PlainSpoken

The United Methodist denomination and Global Methodist Denominations are not the only Wesleyan denominations. In this new series we are going to begin to look at other groups around the world that share the Methodist heritage and beliefs.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 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

After 193 churches left the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church on May 7th, 2023 the board of trustees has now made it more difficult for the remaining churches in the conference to leave. On top of the already stringent requirements leveled against those wishing to leave, the conference has now implemented updated disaffiliation eligibility requirements that make it almost impossible for conservative churches to leave the denomination. Show Notes:AWF Trustee Policy Update:https://www.awfumc.org/newsdetail/awf-conference-trustees-release-updated-disaffiliation-eligibility-17449917"Division Is Of The Devil":https://www.al.com/news/2023/05/division-is-of-the-devil-united-methodist-bishop-says-as-193-churches-disaffiliate.htmlJudicial Council Decision 1449:https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/judicial-council/judicial-council-decision-home/judicial-decisions/decision-1449Good News Article:https://goodnewsmag.org/judicial-council-eliminates-another-disaffiliation-route/Judicial Council Decision 1476:https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/judicial-council/judicial-council-decision-home/judicial-decisions/judicial-council-decision-1476#:~:text=The%20Judicial%20Council%20will%20not,a%20church%27s%20decision%20to%20disaffiliateDisaffiliation And The Coming Drop-Dead Line:https://wesleyancovenant.org/2022/09/02/disaffiliation-and-the-coming-drop-dead-line/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 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

With every conference I report on, I get things wrong, or I don't emphasize some of the details as I should. So I always get helpful follow-up and corrections from viewers & listeners. I got a lot of good stuff for this conference, so I knew I needed to issue a new episode. This segment has a few details about other conferences, but I mostly just read through corrections pertaining to AWF, which I think is actually pretty important as they are preparing to gather again to vote on things of consequence. Whether or not you watch this one, please be in prayer for them. The folks in this area matter just as much as anyone else.Links: First video on AWF - https://youtu.be/Xe9yojwTOA4Article on FUMC Montgomery - https://1819news.com/news/item/first-united-methodist-church-montgomery-considering-leaving-umc-denominationArticle on Bishop Graves calling disaffiliation 'of the Devil' - https://www.al.com/news/2023/05/division-is-of-the-devil-united-methodist-bishop-says-as-193-churches-disaffiliate.htmlAdvertising 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 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

This week we take a look at the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. What makes this conference difference from the other annual conferences in the US, what controversies are happening in this area and how they are dealing with disaffiliating churches.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 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

Part of what I wanted to do with PlainSpoken is help to tell the stories of average people, clergy and laity, reckoning with the realities of the fallout in The United Methodist Church. John is a career clergy, most recently serving in the Mountain Sky Conference. He has severed his relationship with the UMC and is now GMC clergy. This conversation is sort of an exit interview. We do not bash the UMC, but we do talk about some of the structural realities. John even has kind acknowledgments for his former bishop and many of his colleagues in ministry. This conversation will not help people entrench on either side. It just shows how messy and unfortunate all of this is. Please be in prayer for John, and for all of the other conservative clergy who are in difficult positions to lead with conviction while acknowledging the cost that comes from such leadership.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 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

Dr. David deSilva is an expert in the Apocrypha at Ashland Theological Seminary. He graciously said yes to an interview, so of course I asked him about everything under the sun EXCEPT the Apocrypha. Probably not my smartest move. Even so, he was gracious enough to give his insights on the early church and human sexuality, especially as he is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. Dr. deSilva is an adept apologist in the modern online world, a church musician, a husband and father. Please enjoy time spent with this learned man of culture and grace!Dr deSilva's Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@UCNBOxRfM8VhwN228o33eTBAAdvertising 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 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

