PlainSpoken

First United Methodist of Shreveport Louisiana voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church this month, but that was not before a lawsuit and a well funded #StayUMC campaign that brought the church's drama into the spotlight.Show Notes:FUMC Shreveport Website:https://firstshreveport.com/FUMC Shreveport Press Release:https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/76/76668e34-eac2-4436-8b4d-8be57de991f3/documents/FUMC_Disafiliation_Announcement_Letterhead.pdfLawsuit Article:https://natchitochesparishjournal.com/2023/03/24/first-united-methodist-church-of-shreveport-intervenes-vote-may-proceed/Bishop Williamston Profile:https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/person-detail/4172924FUMC Shreveport Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHPLUftWolyPMXxVVEw12eQFUMC Shreveport Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/fumcshreveportStay UMC Shreveport Page:https://www.facebook.com/Stay-United-Methodist-102046336194851UM Data FUMC Shreveport Stats:http://umdata.org/ChurchProfile.aspx?ChurchID=716181Advertising 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 Oklahoma Annual Conference hosted a "Special Called Conference" at which the two churches I serve were allowed to disaffiliate. This has some implications for me and my ministry that I wanted to explain. Also, PlainSpoken is doing well. I wanted to say out loud some things about what loyalties I hold and what my intentions are as I speak to sensitive topics.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

Last year 106 churches in the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church filed suit against the conference in order to leave the organization. A Florida judge has now dismissed this lawsuit. We look into the details of happened with the case.Show Notes:WCA Update:https://wesleyancovenant.org/2023/04/18/an-update-on-lawsuits-across-the-usa/Annual Conference Update:https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/court-dismisses-disaffiliation-lawsuit-against-the-florida-conference-17399166#:~:text=The%20Court%20today%20issued%20an,settling%20matters%20of%20church%20doctrine.UM News Article:https://www.umnews.org/en/news/exiting-florida-churches-lawsuit-dismissed#:~:text=A%20Florida%20county%20judge%20has,exit%20costs%20under%20church%20law.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

As many annual conferences around the country begin to gather to vote one disaffiliation what are some of the issues or common objections that will be put forward by those in opposition to churches leaving? In this video we explore some of the reasons why annual conferences might object to letting a local congregation leave, and if those objections actually hold any water.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

Recently the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church declared "Exigent Circumstances" and seized the property of Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, a 175 year old congregation in Wilmington North Carolina. The members of the church, some who have been members their entire lives, were completely blindsided by the act. The congregation, who's members were beginning the process of disaffiliation, were locked out of the building after their final service on Easter. In this video we take a look at what happened with this historic church.Show Notes:NC Annual Conference Press Release:https://nccumc.org/news/2023/03/wilmington-church-closure-brings-rebirth-and-opportunity/Affidavit:https://wesleyancovenant.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Affidavit-Fifth-Avenue-UMC.pdfFifth Avenue Congregation Press Release:https://juicyecumenism.com/wp-content/uploads/20230327-Fifth-Avenue-Press-Release-Approved-for-release-to-media.pdfUM Data Church Profile:http://umdata.org/ChurchProfile.aspx?ChurchID=460185Church Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/5thAveUMCChristian Post Article:https://www.christianpost.com/news/nc-church-trying-to-leave-umc-is-shut-down-by-denomination.htmlWCA Article:https://wesleyancovenant.org/2023/04/09/chaos-in-carolina-seizing-assets-and-closing-a-church/It May Happen to You, Too Article:https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/04/12/it-may-happen-to-you-too-bishop-connie-shelton-shows-danger-of-staying-united-methodist/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

Today we look at another United Methodist Annual Conference and how they are dealing with disaffiliation. The Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, lead by newly elected Bishop Tom Berlin, has implemented that disaffiliating churches are required to obtain potentially costly insurance policies on top of the other costs to leave the conference, which could leave some churches unable to leave.Show Notes:UM Data Website:http://umdata.org/Letter From Bishop Carter:https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/update-from-bishop-carter-about-churches-withdrawing-from-lawsuit-17170418Judicial Council Decision 1449:https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/judicial-council/judicial-council-decision-home/judicial-decisions/decision-1449Moving The Needle - WCA Article:https://wesleyancovenant.org/2022/10/10/moving-the-needle/Bishop Tom Berlin Response:https://revtomberlin.com/response-to-gmc-pastor-letter/Florida AC DEI & CRT:https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/what-christians-need-to-know-about-policies-that-exclude-dei-and-crt-17371462Additional Article That Explains The Insurance Issue:https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/17270843Advertising 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

Our bishops are elected to provide general oversight to the worldly and spiritual interest of the Church. With 46 active bishops in the US alone there are going to understandably be a wide range of different personalities and believes on different topics. In this video we are trying something different, we look at three of our bishops in the United States and evaluate some of the things they have said. To get the full context of what was said please take the time to watch the whole videos that were put out by the bishops, we only address a few short instances within these larger videos, they are listed below for your convenience. Show Notes:Conservative Tolerance Article:https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/01/17/why-united-methodist-tolerance-of-conservatives-will-be-impossible/Interview With Robert Barnes (On Oliveto):https://youtu.be/Av4Z9ENR54ABishop Trible Video:https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5909243292462493&ref=sharingBishop Oliveto Video:https://vimeo.com/799302437Bishop Shelton Video:https://vimeopro.com/user1637118/connie-mitchell-shelton/video/748598978Advertising 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 Minerva Carcaño was suspended from her position (with pay) as Bishop of California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church pending an investigation into charges made against her. One year later it doesn't seem that much has happened, now a board within the organization wants to get involved to determine what is causing the delay. We look into what is happening with Bishop Carcaño and what little information has been made available to the public.Show Notes:Bishop Profile:https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/person-detail/2464065Agency Seeks Role Article:https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/finance-and-administration/agency-seeks-role-in-complaint-against-bishop/Culture Of Secrecy Article:https://um-insight.net/perspectives/is-the-umc-s-first-latina-bishop-a-victim-of-its-culture-of-/Conference Sue For Control Article:https://www.umnews.org/en/news/conference-bishop-sue-for-control-of-glideAdvertising 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

Church membership is important. Sometimes our local church membership rolls look much different than the reality of a Sunday morning. When churches vote to leave the UMC and members suddenly show up that haven't been to church in years who is really at fault? And should we be mad at the Annual Conference for trying to contact members directly? Here is a short video directed at that very subject, we will release a longer video going further in depth later, let us know which format you prefer and don't for get to subscribe and share our content if you find it helpful!Link to Dr. David Scott's Article: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/the-many-meanings-of-connectionalismAdvertising 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

At the 2016 General Conference, it was agreed by those assembled that African United Methodism, where the most explosive growth in membership is, would finally receive more bishops to help oversee the growth. However, financial realities have resulted in those in authority openly speaking about reneging on this commitment in order to continue siphoning money to areas on the denomination that are shrinking. I explore the ethics and implications of such a decision, sharing some additional resources to see just how much influence (or lack of influence) African United Methodists have been given in the denomination.Links consulted:https://www.umnews.org/en/news/challenges-face-plan-to-add-5-african-bishopshttps://www.umnews.org/en/news/group-plans-for-budget-cuts-regionalizationhttps://www.umnews.org/en/news/international-group-pursues-regionalizationhttps://juicyecumenism.com/2023/01/07/united-methodist-apportionments/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