Means of Grace

This week we are hosting a guest episode for Stories Along the Journey, a podcast by the Appalachian District. In this episode, Gloria Hughes and Lory Beth Huffman have a conversation with author, activist, and speaker, Shane Claiborne about how he passionately lives out the gospel message of love. His advocacy has led him to spend time with Mother Teresa in Calcutta and founded The Simple Way in Philadelphia. Shane heads up Red Letter Christians, which is a movement of folks who are committed to living "as if Jesus meant the things he said." His passion to end the death penalty and help stop gun violence is providing a platform for the healing of the families who have lost a loved one to gun violence.

This is the second episode in a four-episode series the Appalachian District is hosting on hard conversations. Be sure to follow Stories Along the Journey to go back and listen to episode one and to be sure you don't miss episodes two and three. You can follow Stories Along the Journey wherever you get your podcasts or by using the link in our show notes below.

Resources:

Shane's latest book: Beating Guns: Hope for People who are weary of violence can be found on Amazon or other book sellers.

Shane's website is shaneclaiborne.com

Follow Shane on Facebook: facebook.com/ShaneClaiborne

Twitter: @shaneclaiborne

Instagram: @shane.claiborne

Listen to Stories Along the Journey wherever you get your podcasts or at https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/storiesalongthejourney

In this week's episode we get to listen in on a conversation that took place during the 2022 Annual Conference. On Thursday evening, Bishop Carter, along with a group of clergy from across the conference, of various races, ages, genders, and ministry roles sat down for a panel discussion on the future of the UMC. Their goal was to answer a question you may have asked yourself a time or two – will there be a place for me in the continuing United Methodist Church?

We will be taking a break on the podcast for the month of July as we all take in the many things we learned and experienced during Annual Conference. We hope you will join us back here in August as we continue to share the stories of God's good works in the Western North Carolina Conference.

In this episode, Bishop Ken Carter shares a helpful technique for thinking about and grappling with the various aspects of our callings and our lives. As members of and leaders in the United Methodist Church, we are called to create disciples, to participate in our denomination, and to care for and nurture our own spiritual selves. This is abundance. If we neglect to care for any of these parts, however, we can fall prey to burnout before our work is truly done.

If you will be joining us at Lake Junaluska for Annual Conference 2022, please make plans to meet us at Panacea Coffee at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, for a panel discussion with Bishop Carter and clergy across the spectrum from progressive to conservative as we ask the question, "Is there room for me in the continuing United Methodist Church?" We will be recording this conversation live and will share it here on the Means of Grace podcast in two weeks.

Jesse Enniss and Kim Ingram, podcast hosts, talk with Rev. Dr. Preston Davis, Minister to the University at High Point University about his DMin focus on Christian practice for addressing the increase in fear and anxiety in young adults. They talk about the role of mentors, churches, and parents in the lives of young people and how to help young adults belong. Preston shares knowledge, experience and wisdom from his research and interactions with students that are beneficial to all of us.

• Duke: DMin Degree (duke.edu)
• Candler @ Emory: Doctor of Ministry (DMin) | Candler School of Theology | Emory University | Atlanta, GA
• Hood: Doctor of Ministry (DMIN) : Hood Theological Seminary Hood Theological Seminary (hoodseminary.edu)

• Resources:
• • Springtide Research is an excellent resource for thinking about the crossroads of young adult flourishing and spiritual formation.
  • iGEN
  • Generation Z Unfiltered: Facing Nine Hidden Challenges of the Most Anxious Population
  • Confessions | Cokesbury by Augustine
  • On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts
  • Hayworth Chapel and Religious Life | Religious Life | High Point University

• Preston's recommended reading list:

  Light Weight:

  • Love Does, Bob Goff.

  Middle Weight:

  • Letters to a Young Doubter, William Sloane Coffin
  • Making Sense of the Bible, Adam Hamilton
  • Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller
  • Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning
  • ABCs of Christian Faith, Will Willimon
  • In the Name of Jesus, Henri Nouwen
  • Confessions, Saint Augustine. Or a modern reading of it, On the Road w Saint Augustine, James KA Smith
  • Pastrix, Nadia Bolz-Webber
  • Anything by Rachel Held Evans

  Heavy Weight:

  • My Bright Abyss, Christian Wiman
  • God and the Lynching Tree, James Cone (Black Liberation theology)
  • Holy Envy, Barbara Brown T
  • aylor (interfaith focus)

  More about Preston Davis and the ministry at HPU: Minister to the University | Religious Life | High Point University

In this episode, Dr. Bill White, Jr., Conference Director of Equity and Justice Ministries has a conversation with members of the Just Compensation Task Force for an update on their petition for Annual Conference. Rev. Amy Coles, Assistant to the Bishop, Rev. Norma Villagrana, Chair of the Order of Elders and Rev. Brandon Lazarus share about the status of equitable compensation and the learning and proposals from the Just Compensation Task Force.

In this episode, Bishop Ken Carter has a conversation with Kate Bowler on her book No Cure For Being Human (And Other Truths I Needed to Hear). This conversation was originally shared as a clergy leadership webinar jointly offered by the Florida and Western North Carolina Annual Conferences.

Description: Members of the WNC Delegation to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences give an update about where the conferences currently stand and the decisions that are waiting from the Judicial Council. They share about the work of the delegation that was elected by the Annual Conference in 2019. In addition, they offer their hopes and dreams for the future of the United Methodist Church and specifically for churches and members in Western North Carolina. References: WNC Delegation (General Conference Delegation) Postponement of General Conference: General Conference postponed until 2024 (umc.org) Postponement FAQs: Episcopal Office Answers Frequently Asked Questions on the Further Postponement of General Conference (wnccumc.org) Learn more about the UMC: Who We Are (umc.org) Bishop Carter in a season of waiting: Living in Connection in a Season of Waiting (wnccumc.org) #BeUMC: #BeUMC

In this episode, Bishop Ken Carter has a conversation Tod Bolsinger on his book Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change. This conversation was originally shared as a clergy leadership webinar jointly offered by the Florida and Western North Carolina Annual Conferences.

Clergy colleague and study groups will be offered for 8 sessions following the webinar. One will be sponsored by each district and there will be a conference-wide group for part-time local pastors and others for whom the time works best. Learn more about the study group in your district here: Tempered Resilience: Becoming an Adaptive Leader (wnccumc.org) Purchase a copy of Tempered Resilience from IVPress.com and use code TR30 for 30% off. Bolsinger's bio can be found here: https://www.ivpress.com/tod-bolsinger And further info at the links below: Executive Director, Church Leadership Institute Senior Fellow, De Pree Center for Leadership Associate Professor of Leadership Formation Principal, AE Sloan Leadership Author

In this episode, a few members of our hosting panel share how the United Methodist Church has shaped their faith and their calling as well as their hopes for its future. As part of United Methodist Communications #BeUMC initiative, we also invite you to join the conversation and share your own stories of what being United Methodist means to you, using the hashtags #BeUMC and #WNCCUMC.