The General Board of Church and Society of the UMC causes much consternation to conservative (theologically and politically) Methodists, particularly when a microphone appears near Chairperson Jim Winkler's mouth. Whether it's calling for the impeachment of President Bush or comparing Christian homeschoolers to Islamofascists, Winkler knows how to push conservative buttons. My impressions of Winkler and the GBCS's work are moderated by the presence of Methoblogger Beth Quick on that board, whose consistently pleasant and easy-going manner makes it impossible to label her as a ranting, America-hating moonbat (although her work for GBCS is questionable). She's pointed out that the GBCS engages in many other non-newsmaking activities.
If you could change anything about the General Board of Church and Society, what would it be?
Monday, October 23, 2006
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6 comments:
Dale says Jim Winkler, I say AMEN, Bro.
It's a free country. The man has a constitutionally protected right to make an ass of himself in public. That the church itself does not move to address this problem is a statement in itself from the Church.
Thanks for the compliment John - though, trust me, I do love to occasionally rant ;).
If *I* could change one thing about GBCS, I think I would apply the change to all General Agencies, and figure out a better way of relating what they do to local churches. Somewhere between the General Church and the local church, a lot of what is done gets lost, and I think that's really unfortunate. I think this happens in the agencies as a whole, and to an extent, too, happens between the Annual Conference and local churches.
Beth took my answer. There is so much disconnect between the General Agencies and the local congregations and this causes the local church to resent the General Agencies as "thieves" who "just take our money" and "we don't have anything to show for it"
Beth's point is well-taken. Unfortunately, what most of us know about the work of these general agencies comes from the "spokespersons", the ones who gleefully step up to the mike and insinuate that he (or she) is authorized to speak on behalf of the Church itself.
Is doing away entirely with the GBCS an option? If so, that's my vote. The GBCS preposterous and ultra-left wing statements have driven more people away from the UMC than any good it might have done.
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