Un-Tied Methodism

Thirty years after The United Methodist Church established the Order of Deacons, the ministry continues to evolve. The Rev. Dr. Margaret Ann Crain, one of the first ordained into the new order, joins Dr. Ashley Boggan to explore its history, the struggle for recognition and the recent expansion of sacramental authority, as well as the possibilities still ahead.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

In a new video series titled “From Crown to Conferencing: Methodism and the New Republic,” we reflect on the roles Methodists have played lead...

Historian, author and retired United Methodist elder Patricia J. Thompson has spent decades uncovering the stories of women who broke barriers in Methodism — and discovering how easily those stories can be lost. In this episode of “Un-Tied Methodism,” Thompson joins Dr. Ashley Boggan to discuss the women who were “firsts,” the challenge of preserving their histories and what their stories can teach the church today.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

In a new video series titled “From Crown to Conferencing: Methodism and the New Republic,” we reflect on the...

On Sept. 9, 1826, the first issue of the Christian Advocate rolled off the press in New York City, launching a Methodist newspaper that would become the most widely read periodical on the continent. The Rev. Stefanie Bennett, senior pastor at John Street UMC, and the Rev. Brian Milford, president and publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House, join Dr. Ashley Boggan to explore the remarkable history of the Christian Advocate and its influence on the church, American society and the legacy of Methodist publishing.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory. <...

Today’s episode is from our archives, first released in February 2025, where we discuss the historical intertwining of religion and politics in America, particularly from a Methodist standpoint, as well as how  Methodism impacted Revolutionary War-era Manhattan and Boston. It’s definitely on topic this month as the United States of America celebrates its 250th anniversary! The Rev. Stefanie Bennett, senior pastor at John Street United Methodist Church in Manhattan, and the Rev. Dr. Emily Nelms Chastain, a professor at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, join Dr. Ashley Boggan for this episode of “Un-Tied Methodism.”

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Join us as “Un-Tied Methodism” continues its yearlong series celebrating 70 years of women’s ordination in Methodism.

Following the landmark 1956 decision granting women full clergy rights, the movement that led to the election of the first women bishops gained momentum. In this episode of “Un-Tied Methodism,” Dr. Ashley Boggan and the Rev. Dr. Emily Nelms Chastain discuss the leadership of Jean Audrey Powers and others, including the networks of women who persisted and strategized to help reshape The United Methodist Church and the wider landscape of women’s leadership in American Christianity.

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Join us as “Un-Tied Methodism” continues its yearlong series celebrating 70 years of women’s ordination in Methodism. On the 70th anniversary of day when General Conference voted to give women full ordination rights and full membership in annual conferences, Dr. Ashley Boggan and the Rev. Dr. Emily Nelms Chastain recount the details from the General Conference floor based on transcripts from that day’s Daily Christian Advocate. Recorded live on May 4, 2026, from Perkins School of Theology on the campus of SMU in Dallas, Texas.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/Archivesa...

Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes Sally Vonner and Tara Barnes, leaders from United Women in Faith, who preview the upcoming Assembly 2026 and reflect on the vital lay ministries of deaconesses and home missioners. Plus, the Rev. Dr. Emily Nelms Chastain tells the story of M. Madeline Southard, whose fearless leadership helped change the future for women in ministry. To register for United Women in Faith’s Assembly 2026, go to UWFaith.org/Assembly.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

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As our yearlong “Women in Methodism” series continues on “Un-Tied Methodism,” Dr. Ashley Boggan talks with historian Dr. Ellen Blue about the Methodist women, deaconesses, and mission leaders who fed the hungry, served immigrants, built institutions, shaped social work, and pushed the church toward change. Their work was often dismissed, their records were often lost, and their leadership was often resisted, but their witness helped turn the world upside down. Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory. “Rooted Methodism,” the follow up to the popular “Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots,” is now available. Check...

Join us as “Un-Tied Methodism” continues its yearlong series celebrating 70 years of women’s ordination in Methodism. Long before women’s ordination was formally recognized, Dorothy Ripley was already preaching in bold and radical ways. She crossed the Atlantic Ocean 19 times, chastised President Thomas Jefferson for being an enslaver and was the first woman to speak before Congress. Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes Duke University’s Dr. Laceye Warner to explore the remarkable life of this 18th-century evangelist, a woman who navigated institutional resistance and cultural expectations to become known at the time of her death as “perhaps the most extraor...

Join us as “Un-Tied Methodism” begins a yearlong series celebrating 70 years of women’s ordination in Methodism. Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes historians Rev. Dr. Paul Chilcote and Rev. Dr. Donna Fowler-Marchant to look at the women who laid the groundwork long before ordination was possible. From Susanna Wesley’s overlooked theological brilliance to the bold preaching of Sarah Crosby, Mary Bosanquet Fletcher, and dozens of other women, this episode explores how women in early Methodism claimed their call—often in defiance of church structures, social respectability, and outright opposition.

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From Navy chaplains and student gatherings to youth movements and global mission, the latest episode in our “Methodisms Around the World” series traces the surprising and resilient story of the Methodist movement in the Philippines. Guests Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut and Karen Prudente join host Dr. Ashley Boggan to explore how colonial history, acts of resistance, women’s leadership, and a deeply relational faith shaped a vibrant witness—one that continues to plant churches and form leaders around the world.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

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What happens when revival fires, social gospel movements, colonial history and Wesleyan spirituality collide on Canadian soil? Dr. Ashley Boggan is joined by Rev. Rob Shearer to explore the unique story of Methodism in Canada, its ecumenical evolution, and the surprising resurgence of Wesleyan passion among new generations.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots” at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory/Radicle-Methodism.

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Discover how Methodism took root and flourished in the Democratic Republic of Congo—from early missionary efforts to strong local leadership shaping the church today. Dr. Ashley Boggan talks with the Rev. Dr. Betty Kazadi Musau and Pierre Omadjela about the people, places, and faith that continue to define Congolese Methodism.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots” at ResourceUMC.org/Archive...

Discover the remarkable story of Methodism in Korea—from the impact of early missionaries, such as Mary Scranton and her groundbreaking work in women’s education, to the powerful role the church played in the fight for independence. In this conversation, Dr. Ashley Boggan and guests, the Rev. Dr. Hwa-Young Chong and Rev. Dr. Lee-Ellen Strawn, explore how Korean Methodists developed a distinct theological voice, the ongoing ties with The United Methodist Church, and the challenges the church faces today.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

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From the “Un-Tied Methodism” archives, we re-share this 2023 podcast about Methodism in the African country of Zimbabwe. Dr. Ashley Boggan speaks with United Methodist leaders from the Zimbabwe West Annual Conference, Zimbabwe East Annual Conference and Africa University’s archivist and church historian to learn about the fascinating history of Mt. Makomwe, a Methodist mission started in 1905 that remains a pillar of Methodism throughout the region.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, o...

In the second episode of a new podcast series that examines Methodism around the world, Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes Massimo di Gioacchino, noted historian, to discuss the story of how British and American Methodist missionaries planted a movement in Italy, shaping politics, education and social justice along the way.

Learn more about William Burt’s Italian Papers Project, which is sponsored by GCAH, at the link.

“Metodisti in Italia,” the first complete history of Italian Methodismo, was released in 2024 by Claudiana S.R.L. Learn more at the link.

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As we launch a new podcast series that examines Methodism around the world, Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes two United Methodist scholars and historians to help us discover the rich and complex history of Methodism in Germany. From its Moravian influence and early missionary efforts to the rise of the deaconess movement and trials of the 20th century,  Dr. Ulrike Shuler and Professor Michael Wetzel discuss key figures, present-day ministries, and how to learn more about the Wesleyan heritage that prevails in Germany.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

In this special “Un-Tied Methodism” episode recorded six weeks before his death, the Rev. Dr. Rick Huskey reflects on his journey from ministry to LGBTQ+ advocacy, defrocking, and—decades later—ordination and forgiveness. In a poignant conversation, Dr. Ashley Boggan preserves Huskey’s oral history, documenting the United Methodist pioneer’s legacy of courage, faith, and justice within the church he helped change.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history cour...

“Following Jesus is costly,” says The UMC’s (Ret.) Bishop Karen Oliveto. “And for me, that price was being closeted. And I was willing to pay that price.” Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes the denomination’s first openly gay bishop to “Un-Tied Methodism” as Bishop Oliveto shares her story of burden, scrutiny, oppression and how knowing that “Perfect love casts out all fear” propelled her along her ministry path.

Bishop Oliveto’s oral history is part of the 2025 Heritage Sunday resources in support of the theme, “Sacred Stories: LGBTQ+ United Methodist Ministries.” Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/HS2025theme.

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In this poignant 2025 Heritage Sunday-themed oral history episode of “Un-Tied Methodism,” (Ret.) Bishop Peggy Johnson and Rev. Mary Johnson join Dr. Ashley Boggan to share their experiences as a clergy couple, including their calls to ministry, career challenges, and Mary’s journey of discovering her transgender identity.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots” at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory/Radicle-Methodism.

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Methodism has influenced – and been influenced by – issues such as reproductive justice, the concept of respectability politics and contemporary perceptions of womanhood. Dr. Ashley Boggan and guest Dr. Amy Laura Hall, Duke University professor and ordained elder in The UMC, take a deep dive into understanding why our 20th century history matters for 21st century decisions on these vital topics.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicl...

Understanding the historical intertwining of religion and politics in America, particularly from a Methodist standpoint, helps us navigate contemporary situations. Discover how Methodism impacted Revolutionary War-era Manhattan and Boston when Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes the Rev. Stefanie Bennett and Rev. Emily Nelms Chastain as guests on “Un-Tied Methodism.”

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots” at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory/Radicle-Methodism.

Listen...

After an historic eight-year gap, The UMC has a new Book of Discipline, one reflecting the actions from the Postponed 2020 General Conference held in 2024. In this lively conversation with Dr. Ashley Boggan and guest, Dr. Jonathan LeMaster-Smith, discover what’s new in the latest iteration, as well as take a deep dive into the history of this text that traces its beginnings to minutes from a Methodist conference convened by John Wesley in 1744.

Learn more about our guest, Dr. Jonathan LeMaster-Smith at his website.

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John Wesley had seven sisters and it’s “overdue that we explore their lives,” says Rev. Dr. Glen O’Brien, author, minister and professor of Christian history and thought at the University of Divinity in Melbourne, Australia. Join Dr. Ashley Boggan, host of “Un-Tied Methodism,” as she and O’Brien delve into the stories of the Wesley sisters, examining both their lives and contributions to Methodism, as well as the importance of understanding Christian history from a female perspective.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

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In a history that is not widely known, the early African Methodist Episcopal Church and indigenous communities shared a relationship of both connection and resistance in the area now known as Oklahoma.

Dr. Ashley Boggan takes a look at the history with Dr. Christina Dickerson, professor and author of “Black Indians and Freedmen: The African Methodist Episcopal Church and Indigenous Americans, 1816-1916” on the current episode of “Un-Tied Methodism.”

Learn more and/or order Dickerson’s book at this link.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/Archivesan...

Many United Methodists do not know the violent tragedies of our past, including the denomination’s  responsibility and agency in the Sand Creek Massacre, the 1864 attack by the U.S. Army on the Cheyenne and Arapaho people in what is now Colorado. This is that story.

Dr. Ashley Boggan welcomes guest, Dr. Gary L. Roberts, professor and author of “Massacre at Sand Creek: How Methodists Were Involved in an American Tragedy.”

Note: This episode is a repeat from October 2021.

To learn more and/or order Dr. Roberts’ book, go to this link.

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Join Dr. Ashley Boggan D., GCAH’s general secretary, and Dr. Philip Wingeier-Rayo, professor of Missiology, World Christianity and Methodist Studies at Wesley Theological Seminary, as they discuss the vibrant history of Methodism in Latin America. Learn about the courageous pioneers who brought their faith to a region dominated by Catholicism and how the legacy continues to thrive today.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicle Metho...

The Rev. Dr. Christopher P. Momany joins Dr. Ashley Boggan as a return guest on “Un-Tied Methodism” to discuss the new collaborative project titled “Awakening to Justice: Faithful Voices from the Abolitionist Past.” Inspired by the discovery of a 19th century abolitionist journal and the documentation of a ship used to enslave people, the book challenges us to confront our history in an effort to inspire fresh conversations about race and faith in the church.

Learn more about “Awakening to Justice.”

Watch the “Awakening to  Justice” documentary.

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The Rev. Dr. Christopher P. Momany, author of “Compelling Lives: Five Methodist Abolitionists and the Ideas that Inspired Them” joins Dr. Ashley Boggan D. as a guest on “Un-Tied Methodism” to discuss key Methodists whose opposition to slavery and witness for justice was grounded in the “higher law” of godly authority rather than human-made laws.

Learn more about and/or purchase Momany’s book at christopherpaulmomany.com.

Check out this video produced by the Michigan Conference of The UMC that features Momany’s study and outreach in support of “Compelling Lives.”

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Hillary Rodham Clinton, a lifelong United Methodist, made a profession of faith at 10 years old, a faith that impacted her character and her politics, says Gary Scott Smith, biographer of the American politician, diplomat and former First Lady. Smith joins Dr. Ashley Boggan D. on “Un-Tied Methodism” to discuss “Do All the Good You Can: How Faith Shaped Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Politics.” Regardless of the role she was in, Smith shares, Clinton’s guiding passion was informed through a Methodist lens of what was right and just, primarily as she worked to improve the lives of women and children.

On today’s special 50th episode of “Un-Tied Methodism,” streamed live from the postponed 2020 General Conference, Dr. Ashley Boggan D., host, welcomes Jan Lawrence, executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network. The two discuss RMN’s 40 years of witness, as well as what the LGBTQ+ caucus is doing to prepare for the next iteration of The United Methodist Church.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free...

In the next installment of our special General Conference series of “Un-Tied Methodism” episodes, we discuss regionalization. Few may realize that as soon as John Wesley’s Methodist movement expanded out of the U.K. to Ireland, Scotland, the Caribbean and North America, the conversation about regionalization began. More than 270 years later, a petition outlining an official regionalization plan for The UMC is headed to General Conference. Dr. Ashley Boggan D. welcomes guests the Rev. Dr. Betty Kazadi Musau, Dr. David Scott and the Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran to discuss this important topic and why regionalization offers opportunities to rethin...

In the next installment of our special General Conference series, Dr. Ashley Boggan D. welcomes Dawn Wiggins Hare, the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women’s general secretary, and the Rev. Jane Ellen Nickell, an ordained elder in The UMC’s West Virginia Conference, to discuss the role of women through the years at the denomination’s quadrennial legislative gathering. The trio discusses how women have and have not been affirmed, the ongoing need for expansive language in legislation and how sexism remains in The UMC.

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When thinking about the earliest founders of Methodism, most likely a number of men come to mind: John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Francis Asbury, Philip Otterbein, to name a few. In addition to these men, however, are women who, in a spirit of “holy boldness,” were vital to the formation and spread of Methodism around the world. Host Dr. Ashley Boggan D., General Commission on Archives and History’s general secretary, welcomes the Rev. Dr. Donna Fowler-Marchant, in a  special episode to commemorate Women’s History Month, to discuss a few of the fearless and faithful women who are key to our de...

When the Methodist Church was instituted in the U.S., it wasn’t an institution. It was a church on the move, says the Rev. Dr. Theon Johnson III, today’s guest on “Un-Tied Methodism.” Join Dr. Ashley Boggan D., general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, and Johnson, pastor at Downs Memorial UMC in Oakland, Calif., for a thoughtful and lively conversation about The UMC’s history of faith in action and how we reclaim our role as a church on the move.

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Just in time for Lent, Dr. Ashley Boggan D. is joined by the Rev. Dr. Steven Manskar to discuss his new book, “Lent & Easter with John & Charles Wesley.” Incorporating John Wesley’s sermons and Charles Wesley’s hymns, Manskar explains how, through the daily devotional guide, readers will prepare to reaffirm the baptismal covenant on Easter Sunday, all while better understanding the doctrinal standards of Wesley’s Methodism.

Learn more and/or purchase “Lent & Easter with John & Charles Wesley” at this link.

Learn more United Methodist history by visiting umhistoryhub.teachable.com.

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The United Methodist Church has a legacy of social witness. Join Dr. Ashley Boggan D. with guests the Rev. Dr. Darryl Stephens and John Hill, interim chief executive of the The UMC’s General Board of Church and Society, to discuss the history of the Social Principles and the new Revised Social Principles coming before General Conference 2020 to be held in April 2024.

Learn more or purchase the Revised Social Principles at this link. 

The Rev. Dr. Darryl Stephens is a noted author and speaker. To pre-order Stephens’ upcoming book, Reckoning Methodism: Mission and Division in the P...

Dr. Ashley Boggan D., general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, welcomes her guest, the Rev. Dr. Paul Chilcote, renowned Wesley scholar, to discuss his new book, “Multiplying Love: A Vision of United Methodist Life Together.” During the conversation, Chilcote asserts that in a world that is radically divided, we don’t need a bold witness, but, rather, a gracious witness that is centered on holiness connected to love and not law.

Learn more or purchase “Multipyling Love: A Vision of United Methodist Life Together” at Cokesbury.com.

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The historic Christmas Conference in 1784 is the official beginning of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America, but the seeds of Methodism were first planted in America almost two decades earlier in New York City. Dr. Ashley Boggan D. welcomes United Methodist pastor Stefanie Bennett, who shares the history that dates back to 1766 and resulted in the establishment of John Street UMC, the oldest Methodist U.S. congregation.

Learn more United Methodist history by visiting umhistoryhub.teachable.com.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/archivesandhistory.

Bishop David Wilson, the first Native American person elected to serve as as United Methodist bishop, joins Dr. Ashley Boggan D. to discuss the history of Methodism and indigenous nations, including the role the denomination played with mission schools and decolonizing Native Peoples.

To learn more about the books mentioned in today’s episode, visit these links:

“Massacre at Sand Creek” by Gary L. Roberts
“The First White Frost: Native Americans and United Methodism” by Homer Noley
“Capture These Indians for the Lord: Indians, Methodists and Oklahomans, 1844-1939” by Tash Smith

Learn more Uni...