August 2023 – UMC.org Podcasts

116: The Force and the Final Frontier

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It’s time for cosmic theology as we examine the spiritual depths of Star Wars and Star Trek. Covering everything from Jedi to Klingons, Michelle Maldonado and Ryan Dunn are going boldly forth seeking the spiritual in space.

Join us as we explore the theological reflections found in these iconic franchises.

For episodes and notes, visit www.umc.org/compass

In this episode: Star Wars, Star Trek, The Next Generation, Picard, Force, franchise, theology, theological, reflection, culture, Michelle Maldonado, Ryan Dunn, Methodist, podcast, streaming, movies, film, justice, good vs evil, theodicy, exploration

Confronting trauma, building resilience

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Trauma is universal and trauma, especially unaddressed, can affect how we engage with one another both inside and outside of our church communities. The Rev. Christy Miller White discusses how our behaviors can bring healing and offers practical tips for helping others and ourselves develop resiliency to live with trauma.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Have a question or comment? Email us at gysis@umcom.org

Connect with The United Methodist Church by visiting UMC.org.

Back to School: Methodists and Education

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How have Methodists approached education in the past? John Wesley was a highly educated Oxford don whose mother embedded the importance of universal education in him from a young age. How did universal access to education become a driving part of the Methodist mission, particularly in America?

GUESTS:

Dr. Linda Ryan is a graduate of the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History and author of John Wesley and the Education of Children: Gender, Class and Piety

Dr. Marco Robinson is an Assistant Professor of History at Prairie View A&M University and Assistant Director of the Ruth J Simmons Center for Race and Justice in Prairie View, Texas.

Dr Audrey McCluskey is professor emeritus of African American and African Diasporar Studies at Indiana University Bloomington. She is the author of many books including A Forgotten Sisterhood: Pioneering Black Women Educators and Activists in the Jim Crow South

HOST:

Dr. Ashley Boggan D., general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church.
Boggan earned her PhD from Drew Theological School’s Graduate Division of Religion, specializing in both Methodist/Wesleyan Studies and Women’s/Gender Studies. She earned an M.A. from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School, specializing in American Religious History. She has previously worked as staff at the General Commission on Archives and History (2012-2014) and the Connectional Table of The United Methodist Church (2014-2016). She was the Director of United Methodist Studies and Assistant Professor Christian History at Hood Theological Seminary (Salisbury, NC), an AME Zion Seminary, from 2017-2019 and was the Director of Women’s and Gender Studies and Assistant Professor of Religion at High Point University (High Point, NC) from 2019-2020. Boggan is a lay member of the Arkansas Annual Conference and the daughter of two ordained United Methodist ministers. She is the author of Nevertheless: American Methodists and Women’s Rights (2020) and Entangled: A History of American Methodism, Politics, and Sexuality (2018).

MyCom podcast Ep. 088: Should I Join that New Social Media Network?

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In the middle of the summer, seemingly out of nowhere, there was suddenly a new social media network: Threads – the Twitter competitor from Instagram.

Whether it is a brand new network that appears in the middle of the night, or there’s a platform on the rise, or simply one your church hasn’t been a part of but you’re thinking about it – there are some questions you should consider before making the jump. And those are the questions we are tackling on this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast.

For more info about Dan Wunderlich go to: https://www.defininggrace.com/

This episode of the MyCom Podcast is sponsored by Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. To learn more go to: https://www.pts.edu/henderson-2324

It is also sponsored by The Source eNewsletter. The Source highlights the latest, most helpful content from ResourceUMC.org. United Methodist leaders — both clergy and laypeople – rely on the site’s comprehensive ministry information and inspiration. Subscribe at: The Source

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Re-listen: Rediscovering church with Jerry Herships

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Reverend Jerry Herships shares his unique perspective on creating a nontraditional community that connects with something bigger and provides a sense of belonging.

Jerry has worked as stand-up comedian. He wrote for Jay Leno. He’s authored a couple books, including Last Call: from serving drinks to serving Jesus and Rogue Saints: Spirituality for Good Hearted Heathens. Jerry is one of the founders of AfterHours Denver–a unique expression of church reaching outside of the traditional meeting places.

In this episode:
(02:37) Challenges with after-hours gathering: focus on Christ-likeness, reaching out to marginalized, fostering dialogue and community.
(07:10) Summary: Jesus aligns with marginalized and voiceless people. Our community supports the homeless in giving them voice and friendship.
(10:08) People seek connection and tribe, regardless of faith.
(14:29) “Discovering personal connections to the sacred”
(17:22) Being a good Christian requires effort and connection.
(21:02) Monks prove it’s hard without church.
(25:11) Pastor connects with community, emphasizes togetherness.
(29:30) Morning rituals are unavoidable but can evolve.
(33:06) Pub conversation about church connection and service.
(37:48) Rocky Mountains have high suicide rates due to access to guns and lack of mental healthcare.
(39:26) Importance of entering our space and listening.
(44:04) Explore more

Courageous conversations: Why kindness beats niceness

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Courageous conversations have nothing to do with being nice and everything to do with being kind, gentle and loving. The Rev. Dr. Scott Hughes of The United Methodist Church’s Discipleship Ministries asserts that engaging in structured dialogues of learning – or courageous conversations – could create space for the most radical hospitality of all, a place of deeper and more welcoming community within the church.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Have a question or comment? Email us at gysis@umcom.org

Connect with The United Methodist Church by visiting UMC.org.

Engaging the Digital Parish: How it Started and How it’s Going with Jevon Caldwell-Gross

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Let’s explore how it started and how it’s going with Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross, a seasoned pastor and fellow practitioner in digital ministry. We explore the challenges and opportunities of reaching people outside of Sunday mornings and implementing strategies like master classes. Pastor J shares invaluable insights on adapting preaching styles to engage online audience, the importance of creating content beyond traditional services, the power of master classes, and the need for pastors to learn how to reach people through various digital platforms. Stay tuned as we explore the fascinating journey of Jevon Caldwell-Gross and discover how digital ministry is shaping the future of the church.

The Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross has been a transformational ministry thought leader for over a decade. Serving in a variety of contexts, ranging from urban cities to multicultural suburban communities, Pastor J is known for his ability to connect with different audiences and to make the gospel accessible and practical.

Pastor J’s journey has brought him to one of the largest United Methodist churches in the country, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, located in Indianapolis, IN. There he serves as the Teaching Pastor and as the Online Campus Pastor. As a Pastor, Author and Professor, his mission is and has always been to equip churches and congregational leaders for relevant and effective ministry in a rapidly changing society. He’s got a lot of passion for seeing the church reach into the community… and it’s going to spread through this conversation.

This session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish is presented by:
Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures.
To learn more go to Safer Sanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433.

In this episode:
(00:01) Digital minister Jevon Caldwell-Gross discusses reaching online audiences and the future of the church.
(03:42) Transitioned from teaching pastor to supervising communications. Prioritized online worship due to COVID. Increased focus on ministering to online congregation.
(06:48) Data importance: Encouraging connection and anonymity.
(09:39) Creating content that benefits congregations and communities.
(14:33) Adapting sermons for online audience, trial and error approach.
(17:37) Church needs to adapt to online platforms.
(20:46) Reaching people outside Sunday, strategy and engagement.
(25:41) Metrics show engagement and reach of congregation.
(32:09) Target audience: 30-45 year olds. Facebook not effective. Focused on TikTok and Instagram. Strategic content creation for specific platforms. Effective for reaching new members.
(36:17) Clarity is important for congregations’ priorities.
(41:35) Transitioning from church ministry to teaching, writing, and consulting in order to help churches and individuals discover new ways of experiencing and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
(44:55) Thanks for listening to Pastor in the Digital Parish. Season 6 is over, but check out our follow-up episodes on church live streaming and evangelism through social media. Thanks to our sponsors and connect with us on Facebook. New season coming soon.

For more from Pastoring in the Digital Parish: https://www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish