United Methodist People Podcast

The founder of The Methodist Reclamation Project Rev. Chris Tiedeman is Rev. Dr. Brad Miller’s guest on Episode 019 of the United Methodist People Podcast.   The Methodist Reclamation Project is a facebook group presence founded to respond to the decision of the 2019 General Conference to advocate a progressive/centrist viewpoint on the matters facing the UMC.   Chris is the pastor or Christ UMC-Wabash, Indiana.    In this in-depth interview, Chris tells Brad about coming to the church when he was dating the daughter of a UMC pastor while they both were in a high school drama production of “The Beverly Hillbillies.”  He described how the openness of the UMC spoke to him and nurtured his faith eventually leading him into pastoral ministry.  He is known among other things as the “Ukulele Pastor” for playing and singing with his “Uke” in the community.   He and some colleagues created the Methodist Reclamation Project to speak to effect change to save what can be of the United Methodist Movement.  He loo

Shannon Priddy is the national president of the United Methodist Women and candidate for election to become a delegate to the 2020 General Conference from the Indiana Conference. In Episode 018 of the United Methodist People Podcast, she is interviewed in depth by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller. Shannon shares with Brad her faith in Jesus Christ in growing up and her local church involvement with United Methodist Women inspired by UMW’s emphasis on missions, social justice, and inclusion.  She got involved with leadership in UMW in her local church (North UMC-Indianapolis) and her leadership ability was affirmed by her rise to become the president of the national UMW.   Shannon’s skills are arising furthermore as she has got involved with the UMCNext movement in response to the 2019 General Conference.  She talked with Brad about her experience at the May 2019 UMCNext conference in Kansas City, KS which called together progressive and centrist groups in the church to pray and process a strategy and response to the

In Episode 017 of The United Methodist People Podcast Rev. Dr. Brad Miller has a conversation with Rev. Duane Carlise from Indianapolis Broadway UMC and Rev. Jill Howard from Indianapolis-Rosedale Hills UMC who are instrumental creating the Room for All Coalition.    The Room for All Coalition brings together several like-minded progressive advocacy groups in the UMC in Indiana to plan and strategize about next steps for the UMC. They speak with Brad about their experience at the UMC Next Conference recently held at UMC Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City KS. Both Duane and Jill are offering themselves as candidates for election to 2020 General Conference from Indiana and speak to Brad about their willingness and calling to serve the church in this manner. The is an important conversation that addresses difficult matters facing the UMC in a defining moment in church history. Rev. Dr. Brad Miller June 2019    

Bishop Julius Trimble returns to the United Methodist People Podcast in an in-depth interview with Rev. Dr. Brad Miller.    Bishop Trimble shares with Brad his spiritual disciplines including his devotional practices and working out regularly as well as his practice of praying with his wife in the care before any trip.   The Way Forward was the focus of much of the conversation with Bishop Trimble emphasizing a few points: His belief that differing views on human sexuality should not be a church-dividing issue. Concern that focusing so much on matters of humans sexuality in the church distracts from the primary purpose of the United Methodist Church to “Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.” Hope that the UMC will handle our disagreements in such a way that love Jesus is not obscured and be a model to a world in disarray.   Brad concluded the interview by asking Bishop Trimble about his future hopes for the UMC which included admiring the vitality and ingenuity of youn

The purpose of the United Methodist People Podcast with Rev. Dr. Brad Miller is to strengthen the connection int eh United Methodist Church through conversation and commentary to fulfill the mission of the United Methodist Church of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In Episode 015 Brad has a deep conversation with Rev. Lisa Schubert Nowling the Senior Pastor or College Avenue United Methodist Church in Muncie Indiana and an Indiana Conference delegate to the 2019 General Conference. Lisa tells Brad about her early faith formation in being nurtured and encouraged in her local church to sept into leadership and eventually answering the call to ministry complimented by here training an skills and education in journalism and French. Lisa has special affinity for serving people in the margins of life on matter of social justice and enhancing the influence to the local church to achieve life transformation Lisa expressed to Brad her concerned about the state of the church and how

The purpose of the United Methodist people podcast is to strengthen the connection in the United Methodist Church through conversation and commentary as a means to achieve the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ of the transformation of the world. In Episode 014 of the United Methodist People Podcast with Rev. Dr. Brad Miller conversation and commentary were at hand as Brad hosted a lively discussion with three other elders on the topic of The Way Forward, particularly The One Church Plan which will be presented to the 2019 General Conference.   Brad was joined by Rev. Jerry Rairdon, Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Noblesville Indiana and founder of Uniting Methodist Indiana, Rev. Jill Moffat Howard, Pastor of Rosedale Hills United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana who is an alternate delegate to the 2019 General Conference from the Indiana Annual Conference and Rev. Dr. Mark Holland Executive Director of MainstreamUMC.com from Kansas City, Kansas. The focus of the roundtab

The director of MainstreamUMC.com, Rev. Dr. Mark Holland is Rev. Dr. Brad Miller’s guest on Episode 013 of the United Methodist People Podcast.   Mainstream UMC is an advocacy group which supports the adoption of The One Church Plan prepared by the Commission no the Way Forward and affirmed by the Bishops of the UMC.   Mark talks to Brad about his faith journey as a third generation United Methodist Pastor serving in Kansas City, Kansas for the majority of his pastoral ministry.  Mark also had the rather unique experience of serving as the Mayor of Kansas City, Kansas concurrent to his pastorate at Trinity UMC in Kansas City.   Mark is taking a sabbatical year to concentrate on efforts to influence on delegates to the 2019 General Conference supporting The One Church Plan.   Mark describes the difference between the One Church plan and the Traditional Plan and argues that the One Church Plan is preferable.   He speaks to Brad about the following:   Comparing the UMC to a dinner plate which can be c

Episode 012 of The United Methodist People Podcast features Rev. Dr. Brad Miller conducting an in-depth interview with Rev. Jerry Rairdon, Lead Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Noblesville, Indiana. Jerry is an organizer of Indiana Uniting Methodist a group which advocates for the "One Church" Plan for "The Way Forward" which will be presented at the called February 2019 General Conference. Indiana Uniting Methodist is planning a special event featuring a message from Rev. Dr. Mark Holland from Kansas City KS, Director of  Mainstream UMC another group advocating the One Church Plan.  The event is Monday, October 8, 7:00 PM ET at St. Lukes UMC in Indianapolis. Jerry spoke to Brad about the following matters important to him: His call to Christ and Ministry. First UMC -Noblesville (IN) Organic Farm The generation of his children and grandchildren don’t understand closed-mindedness toward LGBTQ people. His call to create a church where his children and grandchildren would want to attend. The co

The purpose of The United Methodist People Podcast with Rev. Dr. Brad Miller is to strengthen the connection in the United Methodist Church through conversation and commentary.  In Episode 011 Brad interviews Rev. Rob Fuquay author of “A New Reformation” and Senior Pastor of St. Luke’s UMC, a large membership church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Rob talks to Brad about his faith journey growing up in North Carolina and the importance of youth fellowship programs in his faith formation.  He speaks of spending time in ministry in England where he became aware of his calling within the calling to be an ambassador of keeping the local church fresh.  He gave an example of the church staying fresh through the small group ministry at his church which had been helpful to transforming the life of a self-destructive young man. Brad and Rob talked about the challenges of the church accomplishing the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and the encouragement of seeing pockets of

UMPP.010: The Bishops Speak Series “The Pallbearers Can Stand Down” A Conversation with Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer, West Ohio Area UMC. The purpose of the United Methodist People Podcast is strenghtening the connection in the United Methodist Church through conversation and commentary as a means to accomplish the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The UMPP is published weekly by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller a long-time elder in the Indiana Conference UMC. In Episode 010 of the UMPP Brad offer a summary of the 93 page report from the Commission on A Way forward outlining the key points of the One Church Plan the Connectional Conference Plan and the Traditionalist Plan. Brad then has a in depth interview with West Ohio Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer. Bishop Palmer shares with Brad his call to ministry under the influence of his parents and Sunday school teachers in the churches he grew up in. His father is a retired United Methodist Pastor. He talked about the role of the B

The purpose The United Methodist People Podcast is to strengthen the connection in the United Methodist Church through conversation and commentary as a means of accomplishing the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The United Methodist People Podcast is published on regular basis by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller an Elder in the Indiana Conference. In Episode 009 Brad continues with a series of Episodes “The Bishop’s Speak” by having an in-depth conversation with Chicago Area Bishop Sally Dyck who serves the Northern Illinois Annual Conference. Bishop Dyck shared with Brad here early call to ministry in her home state of Washington influenced greatly by her experiences with a woman chaplain who opened her up to the opportunity of women serving in ministry. She pursued her calling in college and seminary at Boston University and then connecting with the East Ohio Annual Conference where she served as a local church pastor and District Superintendent for a number of years. I

Michigan Area Bishop David Alan Bard is Rev. Dr. Brad Miller's guest on episode 008 of the United Methodist people podcast. the mission of the United Methodist people podcast is strengthening the connection in the United Methodist Church through conversation and commentary as a means of accomplishing our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Dr. Brad's conversation with Bishop Bard is a part of the "the bishops speak" series of podcasts episodes were Dr. Brad will be speaking to a number of United Methodist bishops from around the world prior to the 2019 Gen. conference. Dr. Brad is asking each bishop two questions vital to the future of the United Methodist Church. 1. How effective has the UMC been in fulfilling our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ the transformation of the world? 2. what is your view of the way forward? In episode 008 of the UMPP Dr. Brad indeed ask these two questions to Bishop Bard as a part of the far-ranging conversation which includ

