4 Comments
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Stan Copeland's avatar

This was very good and I needed perspective. Thanks, Lovett

Chad Brooks's avatar

As a Congregational Developer on an Annual Conference Staff (Louisiana), I've been saying repeatedly for the past few years that disaffiliation was a sociological, rather than theological event. Thank you for sharing the data behind this.

kcarder0266@gmail.com's avatar

Thank you for this helpful description and analysis of the continuing consequences of Methodism's pilgrimage toward respectability. You help to identify a significant challenge before the UMC: how do we recover our presence among "the leasts of these," not as objects of our charity but as "Jesus' bosom friends" as Charles Wesley referred to the poor and vulnerable.

Lovett Weems's avatar

Thank you. And thanks for your many contributions to this important subject through example, writing, and speaking.