Tag Archives: UMC

Thinking about Doctrine

Posted on August 4, 2022 by Richard Heyduck

I have been thinking deeply about doctrine since the 1980s. I wrote my PhD dissertation (revised and published in 2002) on doctrine, specifically with the United Methodist Church in mind. From what I saw then (and now), our official doctrine … Continue reading →

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United Methodist Congregationalism

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Richard Heyduck

It has been said vigorously and often that United Methodist polity is NOT congregationalist. We have congregations, but our polity is connectional. Congregationalism is the claim that churches are independent, self-defined, self-determined, and self-led before they are connected to other … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Current events, Ecclesiology, John Wesley, United Methodism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Covenant Renewal in the Wesleyan Tradition, 3

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

The next part of the covenant goes like this: Leader: Be satisfied that Christ shall give you your place and work. People: Lord, make me what you will. I put myself fully into your hands: Put me to doing, put … Continue reading →

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Textual Stability?

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Richard Heyduck

As I review Nancey Murphy’s Anglo-American Postmodernity: Philosophical Perspectives on Science, Religion, and Ethics, I came across this claim: “If the texts’ ability to perform a definite speech act depends on the existence of a community with shared conventions and proper … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Ecclesiology, Hermeneutics, United Methodism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Against Separation, Part 2

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Richard Heyduck

The United Methodist Church is a large, bureaucratic institution. “Connectionalism,” is one of our highest values, “congregationalism” one of the vices we most loudly decry. These aspects of our polity mean that what happens at the top really matters. When … Continue reading →

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Definition-phobia

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Richard Heyduck

In a recent post Tony Morgan writes about reasons churches lack a strategy for life change. The first of his four reasons is that churches don’t define success, fearing the accountability that will come with it. I ran first ran … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Leadership, Local church, Ministry, Tony Morgan | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Thinking about the “Guaranteed Appointment”

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

The Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church has recently overruled the General Conference legislation that did away with the guaranteed appointment for Elders. I’ve been ambivalent about the provision, seeing good arguments on both sides. On the one hand, … Continue reading →

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