The Temple Forum

This January, we said a heartbreaking goodbye to a giant of our community, Edith Renfrow Smith, who passed away at the age of 111. To honor her incredible legacy, the Temple Forum is releasing a very special conversation. Last summer, shortly after Edith’s 111th birthday, we sat down with womanist sociologist Dr. Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant (“Dr. B”) to discuss Edith’s story—a narrative that spans...

This week, we are honored to welcome Steven Thrasher — journalist, professor of journalism at Northwestern University, former writer for Saturday Night Live, and author of the powerful book The Viral Underclass. Steven shares his journey as a Black gay man and a deeply rooted Christian, reflecting on identity, faith, and storytelling. His voice challenges us, inspires us, and opens new windows int...

🎙️ New Temple Forum Podcast Episode! 🎙️ We’re excited to share our latest episode featuring Rev. Chris Walters, President & CEO of the Midwest Methodist Foundation , as we explore the connection between faith, generosity, and financial stewardship in today’s church. Rev. Walters—an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church—leads a foundation that manages over $100 million in assets, suppor...

Exciting new episode of the Temple Forum Podcast at the Chicago Temple! We had the honor of speaking with Dr. Javier Viera from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Viera shared insights on the evolving landscape of higher education, the incredible growth in Garrett’s student body, and his powerful advocacy for immigrants—embracing the concept of an "Imm...

Dr. John P. Burgess is the James Henry Snowden Professor of Systematic Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), he has served in various congregations and theological roles. His research focuses on Eastern Orthodoxy, particularly in Russia, and he has authored several books, including Holy Rus': The Rebirth of Orthodoxy in the New Russi...

We are thrilled to share some exciting news! Rev. Jane Eesley, a dedicated missionary who has been serving in Israel, will be joining First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple as our new senior pastor this July! Just last month, we had the privilege of interviewing Rev. Eesley about her experiences in ministry abroad. Since then, our journey together has taken a new and unexpected turn,...

It is our pleasure to share that we recently had the opportunity to interview Rev. Young-Mee Park, the new Interim Senior Pastor at the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, located in 77 W. Washington St. Chicago. In our conversation, she shared her vision for our church, her hopes for this season of ministry, and her deep commitment to guiding us forward with faith and care. Stay...

Welcome to the Temple Forum Podcast! Today, we have the privilege of speaking with a truly remarkable guest, David Worthington, the Global Ambassador of Methodist Heritage Sites for The United Methodist Church. David plays a vital role in preserving and promoting the rich legacy of Methodist heritage around the globe. With a deep passion for history and faith, he works tirelessly to ensure that th...

Welcome to this special episode of the Temple Forum podcast! Today, we are honored to celebrate the remarkable ministry of Rev. Dr. Myron McCoy, who has faithfully served as Senior Pastor at the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple for the past 10 years. During his time at the Chicago Temple, Rev. Dr. McCoy has been a steady, compassionate leader, shepherding our congregation with g...

“What does it mean to remember God?” Dr. Oh asks us. Join us as we explore the intriguing intersection of neuroscience and Wesleyan theology! Kwang-Jin Oh, a PhD graduate in Theology and Ethics at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, shares his insights. His research delves into neuroscience and theology, popular culture, and virtue ethics.

The Chicago Temple's Hope's Table ministry has been providing crucial services to the homeless in downtown Chicago. Mabel, a dedicated member of the FUMC at the Chicago Temple, has led this initiative every Saturday for over 15 years. The ministry offers hot meals, clothing, legal support, and medical care through partnerships with DePaul University and Heartland Alliance. Volunteers play a vital...

Did you know that this year marks the 100th anniversary of Chicago's Temple Building? Listen to the Temple Forum podcast about the history and fun facts of the Chicago Temple Building in honor of its 100th anniversary. David Foster was interviewed by Jann Ingmire!

Christian is an attorney, but now works for the human rights of immigrants through UMC agencies UMCOR and GBGM(Global Ministries). Listen to Cristian talk about the United Methodist Church's commitment to immigrants and how you can help immigrants survive their first winter in Chicago. If you would like to support Cristian's ministry or get in touch with him, you can find that information by visit...

Meet Dan Schwerin, the new bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church! Bishop Schwerin is a poetry-loving Wisconsin native who has been bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference, home conference to the Chicago Temple, since January of 2023. You'll hear Bishop Dan's answers to serious theological questions like war and evil in this episode of the Temple Forum. See hi...

Want to learn about the history of Chicago's up-and-coming neighborhood, the WestLoop? Join the Temple Forum for a discussion of Connie Fairbanks' book Chicago's WestLoop: Then and Now, the result of extensive and detailed research over five years. Connie is also a member of the FUMC at the Chicago Temple! Check out her website, too. https://www.conniefairbanks.com/ This podcast interview was cond...

Temple Forum had an interview with Sulkiro Song (She/they), Ha:n UMC's worship director, to learn more about Ha:n, a Korean-American congregation, and Song's understanding of a queer God. Sulkiro majored in Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary for their master's degree, firmly believing that God is queer. It is also the first interview Sam did with Temple Forum. Welcome Sam and Sulkiro!...

C25/7 Father's Arms Ministry is a non-profit located at 1543 W Howard St, Chicago, IL. They provide community outreach programs including a monthly food pantry for locals and newly bussed immigrants, an after school program for about 60 kids from kindergartner to high school students, and a job development program. James and Natalie are a married couple and co-founders of the organization. Check o...

Happy Pride! This month we interviewed the Rev. M Jade Kaiser(they/them), co-founder and co-director of EnFleshed and deacon in the United Methodist Church.   Visit enfleshed website: https://enfleshed.com/  

In celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Temple Forum invited Dr. Donghyun Jeong for an interview. In addition to serving as Assistant Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, Dr. Jeong is also Director of the Center for Asian/Asian American Ministry. Here is what he says about Asian bigotry during the pandemic, Asian heritage, soli...

During the COVID pandemic, we heard about the healthcare heroes in our hospitals. These are the doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals who are on the front lines taking care of patients. But…there are other professionals providing comfort and care in hospitals every day who may not receive as much attention – Hospital Chaplains. Let us hear from Chaplain Dirk about his calling as a chapl...

Who knew that there would be a faith-based initiative in the Chicago Public Schools system?   This installment of the Temple Forum features Alan Conley, the Director of Faith-Based Initiatives for CPS. Listen to his work for CPS!

" What Do We Do When Nobody is Listening? Leading the Church in a Polarized Society " is the title of a new book by Dr. Robin W. Lovin . This timely book looks at how the church can be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem, in our very divided society.     According to Dr. Lovin, an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church and a leading global scholar in Christian ethics, w...

Journalist and attorney Lester Munson has covered some of the biggest stories and scandals in the sports world during the course of his long career at Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and “The Sportswriters” TV show. Find out how he jumped from a struggling law career to becoming a successful sports journalist. Munson also has varied interests beyond the sports world, including a connection with the Czec...

The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago is an organization of leaders from diverse faith traditions. The annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Observance is one of the most high-profile events the organization coordinates every year with representatives of many faith traditions from A (American Baptist) to Z (Zoroastrian). The Executive Director of the Council, Nisan Chavkin, says this g...

The U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade in June 2022 generated intense responses from pro- and anti-choice proponents. The landmark decision took away the federal right to an abortion that had been in place for nearly 50 years. Rev. Camille Henderson-Edwards is the Director for Economic, Health and Gender Justice at the General Board of Church and Society for the United Methodist...