Welcome to Bar of the Conference. Today’s conversation is with Daryl Dayson, an elder and General Conference delegate in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference*. Darryl is a face of the current and future UMC. In this episode, we talk about ministry as a young clergy person, race, affirmation of queer inclusion and more. Darryl’s perspective will remind you of God’s abundance and call us to take more risks for the sake of the Gospel. This is an enlightening episode. *In the intro, I mistak...
May 06, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Welcome to Bar of the Conference. Laura Witkowski is a General Conference delegate in the Michigan Annual Conference where she has served on Conference staff for the last 11 years. Laura's extensive experience of growing up in a United Methodist congregation and serving in various aspects of the church gives her a unique perspective on the role of the laity in the church. With heartfelt sincerity, she speaks of the courage needed to work for and embody an inclusive church that welcomes all. In t...
Apr 28, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Welcome to Bar of the Conference. Caleb Parker is a General Conference Lay delegate in the North Carolina Conference. He’s a leader in his local congregation and passionate about the UMC. In this episode, you’ll hear about the hopeful and harmful experiences of his college years, the ways that allies have and have not shown up, and why, in spite of all of that, he remains committed to the UMC. Whether you consider yourself an ally of LGBTQ+ individuals or not, this interview will touch your hear...
Apr 21, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Welcome to Bar of the Conference. Mighty Rasing was born in the Philippines, to United Methodists pastors, where he was nurtured and empowered in his call to serve the church as a lay person. Living stateside with his family, he currently serves as the Director of Central Conference Relationships at Discipleship Ministries. Mighty understands the gifts and complexities of being a denomination on multiple continents. He also sees the great potential for the UMC as we navigate this season leading ...
Apr 14, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 14
“I believe in the United Methodist Church, not because of what as an institution it can possibly provide, but because of the love, the commitment, the hope that was tilled by those who came before me.” Welcome to Bar of the Conference. In this episode, Rev. Dr. Lydia E. Muñoz, an Ordained Elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference and Executive Director of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry of the United Methodist Church, offers her unique insights as a pastor, activist and ...
Apr 07, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 13
“I honestly think a big part of the division in the United Methodist Church right now is…a conversation about what’s essential and what’s not essential.” Welcome to Bar of the Conference. This episode is with Rev. Katie Dawson from the Iowa Annual Conference. Katie is another face of the future of the UMC. Her passion and gifts for leadership not only bring much needed calm in this tumultuous season, but she also provides clarity on how we can collectively grow into the church God has called us ...
Mar 31, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 12
“Even if there is division and pain, I cannot get sidetracked from the hope that God is going to give birth to something new.” Israel Alvaran is an ordained elder in the Philippines Central Conference of the United Methodist Church and an organizer for Reconciling Ministries Network. In this episode, Izzy shares his journey of faith and call to ministry. He also gives us a master class on inclusion from a global perspective and how regionalization provides a path to a just, hopeful and Spirit-le...
Mar 24, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 11
“Those are the labels that are gonna be put on me…I will live with them, and I am just praying all the time that they don’t squelch conversation.” Welcome to Bar of the Conference. Stephen Rankin is a lifelong United Methodist and retired clergy in the Great Plains Annual Conference. He’s spent most of his ministry serving college students and in higher education. In this episode, we talk about his journey of faith and ministry, the labels we use and how someone with conservative commitments can...
Mar 17, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 10
"I don’t want anyone to have to live a closeted life in order to be loved by their church.” - Jennie Edwards Bertrand Welcome to Bar of the Conference. Jennie Edwards Bertrand is a pastor and Jurisdictional Conference delegate in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. From growing up in Arcola, IL to planting a progressive-leaning church, Jennie has an ability to see people as they are and to serve them on their terms. In this episode, she talks about her upbringing, her call to ministry and how ...
