ah now John Ed is MY kind of Methodist! I remember watching him on tv getting ready for church. My dad loved him and every Sunday would get up and say "Its time for John Ed". I remember John Ed telling the story of a new pastor who complained that the church furniture was not in the "liturgically correct place" and rearranged everything. The next morning before church the music minister put it all back the way it had been lol, "Pulpit always goes in the center" he said. That went back and forth every Sunday til the new pastor gave up. We Baptists love us some John Ed!
I was serving three UM Churches in The North Alabama Conference as a retired Elder. I disaffiliated effective June 30, 2024. Two of my churches closed and one stayed UMC. I turned in my Orders and received my Orders back within two weeks. They were stamped with red ink from top to bottom. Prayers for all those involved in the disaffiliation process. SHALOM.
How exciting to see and hear John Ed! He baptized my two children back in 1985 and his humble messages prepared me and lead me into the ministry years later as a second career. What a blessing!
Thank you for this interview!! John Ed has been an amazing leader for the Gospel sake for many years. His humility and humor is so engaging and Christ like.
We have always been admirers of both John ED and George. George was the reason that we came to AUMC when we moved here. It was the only place that we felt that God was calling us to go, and for them to be treated as they have been, as well as those of us who were not allowed to vote was and is startling and sad. We will continue to do God's will and believe what he is told us in his Holy Word!
I appreciate Your interview with a solid Elder in Christ’s church as has been faithful as John Ed. I’m a Local pastor still affiliated with UMC, we were told over and over to wait for UMC, GC 24 to see what changes in the Book of Discipline of 2016 would pass. The bishop of AWFC promised a Graceful Exit from the UMC despite the out come of GC 24. Now the rule have changed again and many churches are being held hostage by AWFC trustees who have found it necessary to Override the good faith protocol of our former bishop. I’m a pastor of an historic Methodist church, they always owned the property before affiliation with UM. The trust clause in BOD claiming property rights violates common probate laws on pre- 1969 Methodist Churches. It a shame that the world knows us for fight and not for our love for each other. see us as Christians but an enemies.
So good to see John Ed again! I attended one of Frazer's leadership conferences back in the late nineties or early 2000's. It was transformative for me and my ministry of nearly 30 years. I shall never forget one statement he made about things that just don't work anymore. He said, "If the horse is dead, DISMOUNT! " That has remained with me all these years when dealing with ministries or programs that don't meet a need anymore. I like what he said about ministry meeting needs. "If a ministry doesn't meet a need, you don't need it!" Love it. Take care John Ed. Best to you and Frazer Free Methodist!
Ozark Fumc in Alabama. The pastor and some of leadership didn’t let the church go into discernment. More than half the church has left. And formed a new church that is going strong.
Jeffrey, this video really encouraged me. It’s good to hear the thoughts of a truly Godly leader. I was also impressed with Frazier’s 70 percent member volunteer ministries. I truly believe that an all member ministry/priesthood of all believers is the key to having a mature/healthy congregation.
Great to see John Ed. He was a great help to my staff and me and we even survived a tornado together! Jeffery, if you want to know how nasty an AC can be, you should check into what the Louisiana Annual Conference did to its retirees.
This was my favorite of all your podcasts so far. What stories this "young man" has! His single minded purpose has yielded great results, and he is so pleasant without rancor. I could almost see him in the past riding the circuit with evangelical zeal. And Jeffery your smile shows how you loved doing this episode. Much love, much respect.
We spoke a little about it privately afterwards. I don't think he would be upset with my sharing that he sees the threat of the GMC becoming the UMC 2.0. The particular thing he noticed and is concerned about is that the GMC seems to be normalizing the practice of having people elevate themselves to positions of leadership, rather than being lifted up by others. He is concerned about the quality of leadership that will rise to the top. I couldn't agree with him more. At this point he is really glad to belong to the Free Methodist Church. Even so, he had a lot of good things to say about the GMC and much of its leadership. As you can tell, he's not much of one to sit and talk down on things.
