Various Thoughts From Dennis Shaw

In this episode of "Mindful Leader," host Dennis Shaw engages in a heartfelt conversation with Bishop Karen Oliveto, reflecting on her transformative journey as the first openly LGBTQ bishop in the United Methodist Church. Bishop Oliveto shares insights into the challenges and triumphs faced during her tenure, highlighting the pivotal moments surrounding marriage equality and the evolving understanding of LGBTQ inclusion within the church. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the seismic shifts that occurred post-General Conference 2019 and how the church community responded to the controversial decisions made. Bishop Oliveto candidly discusses the personal and professional tolls she experienced and the resilience required to lead amidst adversity. Tune in to explore the themes of grace, love, and community as Bishop Oliveto and Dennis Shaw navigate the complexities of faith, leadership, and the ongoing journey toward a more inclusive church. This episode is a testament to the power of storytelling a

(Words that are bold and underlined are hyperlinks to something whiz bang.) My conversation this podcast is with Kristi Kinnison, the Executive Director of the Methodists Helping Methodists Foundation.  Kristi has a fourteenth anniversary as the Executive Director this month (October, 2024).  Her earlier Mindful Leader podcast was a joyful ode to Wesleyanism (HERE.) and, as of October 2, 2024, it was the most listened to Podcast on ML. Kristi can be reached from resources HERE.   We mention a national foundation "type" Board Kristi was/is on and that is HERE.   I am trying to do two podcasts a month.  Life is a little complicated right now, but if you have any thoughts -- my email is dennis@mantuan.org and I welcome email.  Fire away! If you desire a transcript, send me a note and I will get you a PDF.  

My guest, Zach Bechtold, Pastor at Bozeman UMC and I talk about the potential role of the "Conference" in the UMC.   The Annual Conference is a component part of the structure of the United Methodist Church.  Mountain Sky Conference is vast in geography:  all of Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and one county in Idaho. I posit, that besides it administrative role, it should also be the key developer of leadership, lay and clergy, in our area. Draft paper I mention in the show is HERE.  Those that have heard me speak at Annual Conference are probably not surprised that I am a believer when it comes in the positive net benefit from the conference.   My conversation with Co-Lay Leader Gayla Jo Slauson is HERE and my conversation with District Superintendent Mark Calhoun is HERE. (I do put a "chapter" mark at about 37 minutes and again at 38:22 to see if I could help you find his thoughts.) Zach has his own, excellent, podcast -- Bearded Theologians.    

This is a quick biography and theological exposition of the German Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer:  1906 to 1945.  Such a short life with so much good crammed into it.   A movie about his life is coming out in November and the 80th anniversary of his execution by the Nazis will be in April, 2025.  

This Podcast is a little "inside baseball" and focuses on both General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Charlotte this Spring as well as Jurisdictional Conference in Washington State in August.   My guest for this podcast is District Superintendent, Mark Calhoun.  Mark is a thoughtful observer of all things United Methodist.   If you like it, forward it to someone, or more than one!   This is Mark Calhoun's second visit and his first Mindful Leader Podcast is HERE. Mark's' first conversation focused on context and how much that matters in our local church leadership.   Discussion with Lonnie Brooks, Alaska Conference Lay Delegate to General Conference, about Regionalization is HERE.   Conversation with Gayla Jo Slauson, Lay Delegate to General Conference from Mountain Sky Conference, is HERE.   I mention, positively I hope, Jeremy Smith and his blog Hacking Christianity.  The blog I specifically addressed is HERE.    HERE is a Chart I created of Episcopal Elections in the West since 1968.  I think