|
|
Rainy Season
Posted
on 6/21/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
I was watching the new weatherman giving the forecast in early June. He commented how hot it was even though "summer" had not yet arrived. I do not know where he moved from, but I suppose it was some place like Michigan. Summer? We have rainy season. Give him ...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Extreme Poverty
Posted
on 6/1/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
The theme of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference is "Transforming the World by Eradicating Extreme Poverty." You may be wondering where this phrase, "extreme poverty," comes from.
I did not make it up. It comes from the United Nations Millenium Declaration in Se...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Disaster and Foresight
Posted
on 5/27/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
I do not know about you, but I can hardly watch the news about the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. To think of the millions of gallons of oil polluting the beautiful Gulf is sickening beyond expression.
I think of all the innocent creatures that are dying because of our human errors.&nb...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Black Clergy Gathering
Posted
on 5/21/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
On Saturday, May 15th I met with the black clergy of the Florida Conference at Stewart Memorial Church in Daytona Beach. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and a delicious fried fish dinner.
This was an opportunity for the clergy to discuss with me issues of concern about our life as a con...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Strategic Leadership Team
Posted
on 5/13/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
The 2010 Florida Annual Conference will vote on a proposal to create a Strategic Leadership Team. The would be a small group of clergy and laity with the responsibility to clarify the vision of the annual conference, ensure that the vision is realized, and oversee the alignment with the vision...
more »
|
| |
|
|
The Apostles' Doubt
Posted
on 4/24/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
In the middle of Matthew's report of an appearance of the risen Jesus to his disciples, he states, "When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted" (28:17).
Reading this as a middle class American in post-Enlightenment Western civilization in the 21st century, I assume that the d...
more »
|
| |
|
|
The Preacher as Herald
Posted
on 4/14/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
In his epistle to the Christians in Rome, Paul exclaims,
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?
And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard?
And how are they ...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Easter Politics
Posted
on 4/9/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
In his epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul writes, "...if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). This statement comes in the midst of the apostle's agonizing struggle to un...
more »
|
| |
|
|
A Thought-Experiment: the Risen Jesus Speaks to his Church
Posted
on 3/22/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
The last discourse of Jesus to his disciples in chapters 14 through 17 in the Gospel of John is striking in its uniqueness. It is unlike the teaching of Jesus in any of the Gospels, even surpassing the distinctive speech of Jesus in the rest of John's Gospel. Besides the intimacy of this...
more »
|
| |
|
|
The Third Day
Posted
on 3/18/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
When we recite the Apostles' Creed and say, "the third day he rose from the dead," we probably assume that "the third day" refers to Easter Sunday following Holy Saturday and Good Friday. Yet the meaning of "the third day" is not primarily chronological, but symbo...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Remembering Francis Asbury
Posted
on 3/15/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
There is an engaging new biography of Francis Asbury by John Wigger of the University of Missouri, American Saint (Oxford University Press, 2009) which will be enjoyed by laity and clergy.
A lanky figure standing 5' 9" who was fond of wearing a light blue frock coat and knee breeches with legg...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Contemplation and Creation
Posted
on 3/10/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
Here we are in the middle of Lent, and spring is showing forth.
This is a surprise this year. Usually in Florida spring is present without much awareness of when it arrived. When the winter is mild, the transition from winter to spring is so seamless that it is hardly noticeab...
more »
|
| |
|
|
The Future of Ecumenism
Posted
on 3/10/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
On March 1-2, 2010 Cardinal Walter Kaspar visited Emory University where he met with ecumenical leaders, Jewish leaders, and the Candler School of Theology. Emory University, which is related to The United Methodist Church, invited Cardinal Kaspar as a part of its commitment to foster interrel...
more »
|
| |
|
|
One Great Hour of Sharing
Posted
on 3/4/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
All of us are witnessing once more the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. UMCOR is also gearing up to be of assistance in Chile following its earthquake and tsunami. We are grateful that our Church has an agency through whic...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Local Church Resource for "God's Renewed Creation"
Posted
on 2/16/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
In 2009, the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church issued a pastoral letter and document on "God's Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action." The pastoral letter should have been presented to every local church by now. The foundation document should be studied by every local c...
more »
|
| |
|
|
The Challenges for Connectionalism
Posted
on 2/1/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
One of the major challenges facing the 2012 General Conference will be to reform the structure of The United Methodist Church. A task force being led by Bishop Gregory Palmer, which includes the Rev. Debbie McLeod and the Rev. Jorge Acevedo from the Florida Conference, has been given the charge to m...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Live for Today
Posted
on 1/26/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today" (Matthew 6:34 NRSV).
If I were in Haiti, I would live the truth of these words. Haitians know enough troubles for today--how to ...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Catastrophe in Haiti
Posted
on 1/19/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
I have called every Haitian-American pastor of our conference I could reach to talk with them about what they have heard about relatives and friends in Haiti. Most congregations with Haitian-American members report grievous news of deaths, injuries, missing persons, and property damage. The earthqua...
more »
|
| |
|
|
A Reply to the IRD on the Council of Bishop's Pastoral Letter
Posted
on 1/12/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
On November 3, 2009 the Council of Bishops approved Pastoral Letters and a Foundation Document on God's Renewed Creation: A Call to Hope and Action, which deals with the interrelated realities of ecological degradation, global poverty, and nuclear arms proliferation from the perspective of our faith...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Thinking of C. Vann Woodward on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Posted
on 1/11/2010
by Bishop Timothy Whitaker
Monday, January 18, 2010, is a national holiday to observe the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. While this day is a time to remember the slain civil rights leader, I shall be thinking of someone else on this day--C. Vann Woodward.
Woodward was a white man from Arkansas who became a histori...
more »
|
| |
|
|
Next Page »
|