I recommend you consider instead doing what Plain Talk is doing here - it’s free, run off your laptop, and available on any phone. radio is expensive, may need license, and very limited, shrinking, audience
Thank you so much for this interview with John Ed Mathison. What a godly man! I remember him from many decades ago as he impacted our churches in the South Georgia Conference. How sad to hear of the response of the AWF Conference! As a missionary with TMS-Global, I continue to relate to supporting churches which have disaffiliated. As an elder in the SGA, I can't imagine my SGA clergy colleagues restricting my contact with these dear brothers and sisters who have supported my wife and me over many decades.
I really enjoyed this interview with John Ed Mathison. When we lived in Atlanta, Frazer was on one of the local Christian stations. We would watch him after coming home from our church. It was good to hear his voice again.
my father, lenox mallory & john ed went to seminary together. he & john ed drove back & forth from atlanta to emory university & back to alabama for their weekends with their families, as they studied to become ministers in the methodist church. they stayed in atlanta during the week & went home on fridays. my father pastored the oak bowery circuit, which had 5 churches he pastored. john ed, i have no idea where he pastored except he came out of opelika. from this video i guess he started in montgomery. he went to the south alabama west florida conference & my father went to the north alabama conference. both of them held the same beliefs of john wesley & the fullness of the scripture as its written.
Great interview. Some things I can listen to at the gym, like this interview. Others, I need to see the written stuff..like doctrines and discipline and catechism. I need more concentration on those things. That’s just me and my brain🧐
Rev. Mathison was our Bishop over in South Georgia too, he was reasonable until he was forced to not be. We got out. One of our former pastors stayed, retired and now works with the Good Shepherds, taking care of retired ministers, like the ones the UMC dumped their insurance, who are sick and in need. That is his way of protesting what is going on at the UMC. God bless you both. Have a feeling you would both be welcome at Forest Hills Church... Trust clause with the Free Methodist sounded like a recipe to disaster to us...scripturally we aligned...our pastor has stayed connected with their Pastor who came over to talk with us butyes, the trust clause concerned us. Did not want to do that again...
I was in the Confessing Movement and left the Disunited Methodists over two decades ago due to their doctrinal stance of not standing in the Bible, of not enforcing the Book of Discipline, of not correcting rogue bishops and clergy when they clearly went against Scripture, of allowing historic Methodist seminaries to teach, well, anything. I became a Nazarene pastor and chaplain. Retired as a Navy chaplain and then retired as a VA chaplain. Never looked back. It looks like I was ahead of the curve. My heart goes out to the believers in the Global Methodist Church. My advice to believers in the United Methodist Church: leave! This church is not of Christ.
It would seem he won't be welcome to preach at any UMC pulpits anymore. I don't know if it is his intention to ever do so, or if it is the intention of any local UM churches to extend the invitation. I would expect that many other UM churches will indeed be interested to hear him speak, and that he will be happy to oblige anyone seeking shared godly wisdom with him.
I have a problem, As still in the UMC, It was a hard decision to leave my former church. My wife and I were baptized and married in that church 50 years at that church. We voted against leaving the UMC. It was if the game is not going well, I'll take my ball and go home! after the vote, we received threatening calls and letters from folks that have been our lifelong friends and supposing great leaders of the church. We are not happy with the general conference of the UMC but we found a loving church family at our present UMC.
glad you’re ok with the new direction of the UMC - erasing marriage, no penalties for adultery, abortion, trans ideology, sexual mutilation of children, political activism. bon voyage🎉
My grandparents were United Methodists. Today, they wouldn't be. For one reason, there is no United Methodist Church in this county - or in any of the surrounding areas.
So, what will happen if the local UM Church stop paying the apportionments? How can the conference force a Church to pay? What’s the result? Will the conference confiscate the property? Move the pastor?
Churches cannot be forced to pay, but they can be coerced in different ways. The first way is that conferences will move clergy that are liked away from the church and replace them with clergy who will serve the interests of the conference. They will send conference officials to put pressure on the church. Finally, yes, they will eventually confiscate resources from the church. That hasn't been done a whole lot yet, but it is within the power of the conference, and as financial affairs get more dire, you will see it much more commonly.
