General Conference Recap, A Brief History of the United Methodist Church, and a Look Into the Future of the UMC

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