PlainSpoken

Keith Sweat is a Global Methodist Elder with many years of rural ministry under his belt in South Carolina. He also blogs under the pseudonym "Hermit Preacher" at https://revsweat.com/.

A couple of weeks ago, he published an article, "Beauty, Boats, & Bishops" in which he argued against some understandings of transparency that I happened to have articulated around the episcopacy in the GMC. I asked him to speak with me on the matter publicly, hoping to model how folks can disagree without being disagreeable. I guess it's up to you to decide how we did. What I can say is that, after the fact, I have more affection and respect for Rev. Sweat. I think that means we did it right.

Links:

"Beauty, Boats, & Bishops" by Keith - https://revsweat.com/2024/07/29/breauty-boats-and-bishops/

"Unfortunate Start to Episcopacy in the GMC" by me - https://plainspokenpod.substack.com/p/unfortunate-start-to-episcopacy-in

Hey friends, I interviewed Jay Therrell, the author of the Florida Plan for the episcopacy in the GMC, which is the alternative to the plan put forward by the TLC. As you might recall, he was also the chair of the WCA for a couple of years. He is currently the President Pro Tempore of the Florida Provisional Conference of the GMC. It was a really helpful interview to better understand the theology and theory behind his proposal.

This plan was co-drafted by Chappell Temple and Tom Lambrecht. It is important to remember that, despite their involvement in the crafting of the petition, authorship doesn’t always imply that they support or advocate for the plan. Given Tom’s position as Conference Secretary, it is important not to infer his authorship as advocacy. I spoken with Chappell after this was published, and he indicated that he himself isn’t sure where he lands on how he thinks things should go after all the shifting sands of the last couple of years since he helped draft it. All that to say that the legislation should be considered on its merits, rather than any sort of name recognition associated with it. And in case it needs to be said, I think it has much more merit than I had originally read into it. I think you will, too.

Delegates and other interested parties might take the time to consider his words.

Link to the PowerPoint Presentation we used: https://peopleneedjesus.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/updated-fl-hybrid-episcopal-model-read-only.pdf

Thanks to Chris Ritter at peopleneedjesus.net for making it publicly available on his site.

If you would like to join my Locals community, where I give a full morning briefing (where this came from), go to plainspoken.locals.com and become a supporter!

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My friend David came through town to lead a prayer workshop nearby, and I was able to cajole him into coming and ministering to me. I am blessed every time I am with him. I wanted to share that blessing with you.

David is an ordained Global Methodist Elder serving Victory Memorial Methodist Church in Guymon, Oklahoma. He has an amazing story. I hope you enjoy it!

If you want to follow up with him about growing in faith and prayer, you can email him at [email protected].

Rev. Dr. Luther Oconer is the President Pro Tempore of the Mega Manila Provisional Conference of the Global Methodist Church. He is also a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is a charismatic Christian in the Wesleyan way.

In this conversation, we talk about how it is that Westerners can understand and walk in faith alongside Filipinos. I got some great history of the region, and he helped me to understand recent statements from the United Methodist bishops in the area. It turns out there is a tumultuous history of schisms within Methodism there. We also talk a good deal about his charismatic leanings and how it is that he believes this is core and key, not only to living out our heritage, but also to reaching the world for Christ.

All who spend their time in this conversation will be blessed!

Link to Oconer's book, "Spirit-Filled Protestantism: Holiness-Pentecostal Revivals and the Making of Filipino Methodist Identity": https://a.co/d/bCgGAJ9

00:00 - Introduction 03:00 - Meeting Luther, His Story of Redemption 17:30 - Socio-Political Context of the Philippines 22:20 - Current Status of the GMC in the Philippines 28:45 - History of the Filipino GMC 42:50 - History of Cessation Movements from Mainline Methodism in the Philippines 59:00 - Nationalism & Jingoism 1:02:00 - Understanding Recent UMC Bishops Statement 1:04:15 - Why is the UMC Maintaining So Many? 1:07:25 - Hope for the GMC, Shifting Center of Gravity, Charismatic Christianity 1:09:45 - Closing Prayer

During the days of disaffiliation, the Western North Carolina Conference of the UMC became somewhat more hostile than in previous years. Many churches, especially those with a certain amount of assets, came to find it quite difficult to walk through the provisions afforded by the Book of Discipline. Mark Weekley served such a church, which failed its vote to disaffiliate by two votes. He was then summarily reassigned to a two-point charge to finish out his time in the UMC ignominiously. It seemed that he and his old church were to languish.

God had other plans.

This segment tells their story. I hope you are uplifted and encouraged by Mark's testimony here.

Irene Willis Hassan grew up in The United Church of Christ, but her story led her down many different paths until she found herself back in the fold of the UCC. The UCC has a reputation of being a pretty far-left group, but Irene and a handful of others actually identify as somewhat conservative. In this segment, Irene tells her story and explains how she and her Hawaiian church can gladly stay in the fold of the UCC despite their decidedly non-woke theology. Methodists could potentially get a glimpse at what staying in the UMC could look like and get some clarity if they need to stay or go. Those who left might better understand the forces that overtook the UMC and why it might have been necessary to leave as so many did.

Will Faircloth is the President of The Wesley Heritage Foundation. He also leads the Instituto do Estudios Wesleyanos. He and his organization are engaged in the promotion of the Wesleyan theological tradition in the Spanish-speaking world.

This was a live stream conversation, where we took questions from the audience at the end. I hope to have more of these in the future.

Website for the Wesley Heritage Foundation - https://www.wesleyheritage.org

Rev. Beth Ann Cook has served the Lord Jesus many years as a Methodist. She capably served within the highest levels of The United Methodist Church, and then she brought her gifts to the Global Methodists when we split away. She has been tasked with the leadership of the group that is responsible for planning the Convening Conference this September. In this conversation, I get some of her personal and professional history, then we talk about all the many efforts required to put this gathering together in San Jose. We hope those who spend this time with us are moved to pray for the GMC’s historic first gathering, and to consider other ways in which you might bless this effort of faithful disciples.

Links:Global Methodist Church Website - www.globalmethodist.orgConvening Conference Website - www.sotheworldwillknow.orgVolunteers! - https://www.sotheworldwillknow.org/volunteerPrayer Guides - https://www.sotheworldwillknow.org/prayMission Opportunity in San Jose - https://form.jotform.com/232776415253155Giving to make the Convening Conference Possible - https://onrealm.org/globalmethodist/-/form/give/individuals

The band got back together again to talk through recent developments in The United Methodist Church. After a number of American jurisdictional gatherings, alongside a host of developments on the continent of Africa, there is a lot to digest. In this episode, we talk about the rhetoric of the UMC and what seems to be the state of the body at the representative level. We talk about the overrepresentation of a certain segment of the demography of the UMC at the expense of others. We hope you benefit from the analysis here. May it be a blessing to you and your church.

For the clip at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, go to:

If you want to support my work, go to plainspoken.locals.com.

Upendo Likondi is the President Pro Tempore of the GMC in Tanzania. In this conversation, he details his journey into and out of The United Methodist Church, and how God has created a way for him to lead in this time. He details the activity of God in their movement, and the ways in which we can come alongside them to be a part of their work. Take some time to learn about a Christian brother and the work of God in his midst.

If you would like to follow up with him about his work and the ways in which you can pray for them and help the GMC in Tanzania, you can reach him at [email protected].

If you want to support me and the work I'm doing, you can do so at plainspoken.locals.com.