@@plainspokenpod thank you for your response. I think every time this happens the local Church should advertise it in the local newspaper. Exposure is one of the best tools against this tyranny. This would be a way to express to the public how the denomination has changed the rules of disaffiliation and forced assessments. Sadly the only way out would be to leave the property and “start” the ministry elsewhere. Surely the UMC can’t afford to maintain hundreds of unused properties and would go bankrupt.
As with all choices, there are the consequences that come with the choosing. The medical supplement derived from being a part of a group. If these people have chosen to do things separate and apart from this group then they HAVE CHOSEN to forsake the benefits of the group.
You know, you might have a good strategy here. Partner with folks, tie my money up with them, then behave detestably, so that they cannot be with me any more. Take all the money we invested together because I can. Nothing morally wrong with that!
If the medicare supplement had been a vested benefit/part of their retirement I would agree with you. It wasn't, It was an over and above benefit. So when the retired UMC clergy decided to slap the face of the whole UMC by preaching to a church not recognized by the UMC even after being explicitly told not to they decided to accept their consequences. @@plainspokenpod
@@jdkeyes2000 The fact remains that they raised their share of the money that was being used for the benefit. It was a partnership until it was over. But to the victor go the spoils, I guess. If choosing to participate in a faithful covenant body is seen as an insult, or a slap in the face, then I think that says some not great stuff about the people taking offense.
ah now John Ed is MY kind of Methodist! I remember watching him on tv getting ready for church. My dad loved him and every Sunday would get up and say "Its time for John Ed". I remember John Ed telling the story of a new pastor who complained that the church furniture was not in the "liturgically correct place" and rearranged everything. The next morning before church the music minister put it all back the way it had been lol, "Pulpit always goes in the center" he said. That went back and forth every Sunday til the new pastor gave up. We Baptists love us some John Ed!
John Ed is legend in Alabama! Thank you for this interview!
I was serving three UM Churches in The North Alabama Conference as a retired Elder. I disaffiliated effective June 30, 2024. Two of my churches closed and one stayed UMC. I turned in my Orders and received my Orders back within two weeks. They were stamped with red ink from top to bottom. Prayers for all those involved in the disaffiliation process. SHALOM.
How exciting to see and hear John Ed! He baptized my two children back in 1985 and his humble messages prepared me and lead me into the ministry years later as a second career. What a blessing!
Thank you for this interview!! John Ed has been an amazing leader for the Gospel sake for many years. His humility and humor is so engaging and Christ like.
We have always been admirers of both John ED and George. George was the reason that we came to AUMC when we moved here. It was the only place that we felt that God was calling us to go, and for them to be treated as they have been, as well as those of us who were not allowed to vote was and is startling and sad. We will continue to do God's will and believe what he is told us in his Holy Word!
I appreciate Your interview with a solid Elder in Christ’s church as has been faithful as John Ed. I’m a Local pastor still affiliated with UMC, we were told over and over to wait for UMC, GC 24 to see what changes in the Book of Discipline of 2016 would pass. The bishop of AWFC promised a Graceful Exit from the UMC despite the out come of GC 24. Now the rule have changed again and many churches are being held hostage by AWFC trustees who have found it necessary to Override the good faith protocol of our former bishop. I’m a pastor of an historic Methodist church, they always owned the property before affiliation with UM. The trust clause in BOD claiming property rights violates common probate laws on pre- 1969 Methodist Churches. It a shame that the world knows us for fight and not for our love for each other.
see us as Christians but an enemies.
So good to see John Ed again! I attended one of Frazer's leadership conferences back in the late nineties or early 2000's. It was transformative for me and my ministry of nearly 30 years. I shall never forget one statement he made about things that just don't work anymore. He said, "If the horse is dead, DISMOUNT! " That has remained with me all these years when dealing with ministries or programs that don't meet a need anymore. I like what he said about ministry meeting needs. "If a ministry doesn't meet a need, you don't need it!" Love it. Take care John Ed. Best to you and Frazer Free Methodist!
Ozark Fumc in Alabama. The pastor and some of leadership didn’t let the church go into discernment. More than half the church has left. And formed a new church that is going strong.
Jeffrey, this video really encouraged me. It’s good to hear the thoughts of a truly Godly leader. I was also impressed with Frazier’s 70 percent member volunteer ministries. I truly believe that an all member ministry/priesthood of all believers is the key to having a mature/healthy congregation.
Great to see John Ed. He was a great help to my staff and me and we even survived a tornado together! Jeffery, if you want to know how nasty an AC can be, you should check into what the Louisiana Annual Conference did to its retirees.
This was my favorite of all your podcasts so far. What stories this "young man" has! His single minded purpose has yielded great results, and he is so pleasant without rancor. I could almost see him in the past riding the circuit with evangelical zeal. And Jeffery your smile shows how you loved doing this episode. Much love, much respect.
Such a gracious man. Great interview Jeffrey!
What a gracious man. I would love to hear his advice for the GMC going forward.
We spoke a little about it privately afterwards. I don't think he would be upset with my sharing that he sees the threat of the GMC becoming the UMC 2.0. The particular thing he noticed and is concerned about is that the GMC seems to be normalizing the practice of having people elevate themselves to positions of leadership, rather than being lifted up by others. He is concerned about the quality of leadership that will rise to the top. I couldn't agree with him more. At this point he is really glad to belong to the Free Methodist Church. Even so, he had a lot of good things to say about the GMC and much of its leadership. As you can tell, he's not much of one to sit and talk down on things.
Wow. I need this guy on my future planning team. A low power TV or radio station is on my list of dream projects for my rural area.
I recommend you consider instead doing what Plain Talk is doing here - it’s free, run off your laptop, and available on any phone. radio is expensive, may need license, and very limited, shrinking, audience
@@russ254 internet is not very stable here. Rural coastal.
He went to our church’s 150th anniversary at Trinity UMC and delivered a really impactful sermon. John Ed has done a lot for us.
Thank you so much for this interview with John Ed Mathison. What a godly man! I remember him from many decades ago as he impacted our churches in the South Georgia Conference. How sad to hear of the response of the AWF Conference! As a missionary with TMS-Global, I continue to relate to supporting churches which have disaffiliated. As an elder in the SGA, I can't imagine my SGA clergy colleagues restricting my contact with these dear brothers and sisters who have supported my wife and me over many decades.
I really enjoyed this interview with John Ed Mathison. When we lived in Atlanta, Frazer was on one of the local Christian stations. We would watch him after coming home from our church. It was good to hear his voice again.
Thanks, great interview. I appreciate all you are doing!
The Church should be moral. That said, many have lied and are being vindictive.
Some fine folks.
I am so glad you did this interview! Everyone knows him in AWF conference.
This gentleman is remarkable. Thank you for this interview, it is great. I signed up for his blog.
Thank you for introducing him to me. I wouldn’t have heard about him if it wasn’t for this video.
my father, lenox mallory & john ed went to seminary together. he & john ed drove back & forth from atlanta to emory university & back to alabama for their weekends with their families, as they studied to become ministers in the methodist church. they stayed in atlanta during the week & went home on fridays. my father pastored the oak bowery circuit, which had 5 churches he pastored. john ed, i have no idea where he pastored except he came out of opelika. from this video i guess he started in montgomery. he went to the south alabama west florida conference & my father went to the north alabama conference. both of them held the same beliefs of john wesley & the fullness of the scripture as its written.
Great interview. Some things I can listen to at the gym, like this interview. Others, I need to see the written stuff..like doctrines and discipline and catechism. I need more concentration on those things. That’s just me and my brain🧐
Rev. Mathison was our Bishop over in South Georgia too, he was reasonable until he was forced to not be. We got out. One of our former pastors stayed, retired and now works with the Good Shepherds, taking care of retired ministers, like the ones the UMC dumped their insurance, who are sick and in need. That is his way of protesting what is going on at the UMC.
God bless you both. Have a feeling you would both be welcome at Forest Hills Church...
