December 3, 2024 By Rev. Dr. Scott Field It happened in corporate worship just this last Sunday. You’ve probably experienced it, too, I imagine: a word or phrase of a hymn or worship song just resonates, sticks for a moment in your throat, maybe brings a tear to your eye or a smile to your …
November 26, 2024 By Rev. Dr. Scott Field Don’t overlook what is going on while preparing the turkey and pumpkin pie. I’m a softie when it comes to traditional holidays. Consequently, I’m uneasy about something that might unsettle your preparations to celebrate God’s ongoing faithfulness at Thanksgiving as well as your generous thoughts, prayers, and …
November 19, 2024 By Rev. Dr. Scott Field When I read the “Pastoral Letter from Bishop David Bard and Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai”, giving an episcopal update on the “Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference Exit Plan in light of the recent UMC Judicial Council Ruling”, I couldn’t tell if the UMC Bishops’ invoking “grace and peace” …
“Grace and Peace”? The Surprising Vibe Shift of Emerging Methodism Read More »
November 12, 2024 By Rev. Dr. Scott Field Surprisingly, the Judicial Council also has given “stuck” congregations an unanticipated gift and given UM Annual Conferences an unwanted burden. The recent United Methodist Judicial Council decision disallowing the use of paragraph 2549 as an exit path for local congregations brought roller coasters to mind: “Remain seated …
November 5, 2024 By Rev. Dr. Scott Field Today is the National Election in the United States. Most prognosticators expect a very close race. I expect that half of the US voterswill be elated and half will be disappointed. All will likely be exhausted from the “campaign season.” Here are three suggestions to keep close …
Jesus and Caesar, Kamala and Donald, You and Me: It’s Election Day in the USA! Read More »
October 29, 2024 By Rev. Dr. Scott Field Here’s some help. We’re taking a break from our Methodist Vanguard Gallery for this week and next. Several weeks ago, in recognition that many former United Methodists have walked away from their denominational home, we started sharing brief stories of the “where are they now?” variety. The …
October 22, 2024 By Rev. Dr. Scott Field The vanguard of Methodists leaving the United Methodist denomination are seeking a more faithful and fruitful future than they can see if they remain where they are. One way or another, these congregations and individuals are choosing to leave. Our WCA Outlook is highlighting some of those …
Methodist Vanguard Gallery: New Vine Community Church Lena, Illinois Read More »
October 15, 2024 By Rev. Dr. Scott Field What is the Methodist Vanguard? The UMC media, understandably, generally uses mildly pejorative terms to refer to those of us who have moved on in the Great Denominational Separation. Global Methodists are a “breakaway church”. We’re called dissenters; collectively, we’re a “splinter group”. Others, who have left …
Fresh from the Methodist Vanguard Gallery: One of the Stories Received this week. Read More »
October 8, 2024 by Rev. Dr. Scott Field How many United Methodists have simply walked away from their congregation? That was the question raised in a recent conversation. A current United Methodist laypersonand business executive who has been observing not only the Great Separation of the denomination over the last couple of years but also …
October 1, 2024 By Rev. Dr. Scott Field Did you hear about the Global Methodist Church Convening Conference in San Jose, Costa Rica last week? The global gathering of delegates to the Convening Conference of the Global Methodist Church in San Jose, Costa Rica last week was an exuberant, Holy Spirit-anointed, almost too-good-to-be-true official launch …