Un-Tied Methodism

“Do not imagine that you can avoid giving offense,” John Wesley tells the People called Methodists. This advice, along with four other nuggets of wisdom continues to serve as good words to us as we live out our lives and spread the love of God. Dr. Ted A. Campbell, the Albert Cook Outler Professor of … Continue reading "Advice to the People called Methodists: 18th century wisdom for 2023"

St. Francis of Assisi is credited with presenting the first Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve in the early 1200s. Fast forward to the 21st century when Christmas pageants haven’t veered too far from the 13th century version with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and a few animals. Inspired by slam poetry, Rev. Katy Shedlock, United Methodist … Continue reading "Slam Poetry & Mary: An unconventi...

Earlier in November, 13 new bishops were elected to serve The UMC across the U.S. Learn when bishops first became part of the denominational narrative, why Francis Asbury changed their title from general superintendent and more episcopal history when the Rev. Dr. Robert J. Williams, former general secretary of Archives & History, joins this episode … Continue reading "Let’s talk about bi...

In this special episode of “Un-Tied Methodism,” we partner with United Methodist Communication’s “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast to talk about the importance of Charles Wesley. When it comes to John and Charles Wesley, oftentimes in Methodist history, John gets the focus. But what about Charles? What was he like? How did he contribute … Continue reading "The Lyrical Theology of Charles We...

The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women marks its 50th anniversary on Sept. 15, celebrating a half century of advocating for the full inclusion of women in church life as well as helping to promote sexual ethics. General Secretary Dawn Wiggens Hare discusses the history of the organization, its impact, and … Continue reading "50 Years of Advocacy for Women"

How did Methodism come to India? Guest: Dr. Glory Dharmaraj is President of The World Association for Christian Communication-North America. She is also the Retired Director of Mission Theology for United Methodist Women, now called United Women in Faith. She is the author of the denominational mission study on “India and Pakistan” in 2005-6, along … Continue reading "Methodism in India: Fro...

How did Methodism come to Puerto Rico? What were the long-term ramifications of the original colonial aspects of mission? Guidance for the UMC in this moment? GUEST: Dr. Jorge Juan Rodriguez V is the son of two Puerto Rican migrants, grew up with his parents, grandmother, and uncle in a small affordable housing community in urban Connecticut. … Continue reading "Comity, Methodism, and Puerto...

As of late, your social media and inbox may keep referencing a particular paragraph in the Book of Discipline, paragraph 2548.2. But what is this paragraph about? When did it originate and why? Is it useful to us today or not? GUESTS: Rev. Mark Salvacion senior pastor of Historic St. George’s UMC in Philadelphia and … Continue reading "UMC Discipline Paragraph 2548.2 – What’s the story?"

In honor of Women’s History month, we’re speaking with Rev. Emily Nelms Chastain about how Methodist women have changed the trajectory of the denomination in a multitude of ways.

How has the United Methodist tradition evangelized to non-white persons via the Woman’s Home Missionary Society? GUEST: Alex Parrish is the Methodist Librarian at Drew University. His is currently a PhD Candidate at Garrett Evangelical School of Theology where his research focuses on nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American Methodist missions. HOST: Dr. Ashley Boggan Dreff, … Continu...

The African American Methodist Heritage Center (AAMHC) has a mission: “To establish and provide for the maintenance of an African American Methodist Heritage Center, connected with a historically Black institution, that will preserve and protect artifacts and be accessible for research about African American people in Methodism.” This month we discuss the history of this … Continue reading "...

Happy 2022! John Wesley often participated in Watch Night Services, also known as Covenant Services, on New Years Eve. Is this the Wesleyan form of New Year Resolutions? Is this tradition still around? How have different communities, particularly African American forms of Methodism, adopted and adapted the Watch Night Service? GUESTS: Dr. Martin Wellings serves … Continue reading "Watch Nigh...

We hear so much about the Christmas Conference as a crucial piece of Methodist History, but what exactly happened there? GUEST: Rev. Bonnie McCubbin serves bi-vocationally as the Director of Museums & Pilgrimage/Conference Archivist for the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church where she oversees 33 historic sites and as the pastor of Old … Continue reading "What...

What were indigenous boarding schools and how were Methodists involved? GUEST: Rev. Shirley Montoya is an ordained elder in the UMC serving in the Desert Southwest Annual Conference. She was raised in the valley of Shiprock, New Mexico and attended a Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school there. She currently lives on the Navajo reservation … Continue reading "Indigenous Boarding Schools"

How has United Methodism’s racist actions against indigenous nations affected indigenous communities and congregations in 2021? We’ll learn from Ragghi Rain and Cynthia Wilks-Mosley about generational trauma and healing. GUESTS: Ragghi Rain is a layperson in the UMC who lives in Delaware on the land of the Nanticoke and Lenape. RagghiRain is a Descent of … Continue reading "UMC and Indigenou...

Many United Methodists do not know the violent tragedies of our past, including our responsibility and agency in a massacre at Sand Creek. This is that story. GUEST: Dr. Gary Roberts is Emeritus Professor of History, Abraham Baldwin College, Tifton, Georgia, respected historian of the American West and the Sand Creek massacre in particular, has … Continue reading "Methodists and Sand Creek M...

Francis Asbury was tasked with carrying out John Wesley’s vision of Methodism in the colonies and the United States. Part of this vision included a strong stance against the institution of slavery. How did Asbury respond to and embody this stance in a society that was increasingly racist and white supermacist? GUESTS: Dr. Gordon Melton … Continue reading "Asbury Crossing: Methodism in Black...

John Wesley’s mission to Georgia included a mandate to convert indigenous nations. How did this trip shape his understanding of indigenous persons and what can United Methodists today learn from this encounter? Guest: Rev. Dr. Suzanne Wenonah Duchesne: Dr. Duchesne is a PhD graduate of Drew Theological School whose dissertation was entitled Beloved Speech: Language … Continue reading "John W...

It’s no secret that John Wesley and Frances Asbury were quite dictatorial leaders who envisioned quite different futures for the peoples called Methodist….Or maybe it is? Hence, this podcast episode! Today, we’ll look at two (of the many) “founders” of Methodism, John Wesley and Francis Asbury. How did their different leadership styles create different types … Continue reading "Asbury Crossi...

Celebrating Asbury’s Voyage to the Americas 250 Years Ago As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Francis Asbury’s crossing from England to America, we will feature a four-part series over the course of the month. More information can be found at here. IN THIS EPISODE: What is the Christmas Conference? Why is it important to … Continue reading "Asbury Crossing: Lasting Impacts of Christmas...

This episode features an interview with Dr. Dee E Andrews about her book, The Methodists in Revolutionary America. Dr. Andrews will provides an overview of the spirit of revolution (and its many forms) within early American Methodism. In this interview, the various revolutions within Methodism (gender, race, social upheavals) parallel the idea of revolution within … Continue reading "The Rev...

In Part 1 of this episode, Ashley quizzes Rev. Jeremy Smith and Tara Barnes on their knowledge of Welch’s Grape Juice and its connection with the Methodist Church. In Part 2, Ashley discusses The Poisoned Chalice with Dr. Jennifer Woodruff Tait who literally wrote the book on Grape juice and Methodism. GUESTS: Tara Barnes is the … Continue reading "Welch’s Grape Juice and Methodism"

A local church discovers their past is intertwined with the KKK. How did they handle it? Our guests today share with Ashley on the steps they took to confront this racist history. GUESTS: Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar currently serves as the Bishop of the New England Annual Conference of the UMC. He was elected to the … Continue reading "Wellspring UMC: A Local Church History"

Guests: Bishop Mande Muyombo is the Resident Bishop of the North Katanga Area in the Congo Central Conference of The United Methodist Church. Muyombo was an executive of the General Board of Global Ministries when he was elected on the fourth ballot during the Congo Central Conference in 2017. He is the first graduate of Africa University … Continue reading "The Cross and Flame Logo"

GUESTS: Carol Travis was baptized at Asbury UMC and is recorded as having delivered her first prayer at the age of 6 over 60 years ago. After a long career in corporate America, she retired to start another career in church administration, serving on the staff of diverse churches in urban and suburban settings  She … Continue reading "Methodism in DC"