Means of Grace Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church

General Conference 2024 is over and it was clearly one of the most historic conferences in the United Methodist Church’s history. In this episode of the Means of Grace podcast, hosts Jesse Ennis, John Yeager and Jonathan LeMaster-Smith discuss the 2024 General Conference and its key events, decisions, and updates. 
To give context to the decisions made at General Conference, John explores the history of the Methodist Church, including its roots in the English Reformation and the formation of the United Methodist Church. 
John, Jesse and Jonathan, the three new hosts of the Means of Grace podcast, highlight the ongoing efforts to foster unity, social holiness, and meaningful ministry within the Methodist Church. They explore implications of revising the social principles of the church to be more inclusive while also still rooted in scripture and tradition.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
19:56 Exploring the History and Formation of the Methodist Church
32:12 Updates to the Social Principles and the Potential for Full Communion
39:45 Fostering Unity, Social Holiness, and Meaningful Ministry in the Methodist Church
41:44 Revising the Social Principles
45:52 The Power of Worship and Unity
58:35 The Future of the United Methodist Church
 

Jesse Enniss and Kim Ingram talk with three spiritual directors, Rev. Dr. Donnell FitzJefferies from WNCC, Ms. Kris Ford from NCC, and Rev. Dr. Debbie Allen from Florida, about the practice of spiritual direction: what it is, how to access it, why it’s valuable. Learn more about how this could be a practice to enhance your relationship with God and a tool for greater spiritual growth.
 
Resources:
 
NC Institute for Spiritual Direction and Formation
 
What is Spiritual Direction? – NC Institute for Spiritual Direction and Formation (ncspiritualdirection.org)
 
Western North Carolina Spiritual Directors by Districts
 
School of Spiritual Direction Beyond Borders - Center for Bold Leadership at Hood Seminary
 
Spiritual Renewal Grant for Clergy and Lay Ministry Staff 
 
Florida Conference Spiritual Directors
 
Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction - Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary

In recognition of the Lenten season, Bishop Ken Carter interviews Dr. Clifton Black, an Elder in the Western North Carolina Conference and authority on the Gospel of Mark. A native North Carolinian, Dr. Black talks about the connection the Gospel of Mark has with the Lenten season, as well as what makes it stand out from the other three Gospels of the New Testament.
 
Learn more about the WNCC 2024 Lenten spiritual practices. 

The Western North Carolina Conference is the host for this year's General Conference. Delegates and clergy from across the US will be in Charlotte, NC from April 23 through May 3. To get you up to speed on what you need to know before attending the conference, Rev. Kim Ingram, the conference's Director of Ministerial Services, hosts a conversation between Jennifer Davis, the first elected lay person in the WNCC delegation, and Wanda Musgraves, chair of the WNCC host committee. The conversation between these three leaders will give you all the information you need before attending this year's conference.
Click here for more information about General Conference 2024.

To honor the 38th celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Reverend Dr. Bill White and Dr. Brian Tillman talk about the legacy of Dr. King, the state of race relations today, and what MLK would want for us in the future.

In this episode Luke Edwards talks with Rev. Dr. Stephanie Hand and Rev. Dr. Michael Beck about their new book, which offers a model for leading a congregation to become a place where racial equity, justice, and liberation are intrinsic to the structure and life of the church.
 
Register for the National Fresh Expressions UM Conference in Charlotte and be sure to use the code WNC for a discount! Learn more here: https://sites.google.com/view/nationalgathering/home
 
Learn more about Fresh Expressions in the Western NC Conference at https://www.wnccumc.org/FX. 
 
Check out Michael and Stephanie's book, Doing Justice Together: https://www.cokesbury.com/Doing-Justice-Together