A Widening Stream: Comparing and Contrasting United Methodism's 1968 and 2008 Mergers

DARRYL W. STEPHENS is Director of United Methodist Studies and The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary. He is a deacon in full connection in the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference. His numerous articles, chapters and books include: Methodist Morals: Social Principles in the Public Church's Witness (2016), Out of Exodus: A Journey to Open and Affirming Ministry (2018) and co-author of Liberating the Politics of Jesus: Renewing Peace Theology through the Wisdom of Women (2020). His most recent work is a spiritual growth study on the moral witness for the church for United Methodist Women (forthcoming 2021).