Mar 10, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 9
“[We have to] figure out how to balance the disaffiliations but also capitalize on the opportunity to really focus on mission.” Welcome to Bar of the Conference. Shandon Klein is a General Conference lay delegate in the North Texas Conference. Shandon is passionate about ministry and brings a fresh perspective on what is happening in the UMC. Like many young adult leaders in our denomination, she represents the church of today and the church of tomorrow. You will love listening to her story and ...
Mar 03, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 8
"I think we have a chance now to "be" church...to really focus on creating a sweet, welcoming fellowship for all people" - Simon Osunlana Welcome to Bar of the Conference. Simon Osunlana is an elder in the Florida Conference. He was born, raised, educated, and began his ministry in Nigeria before moving to North Carolina and then finding his home in Florida. Simon’s story, his passion for ministry and perspective on this current moment in the UMC is both challenging and refreshing. Enjoy....
Feb 24, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 7
"Make no mistake - if you are LGBTQ in the church, any church, you are going to experience being disenfranchised." Welcome to Bar of the Conference. Alice Williams is the Co-Lay Leader of the Florida Conference, a General Conference delegate and a member of the Commission on the Way Forward. She shares about her experience as a LGBTQ member in the UMC and the meaning she is finding as she serves the denomination for such a time as this. You’ll be inspired to faithful action listening to this int...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 6
“We’ve had a generational change in the church, particularly among General Conference delegates…I refer to it as the “United Methodist Spring” because all of a sudden a bunch of people got elected who are looking for a change.” Welcome to Bar of the Conference. In this episode, we continue our conversation with Randall Miller from the California-Nevada Conference. Randall shares his thoughts on the One Church Plan from General Conference 2019 and what it was like to be on the team who negotiated...
Feb 03, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 5
“Instead of going away, they practiced the art of resistance and made themselves publicly visible…knowing full well the reception they would meet there.” Welcome to Bar of the Conference. In this episode, Randall Miller, from the California-Nevada Conference, joins us for a discussion of the history of United Methodists resisting the exclusion of LGBTQ in the life and ministry of our denomination. In Part 1, we talk about the impact of the incompatibility clause in the Book of Discipline and the...
Jan 27, 2023•59 min•Season 1Ep. 4
“We’re the majority of the membership, but the minority of the leadership. That needs to change.” Welcome to Bar of the Conference. In this episode, Tara Barnes, Director of Denominational Relations for United Women in Faith (formerly known as United Methodist Women), joins Derrick for a discussion about the role of women in the UMC. They talk about the history and impact of women's movements in the UMC and the power of giving women the microphone. You will love this episode! Also, if there are ...
Jan 20, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 3
"No individual disciple can do it all. No individual local congregation can do it all. No individual Annual Conference can do it all. It’s our connection that makes us strong." Welcome to Bar of the Conference. Our second pilot episode is with Ian Carlos Urriola, a lay member from the Upper New York Annual Conference. Derrick and Ian talk about all things holy conferencing - the good and the bad, the hopeful and the harmful. Ian is an incredible thinker who believes in the potential of the UMC. ...
Jan 13, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to Bar of the Conference. “I want us to be a church that celebrates the quality of our Wesleyan relationships rather than the quantity of people in our pews” Our first pilot episode is with Rev. Jeremy Smith, UMC elder in the Greater Northwest area and blogger at Hacking Christianity. Derrick and Jeremy talk about the good and bad news for those who intend to stay in the UMC. Jeremy likens this season of the denomination to the longest night (December 21) and he believes that 2023 will e...
Jan 06, 2023•57 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Welcome to Bar of the Conference: a podcast about The United Methodist Church, especially in the US. The name speaks to the space in United Methodist policy-making where holy conferencing, deep discernment and sacred listening takes place. As we prepare for General Conference 2024, it is time to talk about the latest news and critical issues facing the UMC and the necessary efforts United Methodist leaders need to consider as we continue our witness and work as disciples of Jesus to transform th...
Jan 03, 2023•5 min
