Holy Conversations: The WCA Podcast

SPECIAL EPISODE: Announcing The Global Methodist Church

In this special edition of the podcast, WCA President Keith Boyette and retired Bishop Robert Hayes discuss today's announcement of The Global Methodist Church. Keith and Bishop Hayes answer some questions about the Transitional Leadership Council, the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline, the potential timeline for a convening conference for the new denomination, and other important information. While The Global Methodist Church is still not officially launched as a new denomination, the formation of this body provides annual conferences, churches, clergy, and laity with a more detailed look at what a new traditional Methodist denomination will look like when the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation passes at the next General Conference. 

Visit the website of the Global Methodist Church at globalmethodist.org.

Email the Global Methodist Church at info@globalmethodist.org or phone 540-898-4960.

Email Keith Boyette at kboyette@globalmethodist.org. 

Send your comments and questions about the podcast to podcast@wesleyancovenant.org and follow us on Twitter @WCAPod.

SPECIAL EPISODE: The UMC General Conference Delay

In this special episode, Bob and Stephanie talk with WCA President Keith Boyette about the announced delay of the UMC General Conference to 2022 and what that delay means for the separation of the United Methodist Church and for the Wesleyan Covenant Association. Keith also discusses the implications and opportunities for local churches, pastors, and laity who continue to look forward to the launch of a new traditional Methodist denomination. 

To read the news about the General Conference delay: 

Press Release from the Committee on General Conference  

Press Release from the Council of Bishops 

Contact us with your questions and comments at podcast@wesleyancovenant.org and follow us on Twitter @WCAPod. Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. 

To learn more about the Wesleyan Covenant Association, check out our website. 

Youth and Young Adult Ministry with Steve Rankin and Caleigh Smith

Youth and young adult ministries will be a vital and growing part of the new Methodism. In this episode Bob and Stephanie talk with Dr. Steve Rankin, chair of the WCA Youth and Young Adult Task Force, and Caleigh Smith, who directs youth ministry at Bulverde UMC in San Antonio, TX, about plans for ministries with youth, college students, and other young adults including resourcing for leaders and advice for churches who want to engage in meaningful, disciple-making relationships with young people. 

To learn more about the Youth and Young Adult Task Force and their report, contact Steve Rankin at stephen@spiritualmaturityproject.org. 

To contact Caleigh Smith, email her at caleighkaysmith@gmail.com.

Email your questions and comments for Holy Conversations to podcast@wesleyancovenant.org and follow us on Twitter @WCAPod. 

For more information about the Wesleyan Covenant Association or to join, go to our web site. 

Church Multiplication with Steve Cordle

Steve Cordle, Pastor of Crossroads Church in the Pittsburgh area, chaired the WCA Task Force on Church Multiplication. In this episode, Steve talks with Bob and Stephanie about a bold strategy for multiplying and planting churches in the new Methodism, including an exciting vision for planting 3,500 churches worldwide. 

To contact Steve with your questions about the Church Multiplication Task Force, email him at steve@crossroadsumc.org.

Send your questions and comments about the podcast to podcast@wesleyancovenant.org and follow us on Twitter @WCAPod. 

To learn more about the Wesleyan Covenant Association or to become a member, go to our web site. 

Global Missions in the New Methodism with Paul Lawler

In the first episode of Season 2, Rev. Paul Lawler gives us an overview of the work of the WCA Task Force on Global Missions and unveils a new denominational approach to reaching the world with the gospel in the 21st century.

To reach Paul with your questions on global missions email him at plawler@christchurchbham.com

Send us your questions, comments, and show suggestions to podcast@wesleyancovenant.org. To learn more about the Wesleyan Covenant Association or to join, go to our web site.

Make sure to leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on Twitter @WCAPod!  

Another Mail Bag Episode with Keith Boyette

WCA President Keith Boyette joins Bob and Stephanie for another Mail Bag episode as we close Season 1 of the podcast. Keith answers listener questions about the anticipated separation of the UMC and the launch of a new traditional Methodist denomination. The questions focus on General Conference, the timeline for launching the new denomination, how churches will join, what property and financial arrangements are anticipated, how clergy will be deployed, and how the new denomination will focus on "spreading Scriptural holiness" across the globe. 

Send us your questions and comments at podcast@wesleyancovenant.org. Follow us on Twitter @WCAPod.

To learn more about the Wesleyan Covenant Association and how to join, visit our website. 

"We Sang a Dirge:" Learning to Lament - with Poet Lo Alaman

Lo Alaman's spoken word poetry has blessed the Church and many of our listeners will have heard him speak at the New Room Conference. Lo's new book of poems, We Sang a Dirge: Poems, Laments, and Other Things That Matter to God is a thoughtful and powerful look at the state of the culture and the Church. As a black man in the Church and a black man in America, Lo offers some candid insights into how the biblical practice of lament can speak into the issues of racism, injustice, and division that affect American society today and offers some thoughts on how the present and future Church can better reflect the Kingdom vision of unity. 

Click here to order a copy of Lo's new book from Seedbed. You can also follow Lo on Instagram at LoThePoet. 

Send us your comments and questions at podcast@wesleyancovenant.org. Follow us on Twitter @WCAPod. To learn more about the Wesleyan Covenant Association or to join as a member, go to our website. 

Church Revitalization with Rev. Dr. Leah Hidde-Gregory

Leah Hidde-Gregory is a District Superintendent in the Central Texas Conference and chaired the WCA Task Force on Church Revitalization. In this episode, Leah talks with Bob and Stephanie about the work of the task force, their identification of 11 key marks of revitalization, some best practices for churches in the ramp-up to starting the new denomination, and information about a pilot project that churches can sign up for right now. 

Read more about the Church Revitalization Task Force's work. 

Learn how you can apply for your church to part of the WCA Church Revitalization pilot project by emailing your inquiry to info@wesleyancovenant.org. 

Email us your questions and comments to podcast@wesleyancovenant.org and follow us on Twitter @WCAPod. 

To learn more about the Wesleyan Covenant Association and to join, visit our website. 

The Absolute Basics of the Wesleyan Way with Phil Tallon and Justus Hunter

In this episode, Bob talks with Phil Tallon and Justus Hunter about their new book and video resource The Absolute Basics of the Wesleyan Way which is designed for confirmation, new member classes, and Bible studies. Phil and Justus discuss the concepts that form the "absolute basics" of Wesleyan theology and practice, the state of catechesis in the Church today, and how we can have a more robust means of teaching and embedding Christian faith and practice in the new Methodism. 

The Absolute Basics of the Wesleyan Way is available from Seedbed. 

To leave us a comment or question, email us at podcast@wesleyancovenant.org. Follow us on Twitter @WCA Pod. Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe! 

To learn more about the Wesleyan Covenant Association or to become a member, go to our website. 

Growing Rural Ministries with Meghan Riegerix

Rural churches are vital centers of Methodist ministry around the world and they have some unique challenges and opportunities before them as they navigate a changing world and discern their place in the coming denominational separation. Rev. Meghan Riegerix, who pastors two churches in Missouri and consults with pastors and communities on rural ministry, offers some words of encouragement and hope for small membership churches and invites all of us to move from a mindset of "no" to "grow."

Check out Meghan's website and her article on developing community partnerships in rural areas. 

Send us your questions and comments via email: podcast@wesleyancovenant.org and follow us on Twitter @WCAPod.

To learn more about the Wesleyan Covenant Association and to join us, go to our website.