Author: Crystal Caviness

Breaking the stained-glass ceiling: How women earned their place in the United Methodist episcopacy

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Join us as “Un-Tied Methodism” continues its yearlong series celebrating 70 years of women’s ordination in Methodism.

Following the landmark 1956 decision granting women full clergy rights, the movement that led to the election of the first women bishops gained momentum. In this episode of “Un-Tied Methodism,” Dr. Ashley Boggan and the Rev. Dr. Emily Nelms Chastain discuss the leadership of Jean Audrey Powers and others, including the networks of women who persisted and strategized to help reshape The United Methodist Church and the wider landscape of women’s leadership in American Christianity.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Check out our new video series titled “From Crown to Conferencing: Methodism and the New Republic,” developed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the United States.  In this free resource, we reflect on the roles Methodists have played leading up to and after the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Listen to other episodes of “Un-Tied Methodism” at UnTiedMethodism.org.

Special LIVE episode: In the room where it happened

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Join us as “Un-Tied Methodism” continues its yearlong series celebrating 70 years of women’s ordination in Methodism.
On the 70th anniversary of day when General Conference voted to give women full ordination rights and full membership in annual conferences, Dr. Ashley Boggan and the Rev. Dr. Emily Nelms Chastain recount the details from the General Conference floor based on transcripts from that day’s Daily Christian Advocate. Recorded live on May 4, 2026, from Perkins School of Theology on the campus of SMU in Dallas, Texas.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Check out our new video series titled “From Crown to Conferencing: Methodism and the New Republic,” developed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the United States.  In this free resource, we reflect on the roles Methodists have played leading up to and after the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Listen to other episodes of “Un-Tied Methodism” at UnTiedMethodism.org.

Assembly, Advocacy, and a Trailblazer for Women’s Ordination

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Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes Sally Vonner and Tara Barnes, leaders from United Women in Faith, who preview the upcoming Assembly 2026 and reflect on the vital lay ministries of deaconesses and home missioners. Plus, the Rev. Dr. Emily Nelms Chastain tells the story of M. Madeline Southard, whose fearless leadership helped change the future for women in ministry.
To register for United Women in Faith’s Assembly 2026, go to UWFaith.org/Assembly.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots” at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory/Radicle-Methodism. “Radicle Methodism’s” follow up course, “Rooted Methodism” is now available. Check it out at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory/Rooted-Methodism.

Listen to other episodes of “Un-Tied Methodism” at UnTiedMethodism.org.

Crossing oceans and confronting power: The audacious faith of Dorothy Ripley

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Join us as “Un-Tied Methodism” continues its yearlong series celebrating 70 years of women’s ordination in Methodism.
Long before women’s ordination was formally recognized, Dorothy Ripley was already preaching in bold and radical ways. She crossed the Atlantic Ocean 19 times, chastised President Thomas Jefferson for being an enslaver and was the first woman to speak before Congress.
Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes Duke University’s Dr. Laceye Warner to explore the remarkable life of this 18th-century evangelist, a woman who navigated institutional resistance and cultural expectations to become known at the time of her death as “perhaps the most extraordinary woman in the world.”

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots” at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory/Radicle-Methodism.

Listen to other episodes of “Un-Tied Methodism” at UnTiedMethodism.org.

From Susanna Wesley to Dorothy Ripley: Women, calling and courage

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Join us as “Un-Tied Methodism” begins a yearlong series celebrating 70 years of women’s ordination in Methodism. Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes historians Rev. Dr. Paul Chilcote and Rev. Dr. Donna Fowler-Marchant to look at the women who laid the groundwork long before ordination was possible.
From Susanna Wesley’s overlooked theological brilliance to the bold preaching of Sarah Crosby, Mary Bosanquet Fletcher, and dozens of other women, this episode explores how women in early Methodism claimed their call—often in defiance of church structures, social respectability, and outright opposition.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots” at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory/Radicle-Methodism.

Listen to other episodes of “Un-Tied Methodism” at UnTiedMethodism.org.

More than the worst thing we’ve done, part 2

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In the second of a two-part episode, we take a look inside the rarely seen world of death row ministry as Rev. Hillary Taylor shares how she became a spiritual advisor and friend to Brad Sigmon, who was executed in South Carolina in March 2025. Join us for a powerful conversation as we reflect on grief, hope and the belief that people are more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.

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

Listen to part 1 of this podcast at https://www.umc.org/en/content/more-than-the-worst-thing-weve-done-with-hillary-taylor-gysis-ep-203.

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

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

More than the worst thing we’ve done, part 1

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

In the first of a two-part episode, we take a look inside the rarely seen world of death row ministry as Rev. Hillary Taylor shares how she became a spiritual advisor and friend to Brad Sigmon, who was executed in South Carolina in March 2025. Join us for a powerful conversation as we reflect on grief, hope and the belief that people are more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.

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.

From colonization to calling: How Methodism took root in the Philippines

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From Navy chaplains and student gatherings to youth movements and global mission, the latest episode in our “Methodisms Around the World” series traces the surprising and resilient story of the Methodist movement in the Philippines. Guests Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut and Karen Prudente join host Dr. Ashley Boggan to explore how colonial history, acts of resistance, women’s leadership, and a deeply relational faith shaped a vibrant witness—one that continues to plant churches and form leaders around the world.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots” at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory/Radicle-Methodism.

Listen to other episodes of “Un-Tied Methodism” at UnTiedMethodism.org.

When Christmas is blue: A meditation of hope

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‘Tis the season for all things merry and bright. Except when you’re feeling sad, lonely and perhaps grieving.

Retired United Methodist pastor and current spiritual director Cindy Serio discusses why Christmas can be a challenging season for some folks and shares a guided meditation that acknowledges that you might feel blue at this time of the year while offering encouragement for finding hope, even on the longest night.

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.

A funny thing happened on the way to the sanctuary

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From playing at Willie Nelson’s Picnic to viral videos, Jaron Bell shares how  his love for music and comedy turned into a calling the country-singer-turned-pastor never expected.

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.