PlainSpoken

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 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plainspokenpod.substack.com

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/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plainspokenpod.substack.com

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/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plainspokenpod.substack.com

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 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plainspokenpod.substack.com

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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plainspokenpod.substack.com

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/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plainspokenpod.substack.com

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 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plainspokenpod.substack.com

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/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plainspokenpod.substack.com

In our 12th and final episode before the beginning of General Conference, this crew tries to ascertain the truth of where things stand. Simon was able to join us and give a report on the Africa Initiative's gathering and statements with respect to their polar opposition to Mainstream UMC, the visa process and how many delegates are left behind, and possible cooperative efforts once the African delegations are all in the US.We then spent the last 30 minutes or so talking through what the bishop's gathering right now is looking like, and some last minute options for changing the "harmful language" around sexual behavior or identity, depending on who is talking. Our crew doesn't all think the same about such things.It was an interesting and worthy time. Those interested to know the different options for what can happen in the coming weeks will be glad to spend the time with us. We hope this is of benefit to the denomination. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plainspokenpod.substack.com

A few months ago, I sat down with my friends TJ and Robby and reviewed some of the teachings of Adam Hamilton. It was a good way for friends to seek the mind of Christ and apply his scriptures to today's church.I decided to get the band back together and see what biblical and practical wisdom my brothers would have. We go over some of the video, try to reconstruct a timeline, try to wrestle with the scriptures. Overall, it's just some woefully unprepared guys trying to understand Charismatic NAR folks. I think you'll enjoy it. I enjoyed my time with my brothers in Christ.I know there have been developments since we discussed this, and my grasp of the timeline is a little off, but the conversation is worthy because of its theological commentary and the interpersonal exchange. Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plainspokenpod.substack.com