S2E5 - The UMC's Identity Work with Chris Wilterdink

Welcome to Season 2 of Bar of the Conference - a podcast about the stories shaping the future of the United Methodist Church. This episode is with Chris Wilterdink. Chris serves at Discipleship Ministries, a general agency of the UMC, as the Executive Director of Congregational Vitality and Intentional Discipleship, and Director of Young People Ministries. In this episode, Chris and I talk about his journey of growing up as a clergy kid, his experience as a youth minister in a local church, and the road that led him to working in a UM agency. At the time of this recording, Chris had just finished leading a massive effort that was YOUTH 2023 in Daytona Beach, Fl ,which gathered hundreds of youth and young adults, youth leaders, and many others. We talked about how this season in the denomination invites us to do the hard work of discerning our identity as United Methodists. Chris speaks in a language of hope even as he articulates the challenges we face. You will love the energy and insights in this episode. Enjoy!

*Production note: There is some static at around the 8 minute mark. Apologies.