A Mainline Called the United Methodist Church

A Mainline Called the United Methodist Church!

Shocked??? Please don't be -- GCF&A hammered me about
using the UMC cross & flame symbol, so I had to find another
one to replace it -- details at Touching the UMC Sacred Cow!
The People Called Methodist

"I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out." -– John Wesley
[Works of J. Wesley, Vol. 13, Letters & Writings, P. 320]
The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
--- Isaiah 24:5 (NKJV)
It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void. Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold! Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.

--- Psalm 119:126-128 (NKJV)
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

--- 2 Timothy 4:3,4 (NKJV)

Music Title: Suspicion!

Greetings to you United Methodists, and if you identify with another church group, you are most welcome as well! Here you will find links to various areas on Circuit Rider's Range which in some way or other relate to the United Methodist Church and issues concerning the same. You can browse through the possibities and brief descriptions by going just south of here to United Methodist Corner, or you can go the search engine route.
for a subject on the Range -- for example, enter names or topics and see where these are mentioned on the Range!

A more extensive alphabetical listing of names and topics which relate to the United Methodist Church, has been put together and you can see that listing by clicking on the little search gear box

The United Methodist Corner

Express yourself in a survey on The United Methodist Church and Homosexuality -- you have options in your answers!
UMC Bishops claim that violence in all forms is contrary to God's purpose! Hey! You've got to read this one, especially some quotes and appropriate photo to match at UMC Bishops Speak (with photo to match!) -- and then ask, are they a bit "selective" as is President Bush when it comes to "terrorism" and its by-product of violence?

For you brave United Methodists who have ventured on to this turf -- you know that the "pot" is being stirred quite a bit -- just oodles and oodles of controversy in the United Methodist Church these days -- so take a jump into the pool -- ah, make that pools -- more than one to check out here!! And note the "prediction" made by John Wesley which has come to pass! The quote appears at many of the areas here on the Range which relate to the United Methodist Church.

For United Methodists -- see Jurisdictional Conferences - 2000 for what happened in election of new bishops and assignments -- bio information available here also. Find out who are the new bishops and what conferences will be bossed by what bishops
ATTENTION United Methodist folks! General Conference session ran from May 2nd thru May 12th 2000 in Cleveland, Ohio and it got to be messy at times -- updating will continue in providing info in UM areas of CR's Range with the reminder that the "war" is expanding with more "shoot outs" as mentioned in other areas of this Range -- in light of developments (and "fall out") from GC 2000, attention will now be focused on GC 2004, as you will see -- however, you can still get details and information at

UMC General Conference 2000

4 UM bishops met with Mel White and members of his Soulforce outfit -- plans were laid out for disruptions and anticipated arrests -- see Soulforce Antics!
White's Soulforce gang has plans for the next 4 years -- see A Declaration of Unholy War!
Bishop Morgan mentioned the "lines in the sand" subject -- this seed was planted quite some time ago, but has sprouted anew in GC 2000 -- examine this issue which is another way of approaching the "diversity" and "inclusiveness" matters in the UMC at Jesus and Lines in the Sand!
Hey! Some good things also happened! Take a look at Something Good!

As noted in UM related areas of CR's Range, lots of things have been happening, so keep informed and do a heap of PRAYING!

More additions in form of more letters to president, a bishop, and others Circuit Rider's Letter Cache #2! -- about something called repentance -- and response to a gun violence resolution adopted at the GC 2000 in the UMC, etc.
The gun issue is also mentioned in a bit of a different way under the subject, "The United Methodist Church and Guns!" -- you have to go to Circuit Rider's Gun Cabinet to see this one -- watch out for flying bullets
Special Announcement! Allen O. Morris has written a book, The Church in Bondage -- for UM's this is a MUST! Contact Allen O. Morris for details to order his book at a bargain price!
Sacramento 3 Ring Circus concluded some time back! For UM's who want to read the new "obituary" of the UMC go to Sacramento 67 Hearings

For more, read a commentary on this by going to Requiem! There are also some Post Script items of different sources as fallout from the Sacramento Fiasco Par Excellence continues! It was felt at GC 2000 and will be felt over the next 4 years as we move on to GC 2004 which will be held in Pittsburgh PA!
Just added -- UMC Episcopal Endorsement of Same Gender Coupling!
Another Special Announcement! Just to let you know that there are efforts being made to challenge some of the crazy stuff such you see happening these days in the UMC, take a trip over to Called to Higher Ground! -- examine the statement -- do your own kind of endorsing if you feel so led -- just remember, the ones mentioned above (UMC Episcopal Endorsement...) have already done their endorsement thing! United Methodist News Service has issued a release on the "Called to Higher Ground" statement -- see the release at UMNS #125.

