PlainSpoken

In the fallout from the unfortunate General Conference of The United Methodist Church held last month, many United Methodists, inside and outside of America, are trying to discern if the UMC can continue to be a viable home for them. In Africa, many conferences are increasingly clear that they want to at least have a conversation about leaving. Some bishops are willing to shepherd their people. Bishop Quire of Liberia seems unwilling.In this segment, I detail some of the particulars around developments, trying to elucidate how it is that different forces come into play in dynamics like this. I hope Liberian brothers and sisters feel like I have accurately portrayed the situation there. I did my best to understand the Board of Ordained Ministry letter, in particular, so that a western audience can better understand how to pray for you.Links:Letter from Liberian Board of Ordained Ministry calling out Bishop Quire - https://www.facebook.com/alfredkwabena.mensah.5/posts/pfbid02Kujfpwf9aisPPqj6THCUNQyQWXSn8Jjsv4Da4u5Lia7yiEzkVewQQ5m8bzph3fDulUMNews Article Alleging 'Misinfo' - https://www.umnews.org/en/news/liberian-bishop-counters-misinformationBishop Quire's Text to Press Release - https://liberiaumc.org/statement-to-the-people-called-united-methodists-and-the-general-public-on-recent-decisions-of-the-just-ended-general-conference-of-the-united-methodist-church/ Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

In previous coverage on Alabama-West Florida, we have noted a lot of strangeness. It would now seem that, despite past assurances made, the conference is entrapping all of their congregations whether or not they want to remain part of The United Methodist Church. In this segment, I read over a couple of short articles and then watch footage from this recent session of their conference.Links:"Alabama Supreme Court upholds dismissal of UMC disaffiliation lawsuit brought by 48 Methodist churches" by Caleb Taylor in 1819 News - https://1819news.com/news/item/alabama-supreme-court-upholds-dismissal-of-lawsuit-from-48-methodist-churches-seeking-to-disaffiliate-with-umc"‘Let us leave’: United Methodist churches still blocked from disaffiliating in Alabama-West Florida Conference" by Greg Garrison on AL.com - https://www.al.com/news/2024/06/let-us-leave-united-methodist-churches-still-blocked-from-disaffiliating-in-alabama-west-florida-conference.html?outputType=amp Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

In this section, we finish the portion dealing with how Robert's Rules of Order is going to be utilized, get into decorum, and wrap this whole segment up. Lots of opportunities for audience feedback on this one. We look forward to seeing what y'all have to say.Link to our petition questionnaire - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfh9VhGo7nB9zav4WGBUQ-lI_31Zn5Jey27OXaccLKem4Qkag/viewform?usp=sharingLink to this General Conference document that we review - https://globalmethodist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Convening-General-Conference-Community.pdf Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Rev. Dr. Peter Bellini is the Professor of Church Renewal & Evangelization at United Theological Seminary, as well as a Global Methodist Elder. He has a broad experience in life, both in the local church and in the academy. He as published a good amount of content on the Holy Spirit. I was encouraged to seek him out by Dr. David Watson, who thought Bellini could help me to figure out a helpful posture towards the growing charismatic influence in Methodism. Bellini didn't disappoint.In this conversation, he and I discuss the topic of pneumatology, which is the branch of theology that deals with the Holy Spirit. We explore the history of the Methodist tradition and its relationship with the Holy Spirit, as well as the importance of reclaiming pneumatology in the context of the Global Methodist Church. We also touch on topics such as deliverance ministry, enthusiasm, and the balance between gifts and fruit of the Spirit. The conversation highlights the need for a normative understanding of the Holy Spirit's presence and power in the life of the church. We explore the relationship between pneumatology and Christology, emphasizing the importance of linking our understanding and relationship with the Holy Spirit to our understanding of Christ. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the person and work of Christ, not to himself. The conversation also highlights the need for discernment and testing of spirits, as there are false manifestations and spiritual narcissism in the charismatic movement. Discipleship and accountability are crucial in cultivating the gifts of the Spirit and ensuring they are used for the edification of others. The focus should be on fruit over gifts, holiness over power, and the love of God and neighbor.As it comes up a few times in this conversation, you might consider purchasing (and reading) Bellini's book: "Thunderstruck! The Deliverance Ministry of John Wesley Today" - https://a.co/d/gzkj4UiHe also has a number of other titles that you can find by searching his name on Amazon.If you would like to support PlainSpoken for conversations like these, you can go become a supporter at plainspoken.locals.com. Thanks! Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

