The United Methodist Church is currently facing an attack by a group of conservative pastors and churches that have projected their fears onto our denomination. Many local churches are voting to disaffiliate from the UMC and either join a new denomination or continue as a nondenominational church.

I have been studying several methods of creating art over the last few years and have an idea for an art project that uses pages from old hymnals as the foundation for artwork. As I searched for old hymnals to utilize someone mentioned that the disaffiliating churches would have old hymnals available since the covers had the United Methodist branding.

The visual of taking these books that have held such sacred memories for so many people and utilizing them to create beauty. Instead of ending up in a landfill or a recycling pile, I will reimagine the pages as new creations.

This will not heal the damage that is occurring in our denomination and extension ministries, but I hope it will be an image of hope for the future.