Means of Grace

In this episode of the Means of Grace Podcast, Director of Missional Engagement, Brian Mateer, sits down with Britt Rogers to reflect on her recent experience on the Young Adult Pilgrimage to Armenia. They discuss many things including what it means to go on a "pilgrimage" and the amazing beauty and culture of Armenia.

In this episode of the Means of Grace Podcast, Director of Missional Engagement, Brian Mateer, sits down with Rev. Noah Glover of Rock Grove UMC to reflect on his recent experience on the Young Adult Pilgrimage to Armenia. They explore many things including the idea of hospitality, particularly in the context of the church and its membership.

In this episode, Director of Church Development, Rev. Rob Hutchinson, sits down with Bishop Ken Carter to discuss what it means to be a vital, healthy United Methodist Church in our current context. They chat about programming vs. discipleship, the importance of being in the community, and the vision for the newly commissioned Emerging Community Pastors in the Western NC Conference.

Brian Mateer, Director of Missional Engagement, speaks with Reverend Johnathan Brake, Global Ministries Environmental Sustainabilities Program Manager, and Reverend Jarrod Davis, Creation Ministries Coordinator. Resources: https://www.wnccumc.org/ creation-care-resources

Creativity, innovation, and collaboration are at the heart of rural church ministry." In this episode of the Means of Grace podcast, Rev. Dr. Nicole Jones talks with Kim and Jesse about her  Vitality through Storytelling initiative that is developing connections and amplifying the stories of rural churches and communities. The learning from her Doctor of Ministry isn't limited to rural churches. A...

This week we are delighted to share a guest episode from the podcast of one of our local churches! The Curious Living podcast is sponsored and produced by Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church in Mooresville, and hosted by Rev. Monica Humpal. In this podcast, Rev. Humpal helps us "explore our curious questions as we unpack these curiosities through the lens of Scripture and our Christian fai...

Podcast guest Dr. Luke Bretherton, Robert E. Cushman Distinguished Professor of Moral and Political Theology at Duke Divinity School, talks with Jesse Enniss and Kim Ingram, imagining how humans and creation journey with God through the seasons of life, the year, and the church. Dr. Bretherton paints a picture of pastoral theology that encourages us to think about the ordinary things of life and h...

In this episode, Rev. Jill Schneider Smith leads us through a practice of grounding and contemplation to care for our hearts, bodies, minds, and spirits in this busy summer season. Rev. Smith is the director of Flourishing Souls and is an ordained elder in the Western North Carolina Conference.    We hope this episode will bring you a few moments of calm and quiet to check in with your body and sp...

What if there were a movement of leadership within the church that was able to look past all of the hardships and challenges of today?  What if leaders came together to champion a new day filled with energy, purpose, and hope. Jesse Enniss and Kim Ingram talk with WNCC clergy leaders and church pastors Brian Elwell, Mandy Jones, Karen Easter-Bayne, John Henry, Jr., and Mark Conforti about ways the...

In this week's episode we get to listen in on a conversation that took place during the 2022 Annual Conference. Bishop Carter, along with a group of clergy from across the conference, of various races, ages, genders, and ministry roles sat down for a panel discussion on the future of the UMC. Their goal was to answer a question you may have asked yourself a time or two – will there be a place for...

Guests: Rev. Dr. Mark Ralls, Blue Ridge District Superintendent and Rev. Kent Smith, pastor, Higgins Memorial in Burnsville, NC    Jesse Enniss and Kim Ingram talk with Mark Ralls and Kent Smith about how despite differences, we can change the culture in our churches and communities when people shift their mindset and regard one another differently.   WNCC Outward Mindset Workshops Arbinger Instit...

Director of Church Development, Rev. Rob Hutchinson, speaks with several pastors of Lighthouse Congregations. Together, they explore what it means to be a Lighthouse Congregation, how these families of faith are creating space for healing and hope for the individuals who find themselves without a church home after painful disaffiliation votes, and how this care-first initiative is providing opport...

o Creation Care Website- https://www.wnccumc.org/wncc-creation-care-ministry o The email: CreationCareWNCC@gmail.com o Earth Keepers Program- https://umcmission.org/earthkeepers/

As we prepare our hearts to journey with Jesus to the cross, the grave, and into resurrection, Bishop Carter offers these words of prayer and reflection.     We want to hear from you! It's our goal to make the Means of Grace podcast a two-way conversation between Conference leadership and you. Please email us your thoughts, questions, and episode ideas at  meansofgrace@wnccumc.org . Thanks for lis...

In this short bonus episode, Bishop Carter dives a bit deeper into the life and teaching of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, particularly related to Bonhoeffer's book  Life Together , which we have been studying together as a Conference throughout the season of Lent. If you would like to learn more about Bishop Carter's Lenten Study on Life Together, visit   Lenten Bible Study (wnccumc.org) . There you will f...

This week, Rob Hutchinson, WNCC Director of Church Development, speaks with Guilford College UMC's Student Associate Minister, Andres Perez Gonzalez. Together, they discuss the ways church is changing in 2023 and how we can grow our "holy intuition" so that we may become better attuned to the ways God is already at work in our communities and join in the mission!

In this week's episode, Director of Communications,  Aimee  Yeager, sits down with Bishop Carter to talk about his vision and hopes for the future for the Western North Carolina Conference and The United Methodist Church. Not ignoring the very real challenges we face, Bishop Carter his hope that we will live into our calling to fight systems of oppression, work for antiracism, and rediscover an or...

In this episode, Rev. Dr. Bill White, Jr., WNCC Director of Equity and Justice Ministries, speaks with Rev. Pam Blackstock, Rev. Rodvegas Ingram, and Rev. Dr. Otto Harris about Black History Month - what it means for our nation, our relationships, and the value it brings to our society and our churches. Their conversation challenges us all to move "beyond the heroes and holidays" of Black History...

The UMC LEAD Conference is an annual gathering of United Methodist leaders from across the US. This conference was modeled around TED style talks about new and creative ways to engage in ministry such as starting new churches, self care, creativity, leadership challenges, lay ministry, urban and rural ministries, and more. The 2023 UMC LEAD Conference was held at Central UMC in Asheville with the...

In this episode, Dr. Bill White, Jr. speaks with Dr. Derek Hicks, Associate Professor of Religion and Culture at Wake Forest Divinity School. Together, they discuss this current moment for the Black Church, the future of the Black faith tradition, and what it means to create the Beloved Community.

Jesse Enniss and Kim Ingram talk with Rev. Dr. Myer Dahn about  Rediscovering the Evangelistic Power of Personal Redemptive Storytelling , the title of his Doctor of Ministry dissertation.  Myer talks about how he used storytelling as a primary foundation for empowering laity to share their faith and start a Dinner Church.  In this podcast, Myer also shares his story and how it has shaped his call...

Each week during Advent, we invite you to take a short break from your busy schedule to hear a devotional message from Bishop Carter and spend a few moments in prayer. 

In this Means Of Grace podcast episode, we listen to the stories of different Christmas traditions from some leaders in The Western NC Conference. We get to hear how different families celebrate the Christmas season in different ways; some more common traditions and others more unique. What traditions are you most excited about this time of year?

Each week during Advent, we invite you to take a short break from your busy schedule to hear a devotional message from Bishop Carter and spend a few moments in prayer.