In this episode of Wesleyan Ways, Rev. Mikang Kim and Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson sit down with Dr. Valerie Bridgeman, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and founder of WomanPreach! Inc., for a deep and lively conversation on what it means to be filled with and filled by the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Bridgeman shares personal stories, theological insights, and wisdom on:

- How the Holy Spirit grows us in community

- The importance of prayer and discernment

- Leading courageously and prophetically in the church

- Submitting to the Spirit’s work for transformation

Whether you’re a preacher, lay leader, or seeker of deeper faith, this conversation offers encouragement to listen for the Spirit’s movement and trust God’s power to renew and guide the church today.

🔔 Subscribe to Wesleyan Ways for more conversations exploring our Methodist roots and spiritual growth in today’s world.

In this episode of Clergy to Clergy, Rev. Doug Forrester and Rev. Lan Davis Wilson talk candidly about the blessings and challenges of starting fresh in a new appointment. From rethinking what it means to “hit the ground running” to learning how to plant roots and build lasting relationships, this conversation reminds us that ministry is about being fully present where God calls us.

You can watch the video version here - https://youtu.be/KUKoA-i3XVY

In this episode of Wesleyan Ways: Exploring Our Methodist Roots, Rev. Jessie Colwell and Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson are joined by Dr. Edgardo Colón-Emeric, Dean of Duke Divinity School, to discuss what it means for United Methodists to believe in the “present and not yet” Kingdom of God. Together, they reflect on how God’s kingdom is both a current reality and a future hope—something we glimpse in worship, community, and acts of grace. Drawing on theology, mission, and everyday faith, the conversation explores how believers are called to “plug in” to God’s power, partner in building the new creation, and live out kingdom values such as mercy, justice, and peace. The guests emphasize that allegiance to God’s kingdom transcends national or worldly loyalties and invite listeners to see themselves as part of God’s ongoing work of renewal and hope in the world.

We are grateful for great friends and colleagues, great conversation, and a great cup of coffee. This is a new series called "Clergy to Clergy."

Watch this conversation with Rev. Tim Ward & Rev. Dr. Katie Philips as they sit down for conversation and coffee. about parenting while pastoring.

Available on YouTube and in podcast form on Apple and Spotify.

In this episode of Wesleyan Ways, Martha Stokes and Bishop Sue Halpert Johnson engage with Reverend Charlie Baber to explore the identity of United Methodists through the lens of John and Charles Wesley's teachings. They discuss the importance of a relationship with Jesus Christ, the role of Scripture, and the necessity of holy living. The conversation emphasizes the Wesleyan tradition of interpreting faith through experience, reason, and community, while also addressing the need for a compassionate understanding of God's love. The episode concludes with a call to reclaim the essence of Jesus in modern contexts and to embody the transformative power of faith in everyday life.

This fall, the Virginia Annual Conference will debut a new web series, Wesleyan Ways: Exploring Our Methodist Roots. Guided by Jim Harnish’s book The Journey to the Center of Faith, the series will take us on a deeper exploration of what it means to live and grow as United Methodists. Watch this promo to the series with Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley, and Jim Harnish.

Find the curriculum and more information at https://vaumc.org/wesleyanways/

We are grateful for great friends and colleagues, great conversation, and a great cup of coffee. This is a new series called "Clergy to Clergy."

Watch this conversation with our two new District Superintendents (Rev. Lindsey Baynham Freeman, Mission Rivers, and Rev. Dr. Kyungsuk Cho, Shenandoah River) as they sit down for conversation and coffee.

Available on YouTube and in podcast form on Apple and Spotify.

Advocacy and justice are central to our life of faith as United Methodist and as Christians whether or not it is an election year. As we continue to prepare for the upcoming election and beyond, VAUMC's Assistant Director of Missional and Community Engagement, Rev. Jo Ann Batteiger sat down for a conversation with Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, Co-Executive Director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and Rev. Katie Gooch, Director of the Pace Center Campus Ministry at VCU and co-chair of VAUMC's Conference Legislative Network to do a deeper dive into the historical role of advocacy through the lens of faith, and consider what the next faithful step that individuals and faith communities can take to fully live into their calling as justice-centered people.

RISC (Richmonders Involved in Strengthening Communities) is a justice ministry organization made of 25+ congregations from around the Richmond area. Their work is centered in people coming together to do justice to make a collective impact and systemic change. RISC is part of a larger network called DART (Direct Action Research Training Center), and their partner organization is IMPACT in Charlottesville. Their congregational involvement and organizational partnerships, however, goes beyond Richmond and Charlottesville proper and involve communities within the surrounding areas. The Missional and Community Engagement Office partners with RISC alongside other community organizing and advocacy groups across the Commonwealth to strengthen the link between the work of mission and the work of justice