e-Review archives
Bishop's Commentaries 2009
 

Commentary: Calling a special session of the annual conference

An e-Review commentary by Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker | Jan. 29, 2009 {0967} NOTE: A headshot of Whitaker is available at http://www.flumc.info/photo_gallery2.shtml. Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker is calling a special session of the Florida Annual Conference Feb. 28 to vote on resolutions relating to a new Florida Conference Center in Lakeland. full story

Commentary: United Methodists and abortion today

An e-Review commentary by Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker | Feb. 9, 2009 {0971} NOTE: A headshot of Whitaker is available at http://www.flumc.info/photo_gallery2.shtml. In the wake of amendments to The United Methodist Church’s stance on abortion, Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker says the denomination has taken a step toward “greater moral seriousness” on the issue. full story

Commentary: Christ died for us

An e-Review commentary by Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker | March 20, 2009 {0986} NOTE: A headshot of Whitaker is available at http://www.flumc.info/photo_gallery2.shtml. Jesus’ death marks not a disastrous and humiliating end to the story of Israel, says Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker, but rather its climax and the beginning of a new story in which people of faith today have an integral part to play. full story

Commentary: The resurrection of our Lord

An e-Review commentary by Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker | April 3, 2009 {0995} NOTE: A headshot of Whitaker is available at http://www.flumc.info/photo_gallery2.shtml. Easter is not “first of all, about our resurrection,” says Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker. It’s about the new creation — the transformation of the world — and the mission people of faith are called to fulfill every day. full story

Commentary: The Gospel and the Trinity

An e-Review commentary by Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker | April 21, 2009 {1004} NOTE: A headshot of Whitaker is available at http://www.flumc.info/photo_gallery2.shtml. The Gospel is all about good news — what God has done to save the world. What then about the God who brought that good news? Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker says Trinity Sunday — the first Sunday after Pentecost — is a time to know more about the nature of “the God who had accomplished this amazing act of salvation.” full story

Commentary: American Methodist worship

An e-Review commentary by Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker | May 14, 2009 {1017} NOTE: A headshot of Whitaker is available at http://www.flumc.info/photo_gallery2.shtml. Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker says a certain amount of acculturation in worship is inevitable today, but there is also the danger of taking a consumerist approach. He suggests an “authoritative” book on worship as a guide against “American Methodism … becoming more American than Methodist.” full story

Commentary: What’s at stake in use, neglect of Old Testament

An e-Review commentary by Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker | July 14, 2009 {1046} NOTE: A headshot of Whitaker is available at http://www.flumc.info/photo_gallery2.shtml. Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker speculates that the Old Testament does not occupy a very prominent place in the life of many congregations and says there is much at stake in the use or neglect of those “Holy Scriptures.” full story

Commentary: Baptism and conversion

An e-Review commentary by Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker | Oct. 1, 2009 {1083} NOTE: A headshot of Whitaker is available at http://www.flumc.info/photo_gallery2.shtml. Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker says both baptism and evangelical experience are integrally connected and depreciating either one is a mistake. full story

Commentary: The spirituality of ministry

An e-Review commentary by Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker | Dec. 7, 2009 {1109} NOTE: A headshot of Whitaker is available at http://www.flumc.info/photo_gallery2.shtml.   For forty years the church has tried to define the ministry of clergy, leading to a dualism of thought that separates a minister’s work from his or her spiritual life. Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker suggests the way forward is not “ministry and spirituality,” but “ministry as spirituality.” full story