PlainSpoken

Mark Holland published a piece that was over the line for a lot of folks, and he was pressed to make an apology for "harm" that it did. Lonnie Brooks has already aired a concern for progressive 'triumphalism' that was seen before, during, and is now being seen after the UMC's General Conference. Odell similarly has the concern that this progressive takeover bodes badly for black and brown people, as these issues have now been racially coded. My role was a bit different with this one. I felt like arguing with both of them. I was a bit more adversarial with my guests than usual. I figured it was time to make a strong case for a more fundamentalist sexual ethic. I also argued that these things are not racially coded, but are actually fundamentally a class issue. We had a good robust exchange. I think a lot of you will enjoy it. Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

The Convening Conference for the Global Methodist Church approaches quickly. TJ, Ruth, and I crafted nine documents that we plan to submit for the consideration of the assembled body in September. This segment explains our agenda and how it is that you can join us in advancing the conversation about who we want to be together. If you would like to consider our petitions, then please go to the link below to review and support what initiatives of ours that you like:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfh9VhGo7nB9zav4WGBUQ-lI_31Zn5Jey27OXaccLKem4Qkag/viewform?usp=share_link Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

A lot has happened in the weeks following the General Conference of the United Methodist Church held in Charlotte, NC. So much took place that still has to be reckoned with. Our United Methodist laity and clergy attached to this group have a lot of information to share. Each has his own area of insight. This session was a barrage of analysis and insight. Links: 2019 Central Conference Membership - https://www.umnews.org/en/news/us-dips-below-majority-of-membership 2024 Central Conference Membership - https://www.umc.org/en/content/united-methodists-at-a-glance Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Rev. Dr. Scott Field has long worked toward Methodist reform and renewal. He served as a pastor in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church for 41 years. Scott served on the Board of Directors of Good News for 15 years and, along with an outstanding team, led the Reform and Renewal Coalition efforts at four UMC General Conferences. He, along with his wife Lynda, were the local arrangement organizers for the inaugural gathering of the Wesleyan Covenant Association in Chicago in 2016 with 1800 in attendance.Scott also took the lead to form the Northern Illinois Regional Chapter of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and worked voluntarily there for the last seven (7) years. His days were spent working within northern Illinois to inform, connect, advise, and resource Methodists in the disaffiliation process for separation from the United Methodist denomination. Scott retired from the UMC in 2019.Scott has been a part of the Leadership Council of the Great Lakes Provisional Annual Conference, and also serves on the Great Lakes Board of Ministry both of the Global Methodist Church.Links:The Wesleyan Covenant Association - https://wesleyancovenant.org/ Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Rev. Tom Lambrecht has been a foremost source of knowledge for many who have tried to discern what is actually going on in the UMC for many years. While many institutionalist and liberal voices have gaslit conservative concerns for decades, Tom has been a consistent voice of reason and concern. His tenor is not at all smug as his concerns were realized in the last couple weeks.In this conversation, Rev. Lambrecht helps me to sift through the different things being said about changes in sexual morality, options for disaffiliation, and degrees of progressive takeover. He gave me a lot of clarity. I hope you receive the same benefit!The audio is a little rough at first, but it levels out, so bear with it!Links:Good News Magazine - https://goodnewsmag.org/Tom's Blog - https://tomlambrecht.goodnewsmag.org/ Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

The Convening Conference for the Global Methodist Church is approaching. It will do many things similarly to how the UMC does their conferences. However, there will be many differences. The only way to navigate this September is to understand the design that they have made explicit in their "THE CONVENING GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMUNITY: PLAN OF ORGANIZATION AND COVENANT FOR OUR LIFE TOGETHER" document. So TJ and walk through this document in this segment and try to get clear on the timeline for what is to transpire. Those of you who are interested in tracking these developments in September would be wise to spend time getting oriented with us. LGMC Website: www.globalmethodist.org General Conference Website: https://www.sotheworldwillknow.org/ The Convening General Conference Community Document: https://assets-global.website-files.com/65ecb1a33dc79361d6f90b07/6619cdf0ca169e0b60fa4a89_Plan%20of%20Organization%20%2B%20Covenant%20202403.pdf Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

When the General Conference met in Charlotte, NC, Rob Renfroe was there in a different capacity than ever: He knew that the long term agenda of evangelicals would lose, so he gave no resistance. His only purpose in attending was to support those remaining evangelicals who would otherwise be trapped, advocating for a way for them to exit. For that, he was maligned and insulted, even by a person or two speaking on the floor of plenary.I wanted to take some time to hear from Rob himself to ask about things that went on behind the scenes at General Conference, and to ask him about his plans for the future now that this chapter has closed. Consider spending time with Rob and me as we digest what transpired together.If you want to show appreciation for this broadcast, you can give to my church at https://tithe.ly/give?c=2198808.If you want to join my Locals community, you can go to plainspoken.locals.com.You can also support my work at plainspoken.substack.com and at jeffreyrickman.substack.com. Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Mark Tooley has been the President of the Institute for Religion and Democracy for some time. The IRD is a think tank and activist coordination entity that has been operational in Methodism for some time. Mark has been a thought leader and source of information for faithful Methodists for many decades, educating and supporting evangelical Methodism consistently.In this conversation, Mark and I talk Wesleyan political theory and try to share an understanding of how contemporary institutions work. Mark explains his political framework of choice, Whiggery, alongside other models of more reactionary conservatism (which I generally adopt). It is a robust discourse, in which a final hope for the Global Methodist Church is offered. I hope this conversation is a blessing to you in the way that it was to me.Links:The Institute for Religion & Democracy - www.theird.orgMark Tooley's "Juicy Ecumenism" publication website - https://juicyecumenism.com/Tooley's most recent book, "The Peace That Almost Was" - https://www.amazon.com/The-Peace-That-Almost-Was/dp/0718022238The IRD's John Wesley Institute - https://nextmethodism.org/ Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Andrew V. Sullivan is a PhD candidate in History, doing his dissertation on Wesleyanism, currently completing his program at Liberty University. A sixth-generation Texan, he aims to serve the Global Methodist Church in the academy, helping to train up a new generation of faithful Methodist clergy to spread scriptural holiness across the land. He is of exceptional knowledge in Methodist history and theology.In this segment, he explains how Socinianism and Pelagianism are both threats to modern Methodism, and what language currently reflects a potential openness to these schools of thought. I am to speak with Andrew at least a couple more times, so go ahead and get to know him!Links:Sullivan's Article on Evangelical Arminians - https://evangelicalarminians.org/andrew-sullivan-harmony-of-the-arminian-faith-a-proposal-to-the-global-methodist-church-full-thesis/Richard Watson, Methodism's first systematic theology textbook: https://www.amazon.com/Theological-Institutes-Two-Lexham-Classics/dp/1683591208/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CEWFPP6MHGAD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TtyqeRP1rUcs3LYl5A475LdAlmRGH1vow_-I40fdAa7hp6v0W9h6CMKCXL-blHIOwVQm7bC23tYkSRgUu859W5crAohUDVJ8j8qqPrQYmYjDD895jSiHFyglOUJD2aBQIl5mjkYuf30HbUPW5vMwhbB7lAtphZNhOJcaKfDvGDcbaN2ACABmBXz3f87HLH9KiMajudeX5bEFLPVLLP8DJaIpqrD0lmrNf9hkt3YQqYM.BDwwC6M8i-FY63Fh0X1L_rGpLZKwp92DEgGzSlMaho0&dib_tag=se&keywords=richard+watson+theological+institutes&qid=1713807737&sprefix=richard+watson%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1.Thomas N. Ralston, Methodist Episcopal Church South - https://archive.org/details/elementsofdivini0000rals/mode/2upThomas O. Summers, Methodist Episcopal Church South - https://archive.org/details/systematictheolo02summ/page/n5/mode/2upAdam Clarke, Wesleyan Methodist Connection of Great Britain - https://bibleportal.com/commentary/adam-clarke Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Chris Ritter blogs at PeopleNeedJesus.net. He is the pastor of First Methodist Church in Geneseo, Illinois, a congregation that has been recognized for its high number of professions of faith. In addition to authoring "Seven Things John Wesley Expected Us to Do for Kids" (Abingdon Press, 2016), Chris has published several chapters and published articles on topics pertinent to Methodism, evangelism, and effective local church ministry. He was delegate to the 2016 and 2019 General Conferences of The United Methodist Church and was involved in helping develop two plans put forward by The Commission on a Way Forward. An ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church, Chris holds a doctorate in evangelism from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He has been fortunate to travel and witness the vibrancy of the church outside the United States.I wanted to speak to Chris because of his proximity to the conversations that are generating this new (or older) understanding of episcopacy that will become a part of the culture of the Global Methodist Church. He also has a great birdseye view of Methodism more broadly. His is an informed perspective. I'm glad he took the time to visit with me.Links:Christopher's Website - peopleneedjesus.netChristopher's Book - https://a.co/d/2A1jFDtChristopher's article detailing new developments w/ GMC episcopacy - https://peopleneedjesus.net/2024/04/10/just-dropped-big-recommendations-on-the-proposed-shape-of-the-global-methodist-church/The "UM Fallout Compendium," which Ritter hosts and is a source for a lot of my reporting - https://peopleneedjesus.net/2024/02/24/um-fallout-a-compendium/Episcopacy recommendations from the GMC - https://globalmethodist.org/gm-churchs-transitional-leadership-council-offers-proposals-on-the-nature-of-the-episcopacy/ Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe