Bar of the Conference

In this final episode of the Imagining the Church Yet to Be series, host Derrick Scott III and co-host Ashley Boggan are joined by Bishop Hector Burgos-Nunez for a conversation about what comes after the Leadership Gathering in Calgary. The three reflect on the unprecedented nature of this gathering and walk through the three-day process designed to produce 18 prioritized recommendations for the future of the church. The conversation moves to an invitation to those not in the room to engage these same questions in their own contexts. All three close with a vision of the United Methodist Church in 2050. Show Notes 5:32 — Ashley breaks down the three-day Calgary process and how 18 recommendations will emerge 7:20 — Bishop Burgos-Nunez on what makes this gathering unprecedented 17:34 — How congregations, annual conferences, and fresh expressions can do this work at home 21:23 — “In 2050, we see a church that…”  For more information on the Leadership Gathering, check out resourceumc.org. Bar of the Conference is hosted by Derrick Scott III and produced by the team at Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley.

Continuing our series ahead of the Leadership Gathering, Derrick sits down with Dr. Ashley Boggan to walk through the five covenant cohorts that will structure the gathering’s discernment work: discipleship, leadership, impact, stewardship, and accountability. These aren’t just familiar words, they’re an invitation to reimagine what each one means for the church that is yet to be. This conversation will help you get your head around the framework and start thinking alongside the laity, clergy, conference staff, agency leaders and bishops who will be in the room. Show Notes 6:07 — Discipleship: beyond the comfortable and convenient 11:10 — Leadership: rethinking who gets to lead 18:15 — Impact: the footprint of the United Methodist Church 23:01 — Stewardship: more than a budget conversation 28:36 — Accountability: covenant, not compliance Bar of the Conference is hosted by Derrick Scott III and produced by the team at Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley.

What does it mean to form disciples when the old pathways no longer work? How do we make real room for younger generations that is not just a seat at the table, but actual space to try, fail, and lead? And what happens when the church finally learns to listen to itself from every corner of the globe? We continue our series: Imagining the Church Yet to Be as Derrick and Ashley are joined by Hilde Marie Gretz (Norway), Imke Sewing (Germany), and Ntube Beatrice Diffang (Cameroon) to explore the three lenses that will shape the work of the Leadership Gathering cohorts: innovative disciple formation, empowering younger generations, and amplifying global voices. We dive into the first two lens, and the entire conversation is a lesson in decentering the US perspective. The conversation is wide-ranging, and grounded. Show Notes 8:48 — Faith like a renovated house 19:57 — What the church misses without young people 27:50 — When the youth plan for themselves 33:22 — Learning from the young people in Cameroon 39:04 — The need for "global" voices Bar of the Conference is hosted by Derrick Scott III and produced by the team at Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley.

What happens when the church’s sacred practice of holy conferencing collides with the strictness of parliamentary procedure? In this episode of Bar of the Conference, guest host Dr. Ashley Boggan is joined by Dave Rombaoa from the Philippines and Christine Schneider from Switzerland to reimagine holy conferencing for 2026. Drawing on their experiences across different cultural contexts, the three explore how the United Methodist Church can move from a win-lose, for-or-against framework toward something more rooted in relationship, listening, and communal discernment. What does holy conversation look like and how do we make room for every voice in the room? Bar of the Conference is hosted by Derrick Scott III and produced by the team at Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley.

We’re continuing this special series as we prepare for the Council of Bishops’ Leadership Gathering. Before anyone can discern anything, they have to get to Calgary. Derrick is joined by Rev. DeAndre Johnson, a Deacon at Memorial Drive UMC in Houston, TX and member of the Leadership Gathering's design team, and Kathy Sinnen, meeting and event planner for Wespath, to cover the spiritual posture this unique, non-legislative gathering requires alongside all the logistical details attendees need. This episode is a practical and spiritual preparation guide, walking through what participants need to do before they arrive, how to get there, and what to expect on the ground. It's part travel guide, part spiritual formation primer.  Bar of the Conference is hosted by Derrick Scott III and produced by the team at Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley.