Category Archives: Podcast Episodes

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 recordsContinue reading “The Color of Law”

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 GeorgeContinue reading “Let’s Talk About Race”

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 helpContinue reading “Class Meetings: Laity as the Key”

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, hostContinue reading “Class Meetings: Why Now?”

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 openly about what white people can do to help, and we explore what it means when we say “whiteContinue reading “Response to Racism”

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. ThisContinue reading “Black Lives Matter”

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 needContinue reading “Adapting Church: Worship & Counseling to Stay Connected”

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 dailyContinue reading “Adapting Church: Piano Side Sundays and Daily Snow Domes”

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. Download the podcast.

The Rev. Stefanie Hayes of Sargent and Ord First United Methodist churches in Nebraska shares how she decided to get more people involved in recordings of online worship. Instead of just recording herself giving a sermon at her kitchen table, she recruited others in her congregation to record themselves saying prayers, reading liturgy or readingContinue reading “Adapting Church: Getting People Involved Amid Social Distancing”