Why do Methodists use Welch’s grape juice for communion? What is with the cross and flame logo? Explore these questions and more as we examine the roots of the United Methodist Church (and it’s predecessor denominations) to understand why the UMC is the way that it is…and where it might be going. Dr. Ashley Boggan D. hosts this production of the General Commission on Archives and History of the UMC.
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Dr. Ashley Boggan D., general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, welcomes Bishop Ernest Lyght and Bishop Forrest Stith, to “Un-Tied Methodism” to discuss the years 1968-1972, a quadrennium filled with hopes, plans and disappointments for Black Methodists, and learn why United Methodism’s greatest challenges of cultural diversity and connectionalism are also the denomination’s greatest strengths.
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“Do not imagine that you can avoid giving offense,” John Wesley tells the People called Methodists. This advice, along with four other nuggets of wisdom continues to serve as good words to us as we live out our lives and spread the love of God.
Dr. Ted A. Campbell, the Albert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at SMU Perkins School of Theology, joins Dr. Ashley Boggan D. on today’s episode.
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St. Francis of Assisi is credited with presenting the first Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve in the early 1200s. Fast forward to the 21st century when Christmas pageants haven’t veered too far from the 13th century version with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and a few animals.
Inspired by slam poetry, Rev. Katy Shedlock, United Methodist clergy, church planter and co-pastor at The Creator’s Table in Spokane, Washington, decided to change it up. In the “Deleted Scenes Christmas Pageant,” Shedlock puts the spotlight on Mary, filling in the unknown parts of the traditional story with an unconventional narrative that highlights Mary as a powerful, fierce teen woman.
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Earlier in November, 13 new bishops were elected to serve The UMC across the U.S. Learn when bishops first became part of the denominational narrative, why Francis Asbury changed their title from general superintendent and more episcopal history when the Rev. Dr. Robert J. Williams, former general secretary of Archives & History, joins this episode of “Un-Tied Methodism.”
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In this special episode of “Un-Tied Methodism,” we partner with United Methodist Communication’s “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast to talk about the importance of Charles Wesley. When it comes to John and Charles Wesley, oftentimes in Methodist history, John gets the focus. But what about Charles? What was he like? How did he contribute to Methodist history, Methodist theology and the legacy of Methodism as it has grown around the world?
Guest: The Rev. Dr. Paul W. Chilcote is a retired United Methodist elder and professor of historical theology and Wesleyan studies who has taught on three continents. An award-winning author, he has published nearly thirty books, including “Praying in the Wesleyan Spirit, A Faith That Sings” and “Recapturing the Wesleys’ Vision.” He is a Benedictine Oblate of Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedictine, Oregon. Chilcote most recently served as interim director of the Centre for Global Wesleyan at Cambridge University.
Hosts: Dr. Ashley Boggan D., General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church. She earned her PhD from Drew Theological School’s Graduate Division of Religion, specializing in both Methodist/Wesleyan Studies and Women’s/Gender Studies. She is the author of “Nevertheless: American Methodists and Women’s Rights” (2020) and “Entangled: A History of American Methodism, Politics, and Sexuality” (2018).
Crystal Caviness, manager, member content development for United Methodist Communications and communicator for General Commission on Archives and History. Caviness is host of “Get Your Spirit In Shape,” a podcast for members of The United Methodist Church.
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The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women marks its 50th anniversary on Sept. 15, celebrating a half century of advocating for the full inclusion of women in church life as well as helping to promote sexual ethics. General Secretary Dawn Wiggens Hare discusses the history of the organization, its impact, and where she envisions the organization going in the next 50 years.
Guest: Dawn Wiggins Hare currently serves as General Secretary of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, a position she has held since 2013. She is an attorney and was the first woman elected in the 35th judicial circuit as circuit judge in Monroeville, Alabama. She has also served as a delegate to the last four General Conferences.
Host: Dr. Ashley Boggan Dreff, General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church. Dreff earned her PhD from Drew Theological School’s Graduate Division of Religion, specializing in both Methodist/Wesleyan Studies and Women’s/Gender Studies. She is the author of Nevertheless: American Methodists and Women’s Rights (2020) and Entangled: A History of American Methodism, Politics, and Sexuality (2018).
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How did Methodism come to India?
Guest: Dr. Glory Dharmaraj is President of The World Association for Christian Communication-North America. She is also the Retired Director of Mission Theology for United Methodist Women, now called United Women in Faith. She is the author of the denominational mission study on “India and Pakistan” in 2005-6, along with several other books on Christian mission as well as interfaith. She lives in New York with her husband Jacob Dharmaraj.
Host: Dr. Ashley Boggan D., General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church. Dreff 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).
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How did Methodism come to Puerto Rico? What were the long-term ramifications of the original colonial aspects of mission? Guidance for the UMC in this moment?
GUEST:
Dr. Jorge Juan Rodriguez V is the son of two Puerto Rican migrants, grew up with his parents, grandmother, and uncle in a small affordable housing community in urban Connecticut. He holds degrees in biblical studies, social theory, liberation theology, and a Ph.D. in History from Union Theological Seminary where his work focuses on the intersections of religion and social movements. He currently teaches, consults, and serves as Associate Director for Strategic Programming at the Hispanic Summer Program—a nonprofit that creates year-round educational spaces for Latinx graduate students of religion.
HOST:
Dr. Ashley Boggan D., General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church. Dreff 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).
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As of late, your social media and inbox may keep referencing a particular paragraph in the Book of Discipline, paragraph 2548.2. But what is this paragraph about? When did it originate and why? Is it useful to us today or not?
GUESTS:
Rev. Mark Salvacion senior pastor of Historic St. George’s UMC in Philadelphia and as of 2019, he was the founding Executive Director and Legal Policy Director of Justice For Our Neighbors of the Delaware Valley, which provides low-cost and pro bono immigration legal services to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the Eastern Pennsylvania, Greater New Jersey and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
Thomas Starnes, Chancellor of the Baltimore-Washington Conference since 2004. He’s served as litigation counsel for that Conference, and for the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, in several lawsuits brought to enforce the Wesleyan “trust clause”.
Lawrence Hillis, PhD student at Drew University, candidate for ordination in the GNJ annual conference, and research consultant for GCAH. He specializes in the intersection of religion, politics, and economics, with a particular focus on violence against children.
HOST:
Dr. Ashley Boggan Dreff, General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church. Dreff earned her PhD from Drew Theological School’s Graduate Division of Religion, specializing in both Methodist/Wesleyan Studies and Women’s/Gender Studies. She is the author of Nevertheless: American Methodists and Women’s Rights (2020) and Entangled: A History of American Methodism, Politics, and Sexuality (2018).
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In honor of Women’s History month, we’re speaking with Rev. Emily Nelms Chastain about how Methodist women have changed the trajectory of the denomination in a multitude of ways.