group. If you don't think they believe in Jesus, and you don't hear the word Jesus, then clearly you are right.

Re: Twitter best practices for churches

UMJeremy — Tue, 10 May 2011 17:12:52 -0000

I hate slideshare that makes me share things before it lets me download things. How is that free? Any chance you can send this via email? my username @gmail.com

Re: Reflections of the Father

UMJeremy — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:54:38 -0000

Thanks. I just used this video for a sermon with my youth talking about the "sins of the father." It seemed well-received.

Re: What Would Jesus Get On The Myers-Briggs

UMJeremy — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:05:42 -0000

Similar story: when I was younger, I was INFJ. When I began ministry exploration in college, I tested again and was a strong ENFP. Since becoming a pastor, I think if I was tested again, I'd be closer to a ENFJ given the amount of organization I need to have.

Re: Sex and The Single Pastor

UMJeremy — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:42:40 -0000

Thanks for the link! Nice commentary on the whole situation...and reference to Martin's book, intentional or not. I found myself reaching for the book but didn't quote it in my writeup. Well done there.

"Christians suck at talking about sex" is basically it. And when a non-journalistic mag like Marie Claire stokes the fire, it seems like it more and more...