Posted by >Many of you know that I used to write a column for the NC Christian Advocate, a joint publication of the North Carolina and Western NC Annual Conferences. For various reasons, most of them fiscal, that joint publication is no more. The NC Annual Conference is currently printing a paper that is news only, no columns, op-eds, words from the bishop, or commentary (snore …no offense to my good friend Bill Norton who has too much on his plate anyway).
An alternative, for those looking for one, is the national publication called the UM Reporter which has both a print and an online version. The online version, called the UM Reporter Intereactive was “begun in February 1996, as an electronic periodical containing the best material from The United Methodist Reporter.”
Here are the links to the UMR site and the United Methodiist Reporter Interactive. To subsribe to this publication and receive it weekly, click here.
The most recent edition has a version of one of my blog posts on “Another one Bites the Dust.”
G. Kevin Baker 
>So I’m going through my old Um Reporters I haven’t gotten to yet (yes, all the way back to September), and find your piece on Barbara Brown Taylor’s recent book. I was just at the Christian Century lecture series in Chicago where Will Willimon spoke, and in one of those throw-away references he’s so fond of, he mentioned “that’s why Barbara Brown Taylor can worship God just as well with her horses as in the church”! I was the only one who laughed. In any case, he seems to have some similar questions about her move sanctuary to farm.
>The new Advocate is now including content that is not news- but is theme-based around crucial issues facing each church. As well as covering the news, of course.I know it has a ways to go, but I appreciate the journey they are making.
>Paul,I agree, it is improving in the midst of this time of transition (better with each issue). I still think it would be good to hear from the bishop and to include some other pieces that have theological reflections.Peace,Kevin