PlainSpoken

Rev. Joe DiPaolo is the head pastor at FUMC Lancaster in Pennsylvania. He published an article last year, detailing the behavior of the Commission on General Conference, from which he had resigned after they seemed to conduct the business of their committee without fulfilling basic mandates. Jeffrey reached out to him out of a desire to flesh out the tradeoffs of confidentiality and other dynamics in the UMC. It turns out DiPaolo is a learned history buff, and he has a number of other insights to understand the current situation in the UMC. Anyone who takes time to learn from Rev. DiPaolo will be blessed. Enjoy!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

We continue our look at the various Annual Conferences across the United States, this time we look at the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. This conference was recently sued by 38 churches within the conference who are attempting to leave the denomination but were disheartened by what they saw as unfair conditions placed on leaving. Unlike most Annual Conferences the Board of Trusties here has implemented a 50% "fair market value of real estate" condition before any church can disaffiliate from the UMC.Show Notes:Moving The Needle Article:https://wesleyancovenant.org/2022/10/10/moving-the-needle/Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference Website:https://www.bwcumc.orgLegal Article:https://peopleneedjesus.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/the-methodist-church-of-cape-st.-claire-et-al.-vs.-the-baltimore-washington-conference-of-the-united-methodist-church-et-al.pdfBishop Easterling's Response:https://www.bwcumc.org/news-and-views/churches-sue-bwc-over-disaffiliation/WCA Response:https://wca-bwc.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 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. Jay Therrell has been at the forefront of advocacy for churches who want to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church for years. He stands at the helm of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, which is acting to serve as a "midwife" for the Global Methodist Church. Jay is often maligned for representing part of the 'Reform and Renewal' coalition. In this conversation, Jeffrey directly asks him about a number of allegations made by different voices within the UMC. This is an opportunity to assess whether or not the behavior and words of a public figure match the caricature that is painted. Jay was very gracious with his time and energy. Thanks for giving of yourself, Jay!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

Pastor Jeffrey takes time to update the connection on what is going on in the Great Plains Annual Conference, according to select leading voices there. We look at some of the financial figures, names & dates, and render some conclusions for other conferences to draw. Kansas & Nebraska Methodists seem to have worked out a better way to navigate these trials. Let those who have ears to hear...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

On March 2, 2023, Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Annual Conference, President of the Council of Bishops, released a "State of the Church" that said a lot, explicitly and implicitly, about how he and the leadership of The United Methodist Church are currently understanding the division in this denomination. Jeffrey took some time to isolate some selections from the presentation to try to help others see, and to help him see, what can be responsibly determined from Bishop Bickerton's words.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

Weekly Methodist news update for the week of March 10th 2023. An Arkansas church splits into three, The connectional table plans for budget cuts, liberals try to analyze conservatives disaffiliating, the gap between Methodists & difficulties faced by Methodist pastors are some of the things Pastor Jeffrey tackles in this video.Show Notes:Arkansas Church Article:https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/mar/07/fayetteville-united-methodist-church-votes-to/Group Plans of Budget Cuts Article:https://www.umnews.org/en/news/group-plans-for-budget-cuts-regionalizationDisaffiliation Supporters Use Political Playbook Article:https://www.umnews.org/en/news/disaffiliation-supporters-use-political-playbookMethodist Gaps Article:https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/02/28/methodist-gaps/The Peculiar Difficulty of the Methodist Pastor Article:https://firebrandmag.com/articles/the-peculiar-difficulty-of-the-methodist-pastorAdvertising 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

