PlainSpoken

Following in the footsteps of First Church OKC, Church of the Servant appealed to a worldly court for justice when the Oklahoma Annual Conference seemingly worked against the interests of the local church community. This last week, a state judge, in fact the same one who ruled on the First Church case, also ruled in favor of Church of the Servant. This episode covers the broader story of churches and groups of churches seeking intervention from the state, we consult some scripture, and then I read through the transcript from the court in which Judge Timmons’ decision is pronounced and explained.Links:Scan of court document w/ my editorial notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10WuZ34chaTuqPzpYoPPoN-DEioYB_gjC/view?usp=sharingAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Ever since the President of the Council of Bishops, Tom Bickerton, pronounced that churches outside of America cannot disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church, local churches around the globe have known that freedom would not be an option. However, leadership from a majority of the churches in Kenya-Ethiopia Annual Conference became clear that their latest conference session would mark a cessation from the UMC. Bishop Wandabula vowed that he would not entertain such a measure taking place. When the time came, the bishop bent, and he has allowed 58 churches go leave, directly contravening the edict from Tom Bickerton. What will come of this? Spend a few minutes with me to learn some of the history and dynamics of this exceptional annual conference.Links:Conference Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068945514051Bishop Wandabula’s Bio: https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/person-detail/2463622Map of the UMC’s Episcopal Areas in Africa: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Website_Properties/who-we-are/documents/africa-central-conferences-map-revised.pdfUMNews Article about suspension of Kenya’s funding in 2013: https://archives.gcah.org/bitstream/handle/10516/9233/article5.aspx.htm?sequence=4Simon Mafunda’s WCA article alleging MFSA money corrupting Kenya’s conference: https://wesleyancovenant.org/2023/08/15/methodist-federation-for-social-action-funding-liberalism-in-kenya/UM Insight article details Bishop Wandabula blessing Kenya’s first RMN church: https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-global-nature/bishop-dedicates-reconciling-church-in-kenya/RMN Article detailing Kenya’s 2nd RMN church: https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-global-nature/bishop-dedicates-reconciling-church-in-kenya/Article detailing the 2022 African Bishops Gathering: https://michiganumc.org/african-bishops-condemn-advocacy-groups/September of 2022 Statement from the Africa College of Bishops: https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/files/statement+from+africa+colleges+of+bishops+-+sept+8.pdfSeptember of 2022 Answer from the Africa Initiative: https://www.umnews.org/-/media/UMC-Media/2022/09/14/18/19/umc-africa-initiative-press-release-to-global-umc?mkt_tok=MDc4LUpYUS02NDMAAAGG3O-_mUSCtMg01snyjzBD-5pO3kuIrijNIykK7U2U0INhoj0ExWiUuWOuV6k7TQjXTLzEF_VPDr-rc9mcXd9RUidia5JWFxWhMT2qp4VP9xmsZAUM Insight Article on the Foundation of the UMAF: https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-global-nature/united-methodist-africa-forum-sets-priorities-names-leaders/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

After what has happened to Fifth Avenue, Struthers, and First Church OKC, we are starting to see a pattern. Valuable real estate with humble attendance are targeted by increasingly impoverished annual conference leadership within The United Methodist Church. As they speak platitudes about renewal and growth, they simultaneously disenfranchise local church communities to absorb them and profit off the assets they accrued over more than a century of ministry. This latest chapter, involving two clergy and one DS that we cover, points in a very sad direction of an institution devouring its own to buttress itself as it suffers its self-caused destruction. Take some time to learn about what Christian brethren are enduring at the hands of such powers, and pray for truth and repentance.Links:Surf City 2021 Church Stats - http://www.umdata.org/ChurchProfile.aspx?ChurchID=894820Good News Magazine Article - “Surf City Disaffiliation or Eviction?”- https://goodnewsmag.org/surf-city-disaffiliation-or-eviction/Los Angeles Times Article - “United Methodist Congregations Trying to Leave Amid LGBTQ+ Schism Say They’re Being Held for Ransom” - https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-03/united-methodist-congregations-lgbtq-schism-southern-californiaEpoch Times Article - “Huntington Beach’s Oldest Church Faces Threat of Closure Amidst Property Battle” - https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/huntington-beachs-oldest-church-faces-threat-of-closure-amidst-property-battle-5446875DS Sandra Olewine’s Episcopal Bid Website - https://westernjurisdictionumc.org/sandra-olewine/John Lomperis’ account of Olewine’s dishonesty - “United Methodist Church Drops the Ball on Anti-Semitism” - https://juicyecumenism.com/2016/12/06/united-methodist-church-drops-ball-anti-semitism/Rev. George Hooper Bio - https://cumchb.org/leadership/All other stats culled from UMData.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Part 2 of Jeffrey's Interview with Max Edwards of the Evangelical Methodist Church.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Rev. Max Edwards is the International General Superintendent of the Evangelical Methodist Church, a denomination that broke away from The Methodist Church (predecessor to the UMC) in 1946. His denomination represents a distinct tradition that would surely be appealing to some leaving the UMC at this time. Take some time to get a feel for the ethos of the leadership and the ways in which they balance the doctrinal and ecclesiological realities similarly to, and different from, what was known in the UMC. Also note the tenor of the conversation. Rev. Edwards in congenial and gracious in disposition, even while staking a strong stand.EMC Website: https://emchurch.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

