PlainSpoken

In this first episode, Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker, former head of the Connectional Table, was able to join us to represent the General Conference process from the perspective of the institution. The crew spent an hour talking about the logistical and practical elements that go into coordinating and implementing the actual General Conference session. How are different legislative items selected, edited, and presented to the plenary body for consideration? Whose voices have more influence or are given more privilege? How do caucus groups contribute to the discourse and proceedings? How to nonAmerican delegates experience the weeks of the gathering? All these and many more questions are addressed thoughtfully by our different panelists. If you care about this April's General Conference going well, and you want to understand all the things going on behind the scenes, you would do well to spend some time with this episode. As always, we want to urge you to share this widely so as to equip the UMC denomination to be able to track and understand these proceedings. Feedback can be given to us at plainspokenpod@gmail.com. Make sure to subscribe, like, and comment as you are able. Links: UM News Article detailing many particulars of this upcoming session - https://www.umnews.org/en/news/what-comes-after-general-conference-deadline Rules from the Daily Christian Advocate, detailing how the session is to be carried out - https://drive.google.com/file/d/17xKR3idzjOlXbl_CfmrXdIJHBj7zjnS9/view?usp=sharing Bio for Amy Valdez Parker - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TVCzYIRj2E19mp-T0QDVpK4Sd__66vfE/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117124792218903575974&rtpof=true&sd=true Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Jeff Pospisil is a solid believer who stands at the top of the Global Methodist Church's financial ministry. He was gracious enough to accept an invitation for a conversation to elucidate the reasoning behind the switch from Wespath to GuideStone. We ended up covering a lot of other topics, as well, taking questions from PlainSpoken audience members. It was a worthy time that I hope to make a regular event on the channel. Take some time to learn about the financial ministry of the GMC and the potential we have for a bright future. If this is something you would enjoy as a semi-regular installment, make sure to let people know about it!Links:Jeff’s Accounting Website - JCT Accounting - https://jctaccounting.com/author/jefffpospisil/YouTube Page - https://www.youtube.com/@JeffPospisilMy Segment on why leaving Wespath was probably the right decision (article is below video) - https://plainspokenpod.substack.com/p/why-leaving-wespath-is-probably-theGMC Press Release - https://globalmethodist.org/gmc-announces-relationship-with-guidestone-financial-resources/Additional GMC Publication on the Topic - https://globalmethodist.org/why-guidestone/GMC FAQ on GuideStone Shift - https://globalmethodist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GuideStone-FAQs.20240111.v2.pdf Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

The General Conference of The United Methodist Church is scheduled to convene this coming April. There has already been an organized and concerted push from institutional entities to make “regionalization” the centerpiece of the work to be accomplished. This is sure to be a primary area of deliberation.Yet there are also many other meaningful items coming to the assembly for its two-week conference. Given that the official list has not yet been published, it is difficult to confidently predict what all of them will be. Some presumptions are safer than others.In this series, these four United Methodist veterans of conference structure and protocol will do their best to anticipate the items that will come before the body. The hope is that they will help delegates to prepare to make informed and conscientious decisions when they come together, having already thought a great deal about the key proposals.As a host, I will work simply to create the space and the platform for the discussion to be had in earnest. If it is the will of the assembled body that they should adopt regionalization, liberalize the theology of sex and gender of the church, adopt new Social Principles, or do anything that stands against my convictions, then I want to defend their right to do so. I only advocate for them to do it with eyes wide open, which I hope this series serves to aid.Each of these four men of faith has a background that entitles them to consideration from United Methodist leadership. Their voices are ignored to the detriment of the denomination. I would invite you to consider them, their insights, their concerns, their hopes as you pray for The United Methodist Church. If you agree that this is a worthy effort, then make sure to subscribe and tune in over the coming weeks as we try to shed light without creating any more heat. Make sure to pray for us, too!This episode was filmed only to introduce viewers/listeners to the panel. Future episodes will have much more meaty content. Stay tuned!LinksConversation with Odell Horne Conversation with Joe DiPaoloConversation with Simon Mafunda Conversation with Lonnie Brooks Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

The Global Methodist Church just decided to switch from Wespath to GuideStone for financial services. This is a big decision impacting the retirement of thousands of clergy. In this segment, I talk about the history and issues involved that I am personally aware of. I like Wespath and am partly sad to see this connection end. Such are the times we are living in. Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Ryan N. Danker was named the Director of the John Wesley Institute in October 2021. Danker is an author, historian, and Wesley scholar committed to the Wesleyan vision. Through the John Wesley Institute, Ryan is coordinating three large events in the next three months, each of which is aimed to better equip the Wesleyan heritage into the future. In this conversation, we speak about each one. He is not concerned only with the Global Methodist Church, but with the richness of a tradition that has languished for a while. If it is to be reclaimed, it would seem such efforts are in order. Take some time to learn about the effort he is putting into buttressing Methodism.Links:The John Wesley Institute - https://nextmethodism.orgThe Mere Methodism Conference Registration Page - https://nextmethodism.org/mere-methodism/The School of Methodism Registration Page - https://nextmethodism.org/mere-methodism/ Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

