Links of Interest to United Methodists

Fifty Methodists bishops agree to cut their pay. I think this is a good move.

Ted Campbell, associate professor of church history at Perkins School of Theology, writes on the seven things he hates about the UMC. I agree with him on all of them, especially what he writes on Annual Conferences.

Today is John Calvin's 500th birthday. We Wesleyans like to rail against his theology, and even though there are important places where Calvinists and Wesleyans differ, we must not forget what a first-rate systematic theologian and exegete Calvin was. Wesley acknowledged that he and Calvin were very close together on atonement, and Wesley liked Calvin's account of sanctification. Wesley believed Luther's view was "stunted."

The British Methodist Church in a prophetic move has barred members of political parties whose objectives are racist from full membership. Good for our Wesleyan cousins in the United Kingdom!

Shane Raynor has stirred up the pot in suggesting that some UM pastors have not had a genuine conversion experience. Shane responds by drawing on Father John Wesley. For what it's worth, I think Shane is spot on.

For an alternative view, The Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori has now said that the emphasis on personal salvation is heresy and idolatry. I will offer my own perspective in a blog post next week.

Those are the links of interest for today. May your hearts be strangely warmed.