PlainSpoken

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 Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

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 Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

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 Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

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 Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Like other annual conferences the Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is in the process of dealing with local churches that want to disaffiliate from the denomination. In this video Pastor Jeffrey looks at how the annual conference in this state is approaching and dealing with the process and the reaction of their Bishop, Leonard Fairley.Show Notes:2023 Hopeful Future Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV0vvG_dcZkMisinformation, Humility, & Charity Article:https://firebrandmag.com/articles/misinformation-humility-and-charity-how-to-conference-in-babelKentucky Conference Disaffiliation Statement:https://www.kyumc.org/newsdetail/17308114A United Methodist Pact of Umar Article:https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/01/13/a-united-methodist-pact-of-umar/North Carolina Special Annual Conference Video:https://nccumc.org/scac2022/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

Asbury Theological Seminary is currently in the midst of a revival that started February 8th. Pastor Jeffrey was able to speak with Dr Jonathan Powers, a professor at Asbury, about what has been happening and continues to happen as the revival continues.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

Are United Methodist Central Conferences allowed to disaffiliate? Previously we looked at a letter sent to the Philippines Central Conference by the Council of Bishops clarifying if they could use paragraph 2553 to disaffiliate from the denomination. In this video we take a deeper dive into if disaffiliation is even an option for Central Conferences.Show Notes:Liberal Bishops Have Redefined United Methodist Polity Article:https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/08/29/bishops-redefine-united-methodist-polity/UMC Judicial Council Members:https://admin.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/judicial-council/who-we-are/judicial-council-membersUMC Book Of Discipline:https://www.cokesbury.com/book-of-discipline-book-of-resolutions-free-versionsAdvertising 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

In this episode, I cover:0:00 - Intro1:30 - Revival at Asbury College/Seminary4:20 - John Lomperis in the Crosshairs10:35 - North Georgia WCA Churches File Against Conference12:55 - Synopsis on National Center for Life & Liberty (NCLL)18:08 - Lonnie Brooks on the Impending Centrist vs Progressive Battle22:05 - Open Meetings in the UMC28:19 - The Hope of TransparencyLinks:Lambrecht on Asbury Revival - https://twitter.com/revtom5/status/1623700773744832514Brian Bucher's Obscenity - https://twitter.com/BryBucher/status/1623865806219055106Bishop Trimble's Dig at Lomperis - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5909243292462493Northern Georgia WCA Statement on Filing Suit - https://www.facebook.com/wescovnorthgaNational Center for Life & Liberty Website - https://www.ncll.orgChristian Post Article About NCLL - https://www.christianpost.com/news/attorney-defends-churches-suing-umc-over-disaffiliation-process.html?fbclid=IwAR1Kn5Av6DRzxVgm-aTm_7BJz3ujH8Y9ZTG8Y46iOQPwpBpYUH72VG_idlELonnie Brooks Commentary - https://www.umnews.org/en/news/centrist-progressive-coalition-could-soon-unravelParagraph 722 - https://www.umc.org/en/content/book-of-discipline-722-restrictions-on-closed-meetingsAdvertising 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

While other annual conferences are going through the process of disaffiliation and have been doing so for the last year, but the Annual Conference in West Virginia seems to be taking a different route. In this video we dive into what is going on in West Virginia and how it compares to other United Methodist Annual Conferences in the United States.Show Notes:WCA Disaffiliation And The Coming Drop Dead-Line:https://wesleyancovenant.org/2022/09/02/disaffiliation-and-the-coming-drop-dead-line/Scott Knowlton's Blog:https://scottknowlton.wordpress.com/2022/11/07/what-is-going-on-right-under-your-nose/Taking Stock After A Season Of Disaffiliations Article:https://www.umnews.org/en/news/taking-stock-after-a-season-of-disaffiliationsWest Virginia Annual Conference FB Page:https://www.facebook.com/wvumc/Decision Number 1422 Article:https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/judicial-council/judicial-council-decision-home/judicial-decisions/decision-1422Is The UMC Really...? (Part 8) Article:https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-future/is-the-umc-really-part-8/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

This brief report details the latest development in The United Methodist Church's different treatment of non-Americans from churches in the continental United States. Namely, United Methodist churches in the central conferences have been told that they cannot disaffiliated from the denomination. I briefly try to explain the logic of such a decision and how it results in some misleading statements about the interest non-American churches have in disaffiliation.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