¶501 begins a section on how the Global Methodist Church envisions that bishops will operate in this new denomination. We review the broad strokes here, including how compensation is calculated, how episcopal areas work alongside annual conferences, how episcopal funds are collected and distributed, and how doctrinal fidelity is protected. I also have some inside information on a taskforce that the denomination has established to bring forth legislation at this year’s convening conference with respect to this issue. All interesting stuff. Take some time to think through these things with us.Link to Transitional Book of Doctrines & Discipline - https://globalmethodist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Transitional-Discipline.20231130.pdfIf you would like to make a gift directly to the church that sponsors this, here is the link: https://tithe.ly/give?c=2198808If you would like to become a supporter on Locals, where we offer unique content and host exclusive live streams, go to plainspoken.locals.com. Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

There have been a lot of developments over the last year. I wanted to take a few minutes to take stock of all that has transpired, how much this effort has grown, things I have learned and changed along the way, and hopes for 2024. For those who are interested in this format of ministry, I show some stats and reports from some of the platforms on which I publish. For those who are curious about what to anticipate in the coming year, I detail some work that I'm prepping. If you have at all been interested in my efforts to spread good information and foster good conversation, you'll enjoy this segment. Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Jim Ramsay is the Chief of Global Operations for TMS Global, formerly The Mission Society, which was an evangelical answer to the leftward drift of United Methodist foreign missions a few decades ago. TMS Global is now an interdenominational effort around the world, and it will stay that way, but they are perhaps uniquely positioned to work with Global Methodist local churches to engage in meaningful mission work. As the GMC claims that word “global,” it is incumbent upon us to think about ways that we are called to be in relationship with other people groups around the world. Non-GMC folks will also greatly benefit from the time spent in this segment exploring these issues, especially as TMS Global can also partner with you to serve those less fortunate around the world.Jim worked for 12 years in the information technology field as a programmer and IT manager prior to joining TMS Global in 1996. His family served for 10 years as missionaries in Kazakhstan, where he was part of a church-planting team and directed a school operated by the mission. He served as team leader for most of those years. The school and the church still serve the community today, fully owned and led by local leadership. Jim assumed the role of regional coordinator for Asia for TMS Global during his final two years in Kazakhstan. He joined the home office staff in 2006, initially as the senior director of field ministries, then assuming the vice president role in 2011.Jim has been a regular contributor to Good News Magazine, Unfinished Magazine, and the Seedbed blog.Jim is married to Shawn, who works with the third culture kid ministries for TMS Global. They raised four children during their years as missionaries, all of whom are now adults. They have one grandchild. Jim enjoys languages and had attained fluency in Danish and a working knowledge of German prior to moving to Kazakhstan, where he became fluent in Russian. He loves observing and experiencing other cultures. Jim grew up in Kentucky and remains an avid University of Kentucky basketball fan.Through experience, education, and ongoing studies, Jim has expertise in missiology, mission strategy, and mission best practices. In recent years he has studied the phenomenon of mass migrations of people and implications and opportunities that presents the church in mission. He teaches in various areas of mission, including cross-cultural ministry, cross-cultural partnerships, theology of mission, and leadership.Links:TMS Global - www.tms-global.org“Who Is My Neighbor” study, published by TMS Global (referenced in conversation) - https://neighbor.study/Jim Ramsay’s Work Email - jramsay@tms-global.orgRamsay recommends this work as an excellent history of missionary work - https://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Mission-Paradigm-Theology-Missiology-dp-1570759480/dp/1570759480/For those interested in what global Christianity is transforming into demographically and culturally, Ramsay recommends this book - https://www.amazon.com/Next-Christendom-Coming-Global-Christianity/dp/0199767467 Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

Many have predictably taken offense to my highlighting the bad behavior of people within the denomination I left earlier this year. Many within the UMC and the GMC agree that spending time naming the sins of the past and present just is not helpful. To their mind, it only exacerbates bad behavior. If folks like me would just stop, people would finally heal and remember that they are called to act like Christians. This piece is a response to a critique I got. I provide some explanations for what I understand myself to be doing and why I think it is needed, not just at the present moment, but for all history, if the church is to be who Christ requires us to be. It is admittedly a self-centered piece. I’m hoping folks apply it to themselves and their church contexts and consider whether their current approach is right. Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

This is the final section of Part 4 in the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline, which covers topics around “The Ministry of the Called.” In this final segment on Part 4, we cover the circumstances in which ordained clergy can step out of ministry for short or longer periods of time. When is the local church obligated to pay clergy while they have stepped away from serving the church? When does an ordained clergy lose their vote at annual conference session? Their vote? What process is in place to bench clergy who aren’t doing well? Do processes hamstringing bishops necessarily protect the rights of clergy? If you find these topics worthy, consider spending the time with us.Link to Transitional Book of Doctrines & Discipline - https://globalmethodist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Transitional-Discipline.20231130.pdf Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe