Table Talk: Innovate & Relate

In this special Thanksgiving episode of Table Talk, Rev. Susan Spieth and Rev. Sharlet Panhalkar join us for a conversation about nurturing radical hospitality in United Methodist congregations. Rev. Spieth shares insights from visiting 50 churches, asking "I was a stranger. Did you welcome me?" Rev. Panhalkar introduces her four-phase model of mutual radical hospitality, developed through her Vanderbilt doctoral work, where both host and guest are valued gift bearers. Together, they explore how hospitality serves as the starting point of evangelism and discipleship. This conversation offers practical wisdom for creating welcoming communities where all people experience God's transformative love.

Did you know that in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference, 57 percent of our congregations are home to less than 100 members? In this episode of Table Talk, we explore the strengths and vibrant ministries of small membership churches. Listen to clergy and laity describe the creativity, commitment, and heart that defines the community life of a small-membership church.

Women have always played a vital role in the life of the United Methodist Church and in this episode, we talk with three clergywomen about the joys and challenges of answering the call to ministry. We explore insights from the recent TWK clergywomen survey and what it reveals about the support, struggles, and hope for women in ministry across our conference.

In our final part of our This is My Story series, we're in conversation with Rev. Dr. Russell Morrow, an ordained elder in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference who serves as senior pastor of Mullins First United Methodist Church. With his history of providing leadership in times of adversary, Rev. Dr. Russell Morrow shares insights on navigating challenges in ministry, fostering inclusivity, and empowering congregations to embrace change.

In this episode of Table Talk, we are in conversation with Cathy Carrillo, board member of Cosecha Community Development and leader of ReMIX TN. Cathy is a mom, community organizer, Nashville Native, and proud daughter of Peruvian immigrants. Listen as she shares how her father’s deportation while she was an adolescent inspired her decade-long work with Nashville’s immigrant community.

Join our conversation with the Rev. Amanda Crice as she discusses her call to both ministry and motherhood. Amanda reflects on her fertility journey - which has included multiple miscarriages, and shares how United Methodists can care for women and their reproductive health

This week, we start a four-part series seeking to highlight stories of incredible leaders throughout our connection. Today, we are in conversation with the Rev. Deen Thompson, an ordained elder in the Louisiana Conference, who for decades has served as lay leader at Edgehill UMC in Nashville after he was removed from ministry in 1985 because of his sexual orientation.

Hear Bishop Graves reflect on his first 100 days as episcopal leader of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference. Since we spoke with him last fall, Bishop Graves has been traveling around the area, meeting with both laity and clergy in each of our districts, learning about our unique context, and listening-- listening a lot! Join us as we learn about what he has heard.

In our conference, more than 800 college-age young adults are finding Christian community in one of our 15 campus ministries. There, they grow as leaders, friends, and followers of Christ. Today, we’re in conversation with campus ministry leaders across our conference to hear what they’re learning and how young people are shaping the future church.  

How can our faith guide us in engaging in public discourse? How can the church offer healing to a divided nation? What does it mean to be a follower of Christ in a contentious election season? These are just some of the questions we’ll be exploring in this discussion. Thank you for listening!