EP.007: The Bishops Speak Series: Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble-Indiana Area UMC In Episode 007 of “The United Methodist People Podcast” Rev. Dr. Brad Miller launches a series of podcast episodes focusing on conversations with United Methodist Bishops from around the world with an in-depth conversation with Indiana Area Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble. In bimonthly episodes published in the time frame leading up to the 2019 called General Conference of the United Methodist Church Dr Brad will speak to Bishops and other key thought leaders from throughout the connection on two questions facing the church. 1. What is the state of The United Methodist Church in achieving our mission of “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World?” 2. In looking forward to the 2019 General Conference what is their understanding of “the way forward” and what is their vision of what “the way forward” will look like post the 2019 conference? Bishop Julius Trimble celebrated his first anniversary as Indiana Bish

The mission of the United Methodist Podcast is strengthening the connection in the United Methodist Church for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In Episode #006 of The United Methodist Podcast Dr. Brad Miller has a delightful conversation with Dr. Marcia McFee about designing creative and transformative worship experiences. Dr. McFee is the author of the new book "Think Like a Filmmaker: Sensory Rich Worship Designs for Unforgettable Messages" and owns Worship Designs Studios a company which provides a multitude of resources designed to assist local church worship teams to implement sensory rich and creative worship experiences which integrate the faith narrative with artistic endeavors. Dr. McFee shares with Dr. Miller how her love of the arts and the church were first formed and nurtured in her small hometown church in Missouri which allowed her, as a 12-year-old, to dance and sing and and celebrate her artistic passions. She went on to have a professional

The mission of The United Methodist podcast with Dr. Brad Miller is strengthening the connection in United Methodist Church for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In episode #005 of the United Methodist Podcast Dr. Brad Miller has a conversation with Rev. Talbot Davis pastor of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Charlotte North Carolina and author of “Solve: Finding God Solutions In A World of Problems.” Rev. Davis is the author of several books based on sermon series preached at Good Shepherd UMC. In each book Rev. Talbot takes on problematic scriptures which pose modern-day dilemmas for people. He approaches these scriptures with his own unique take and twist. One of the things Davis likes to say is "do not be afraid to walk into dark places… dealing with a hard sayings of Jesus." In "Solve" Davis grapples with the book of Nehemiah and fpeople who see problems around every corner can be addressed by people who are what he calls "solutionist” people in

Welcome to The United Methodist Podcast with Dr. Brad Miller where it is our mission to strengthen the connection in the United Methodist Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In Episode #004 of The United Methodist podcast Brad talks with Steven Adair who is a social media expert with our United Methodist denomination. What a need we have in our church right now to utilize the tool of social media. Steven is the social media marketing strategist with United Methodist communications in Nashville Tennessee which means he has responsibility in our denomination he has responsibilities for the creation and content and maintaining some of our main social media outlets in our church. Steven has a very interesting story about how, even before the United Methodist Church had a presence on Facebook, Steven as a college student had built a Facebook fan page of 25,000 fans all about United Methodist Church. That shows you bit of his passion for the church and for the tool of using

In Episode 003 of “The United Methodist Podcast” Dr. Brad Miller is joined by Indiana Area Bishop Michael J. Coyner. Bishop Coyner has served in the episcopacy for 20 years and is retiring in 2016. In his time as Bishop he has served the United Methodist Church in just about every capacity and oversaw the challenge of bringing two distinct annual conferences (North Indiana and South Indiana) together to form one new annual conference - the Indiana Annual Conference. “Bishop Mike” and Brad had a great conversation about the joys and challenges in serving as a bishop and what he sees as signs of hope in the United Methodist Church. Bishop Mike is a genuine and authentic leader of the church who has been able to navigate some very sensitive issues in Indiana as well as around the world of United Methodism. The conversation was far ranging touching on the state of the church as he sees it right now - what he calls a “Big Tent Church” that is being stretched by challenging issues. Bishop Mike gives his observation

In Episode 002 of The United Methodist Podcast Dr. Brad Miller has a meaningful conversation with Rev. Dr. Roger Ross. Dr. Ross is the senior pastor the First United Methodist Church in Springfield, Illinois and author of the book “Meet the Good People: Wesley's 7 Ways to Share Faith.” Roger and Brad have known one another for some time, indeed they planted churches together on the exact same date in the mid-1990s. They are time talking in this interview about something close to their hearts - how can the United Methodist Church relate to people far from God but who are good people people but for one reason or another have not made a connection to God through a local church. In his new book “Meet The Good People: Wesley's 7 Ways to Share Faith.” Ross takes his study of the life and ministry of John Wesley and applies to the context of 21st century culture to come up with seven ways we can share our faith with the people Roger has termed Joe and Sally Good People. You'll enjoy this conversation about the book