Author: Joe Iovino

  • When Christmas is blue: A guided meditation with Cindy Serio

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

  • First UMC of Honolulu: Reclaiming its heritage with hope

    Dr. Ashley Boggan D. discusses the history of The United Methodist Church in Hawaii with the Rev. Amy Wake, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Honolulu, who details the colonialism surrounding the arrival of Methodism to the islands and how the local church has persevered to maintain its culture across the decades. Learn…

  • Anti-racism work: Intentional learning, intentional action with Andrea Gauldin-Rubio

    United Methodist Andrea Gauldin-Rubio, a white woman who grew up in the rural south, shares about examining biases and recognizing white privilege, while acknowledging that anti-racism work should be ongoing and focused as much on action as on education. More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here. Have a question or…

  • La Trinidad UMC: Using history to preserve the future

    La Trinidad UMC , founded in 1876, is the longest serving Mexican American congregation in The UMC. Dr. Ashley Boggan D. talks with the Rev. John Feagins about how this historic church in San Antonio, Texas, redefined itself by rediscovering its rich cultural identity. Learn more United Methodist history by visiting umhistoryhub.teachable.com. Explore the United…

  • Understanding justice through a faith lens with ViaFaith McCullough

    At a young age, ViaFaith McCullough learned that people are more than their circumstances. After spending a summer as a college intern with The United Methodist Church’s General Board of Church and Society, this cradle United Methodist discovered a deeper understanding of justice and found that, when we work together, even our simplest ideas can…

  • Reclaim. Revive. Renew: A playbook for the future of The UMC

    Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president of the Council of Bishops, and David Worthington, director of Global Relationships at John Wesley’s New Room, discuss the importance of our local church histories with Dr. Ashley Boggan D. and share how our denomination’s future could be influenced by remembering our legacy. Learn more about the United Methodist General Commission…

  • From depression to joy: One man’s story with Pete Wright

    People have told Pete Wright that, from the outside, his life looked trouble-free: loving wife and kids, fulfilling career, all the signs of success. On the inside, Pete has struggled for years with chronic depression. He shares the story of his journey, from a place where he once attempted suicide to discovering joy in the…

  • Jackson UMC: ‘Downtown for good’

    Dr. Ashley Boggan D., host of “Un-Tied Methodism” discusses the history of First United Methodist Church of Jackson, Tenn., with the Rev. Sky McCracken. In addition to being the city’s oldest church in continuous operation, the church has a rich Civil War-era history as the building that housed a hospital and stable for Union forces.…

  • The Healing Power of God’s Creation with Beth Jones

    Many of us seek God in the natural world, whether we backpack in the mountains, walk through a forest or relax by a lake. The Rev. Beth Jones shares how the discipline of slowing down and noticing God’s creation has the ability to heal us physically, emotionally, and spiritually, as well as repair and renew…

  • The Chicago Temple: The UMC’s chapel in the sky

    First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple can boast a number of distinctions, including oldest congregation in the Windy City where the chapel is atop a skyscraper. On this episode of “Un-Tied Methodism,” host Dr. Ashley Boggan D. talks with David Foster as he shares the story of the Chicago Temple, a downtown church…