Bishop Scott Jones served faithfully in The United Methodist Church all his adult life. He has now chosen to answer the call to be one of two full-time bishops in the Global Methodist Church. I learned that he would be speaking at a church nearby in Claremore, so I extended the invitation to him and his wife Mary Lou Reece to sit down for a visit. They were gracious to accept the invitation, to have lunch at home with my family, and to let me learn from them for a little more than an hour on camera.Bishop Jones ordained me a few weeks ago, but I hadn't taken the time to learn much about him. There is still much that I'm interested to learn. This conversation will frustrate those who know him well and want an expert interview. However, if you're like me and just want a sense for who he is, I am certain this will be a good way for you to spend your time.The success or failure of the GMC will depend in large part of who is in leadership. Bishop Jones is one of the most visible and vocal personalities leading at the moment. The fact that he was humble enough to visit a tiny church in a tiny town on a tiny (but growing!) podcast says a lot about his humility and his earnest desire to know and be known. He was very gracious with me, on camera and off. I am very grateful to his wife for being a part of our conversation. I hope you feel the warmth of their personalities in this time they spent on screen.From here, they went and spent a few hours with the folks in Claremore. The fact that they can spend their days this way is really incredible. I would be so tired. They were, rather, quite lively. I learned later that they maintained their vim and vigor for the folks in Claremore. Truly remarkable people! Please keep them in your prayers as they seek to serve the church in truth.I hope you enjoy the conversation.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 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

Jeff Pospicil has an active YouTube channel, on which he provides many resources for individuals and churches to be faithful with their money. He was the Treasurer for the Dakotas Annual Conference, where they thrived under his leadership. Jeff has conservative principles that directly translated, not just to financial wellbeing, but theological health in his context. He was recently recruited by the GMC to head up the financial ministry of the new denomination.One of my main gripes with the UMC was how they behaved around money. They hoarded it, they were secretive about how it was spent, where they kept it, how much there was, and they acted entitled to it. Jeff put my spirit at ease by showing his character and explaining his principles as it comes to financial leadership. This is a man who has practiced what he preaches. This is honestly a very interesting conversation about the overlap of financial ministry, Christian theology, and politics. I hope you benefit from it, and are encouraged by it, as much as I was. And make sure to support Jeff with your prayers! And follow him online!Jeff's Youtube Page:https://www.youtube.com/@JeffPospisil/featuredAdvertising 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 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 engagement with our show has been pretty incredible. On a daily basis, we are getting mail with personal encouragements as well as updates on things happening around the UMC. This episode covers three letters.If you wish to mail PlainSpoken a written letter, here is our mailing address:PO Box 129,Nowata, OK 74048The first letter is a brief congratulation on my ordination.The second video is from a North Texas context in which those in authority have disparaged the faith of a Christian sister.The third video is from a South Carolina pastor who is concerned with the theological doctrinal wherewithal that the average "conservative" United Methodist church has. There are also a few updates on what I have been up to and where things are headed. It isn't a real dense episode. Thanks for joining me!If you're interested in the stuff being produced at Arizona State University pertaining to the biblical worldview, here is a link to what they are doing: https://www.arizonachristian.edu/culturalresearchcenter/research/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 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

If those leaving the UMC for conscience's sake want to do better, rather than perpetuating the same dysfunction in another decade or so, then it would do them well to discern what beliefs and practices got them to this point. If conservatives want to hear about how perfect they have been while the liberals have been evil and at fault for every single thing, then they aren't going to like me very much. I think conservatives have done a lot to create the current situation. If they aren't self-aware, they will do the same thing again, wherever they go.This installment deals with the practice of assenting to ordain people at Annual Conference session who have no interest in fulfilling their vows. The ritual of group-lying is fatally problematic and can only result in the demoralization the UMC has seen. As people leave the UMC, they must commit to no longer assent to lies. We must allow God to heal our seared consciences so that we are no longer untroubled by flagrant dishonesty on the conference conciliar level.Links:"Transitional United Methodist Integrity" - John Lomperis - https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/08/17/united-methodist-integrity/AN ORDER FOR ADMISSION OF CLERGY CANDIDATES TO MEMBERSHIP IN AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE - Discipleship Ministries - https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/book-of-worship/an-order-for-admission-of-clergy-candidates-to-membership-in-an-annual-conference"Disobedience, Forced Unity Disrupt UMC Florida Conference" - Dr. David deSilva - https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/06/14/disobedience-forced-unity-disrupt-umc-florida-conference/"From Skeptic to Believer" - Eric Huffman - https://goodnewsmag.org/244456/Captain Jean Luc Picard being compelled to lie under duress - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X-2d4COiKsAdvertising 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 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