Much Ado About Methodists

The news story about United Methodist Men moving their annual meeting from Purdue University to Belmont University seemed interesting/unusual only because this group held its meeting at Purdue every year since 1953 (and the fact that the Associated Press called Belmont a "Baptist college").

The people down at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau seem happy enough to welcome 5,000 men to the city in 2009. The UMC denominational headquarters office people in Nashville seem to be happy. Belmont's president seemed happy (perhaps too happy) that the new arena would have a paying customer other than the Honky Tonk Badonkadonk crowd. And then, James Porch, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, responds to a question of "whether or not he thought the Methodist plan to hold the event at Belmont's campus meant the school was trying to further distance itself from Baptists?" with the following quip:

"It's an internal decision made by officials at Belmont. That's the decision they've made."

Yawwwn. Dr. Porch is in an awkward position. He would probably be slammed if he said that he was happy that Belmont was hosting a Christian group on campus, or, if he wished Belmont well (i.e. they'll need all the money thay can get if/when they lose this court case). And whose bright idea was it to ask Jim Porch something about Belmont, anyway?

So, bring on the Methodists! Belmont has sprinklers on campus ready and waiting.