A final post, but not a last word!

And with this, we close DS-391 for 2012, and it has been a pleasure, an education, and an honor to teach this class.

http://www.disciples.org/Portals/0/PDF/generalboard/2012/2012Communique.pdf

Almost done . . .

. . . with our class, and for Methodists, with GC2012; from Tampa, a fascinating tweet that brings them together, no?:

Dusty Katzenmiller ‏ @cdkatzenmiller

Watching #gc2012 and can't help but think of Stone's LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. Some UMC folk may find it a helpful read: [with this t.co link - http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/rmcnemar/ocg/OCG.HTM#Will]

Just in time, before our last class Friday!

http://www.disciples.org/Portals/0/PDF/generalboard/2012/2012Communique.pdf

. . . and of course, follow the links embedded in the document.

Our polity, if not our history, continues to change. Learn to love the process!

Your choice, but . . .

Friends & colleagues, if I'd gotten ahold of this earlier, it would have been MANDATORY reading; as it is, this is simply strongly commended to your consideration -- the essay from Keith upon T.J.'s passing, and mainly I mean the pdf link at the end to T.J.'s wonderful short history, which I couldn't find in a reproducible form before. Here it is!

(And don't forget the four of you for credit: sermons next week, text/detailed notes may be handed in that day, May 4th, 7 pm, or e-mailed with your research papers no later than May 11, 4 pm. And preview/review texts will be considered by me in advance!)

http://keithwatkinshistorian.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/mormons-and-the-disciples-of-christ/

Worth following the news link this week!

From the UMC GC2012 News tab, an excellent overview of the current state of "polity" knowledge in that denomination. I think you can find much to usefully reflect upon in the DoC/UCC polity landscape in comparing/contrasting to the UMC situation.

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=8057055&ct=11717951

General news tab (bookmark & refresh through Friday!):

http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.8038093/k.51F6/News__General_Conference_2012_The_United_Methodist_Church.htm

Aaron, Brian, Seth? (Sorry, you other four!)

http://www.disciples.org/DisciplesNewsService/tabid/58/itemId/1206/Disciples-Leadership-Institute-for-23-40-year-olds.aspx

I'm still confused.

Check out this new "Q&A" with the Hope Partnership head (note: pops up as pdf only, not sure why); as I've observed on my Facebook feed, their logo has three fonts, four thematic elements, and six or seven colors (depending on the white/negative space issue for the dove). I've found that overly-complicated unclear logos are actually quite indicative of vision/mission clarity. Not trying to be snarky, I'm just still not getting it. But read, discern, and maybe you can teach the teacher!

http://www.churchextension.org/about/upload/Hope-Partnership-Q-and-A.pdf