Thursday's News & Ideas - 4/4/2019

US Methodists plot ways to resist new LGBT rules
Religion News Service: United Methodists are signing petitions, taking out newspaper ads and, in some cases, withholding their dues to the denomination. They are also plotting a way out.
United Methodist News Service: Denomination's future under discussion -- quietly

Pope names Gregory, designer of US bishops' abuse procedures, as Washington archbishop
National Catholic Reporter: Pope Francis has named Archbishop Wilton Gregory to lead the Washington Archdiocese. He would also become the first black cardinal in the 230-year history of the U.S. church.

What causes greed and how can we deal with it?
The Conversation: Niebuhr and Buddha can help us understand human nature and provide ethical guidance, including in cases of greed.
CityLab: How the 1 percent is pulling America's cities and regions apart

Merged Episcopal congregations in California are first to take name of church's only African American deaconess
Episcopal News Service: Episcopal church in San Francisco Bay Area named after St. Anna Alexander vows to emulate her ministry in rural Georgia.

As the mother of a child with autism, I see how preaching and practicing the Gospel are fractured
Baptist News Global: Christy Edwards believes Jesus would not only have noticed those with autism; he would also have recognized their need and desire for relationship and community.

The Spark

The colors of our dreams
Blue wasn't used to describe water until the 17th century. Then it became linked to melancholy, sadness and a genre of music. The Claremont Review of Books tells the history of blue.

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