https://politicalresearch.org/ The latest research related to united methodist church en https://religiondispatches.org/2017/05/17/even-amid-controversy-my-soul-still-sings-says-umcs-first-lesbian-bishop The first out lesbian bishop consecrated by the United Methodist Church has long known that her path would lead to ministry. Bishop Karen Oliveto first felt the call when she was just 11 years old, preached her first sermon at… Wed, 17 May 2017 03:22:57 EDT Sunnivie Brydum 3288432a-d827-4d59-aee1-e92150493dfe https://religiondispatches.org/2017/05/08/londons-big-gay-iftar-and-more-global-lgbt-recap International Family Equality Day was celebrated on May 7 with events in 30 countries. The United Nations Special Repporteur in the field of cultural rights, Karima Bennoune, invited contributions to a consultation on the impact of fundamentalism and extremism on… Mon, 08 May 2017 12:25:34 EDT Peter Montgomery ae9e254e-5f65-46b0-a57c-9280ca902643 https://religiondispatches.org/2016/08/24/time-break-down-and-time-build-reinventing-ministry-post-katrina-new-orleans A disaster is not an “Act of God.” Wed, 24 Aug 2016 04:23:21 EDT Ellen Blue 82b14cba-52bc-47c9-ac7b-f337c0f699bb https://religiondispatches.org/2016/07/31/russia-expels-gay-american-pastor-epidemic-anti-lgbt-violence-brazil-and-more-global Alturi profiles human rights activist Neela Ghoshal, senior researcher for the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch called on US President Barack Obama to address anti-LGBT discrimination along with laws curtailing free speech and peaceful assembly… Sun, 31 Jul 2016 08:07:36 EDT Peter Montgomery a0ad5ae0-adf4-499f-9559-ccd0b6339824 https://religiondispatches.org/2016/07/17/united-methodists-elect-1st-gay-bishop-canadian-anglicans-ok-same-sex-marriage This week’s Global LGBT Recap. Sun, 17 Jul 2016 10:42:21 EDT Peter Montgomery 1313555e-94f7-4e02-9d70-7fdd4aec2a1d https://religiondispatches.org/2016/07/07/god-not-god-methodist-minister-speaks-about-churchs-refusal-open-its-doors-lgbt Two U.S. jurisdictions will consider three openly gay candidates for bishop this month. Long before she learned that my sister was gay, our mother had been risking her reputation, and her career, to stand up for the rights of LGBT… Thu, 07 Jul 2016 10:55:42 EDT Joel Pitney a8c5a0a9-1085-4f71-82d2-654bf5ba0983 https://religiondispatches.org/2016/05/21/competing-visions-family-freedom-un-methodists-try-avoid-schism-sexuality-catholic Tuesday, May 17 was commemorated as International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, or IDAHOT. Among the many projects undertaken: The Bedayaa Organization for LGBTQI in the Nile Valley Area (Egypt & Sudan), the Maseahat Foundaiton for Sexual and Gender… Sat, 21 May 2016 04:08:15 EDT Peter Montgomery f37de147-b48c-4a22-8271-f084be5d0573 https://religiondispatches.org/2016/05/15/world-congress-families-blessed-georgian-orthodox-patriarch-and-george-w-bush-global The Human Dignity Trust has released a report, Breaking the Silence: Criminalisation of Lesbians and Bisexual Women and its Impacts, which it says is “the first ever global in-depth analysis of how laws against homosexuality specifically impact lesbians and bisexual… Sun, 15 May 2016 09:06:00 EDT Peter Montgomery d672fd23-5261-40c2-8042-cc154ca01de0 https://religiondispatches.org/2016/05/11/united-methodist-church-lgbtq-people-youre-sacred-not-welcome The month of May has marked a decided shift in the strategy for full inclusion of LGBTQ persons within the United Methodist Church (UMC). In the past ten days, more than 126 clergy and candidates for ordained ministry have endorsed… Wed, 11 May 2016 07:40:36 EDT Pamela R. Lightsey 0387a1d0-09f3-426a-9f3e-ce77d9923295 https://religiondispatches.org/2016/03/04/new-york-joining-dc-defiance-methodist-church-faces-showdown-lgbt-ordination As the United Methodist Church approaches it next quadrennial General Conference this May, its members should reflect upon the watershed moment of its 2012 conference that has inspired LGBTQ rights activists to take a series of courageous stances against its… Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:11:13 EST Pamela R. Lightsey 05120e81-7a07-4b32-89c4-c58030b2ce0f https://religiondispatches.org/2014/07/28/can-church-split-truly-be-gracious It was as if the congregation was asking for a divorce. They blamed the separation on a wide range of factors and feelings, but ultimately the facts were clear: the congregation was no longer in love with the PCUSA. Whatever embers of mutual love once burned were now long extinguished. Mon, 28 Jul 2014 08:00:44 EDT Adam J. Copeland 7084b14e-66bc-45ef-b467-b211c62121d9 https://religiondispatches.org/2013/08/09/columnist-applauds-russias-homophobic-law “About as sensible as it gets.” Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:06:23 EDT Candace Chellew-Hodge 23c3e086-5dcf-4da0-bd01-7c39901c3e8f https://religiondispatches.org/2012/05/03/methodists-vote-keep-homosexuality-incompatible LGBT advocates, sitting at the edges of the convention floor, were deemed a “security concern.” Thu, 03 May 2012 03:15:56 EDT Candace Chellew-Hodge 5a2401a3-2396-4992-b496-b7fb9349db1c https://religiondispatches.org/2012/02/24/bishop-minerva-carcano-has-nearly-impossible-job Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño of the United Methodist Church is part of a new wave of women’s leadership in mainline Christian denominations—and if our recent phone conversation is any indication, she has her work cut out for her. She must assume the bishop’s role of watcher or overseer; she must surpass her male colleagues in competence to show that a woman, in her case an Hispanic woman, can be a good bishop; and, she must find a way to live out her own unique commitments with integrity. As was said of the legendary Ginger Rogers, she must do everything her male counterparts do, but in high heels and backwards. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:39:49 EST Mary Hunt cbbbed88-f989-4240-9555-1b15b858674f https://religiondispatches.org/2011/02/23/theres-controversy-brewing-wisconsin-you-might-want-keep-eye The United Methodist Church opens another chapter on gays and lesbians’ struggle to serve the church. Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:27:11 EST Daniel Schultz 47d5e5a1-3f15-4560-80d7-9f96eb8442e8 https://religiondispatches.org/2011/01/10/christianity-and-gun-control Religion and the assault weapons ban. Mon, 10 Jan 2011 03:32:05 EST Sarah Posner 29f8990a-b3fd-4cc8-aaec-fa86f36b9e2a https://religiondispatches.org/2010/06/07/religious-leaders-speak-out-against-physician-complicity-torture National Religious Campaign Against Torture renews calls for investigation. Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:26:35 EDT Sarah Posner 2c0ca20d-dbcb-4752-aff4-295f8e8f3c4e https://religiondispatches.org/2010/05/20/methodist-church-commission-proposes-changes-call-system Keeping a pulpit in the United Methodist Church is about to get more interesting. Thu, 20 May 2010 11:36:23 EDT Daniel Schultz 26fccfd2-b9ba-40e5-9ca0-9ce8d285d2e8