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Author: Rev. Dr. Mark Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC  Voting is complete in the conservative South Central Jurisdiction.  Within the SCJ, the conservative State of Texas has 5 conservative annual conferences that combine for 44 delegates to General Conference.  The Lone Star State has just issued a massive wakeup call to the WCA.   Thanks to the Wesleyan Covenant Association for … [Read more...] about A Texas-Size Wakeup Call for WCA

Posted By: Mainstream UMC Mainstream UMC supports reconsideration of Judicial Council Decision 1378 regarding the Traditional Plan. We, the undersigned respectfully request the Judicial Council to accept this Petition for Reconsideration of JCD 1378 in 0419-01 regarding the Traditional Plan and place it on your docket for the Fall 2019.  We believe that in order for the Judicial Council to … [Read more...] about Press Release: An open letter to the Judicial Council

Author: Tim Crouch, Lay person, North Texas Annual Conference “Let us know the meaning of the word (Methodist).  Let us not always be fighting in the dark.  Come and let us look one another in the face… and perhaps some of you may love what I am by the grace of God.” John Wesley – The Character of a Methodist Is your heart right, as my heart with your heart?  If it … [Read more...] about The Wesleyan Character of Methodist Centrists

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC Everyone knows Kansas and Nebraska are two of the most reliably conservative states in the country.  Both states have voted for a Republican President every election since 1968—the entire history of the United Methodist Church.  Together, they make up the Great Plains Annual Conference with nearly 1,000, mostly small … [Read more...] about Kansas & Nebraska Vote to “Condemn, Reject, and Resist” Traditional Plan

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark R. Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC Everyone hates labels.  So, let’s clarify some labels together!  There is a functional quality to understanding ourselves and others better.  If we are going to form a coalition, we need to understand the values of those with whom we seek to be in relationship. Our goal is for clarity only, not to push … [Read more...] about Help Us Better Understand Centrists and Progressives

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark R. Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC The UMC Next meeting at the Church of the Resurrection concluded today at noon.  More than 600 United Methodists gathered from every annual conference in the United States.  The gathering represented both centrists and progressives.  Mainstream UMC was well represented.  It included me and 11 of our 19 … [Read more...] about UMC Next Recap

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark R. Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC The initial response to our forum has been tremendous.  We have already had over 400 people join and submit nearly 100 comments.  Thank you all for the thoughtful, faithful dialogue, it is a breath of fresh air.  After the rancorous General Conference, it is very encouraging to see the caliber and tone of … [Read more...] about Brief Forum Summary, Questions 1 and 2

Critical Mission The United Methodist Church in the United States has an abundance of possibilities before it.  People throughout our nation need the transforming power of Jesus Christ.  Yet, the majority of the United Methodist Church in the United States no longer has control over its mission fields, nor its ministry priorities to transform lives.  Paragraph 101 in the Book of … [Read more...] about Mainstream UMC: Inspiring A New Methodism

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC Dear Friends, The Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church has allowed portions of the mean-spirited Traditional Plan to take effect.  Every single item is anti-gay.  It has also allowed the exit provision to take effect which is also based entirely on a church’s view on homosexuality. Bishop Carter of … [Read more...] about UMC is Officially Anti-Gay

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC The most important thing right now is to be empowered about the future of the Methodist Church.  We lost the votes for 4 days in St. Louis.  We win the remaining 361 days of the year as we vote with our actions and our dollars.  The 2/3rds of the U.S. church that is in support of full inclusivity cannot be … [Read more...] about Options for the Future