On this edition of the MethodistThinker Mini-Podcast, Dr. Stephen P. Wende, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church–Houston, Texas, urges the election of delegates to the 2012 UMC General Conference “who will represent God-honoring, Kingdom-focused, Christ-first, biblically strong positions.”
Steve Wende addressing N. Ga. clergy in Jan. 2011
He says that the outcome of this year’s elections will determine whether or not the future of the United Methodist Church will “be built on the path of orthodoxy, the primacy of Christ, and the advancement of the kingdom.”
Delegate elections for General Conference 2012 are occurring now across the denomination, at annual-conference sessions that began in March. Most annual conferences in the U.S. hold their yearly gatherings this month (full schedule here—PDF).
To listen to the podcast (5 min.), click the arrow on the audio player below — or download an mp3 file (5MB).
Steve Wende, a native Texan, is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Yale Divinity School, and Princeton Theological Seminary. He has served as the senior pastor at First Methodist Houston since 2001.
He is a board member of the Confessing Movement Within the United Methodist Church and has been a delegate to several UM General and Jurisdictional Conferences.
The audio of Steve Wende used on this podcast was recorded at a January 2011 meeting of the Wesleyan Renewal Movement, a group of clergy in the North Georgia Conference. Dr. Wende’s full remarks at that event are posted here.
∞
To subscribe to the biweekly MethodistThinker Mini-Podcast, use the “Subscribe to Podcasts” link near the top of the right column.
Related posts |
|
| • | Podcast — George Hunter: Can the once-great Methodist movement become a movement again? |
| • | GC 2012 delegates set at 988 — Philippines gains delegates despite large membership loss |
| • | Steve Wende: Doctrinal orthodoxy should be deciding factor in choosing GC delegates |
| • | Billy Abraham on United Methodism: ‘There is no common faith among us’ |
| • | Podcast — Randy Maddox: ‘Methodist Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline’ |
Related information |
|
| • | Schedule of 2011 United Methodist Annual Conferences (PDF) | General Council on Finance and Administration (Feb. 28, 2011) |
Since last year many things have transpired that will make the General Conference of 2012 a turning point of our Church. Foundry UMC in Washington, D.C. openly rejected and abandoned the Book of Discipline. Thirty-nine retired Bishops call for changes in our doctrine that is against the decisions GC of 2008 & previous GC’s. The onslaught for improper changes to our Church is horrific.
It is the time for a stand once again.
Thus says the Lord: “Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it and find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16 NRSV)