Across the Rail Podcast

In this episode we make Ryan run the verbal paddle line of layman disdain, ask him some questions about his thoughts on small-church ministry. Plus – what does the Skull and Crossed Bones have in common with the Southern Baptist Convention?

Welcome to Across the Rail Podcast. Methodist laypeople dishing hot takes on current events, church stuff, and cultural issues. Our Episode today is an interview with a very close friend about his experience as a same-sex attracted man in the Pentecostal church. While most times we vigorously discuss and debate the issues of the day, sometimes you just need to listen. Warning: We are not the “Men in Black” from the pulpit, but from the pews “across the rail”.

Our Episode today discusses interesting a variety of occurrences since our last podcast – the unsurprising decision to delay General Conference - again, drag queen ministerial candidates, and the quick pivoting from murder rampage to outrage over purity culture.

Our Episode today discusses interesting things Methodist candidates for ordination are learning about the Afterlife. What exactly is the Hell they are teaching these candidates? And us smelly Wal-Mart people in the pews are asking,” What the hell are they thinking??” Warning: We are not the “Men in Black” from the pulpit, but from the pews “across the rail”.

Our Episode today discusses an often-heard phrase issued by MLK in a speech at Stanford University and in other interviews. Where are the lines drawn between “protest” and “riot” currently in the civil society? And what did we really see in DC, and what have we learned since? Warning: We are not the “Men in Black” from the pulpit, but from the pews “across the rail”.

Our Episode today discusses the Christmas Truce of 1914 and the one here in 2020. The War on Christmas has seemed to fade in prominence, as well as passions in UMC politics. We’ll also discuss the uneasy quiet in the election hysteria, and the panel’s predictions for 2021.

Our Episode today dives into the morass of the political moment, the latest in UMC politics, and the always controversial involvement of Christians in political matters, plus,- future Methodist clergy weigh in on the issues.  Bonus Question: Where did Thanksgiving go???

Our episode today discusses the controversial stance of Christian womanhood in the life of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, a Catholic Archbishop burns an altar in Louisiana, and young voices in Methodism speak about the future. 

Our Episode today discusses the result of an annual conference vote to replace the UMC logo, our annual conference churches are starting to open, and for a denomination of the Church of Jesus Christ, what’s really in a name?

Our Episode today discusses the result of some surveys where a third of practicing Christians in America, since the COVID shutdowns, are not attending church online or in person. While half of the survey respondents replied that they watch their own church’s online services, another 34 percent watch another church’s online services. And across denominational lines, when churches have met back together in person, they are almost all lower in attendance than pre-COVID.