New Wespath data just came out revealing several very concerning trends in the mental, spiritual, and physical health of United Methodist Clergy. We go through some of the study while also looking at other social data and how it is that what we believe correlates with our health. In this one we come up against a number of things that cause most folks to take offense. This is a harsh critique of our culture as a whole, not just The United Methodist Church, and a warning about what the American church as a whole will experience if it does not quickly remember scriptural language around the purity of the church and the call to righteousness. Enjoy!Links:Religion News Service Article “United Methodist pastors feel worse and worry more than a decade ago” - https://religionnews.com/2023/08/10/united-methodist-pastors-feel-worse-and-worry-more-than-a-decade-ago/The Wespath Study “2023 Clergy Well-Being Survey Highlights” - https://www.wespath.org/assets/1/7/5991.pdfInstitute for Family Studies Article - “Why Are Liberals Less Happy Than Conservatives?” - https://ifstudies.org/blog/why-are-liberals-less-happy-than-conservativesDeseretNews Article - “Religious leaders struggle with burnout, depression and anxiety — just like the rest of America” - https://www.deseret.com/faith/2022/5/11/23058739/religious-leaders-struggle-with-burnout-depression-and-anxiety-pastor-mental-health-worker-shortageBarca Article - “Pastors Share Top Reasons They’ve Considered Quitting Ministry in the Past Year” - https://www.barna.com/research/pastors-quitting-ministry/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. David F. Watson is the Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament at United Theological Seminary. He is one of a few authors of the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline for the Global Methodist Church. He also sits on the Transitional Leadership Council (TLC) for the Global Methodist Church, which is currently its primary coordinating body. Dr. Watson is well established as an authority in Wesleyan history and theology, regularly speaking at traditionalist Methodist gatherings. He has published many books and essays with respect to our doctrinal heritage, which you can find referenced in the links below. In this conversation, we cover several topics, including the essential nature of Methodism that the world needs, optimism about the future, the balance needed with respect to church growth vs. church righteousness, charismatic Christianity, scriptural literalism vs. scriptural relativism, and many other pertinent and practical concerns when doing church, both on a local level, and on a denominational level.For those with the patience and passion for discerning in the most important things, I’m confident you will appreciate this conversation. Thanks to Dr. Watson for being available and giving in our time together. Enjoy!Faculty Page - https://united.edu/faculty-directory/david-f-watson/Personal Website - https://davidfwatson.me/about/Firebrand Magazine - https://firebrandmag.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Pastor Boniface Mukii is navigating the waters of building Methodism in Kenya. In this interview, he takes the time to explain the dynamics at play in the capitol city area, Nairobi, where he serves as a police officer. It turns out there are some pressures moving him and many others to the Global Methodist Church before the UMC's General Conference next year. If you have been tracking developments with the liberal imposition on faithful African Methodists, this will further confirm what you know, but it will also give new information about how Western power is compromising the integrity of their churches. Pray for Rev. Mukii's church plant, and for Kenyan Methodists as they navigate hostile developments.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Part 2 of Jeffrey's interview with Lloyd Lunceford.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Lloyd Lunceford, Esq has been working in church disaffiliation law in the US for decades. Now in semi-retirement, he took the time to visit with me and help me to understand some of the basics of this area of law that most people don't understand. If you and your church have been interested to learn more about litigation against hostile conference entities, this will almost certainly be helpful for you to consult.Show Notes:Taylor Porter Website:https://www.taylorporter.com/our-attorneys/lloyd-j-luncefordLloyd Lunsford's Email:lloyd.lunceford@taylorporter.comLloyd Lunsford's Book:https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Church-Property-Law/dp/1934453080/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1691013991&refinements=p_27%3ALloyd+J.+Lunceford&s=books&sr=1-1Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe