IN LAYMAN'S TERMS

Class Meetings: History as Future

In the third of a three-part series on class meetings, Todd explores how class meetings provided a model of growth and evangelism in the past and how they can be a sustainable force in the present. Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. is the featured guest who shares a vision for how class meetings can sustain a United Methodist witness in smaller churches but also can bolster discipleship in larger congregations by enhancing spiritual disciplines and introducing accountability among believers.

The Color of Law

Richard Rothstein started exploring how segregation impacted education. What he discovered was how detrimental policies set by federal agencies deliberately held down African Americans regarding housing. As a result, Black Americans have not been able to build wealth, they live near more environmental hazards and have continued to be treated as second-class citizens.

Rothstein records his findings in "The Color of Law," and he sits down with Todd in this episode to walk through the major themes in his sobering yet easy-to-understand explanation of how the U.S. government carved out such a divide among people of different races.

You can learn even more about his book and find links to where you can buy it from the Economic Policy Institute, where Rothstein is a distinguished fellow.

Let's Talk About Race

We may never be able to conquer racism if we don't start openly talking about racism and the way it impacts our entire society.

In this episode, Todd talks with the Rev. Kathy Williams, an African-American pastor serving a small town in Kansas, who talks about the silence she observed after the death of George Floyd. She shares how she dealt with the silence and got people talking — in a loving way — about racism.

He also talks with Garlinda Burton, who will begin serving as interim general secretary of The United Methodist Church's General Commission on Religion and Race starting Sept. 1. She shares GCORR's mission, its goals and talks about addressing white privilege and how white Christians can put their privilege to use as advocates for people of color.

And Todd talks to the Rev. Adam Barlow-Thompson and the Rev. Ashley Prescott Barlow-Thompson, who lead the Neighboring Movement. This relationships-based ministry may be a key to helping people reach outside their usual circle of friends to build real bonds with people regardless of skin color or economic status.

Class Meetings: Laity as the Key

We continue our look at class meetings and class leaders by taking a look at a pilot project in the Great West District in Nebraska, where Pastor Mark Baldwin is helping mentor a class leader. We also talk to Lisa Maupin, Great Plains Conference lay leader, about the way the class meeting model can help shift the story from one of scarcity to one of abundance.

Class Meetings — Why Now?

Class meetings — with strong class leaders — were among the ways the Methodist movement spread westward and through the prairies of the United States. But could looking to the denomination's past help laity and churches pave the way to a brighter, more vital future?

In this first of several episodes about class meetings, host Todd Seifert talks with District Superintendents Cindy Karges and Don Hasty, as well as retired elder, author and Methodist historian David Lowes Watson. They share why class meetings show promise for helping churches of all sizes — but especially small, rural congregations — boost discipleship, promote leadership and provide churches the tools they need to better serve their communities.

Response to Racism

In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis — and following our previous episode titled "Black Lives Matter," we explore how people can respond to help end racism. In this episode, we talk about white privilege, how to educate ourselves and other ways to help bring about change — from stopping racist chatter at the water cooler to speaking up to casting ballots.

Our featured guests are the Rev. Junius Dotson and the Rev. Steve Spencer. We also talk to the Revs. Kyle Reynolds, Portia Cavitt, Dee Williamston and Pastor Ronda Kingwood.

Black Lives Matter

The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day weekend 2020 sparked outrage. Video of the incident shows a police officer with his knee pressed down on the man's neck for almost nine minutes.

In response, people have taken to the streets in protest. They are voicing their anger and telling their stories.

This episode aims to tell the story of the African-American experience through the words of six black pastors in the Great Plains Conference: Rev. Dee Williamston, Rev. Dr. Kevass Harding, Pastor Ronda Kingwood, Rev. Robert Johnson, Rev. Portia Cavitt and Rev. Kirstie Engel.

A warning this episode does include some of the recording of Mr. Floyd asking officers to allow him to move so he can breathe.

Adapting Church: Worship & Counseling to Stay Connected

The Rev. Dr. Kevass Harding had to adjust quickly when stay-at-home orders went into place in Wichita, one of the original hot spots for the coronavirus in Kansas. But he and his congregation at Dellrose United Methodist Church adapted quickly.

Now, Dellrose UMC has online worship, online Bible studies and counseling for people who need it. Kevass shares about the struggle it was to get used to preaching to an empty room, and he provides some thoughts on how the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately striking the African-American community.

Adapting Church: Piano Side Sundays and Daily Snow Domes

The Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede knew worship wouldn't look the same during our time of sheltering in place. So she chose to embrace a different look and feel. With the Rev. Jerry Brabec on piano and others joining in helping with the worship time as needed, a "piano side" service was born.

Then, for a daily devotion, Stephanie decided to use her husband's collection of more than 3,500 snow domes as the inspiration for sharing a thought or two each day with her congregation.

Traits for Being a Good Shepherd

In this reflection on John 10:1-10, Todd shares his thoughts on what he sees as a choice we have to make: Be a bandit and continue to put ourselves first, or strive to be a good shepherd who leads our personal flocks toward The Good Shepherd.