Metro District Sights & Sounds (Podcast)
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EPISODES
15. Dr. Peter Storey - The Church
October 12, 2021 -
Dr. Peter Storey is former president of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, past president of the South African Council of Churches, and was Methodist Bishop of the Johannesburg/Soweto area for 13 years. A native South African with a 60+ year track record in urban and Justice ministry, Professor Storey founded a network of crisis intervention centers in South Africa in the 1960s and served as chaplain to Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners on Robben Island. In the 1980s he became a national leader in the church struggle against apartheid and co-led an ecumenical delegation to the United Nations, the U.S. Congress and Europe. Committed to non-violence and reconciliation, Professor Storey founded the Methodist Order of Peacemakers and Gunfree South Africa, he co-chaired the regional Peace Accord, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, appointed by President Nelson Mandela. He presented the Franklin S. Hickman Lectures at Convocation & Pastors’ School at Duke Divinity School in 1987. The Peter Storey Papers document Storey’s leadership.
We discuss what it means for the Church to be in Ministry with God’s world.
August 23, 2021 - A conversation with Rev. Ellis Carson, Pastor of Ceila Phelps UMC, a 116 year old congregation of the United Methodist Church, in Western North Carolina. We unpack the now and the rebuilding process, after facing a devastating 3:00 a.m. fire on August 6, 2021. A call to action from the community and the connectional church to support financially, and cards/letters of hope and encouragement as Pastor Ellis and the people of Ceila Phelps Memorial UMC journeys “Through these Uncharted Territories.” We believe they will rise from the ashes, to impact their communities in fresh, new and innovative ways, like the Phoenix.
13. Leading Through Uncharted Territory "The Church" with Rev. Dan Pezet
August 23, 2021 - A conversation with Rev. Dan Pezet, the new Metro District Superintendent in the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church, about leading and thriving through these Uncharted Territories as the church. The Metro District is the largest district out of the eight in WNCC. The general population, according to the NC census, is the most diverse population in North Carolina. The question we must ask ourselves as the church, and as leaders in our communities, How do TRIVE, Pivot, Re-set through these Uncharted Territories into the global NEW Normal? - Culturally, Economically, Innovatively, Justice and Equity, closing the gaps that divide us.
12. Leading Through UnCharted Territories - The New Normal: “Re-Launch” with Rev. Kyle Thompson
July 22, 2020 - A conversation with Rev. Kyle Thompson states, for 20 years, Sharon United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, faced declining membership, and community engagement, despite its location being one of Charlotte’s fastest-growing, upscale communities, where the church was across the street from the luxurious SouthPark mall. So when the leadership began to discuss renovating the building, with its distinctive “ski-slope steeple”, the Rev. Kyle began to think even bigger. “What if we could create an environment where we would do life together, where sacred and secular would intersect, where we could be the soul of SouthPark?” he said. “What if we could start from scratch?”- Re-Launch
11. Leading Through UnCharted Terriorities - Rev. Dr. Nancy Rankin: The New Church’s Normal
June 19, 2020 - A conversation with Rev. Dr. Nancy Rankin. We started the 2020 New Year, with every faith community in the WORLD, I hope, having a Mission Statement, A FRESH 2020 Vision, and A Plan of Engagement, ready to forge ahead into this NEW Decade. Then the world paused, due to the destructive GLOBAL PANDEMIC, the new narrative arose in America: ESSENTIAL Vs. NON-Essential workers and the word Sheltering in Place. I am grateful for - front line essential workers. Then the faith communities, we were called to Shelter in Place, the Doors of our physical buildings were closed, BUT we the people, remained open and active. The questions and topics that were discussed during my coaching conversations throughout the Metro District with local church leaders and community leaders have been, how do w PIVOT into this New NORMAL? How do we transition through these PHASES of re-opening? How do we become RELEVANT and AGILE at the same time? WHAT’S NEXT for MINISTRY. All these answers and more on today's podcast.
June 10, 2020 - A conversation with Erin Hawkins - General Secretary of The Commission on Religion and Race a Global Agency of The United Methodist Church. Ms. Hawkins during our conversation pertaining to membership stated, “We want people to believe, in order to belong. But what if we started creating places of belonging, in order to bring people to a place of believing?”
June 5, 2020 - In light of the murder of George Floyd - Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery - South Georgia, Breonna Taylor- Kentucky, the Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church massacre - Charleston SC. The protest, the riots and the list goes on and on. As difficult as it has become, as Christians we must speak truth about race, racism in America, and how the Church can no longer be silent, sit on the sidelines, believe that there is not a problem, that it is not my problem, I didn’t cause this problem etc… As people of God, each of us has a mandate on our lives by God. Matthew 25:31-46 reminds us all, "The son of man will judge the nations. Each person individually, and collectively will have to answer to our response to the clarion call. There is much Kingdom work to be done. Who's in?
