no doubt, the few of you who are church nerds & internet types (and not in the kansas east conference) have heard about gracepoint umc separating itself from the umc leaving behind the old church to create a new church.
to give some backstory, andrew conard (thoughts of resurrection) has a pretty darn good synopsis & timeline on what has been happening since things were announced on sunday. i have even been quoted, sorta.
one thing i ask from anyone talking about the happenings here. please bring grace to the conversation. there is more depth to any story such as this. many people are involved at many levels. people are broken & people are overjoyed. there is a depth to this action that covers more than yours & mine first impulsive reactions and questions.
i emailed pastor bryson yesterday and received an email response from him. i'm not republishing it because i didn't ask. but he shared in essence that they (the folks who are moving to start gracepoint community church) are giving all things back to the umc and wish to just move on into the vision God has given them. as much as it hurts to have someone from the family leave, i subscribe to a rule of life of grace and will adhear to that as much as it hurts.
Gavin – Thanks for the reminder to grace. Good stuff. I appreciate your reflections.
Gavin – Thanks for the reminder to grace. Good stuff. I appreciate your reflections.
The Witchita Eagle story says that one of the central issues was resistance to a multi-site ministry. So is this a turf thing?
The Witchita Eagle story says that one of the central issues was resistance to a multi-site ministry. So is this a turf thing?
andy,
i would imagine a possibility of turf war in setting up satellite campuses if a church is already in that parish. however, our ds has talked up the idea of us (a larger umc) partnering with smaller & dying umc’s as some element of a multi-site campus ministry. so it could get some kind of blessing of the higher up clergy.
so far, we’re just trying to keep up with our own folks.
andy,
i would imagine a possibility of turf war in setting up satellite campuses if a church is already in that parish. however, our ds has talked up the idea of us (a larger umc) partnering with smaller & dying umc’s as some element of a multi-site campus ministry. so it could get some kind of blessing of the higher up clergy.
so far, we’re just trying to keep up with our own folks.
By “giving all things back” I hope this includes all salary support and investment if they are going to operate with integrity. There was a similar situation in another conference I served that was un-graceful at best.
By “giving all things back” I hope this includes all salary support and investment if they are going to operate with integrity. There was a similar situation in another conference I served that was un-graceful at best.