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Soaring – Bishop's Blog
Entrepreneurial Spirit
May 7, 2009
I was just reflecting on my trip to Liberia this February and recalled an interesting encounter with some young entrepreneurs. We were on our way to visit the Ganta Medical Hospital, when we came across ... more
United Methodist commitment to higher education
September 26, 2008
I just received in the mail a list of the Holston Conference United Methodist students who are receiving scholarships from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. These students depend greatly on these funds ... more
John Wesley on holistic mission
August 8, 2008
Here is another book recommendation: "A Year with John Wesley and Our Methodist Values," by Michael J. Coyner, Henry H. Knight III, Sarah Heaner Lancaster, and Randy L. Maddox.This book takes you through a full ... more
I Am Still Committed
July 29, 2008
The July 27 shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church has shocked the city of Knoxville, the county of Knox, east Tennessee, and the entire United States. This tragedy has brought hurt, pain, and ... more
Is This a Turnaround?
July 10, 2008
Well, the membership figures for last year are in and ... the Holston Conference showed a net gain of 172 members.I commend the laity and clergy of Holston Conference for your willingness to invite, welcome, ... more
Annual Conference 2008
June 16, 2008
Well Annual Conference 2008 officially ended Wednesday June 11th but it is my hope that the ripple effects of this conference will last well past this year. The ordination of elders and deacons, commissioning of ... more
Ordination 2008
June 2, 2008
Last evening, the stately Central United Methodist Church building provided a beautiful and sacred space for the ordination of 11 elders and two deacons under the 1992 Book of Discipline. Doug Grove-DeJarnett and his able ... more
Four Areas of Focus for the UMC
May 27, 2008
I realize that news coming from General Conference can sometimes be so sketchy that you may miss some important issues decided by the delegates. There were four focus areas lifted up that I want you ... more
Transfiguration Sunday
January 23, 2008
We are headed to the celebration of Transfiguration Sunday on Feb. 3 and then on to the celebration of Ash Wednesday on Feb. 6. Some of us have our attention focused on the upcoming Super ... more
Let Us Journey Together
January 15, 2008
I will be departing today to begin the first leg of our journey to retrace the footsteps of the Exodus of liberated Hebrew slaves from Egypt. I find it extremely interesting that this journey begins ... more
The Conversation Continues
January 10, 2008
Evelyn Laycock was one of the speakers for the Congress on Evangelism, held Jan. 2-5 in Savannah, Ga. She taught on the Parable of the Talents. I would advise my readers to get the DVD ... more
Let Us Hear It From the Outside
January 10, 2008
In the second year of my appointment to St. Mary’s Road United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ga., we decided that we needed to develop a vision statement. I can’t remember where I got the idea ... more
The Great Debaters
December 26, 2007
The family and I went to see the movie, “The Great Debaters.” It is based on the real, live episodes of the Debate Team of Wiley College in the mid to late 1930s. Many United ... more
The Miracle
December 18, 2007
Delphine and I recently attended a musical show in Sevierville entitled, "The Miracle." It is an original Christian musical drama that is very well done. The singing and acting are high caliber. There are various ... more
What A Violent People We Have Become
December 6, 2007
The recent tragedy in Omaha, Nebraska serves to remind me that we are moving so far from being a community that people have begun to feel isolated and trapped. And sometimes their only response is ... more