Trust clause with the Free Methodist sounded like a recipe to disaster to us...scripturally we aligned...our pastor has stayed connected with their Pastor who came over to talk with us butyes, the trust clause concerned us. Did not want to do that again...
Wonderful interview.
I was in the Confessing Movement and left the Disunited Methodists over two decades ago due to their doctrinal stance of not standing in the Bible, of not enforcing the Book of Discipline, of not correcting rogue bishops and clergy when they clearly went against Scripture, of allowing historic Methodist seminaries to teach, well, anything. I became a Nazarene pastor and chaplain. Retired as a Navy chaplain and then retired as a VA chaplain. Never looked back. It looks like I was ahead of the curve. My heart goes out to the believers in the Global Methodist Church. My advice to believers in the United Methodist Church: leave! This church is not of Christ.
this is really interesting is john ed still going to preach ion the umc church GOOD VIDEO
It would seem he won't be welcome to preach at any UMC pulpits anymore. I don't know if it is his intention to ever do so, or if it is the intention of any local UM churches to extend the invitation. I would expect that many other UM churches will indeed be interested to hear him speak, and that he will be happy to oblige anyone seeking shared godly wisdom with him.
I have a problem,
As still in the UMC, It was a hard decision to leave my former church. My wife and I were baptized and married in that church 50 years at that church. We voted against leaving the UMC. It was if the game is not going well, I'll take my ball and go home! after the vote, we received threatening calls and letters from folks that have been our lifelong friends and supposing great leaders of the church. We are not happy with the general conference of the UMC but we found a loving church family at our present UMC.
I'm sorry about the threatening calls and letters. That is not how the church should be acting.
glad you’re ok with the new direction of the UMC - erasing marriage, no penalties for adultery, abortion, trans ideology, sexual mutilation of children, political activism. bon voyage🎉
It’s difficult to leave a church after years but when a denomination becomes apostate there’s no other choice.
@@russ254makes you wonder how people could support the Methodist church after what it has become.
@@wanda520Well said, Wanda.
My grandparents were United Methodists. Today, they wouldn't be. For one reason, there is no United Methodist Church in this county - or in any of the surrounding areas.
A modern day Francis Asbury🔥
So, what will happen if the local UM Church stop paying the apportionments? How can the conference force a Church to pay? What’s the result? Will the conference confiscate the property? Move the pastor?
Churches cannot be forced to pay, but they can be coerced in different ways. The first way is that conferences will move clergy that are liked away from the church and replace them with clergy who will serve the interests of the conference. They will send conference officials to put pressure on the church. Finally, yes, they will eventually confiscate resources from the church. That hasn't been done a whole lot yet, but it is within the power of the conference, and as financial affairs get more dire, you will see it much more commonly.
@@plainspokenpod thank you for your response. I think every time this happens the local Church should advertise it in the local newspaper. Exposure is one of the best tools against this tyranny. This would be a way to express to the public how the denomination has changed the rules of disaffiliation and forced assessments. Sadly the only way out would be to leave the property and “start” the ministry elsewhere. Surely the UMC can’t afford to maintain hundreds of unused properties and would go bankrupt.
you’ll see buildings sit empty, fall into disrepair, be demolished,
As with all choices, there are the consequences that come with the choosing. The medical supplement derived from being a part of a group. If these people have chosen to do things separate and apart from this group then they HAVE CHOSEN to forsake the benefits of the group.
You know, you might have a good strategy here. Partner with folks, tie my money up with them, then behave detestably, so that they cannot be with me any more. Take all the money we invested together because I can. Nothing morally wrong with that!
If the medicare supplement had been a vested benefit/part of their retirement I would agree with you. It wasn't, It was an over and above benefit. So when the retired UMC clergy decided to slap the face of the whole UMC by preaching to a church not recognized by the UMC even after being explicitly told not to they decided to accept their consequences. @@plainspokenpod
@@jdkeyes2000 The fact remains that they raised their share of the money that was being used for the benefit. It was a partnership until it was over. But to the victor go the spoils, I guess.
If choosing to participate in a faithful covenant body is seen as an insult, or a slap in the face, then I think that says some not great stuff about the people taking offense.