I wrote an earlier post, found here, identifying and responding to initial questions and comments to the Plain Grace Plan (“PGP”). Someone recently offered the opinion that the single biggest objection to the PGP is that the expressions that are formed remain in full communion. This post responds to those objections. The Reasons…
In the post entitled GC 2020 – Um Forward’s New Plan – First in a Series of Analyses I offered the opinion that the Plain Grace Plan (“PGP”) might work for UM Forward. The same post may be found at the UM Insights site here. Part of the reason for holding that belief is…
In the post entitled GC 2020 – UM Forward’s NEW Plan – first in a series of analyses I offered the opinion that the Plain Grace Plan (“PGP”) might work for UM Forward. This post follows up on that observation. My original intention for this post was to explain how the PGP might achieve the…
I’ll make my disclaimer right up front. This post is less analytical and more lighthearted than what you probably have come to expect. Have a little fun as you read this post, you’ll live longer. Right before going to bed last night I spent a few minutes reading part of one of the…
Yesterday’s flow chart received favorable comments and many views. Consequently, I’ll continue to help illustrate the Plain Grace Plan using this visual aid for now. Today’s chart shows the process of annual conferences and local churches joining a Full Communion Expression (“FCE”). The process occurs after the FCE has been created. That was…
UPDATED October 8, 2019 In response to the parts of this post that address the Transitional Council and Funding, UM Forward directed me to the language of a nondisciplinary petition that was submitted along with the disciplinary petition analyzed in this post. The entire Nondisciplinary Petition may be found here. The language from…
I’ve recevied several comments that suggest the amount of detailed language in the Plain Grace Plan leads readers to conclude that the plan is too complicated. I decided to create some visuals to help readers understand the processes in the PGP. The plan has a lot of detailed language, but the detail is actually intended…
Here are links to prior Plane Grace Posts dealing with topics related to GC 2020. All posts solely reflect the opinions of Frank Holbrook and are not the official position of, or endorsed by, any organization with whom he may be affiliated. Bard Jones Plan Compared to the Indy Plan – here Analysis…
Here is an Executive Summary of the Plain Grace Plan. Hopefully, you’ll find it helpful. The Plain Grace Plan (“PGP”) was developed to provide General Conference 2020 with an option allowing peaceful separation from the United Methodist Church. The plan focuses on the means of multiplying witness and not the underlying disputes between…
Now that September 18 is in the rearview mirror, the deadline for submitting proposed denominational legislation has passed. We now enter the period when thoughtful analysis of proposals may occur. Due to time constraints, I suspect most people will form impressions about various petitions based on the public statements concerning the plan. At PlaneGrace…
This post addresses some of the early comments and questions about the Plain Grace Plan (“PGP”). 1. The Plain Grace Plan is merely a repackaged version of the One Church Plan (“OCP”). Nothing could be further from the truth. The Report of the Commission on the Way Forward offered the following one sentence…
I’ve started receiving a number of questions and comments about specifics of the Plain Grace Plan. These arrive via various social media. In an effort to collect those questions and comments I am posting this article. If you leave a question about the Plain Grace Plan here I’ll respond here. I may copy a…
A PDF VERSION OF THIS POST IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD HERE A PDF VERSION OF THE PLAIN GRACE PLAN IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AND DOWNLOAD HERE A PDF VERSION OF THE PLAIN GRACE PLAN TIMELINE IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AND DOWNLOAD HERE. Twenty petitions comprising the Plain Grace Plan (“PGP”)…
While reviewing the UMCNext proposal (“Next Plan”), GC 2020: UMCNext’s Proposal – PlaneGrace’s Analysis, I recently commented on the plan’s use of the two-third’s majority standard for determining whether a local church may opt out of the United Methodist Church. In that post I considered the practical effect of the two thirds majority: …
My blogging efforts have reached a turning point. Over the past month or so I’ve written about thirty thousand words concerning GC 2020. I’ve posted mostly about potential separation while always understanding that GC 2020 might not be about separation, it might concern itself with re-fighting the fight of GC 2019. I don’t think anyone…
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 26, 2019. THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED AUGUST 19, 2019 BEFORE THE UMCNEXT PETITIONS WERE SUBMITTED. A FUTURE ARTICLE WILL ANALYZE THE PETITIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED. UMCNext has published its Proposal, a four page document consisting of four components. Although the UMCNext document is labeled a “proposal” it is basically the…
In the 38th Chapter of Job we hear the Lord question Job. His questioning gives a hint, but only a hint, of his power and eternal majesty. The portion of the 38th Chapter, verses 4 through 30 (NIV) set forth below is a beautifuly poetic passage you might want to reflect on today: Where…
Yesterday, UMCNext released its proposal suggesting the way forward for the United Methodist Church. You can read the group’s press release here and the entire proposal here. As I read the proposal I began mentally comparing it to other plans or proposals that have been made public. These include the Bard Jones Plan, the…
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 26, 2019. THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED AUGUST 16, 2019 BEFORE THE INDIANAPOLIS PLAN PETITION WAS SUBMITTED. A FUTURE ARTICLE WILL ANALYZE THE PETITION THAT WAS SUBMITTED. I had a significant bump in readership yesterday. When I saw the spike, my fallen human nature kicked in with a spike in…
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 26, 2019. THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED AUGUST 15, 2019 BEFORE THE INDIANAPOLIS PLAN PETITION WAS SUBMITTED. A FUTURE ARTICLE WILL ANALYZE THE PETITION THAT WAS SUBMITTED. After yesterday’s post was published a summary of the Indianapolis Plan (“Indy Plan”) was posted on Peopleneedjesus.net. The plan summary contains a preamble…