What things are happening in the United Methodist Church this week? Pastor Jeffrey dives into a few of the things that you should know about.Show Notes:The UMC Should Not Be A Unitarian Confederacy Article:https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/03/03/umc-should-not-be-unitarian-methodist-confederacy/Black Clergy Vow To Forge Their Own Path Article:https://religionnews.com/2018/10/09/black-clergy-critiquing-the-national-divide-announce-plan-to-forge-their-own-path/Using Our Brains Article:https://www.umnews.org/en/news/using-our-brains-a-proposal-for-general-conferenceUMC Body Gives Grant To LGBTQ Group Article:https://www.christianpost.com/news/umc-body-gives-grant-to-lgbt-advocacy-group-despite-funding-ban.htmlFinding Fairness Article:https://goodnewsmag.org/finding-fairness/State Of The Church: Bishop Bickerton Video:https://www.umc.org/en/content/reclaim-revive-renew-the-necessity-of-union-among-usAdvertising 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 Lewis Center for Church Leadership recently released a report on the characteristics of the churches who are disaffiliating from the United Methodist denomination. This report concludes that these churches are:* Mainly Male Led* Majority White* Overwhelmingly SouthernWhat is the implication that this study is making? Why are these some of the specific things that the study was looking for? Pastor Jeffrey breaks down this study and if it can stand up to scrutiny.Show Notes:UM News Article:https://www.umnews.org/en/news/report-sheds-light-on-disaffiliating-churchesLC Study:https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/report-on-disaffiliating-united-methodist-churches-through-2022/UM Data Website:http://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 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

Methodist Weekly News Update for February 24th, 2023. In this video Pastor Jeffrey discusses disaffiliation and how to do it with integrity, an update on St. Andrew UMC in Plano Texas and the way they attempted to leave the UMC, an update on what is going on with the Asbury Revival/Outpouring, the three jurisdictional resolutions that were recently adopted, a history of disobedience to the book of discipline in the UMC, and how you can help support the efforts to care for those impacted by the earthquakes in Turkey & Syria.Show Notes:On Disaffiliating Well Article:https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/02/20/on-disaffiliating-well/St. Andrew UMC Article:https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-future/texas-megachurch-relents-follows-umc-rules-to-exit-denominat/UMC/Kentucky AC On Asbury Revival:https://www.kyumc.org/newsdetail/this-is-just-the-beginning-organic-spiritual-revival-at-asbury-draws-thousands-from-across-u-s-17313612City Of Wilmore Newsletter:https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?u=2fab786d93abfd2021d7d5300&id=405fad0394CBN Article On Asbury:https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2023/february/join-the-final-asbury-revival-event-watch-our-livestream-from-asbury-on-collegiate-day-of-prayerAsbury College Page About Revival:https://www.asbury.edu/outpouring/Collegiate Day of Prayer:https://collegiatedayofprayer.orgDelegates Don't Fear Challenges Article:https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-future/delegates-don-t-fear-challenges-to-resolutions-adopted-at-ju/PlainSpoken Video on Resolution 1:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spkg1sC_1sA&t=37sPlainSpoken Video on Resolution 2:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOcb9mekhwYPlainSpoken Video on Resolution 3:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXohKWzRhg8Disobedience Didn't Start With Sexuality Article:https://www.umnews.org/en/news/disobedience-didnt-start-with-sexuality-debateThe Speed of Change Article:https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/local-church/the-speed-of-change/UMCOR Earthquake Page:https://umcmission.org/news-statements/umcor-response-to-earthquakes-in-turkey-and-syria/UMCOR Donation Page:https://advance.umcmission.org/p-641-umcor-international-disaster-response-and-recovery.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0rBSfwqkVMo3nDUrtw_8_N3j5IeDCO2EcrDpjDBqK8QmV1c3upa3DVhtYAdvertising 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

In 2018, Rev. Robert Barnes filed a complaint against the newly-elected bishop, Karen Oliveto, not for being an openly avowed and practicing lesbian, but for preaching doctrines against Jesus. For a write-up at that time, consult: https://juicyecumenism.com/2018/12/07/united-methodist-heresy-complaint-filed-karen-oliveto/This conversation covers the handling of the complaint process by the bishops responsible for oversight. Rev. Barnes is able to share some details that are at once illuminating and concerning about the state of disciplinary adherence among our denomination's 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