By the way, do you feel a bit frustrated at times and say to yourself, "I'm only one person....what can I do?" -- slip over to What Can I Do? and see how you can help make a difference!

For a good example of a member of the laity expressing concern to a bishop go to Dear Bishop X -- here you will see how one person tells it "like it is!"

Bishop Joe Wilson of the UMC Fort Worth Area had a lot to say about executions in Texas and the need to stop them -- see a response to that at Circuit Rider's Letter Cache. How far is he willing to press the issue on the sacredness of human life?
Here's something to pump up your adrenalin! Go to Circuit Rider's Behind the Scenes Peek #1! Yep, seeing is believing folks!

Whoa! We got so much in the Peek Behind the Scenes Area that we had to divide it -- so now we have added CR's Behind the Scenes Peek #2! -- well, after all -- you have two eyeballs -- so use one for Peek #1 and the other for Peek #2! Anyway, you can travel on to Peek #2 from Peek #1, or hit the link just given to go directly to #2. Enjoy your peeks!
The UMC bishops have been really pushing what is called their "Initiative" for children -- how would you vote on their chances of issuing a strong "PS" on that after looking at a critical child related issue? With "pedal to the metal" head on over to A "PS" or not...?
UMC Bishops seem to have a lot to say about a lot of things -- all except the Hush Hush Issue!
The same gender couplers really geared up for Jimmy's trial late last year -- high tail it over to Support for Jimmy Creech! Creech was convicted on 99/11/17 and had to surrender his ministerial credentials! For more details go to:
Creech found guilty
and
When Lifestyles & Church Styles Don't Mix!
There is a poll in which you can participate in the Lifestyles article.

For a while I had the cross & flame symbol at Circuit Rider's United Methodist Connection area of my web site, but I got reported for that major "violation" and GCFA leaned on me about the matter, so I made a switch -- you saw the new substitue above and can get full details of this "skirmish" at Touching the UMC Sacred Cow!
I just know you'll like the replacement! Want to propose a resolution to make it "official?" hee hee hee!
Read letters written to some bishops and others in Circuit Rider's Letter Cache!
Very unpleasant, but very real -- it is A House Divi\/ded! But there is a cure...
Did you take your nerve pills? OK, now you are ready to see The UMC Version of the Energizer Bunny!
If you missed out on chance to spice up your annual conference gathering you can still make things interesting! Go ahead and Order "no-no" same gender coupling union badges! And then pass them out at district, board, committee, and other get togethers -- BOOM is a good place to begin -- the look on faces is worth much more than the effort you invested!!!
Maybe Alvin is involved in this -- anyway you can read it now -- look at United Methodist News from the Future!
A bit of history of the guy that got the ball rolling in The UMC's Creech Caper! And after that you can see pictures of Creech's "handiwork" from last April!
The saga continues with The Sacramento "68" Antics! This beats the Keystone Kops coming and going!
Another high profile trial -- it was Round #2 for Jimmy Creech! Read his take on this at Press Release by J. Creech -- it happened back on November 17th at Trinity UMC in Grand Island, Nebraska with retired Bishop W. B. Grove presiding. As noted elsewhere, Jimmy was convicted and had to surrender his ministerial credentials. But we have by no means heard the last of Jimmy Creech
Could it really happen here? Oh, no -- is there really a caste system in the United Methodist Church? Well, don't just sit there -- hit that mouse button and go to Caste System and see for yourself!
"Aw, why can't we just focus on the Good Being Done and forget all that critical negative stuff?" Ever hear members of the UMC hierarchy give that pitch in gatherings?
Why do I give so much attention to this? Go to Meet the Circuit Rider. Further explanation as to why I stayed in the UMC and fulfilled God's calling in circuits is given in Letter to Pastor X.
Last, but by no means least in UMC concerns, you need to check out The Profound Light Bulb Issue! This one should be at the top of the agenda for General Conference Y2K!
Want a REAL challenge? This is by no means limited to UMC people, but whatever denominational label you wear, you might be stirred a bit by reading The Prophet! Note the date in which this was first written!

With the help of the UMC's Transport Committee, get me back to the top!

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Copyright 2000, 2002, 2002 Clayton D. Harriger