In this section, we deal primarily with the procedures we can anticipate being in place, especially some of the particulars around Robert's Rules and voting. As always, we sorta trip through the material and do a decent job eventually constructing a proper impression. We are pleased with this document and are optimistic about the gathering that it will make possible.Link to our petition questionnaire - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfh9VhGo7nB9zav4WGBUQ-lI_31Zn5Jey27OXaccLKem4Qkag/viewform?usp=sharingLink to this General Conference document that we review - https://globalmethodist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Convening-General-Conference-Community.pdf Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Jeremy is the Lead Pastor of Crosspoint Church, a multi-site church with 6 campuses across Northwest Florida. He and Christy have been married for 20 years and have 3 kids. He is a passionate Alabama fan (graduated from there so it’s legit), loves sports, good sci-fi movies, and traveling around watching his kids play sports. He graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary and could be a professional recruiter for them. Other than his family, his biggest passion in life though is disciple-making and helping others become disciple-makers.In this conversation, I ask Jeremy about the decision to join the Global Methodist Church (GMC) after disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. We discuss the reasons for joining the GMC, the influence of denominational history, and the importance of accountability and trust. We also explore the impact of disaffiliation on the church and the challenges of navigating the transition. The conversation delves into the dynamics of large church leadership, the role of denominational engagement, and the potential for collective impact within the Wesleyan movement. It explores the need for disciple making, the impact of church size, and the ethos of the GMC. We touch on the importance of spiritual renewal, disciple making conviction, and organizational clarity for church vitality. The conversation concludes with a prayer for discernment and guidance for churches considering joining the GMC.Links:Flyer for "Multiplication Co-Lab" ministry Jeremy referenced: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dg5IuIM_cWnq58IBygEEjHkDOrCfBEBV/view?usp=sharingFlyer for "Huddle" ministry Jeremy referenced: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I1QVfYHR3Xwp_iswsQxHOLmI1W6mjadR/view?usp=sharing'Replicate' Ministry - https://replicate.org/'Exponential' Ministry - https://exponential.org/ Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

As you folks know, I have wanted the Global Methodist Church to be able to make good on the hopes of so many to become a truly multiethnic, global sign of Christ's presence and power. Racial separation hurts me. I believe it disappoints my Lord and cheapens his gospel.So I and others need to have conversations with people of underrepresented constituencies so that we know how to work towards what we believe Christ requires. Blango, clergy from the UMC's Baltimore Washington Annual Conference, was willing to help me think through these things, drawing heavily on his decades of experience in ministry and life.Many of you will enjoy this conversation very much. Blango and I are friends, and I believe we are paving the way for the future to look pretty different from the past and present.Links:Willimon Article (I didn't like it, of course, but it has the 4% stat in it) - https://www.christiancentury.org/features/missed-opportunities-umc-general-conference Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Chance Robinson published an article in Firebrand a few weeks ago, outlining his personal history in the Freemasons and his theological clarity that secret societies are at odds with the Christian faith.In this conversation, Chance tells more of his story, and we try to flesh out why exactly secret fraternal organizations are such a threat to the Christian faith. We end in a conversation about idolatry more broadly. I hope you benefit from our discussion!Links:Chance's Article in Firebrand - "Allegiance as Christian Witness" - https://firebrandmag.com/articles/allegiance-as-christian-witness-a-testimony-of-leaving-freemasonry Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

In this segment, TJ and I report on the petitions we filed and some of the feedback we got. We also get some more details about how the legislative committees are going to work in the months leading up to General Conference. We finally read a good deal of that guiding document for the Convening Conference session, which gives a lot more information about the nuts and bolts of how things will work before and during (and after) the conference session.We were surprised at how transparent and responsive everything is designed to be. This is going to be a large culture shift from the UMC. We are pleased and excited. We hope everyone else will be, too!Link to our petition questionnaire - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfh9VhGo7nB9zav4WGBUQ-lI_31Zn5Jey27OXaccLKem4Qkag/viewform?usp=sharing Link to this General Conference document that we review - https://globalmethodist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Convening-General-Conference-Community.pdf Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

UMNews picked up an article published by the Holston Annual Conference, which was essentially an interview with conservative clergy, the Rev. Dr. Randy Frye, who is a self-proclaimed conservative (though he hates labels) who will be staying in The United Methodist Church. In the article, he talks about how the legislation at the most recent General Conference only brings the issue of gay marriage "back to neutral," and how the denomination is still making room for conservatives like us.I had a hard time understanding how a conservative could say these things. It turns out his thoughts are a little more nuanced than the article was able to represent. I still find myself in a pretty different place than him, but I appreciate his efforts to remain faithful where he is. My hope is publishing this is that it helps conservatives within the UMC to think through how it is that they want to participate in that covenant body, if at all. Rev. Frye presents an example of how one might navigate these issues faithfully from within, if one so chooses.Links:'Conservative Pastor Says He Will Live Into New Reality' by Annette Spence - https://www.holston.org/article/randy-frye-post-gc-18362101Website for First Broad Street UMC - https://www.fbsumc.org/ Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe