Category Archives: United Methodism

The “Most Revealing Indicator…”

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

One of the claims Will Willimon makes in his book Bishop is that, “The most revealing indicator of congregational vitality is the trend in worship attendance.” Worship attendance sure is important. I remember many years ago reading a biographical blurb … Continue reading →

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Who’s Fit to Preach?

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

My memory of the fine details of my own life events isn’t too sharp. Since my own passage through the hurdles set before me by the Board of Ordained Ministry was thirty years ago, I don’t remember everything. I do … Continue reading →

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Ministry as Job

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

Adults, unless independently wealthy, need a job in order to support themselves and their families. Even wealthy people likely need a job for the sake of their well-being. Jobs are tied up with issues of money, competition and progress. When … Continue reading →

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Subordination

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

In his book Bishop, Will Willimon says, “Leaders in the church are subordinate to the mission of the church.” I served in a pastoral role for 25 years. During all that time, I, as pastor, was subordinate to the mission … Continue reading →

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Clergy & Laity

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

In Bishop, Will Willimon says, Because I’m a Wesleyan I believe that all church leadership, bishops or otherwise, is best rationalized on utility rather than by puffed-up theological warrant. Like Luther, I prefer a pragmatic rather than an ontological definition … Continue reading →

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Cultural Dissonance

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

At least since the 1960s, being counter-cultural has been in. Paradoxically, we might go so far as to say that refusing to be counter-cultural is currently counter-cultural. Being at odds with our culture has become a virtue, not just in … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, United Methodism, Will Willimon | 2 Comments

Just Whose Idea Was It?

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

Will Willimon notes: Ministry, in any of its forms, is always God’s idea before it is ours. While we may eventually enjoy our clerical vocation, we do it first of all not because it causes us bliss but rather because … Continue reading →

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Change or Die, part 2

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

Change is good! New is good! Growth is good! It’s so nice to deal with abstractions. In my last post I mentioned some forms of growth that aren’t very desirable. Cancer. The bloat of decomposition. In this post I’m going … Continue reading →

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Change or Die

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

I’m picky when it comes to shoes. I want shoes that fit well and are comfortable all day. I want to spend as little time and money as I can when I acquire them. For now, I’ve settled on a … Continue reading →

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Individual vs. Collective

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

Listening to Peter Harrison’s fifth Gifford Lecture as I drove to Marshall today, I heard his description of a shift from natural philosophy to science in the early modern period. Under the old paradigm (and I use Kuhn’s term intentionally), … Continue reading →

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