Category Archives: United Methodism

Mission Field Appointments

Posted on August 26, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

The Texas Annual Conference is now implementing a policy of making “mission field appointments (document is a pdf).” Here’s a key part of the document: In a series of conversations around the question “who is our client,” the cabinet (center … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, Missions, Texas Annual Conference, United Methodism | 4 Comments

Pursuing Holiness

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

One of the defining convictions of the Methodist movement is that it is possible to live a holy life, a life pleasing to God. Methodists have at least given lip service to this conviction since the days of John Wesley … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Spirituality, United Methodism | 3 Comments

Latest from “Call to Action”

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

Tuesday, the United Methodist News Service put out its latest report on the work of the “Call to Action” Steering Team. They give the bad news first. The United Methodist Church needs to change its operations denomination-wide to address financial … Continue reading →

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NOT the meaning of life

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

Of my many experiences at the meeting of the Texas Annual Conference last week, perhaps that most striking was Bishop Huie’s mention that the West Ohio Annual Conference was losing 42 positions for Elders this year. She didn’t share anything … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Texas Annual Conference, United Methodism | 1 Comment

The problem of technology

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

I read a fair number of books. When they grab me, I’ll apply myself and read them quickly. When they don’t,  I’ll work more slowly. Albert Borgman’s Power Failure: Christianity in the Culture of Technology is one of the latter. … Continue reading →

Posted in Albert Borgmann, church growth, Max Weber, Ministry, United Methodism | 1 Comment

Changing the Covenant

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

Some of the latest big news in the UMC is from the study committee that is suggesting that we do away with the “guaranteed appointment” for ordained Elders. It is “a promise the church can no longer keep.” For those … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, United Methodism | 4 Comments

Kirbyjon Caldwell at the Gathering

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Richard Heyduck

This year’s Gathering (Texas Conference Pastors Retreat) began with a message from Kirbyjon Caldwell of Windsor Village UMC. Kirbyjon is always worth listening to. He began with a statistic about our current situation: The United Methodist Church is losing 73,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Annual Conference, United Methodism | 5 Comments

“Let them eat cake”

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Richard Heyduck

The last couple of issues of the United Methodist Reporter have featured articles on GracePoint UMC, a recent church plant in Wichita, Kansas, that grew quickly, but let the denomination this spring. It’s depressing to invest so much money, energy … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, United Methodism | 4 Comments

What’s Next?

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Richard Heyduck

We humans are such odd creatures. We seem to oscillate between giving no thought to the consequences of our actions to being paralyzed with fear by imagined consequences of our actions. Take one of the proposed constitutional changes in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Discipline, United Methodism | 9 Comments

Discipleship Goals #3

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Richard Heyduck

The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations movement, as exemplified in our Texas Annual Conference, speaks of the practice of “Faith Forming Relationships.” I served on the conference committee tasked with this area after the reorganization. As far as I could … Continue reading →

Posted in Five Practices, Local church, Ministry, Texas Annual Conference, United Methodism | Leave a comment