The Call recalls memorable quotes from 2003
“He denies the physical resurrection of Christ’s body. He maintains that Jesus Christ is not the only way to salvation and appears to deny the substitutionary atonement of Christ through his sacrificial death on the cross.”
– The Rev. Thomas Lambrecht, group spokesman and pastor of Faith Community United Methodist Church in Greenville, Wis., who led a group of United Methodist clergy and laypeople in filing a complaint against Bishop C. Joseph Sprague of Chicago. Jan. 31 issue
“Let the church be the church, not a crowd of Pharisees.”
– Bishop Ray Chamberlain, in a “Perspective for Mission” written for Holston’s Discipleship Team. Feb. 14 issue
“While I pray for peace, I do not believe we can or should try to avoid war at any cost. In every generation, there has been a time when the principles of freedom and human rights have to be defended from evil.”
–The Rev. Ron Matthews, former Holston Conference treasurer and army chaplain, in a commentary that was later reprinted by The (Maryville) Daily Times. Feb. 28 issue
“When I appear before the Virginia Conference, I have to apologize for my own conference. Virginia has always given us what they promised. That’s just the facts.”
–The Rev. Cecil McFarland, a Holston minister and director of the Virginia Chaplaincy Service, complaining about how a budget shortfall has affected the funding received from his home conference. March 14 issue
“The recruiter there in Knoxville said, ‘Come on by Sept. 11, 10 o’clock. It should be a pretty slow day.’”
–Air Force Chaplain David Knight Jr., who in 2001 felt called to submit his application for military service before his 40th birthday. March 28 issue
“We’re not trying to hurt our retirees. We’re trying to help them.”
– Board of Pensions Chair Bill Lawson, after proposing a new health insurance program excluding prescription drug coverage. The proposal would later be modified to include drug coverage. April 25 issue
“What parent would want their little boy or girl to face that day in and day out – what ministers get in the church now? It’s a tough calling.”
–The Rev. Jerry Everley, director of East Tennessee State University’s Wesley Foundation, in an article about up-and-coming ministers. May 9 issue
“I never went to a church that wanted me.”
–The Rev. Mattye Bowman, 95, one of Holston’s first clergywomen. May 23 issue
http://holstonconference.com/thecall/archives/05-23-03/03_may23_lunch.html
“We are here. We’re tired. Oh boy, but it’s been an awesome day.”
–The Rev. Arturo Reyna, on the day that supporters of Door of Heaven UMC paraded three miles to the conference’s first Hispanic church. June 6 issue
“We decided that we want to be uniters, not dividers.”
– Council on Finance & Administration Chair Mai Bell Hurley, after withdrawing from the Annual Conference agenda a 2004 budget that included direct billing. June 20 issue
Coming next week: Part 2.
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