PlainSpoken

I have recently been covering the formation of the Revised Social Principles in The United Methodist Church. I have also done a segment covering the Social Witness of the Global Methodist Church. Both documents were crafted in part by Chappell Temple. C. Chappell Temple is a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and teacher, who has been appointed to serve as the lead pastor of Christ United Metho...

Regionalization is perhaps the biggest push this year's General Conference is receiving from institutional bodies. As this episode demonstrates, it is the latest iteration of a legislative effort that has failed at the last couple General Conferences. The basic idea is to create a new level of administration for the denomination that will allow for continental regions to become more isolated f...

This episode turned out being quite interesting and well-balanced. It is equal parts recent history, General Conference petitions, ethics, and relationships. There are many petitions coming before the General Conference that deal with the question of what to do with local churches, and even annual conferences, that no longer want to be affiliated with The United Methodist Church. It is important t...

This episode addresses the Revised Social Principles presented to the General Conference by the General Board of Church and Society. We examine how the document was crafted, the process by why it was authored and who authored it. We also look at some of the content that is a departure from the previous/current Social Principles, as well as the stated will of the General Conference. Finally, paneli...

This segment deals with five of God's qualities that are to be found throughout Christian scripture. Susanna and I walk through the suggested readings in the catechism and identify what we can see in each, connecting these themes in the end to Article I of the Confession of Faith. This is honestly a great exercise for anyone to meditate upon God's nature. I know Susanna is a little out of...

This episode deals explicitly with the biblical doctrinal understanding of the Trinity. We read each of the New Testament segments that mention all three of the persons of God together, and we actually get into some pretty decent trinitarian systematic theology around soteriology (how it is that God saves us). Very decent conversation here about what it means to be saved by one God in three person...

I have recently been covering the formation of the Revised Social Principles in The United Methodist Church. I have also done a segment covering the Social Witness of the Global Methodist Church. Both documents were crafted in part by Chappell Temple. C. Chappell Temple is a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and teacher, who has been appointed to serve as the lead pastor of Christ United Metho...

Kenneth R. Feinberg is one of the nation’s leading experts in mediation and alternative dispute resolution. He has been appointed to administer numerous high-profile compensation programs, having served as special master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (appointed by the administration of President George Bush), TARP Executive Compensation, and the Agent Orange Victim Compensation Pr...

This episode turned out being quite interesting and well-balanced. It is equal parts recent history, General Conference petitions, ethics, and relationships. There are many petitions coming before the General Conference that deal with the question of what to do with local churches, and even annual conferences, that no longer want to be affiliated with The United Methodist Church. It is important t...

Mark Holland of the Mainstream UMC caucus group sent out an email on February 5 detailing multiple points of failure by Gary Graves and his General Conference staff to coordinate April's General Conference session. In this segment, I speak to why it matters that Africans be included in order for this conference to have any legitimacy, and why it is that average United Methodists should care. I...

A Catechism of Christian Faith and Doctrine for The Global Methodist Church is not an official doctrinal standard of the denomination, but it was created by those familiar with all of those sources. It is a synthesis of two millennia of the finest Christian thought, meant to be memorized and rehearsed within the family of God. So that is what Susanna and I did for these 30 minutes of reflection up...

This episode addresses the Revised Social Principles presented to the General Conference by the General Board of Church and Society. We examine how the document was crafted, the process by why it was authored and who authored it. We also look at some of the content that is a departure from the previous/current Social Principles, as well as the stated will of the General Conference. Finally, paneli...

The first question of the Global Methodist Church's Catechism is "Do you believe in God?" While a very basic question, the answer rendered, alongside multiple scriptural citations, gives a lot of food for thought. Yes, of course we believe in God, but in which God do we believe? What are his distinctive characteristics? Take some time to learn alongside my daughter, Susanna. Link to Gl...

Rev. Matt Reynolds is the President and Founder of Spirit and Truth. It is a ministry that longs to see the church fully alive! It exists to help equip a global movement of local churches to become empowered by the Spirit, rooted in the truth, and mobilized for the mission. In this conversation, he and I speak of a mutual hope for a reclaiming of original Methodist doctrine, culture, and practice....

This section covers a lot more details pertaining to how it is that bishops are supposed to serve. Presidents Pro Tempore aren't addressed here as much as they should be for reasons that become obvious. We spend some time figuring out the differences between a bishop and a bishop emeritus. This is a pretty standard episode in which we come to understand a good deal more about how things have a...

This episode deals with myriad proposals coming before the General Conference that have to do with the topic of human sexuality, which is, of course, the primary issue that has divided many American denominations for some time. The panel is not all of one mind about what the right position to take on these issues is, but they are able to talk through the realities involved as the assembly prepares...

A recent thread on The Friends of the Global Methodist Church Facebook Page suggested to me that it might be helpful to talk about the ways in which the conversation around sexually nonconforming people is going to continue in our churches. I sense that a lot of folks do not understand how this is not going to go away, and how we need to have discerning minds, lest we make room for theologies that...

This segment introduces you to my daughter, Susanna, and to the segment we hope to see through to completion, going through the Catechism of the Global Methodist Church. We hope you join us on this journey! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this first episode, Amy Valdez Barker, former head of the Connectional Table, was able to join us to represent the General Conference process from the perspective of the institution. The crew spent an hour talking about the logistical and practical elements that go into coordinating and implementing the actual General Conference session. How are different legislative items selected, edited, and...

Jeff Pospisil is a solid believer who stands at the top of the Global Methodist Church's financial ministry. He was gracious enough to accept an invitation for a conversation to elucidate the reasoning behind the switch from Wespath to GuideStone. We ended up covering a lot of other topics, as well, taking questions from PlainSpoken audience members. It was a worthy time that I hope to make a...

The General Conference of The United Methodist Church is scheduled to convene this coming April. There has already been an organized and concerted push from institutional entities to make “regionalization” the centerpiece of the work to be accomplished. This is sure to be a primary area of deliberation. Yet there are also many other meaningful items coming to the assembly for its two-week conferen...

The Global Methodist Church just decided to switch from Wespath to GuideStone for financial services. This is a big decision impacting the retirement of thousands of clergy. In this segment, I talk about the history and issues involved that I am personally aware of. I like Wespath and am partly sad to see this connection end. Such are the times we are living in. Links: American Saint by John Wigge...

Dr. Ryan N. Danker was named the Director of the John Wesley Institute in October 2021. Danker is an author, historian, and Wesley scholar committed to the Wesleyan vision. Through the John Wesley Institute, Ryan is coordinating three large events in the next three months, each of which is aimed to better equip the Wesleyan heritage into the future. In this conversation, we speak about each one. H...

¶501 begins a section on how the Global Methodist Church envisions that bishops will operate in this new denomination. We review the broad strokes here, including how compensation is calculated, how episcopal areas work alongside annual conferences, how episcopal funds are collected and distributed, and how doctrinal fidelity is protected. I also have some inside information on a taskforce that th...

There have been a lot of developments over the last year. I wanted to take a few minutes to take stock of all that has transpired, how much this effort has grown, things I have learned and changed along the way, and hopes for 2024. For those who are interested in this format of ministry, I show some stats and reports from some of the platforms on which I publish. For those who are curious about wh...