PlainSpoken

Jeffrey Rickman

This is a podcast aimed at shining light in dark places, particularly those dealing with American Methodism and Christianity broadly. plainspokenpod.substack.com

  1. Relatively Safe Assumptions - A Conversation with Samuel Sey

    JAN 8

    Relatively Safe Assumptions - A Conversation with Samuel Sey

    When Samuel Sey used the example of Global Methodist Liberian brother Jerry Kulah to make a point about racial assumptions around sin issues, I reached out to see if he would bear with me to search out how to rightly do pastoral ministry around race. Black American Christianity is still largely segregated from white expressions of the faith. The Global Methodists have already allowed for racial separation in the US by having a Korean conference. It seems like issues around race aren’t going away, and perhaps we need to figure out how to talk around these things a bit better. Samuel helped me to make distinctions around making safe assumptions and pre-judging individuals. He helped me to think through what it means to not treat people with partiality, how to balance individual fairness and congregational holiness. There’s also a bit here to equip us for the next round of racial tension in American public life, as Fuentes and groypers are poking the bear. We don’t have to perpetuate stereotypes. We can and should let people be individuals. Anyway, consider Samuel’s words. If you want to read his remarks on the particular concerns of Brian Sauvé, the article we referenced can be found at - https://slowtowrite.com/should-black-christians-repent-from-being-black/ Also find Samuel on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@UC3EMVxIue9qLR5YON-Wr19A Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

    59 min
  2. Following the Holy Spirit Across America - A Conversation with Jeremy Barbee

    11/24/2025

    Following the Holy Spirit Across America - A Conversation with Jeremy Barbee

    Jeremy Barbee is a Global Methodist elder serving in New Home, TX. He is a normal, small town pastor. I wanted to hear the story of how it is that he came to be a part of my same covenant tradition and how it is that he is understanding God to be working at this moment in time. I really didn’t know him at all before this conversation. I have, a few times, spoken with sample clergy in various contexts because I think leadership can be someone siloed and disconnected from the grassroots level of the church. It is important for me to feel the camaraderie of ministry that is so often lacking in the lives of clergy. And I want to facilitate that feeling of connection that was once to be found in Methodist clergy, in particular. And because of this time spent, I now feel a brotherhood with another man who grew up in the church, whose journey in Christ led him to the Boston area, then to the Midwest. I met a man who has said ‘yes’ to Jesus even when that brought him into a lukewarm mainline tradition, and then when the GMC was born. I think a lot of you are going to like Rev. Barbee, his humility, his hunger for serving God rightly, his efforts at building up the GMC by attending General Conference. I hope he is an encouragement to you. Links: Jeremy’s Blog - https://jeremybarbee.wordpress.com Faith Global Methodist’s Website - https://faithgmc.org Get full access to PlainSpoken at plainspokenpod.substack.com/subscribe

    44 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

This is a podcast aimed at shining light in dark places, particularly those dealing with American Methodism and Christianity broadly. plainspokenpod.substack.com

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