June 3, 2020 - Part 2 of 3 part series - In light of the murder of George Floyd - Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery - South Georgia, Breonna Taylor- Kentucky, the Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church massacre - Charleston SC. The protest, the riots and the list goes on and on. As difficult as it has become, as Christians we must speak truth about race, racism in America, and how the Church can no longer be silent, sit on the sidelines, believe that there is not a problem, that it is not my problem, I didn’t cause this problem etc… As people of God, each of us has a mandate on our lives by God. Matthew 25:31-46 reminds us all, "the son of man will judge the nations." Each person individually, and collectively will have to answer to our response to the clarion call. There is much kingdom work to be done. Who's in?
7. Leading Through Uncharted Territories - Race. Racism in America. The Church. The United Methodist Church's Clarion Call to Action
June 1, 2020 - A Conversation with Dr. Elaine Heath and Dr. Fatimah Salleh In light of the murder of of George Floyd - Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery South Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church massacre in Charleston SC. The protests, the riots, and the list goes on and on. As difficult as it has become, as Christians we must speak truth about race, racism in America, and how the Church can no longer be silent, sit on the sidelines, believe that there is not a problem, say that is not my problem, say I didn’t cause this problem etc… As people of God, each of us has a mandate on our lives by God. Matthew 25:31-46 reminds us all, The Son of Man will judge the nations. Each of us, individually, and collectively will have to answer to our response to the clarion call. Siblings, there is much kingdom work to be done. Who's in?
6. Leading Through Uncharted Territories - Family Ministry at Home (Part 2)
May 26, 2020 - A conversation with Rev. Monica Humpal and Rev. Emily Kroeger. Covid-19 has forced the world to shelter in place, and although each state has begun the opening Phase 1 and Phase 2 process, SPIRITUAL FORMATION has shifted from the church buildings to wherever people are sheltered in place together. My coaching conversations with leaders have been how to shift, pivot, and re-focus through these Uncharted Territories into our global New NORMAL. Rev. Monica, Rev. Emily and I will have a conversation focused on family ministry and how to engage so that families are equipped to deepen their faith and navigate effectively into the Uncharted territories of WHAT'S NEXT, in our new world of being.
5. Leading Through Uncharted Territories - Family Ministry at Home
May 18, 2020 -- A conversation with Rev Rhonda Hermann, Associate Pastor at Blair Road United Methodist Church pertaining to Navigating Family Ministry at home and making it an intentional part of our everyday lives, not just when the doors of the church are closed.
4. Leading Through Uncharted Territories - Mental Health Concerns
April 27, 2020 -- A Conversation with Jay Cobb, executive director of Sanctuary Counseling Group a faith based organization that specializes in bringing healing to the mind, heart and spirit by providing excellent emotional, spiritual and relational health care to people in the communities we serve. Our goal is to offer each client a safe place without judgement or shame. We walk with them where ever they are in the journey without any expectations. Our 14 therapist are from various religious, cultural, and educational backgrounds. Overall, our counselors work with the population in general, but each one offers their own expertise ranging from couples, teens, children, men, women, abuse, trauma, grief, child loss, marriage, parenting, addiction, and peri-natal trauma to name a few. We see people of all faith walks including non-believers and those whom have not decided yet. Because of our history and past connection to the United Methodist Church, we believe that a large part of our work is pastors with many of our therapist being pastors themselves.
3. A Conversation with Ray Shawn McKinnon, Pastor of South Tyron Community Church
April 19, 2020 -- A Conversation with Ray Shawn McKennon, Pastor of South Tyron Community Church - a United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC that serves the Brookhill and Southside communities, now called SouthEnd. There are over 300 of our sisters and brothers who are on the spectrum of low economic income, with 1/3 being children who live there. Our conversation is centered around what role should the church play in the Affordable Housing crisis, how should the church imagine a society where no one is forced to make life work, on $25, 000 yr - for a family four, 30% (AMI income), and how does the church engage to find solutions to this crisis. After all we do live in the wealthiest nation on the planet? Just Systems?! Profit Margins?! Gap Funding?! The Good News?! Investment?! Faith! “Let’s Find a way to Get to YES!”
April 12, 2020 -- A conversation with Rev. David Hockett, Metro District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church, in Western North Carolina. Unpacking the essentials of being the church, and leading the church during Holy Week, having Easter Sunday in our homes and “Through Uncharted Territories,” to the other side.
1. Leading Through Unchartered Territories
April 7, 2020 -- Four decades of ministry, Rev. Jan Brittain, believes leader's of the church, already have what is needed to navigate through our current reality of “Uncharted Territory.” Rev. Jan shares the importance for Christian leaders to remember that, “God is Love”, “We can’t help how we feel, but we can help what we do.” Pastor Jan also shares what she has coined as the Christian essentials to lead. Rev. Jan Brittain is a relevant, passionate leader with a heart for God and God’s people.