A Peculiar Prophet
The Blog of Bishop Will Willimon of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church
Monday, February 06, 2012
Highest Rate of Connectional Giving in Two Decades
We Believe in Social Righteousness
It is our conviction that the good news of the Kingdom must judge, redeem, and reform the sinful social structures of our time.
Adapted from William H. Willimon, United Methodist Beliefs: An Introduction, Westminster/John Knox Press, 2006.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
We Believe in Discipleship in Action
-- Adapted from William H. Willimon, United Methodist Beliefs: An Introduction, Westminster/John Knox Press, 2006.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Disturber of the Peace
Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn’t negotiation a better path?” You are quite right in calling for negotiation . . . Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.

Monday, January 09, 2012
We Believe that Faith Is Known by Its Fruits
Fully a fourth of John Wesley’s Sermons focus on the Sermon on the Mount. Wesley took with great seriousness the Sermon on the Mount as a practical guide to how to live the Christian life. That’s curious because most of us today think of Jesus’ exhortations in the Sermon on the Mount – turning the other cheek, not remarrying after divorce, enemy love -- to be utterly impossible ideals. Wesley gave thanks that Jesus so simply, directly gave us practical guidance for everyday discipleship. He said that the Beatitudes were a picture of God drawn by God’s own hand.[1] These commands are not meant to forever frustrate us by their impossibility, said Wesley, but are meant to be actually practiced with the help of God. When faced with some seemingly impossible demand of Christ – such as forgiveness of our enemies -- we are to change the church and ourselves, rather than attempt to scale down the command.
-- Adapted from William H. Willimon, United Methodist Beliefs: An Introduction, Westminster/John Knox Press, 2006.
[2] Letter to Charles Wesley 1928 Dec. 1774), Letters (Telford), 6:134.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
We Believe in Faith and Good Works
[2] Address to the Clergy (1756), in Works (Jackson) 10:480-500.
[3] Sermon 110, “Free Grace,” §10-18, (see §11), Works, 3:547-50.
[4]Works (Jackson), 14:190-8.
A Christmas Parable
This is a parable of Incarnation.

Monday, December 19, 2011
Gifts at Christmas

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Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Union Chapel UMC- What My Eyes Have Seen
Pastor Christopher Herbert is leading some dramatic changes at Union Chapel UMC. Most of our small membership churches are in serious decline – but not all! A key to the small congregation having a viable future, from my studies of our small congregations, is the pastor’s leadership toward growth. There is nothing amiss in a congregation being small – there is everything wrong with the idea that churches have no part to play in the growth of the Kingdom of God. After seeing some of the great growth at Union Chapel, I asked Christopher to comment on what is happening there and he gave testimony to a church where “the light shines.”
Will Willimon
How can I describe a whole church that is serious about God’s mission? How can I describe these things that my eyes have seen?
How do I describe the church wrapping its arms around an unwed couple with a child and saying, “you are our family now”? Their wedding was a few weeks ago and now while the father is working to provide, the mother doesn’t miss church and serves others because of the love that they were shown.
How do I describe the many families that have decided to, in love, teach others that “playing church” must not be in the cards. How do I describe other people in the community and beyond telling me that they hear of the great things happening at Union Chapel (this doesn’t happen unless our folks go out and spread the good news of Jesus and His church that seeks to honor Him).
How do I describe a place where older people have decided to pour out blessings on the next generation? How do I describe younger people being respectful of older people, and listening intently to their wisdom? How do I describe the launch of a prayer shawl ministry and a majority of those attending those meetings are from other churches, backgrounds, or denominations? These are just a few things that my eyes have seen and any words I have right now seem inadequate in describing what is happening.
My eyes have seen God’s people do indescribable things before and it’s always beautiful. I realize that I’ve been blessed in the past and I’m so blessed today. It is always a blessing to be in ministry with people who just want to hear God say, “WELL DONE”.
All Glory is God’s Glory as we grow.
The light shines!
Until the nets are full,
Chris
Matt.19:26