From Principles to Practice: Exploring the United Methodist Social Principles in Today’s World
Join us for an exciting summer Sunday school series, as we explore how our faith
intersects with the pressing social issues of our world. Through this eight-week series,
you will discover how our United Methodist Social Principles come alive through action
and advocacy. Classes meet Sunday mornings, July 12 through August 30, from 10 - 10:55 AM in the Community Room. Classes will also be available via Zoom.
July 12 - August 30 | 10 AM | Community Room
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July 12 | John Wesley and the United Methodist Social Principles
Speaker: Dr. Laceye Warner, Associate Dean of Wesleyan Engagement and Hybrid Programs and Professor of the Practice of Church Ministry and Methodist Studies at Duke Divinity School
Dr. Warner serves as professor of the practice of church ministry and Methodist studies and associate dean for Wesleyan engagement. Appointed to the faculty of Duke University Divinity School in 2001, she is an ordained elder and member of the Western North Carolina Conference. The author of numerous books and articles, her most recent book is a compiled volume she co-edited commemorating the anniversary of the Nicene Creed titled, Trinitarian Matters: 1700 Years of Shaping Christian Identity and Practice.
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July 19 | Food Insecurity & Community Response
Speaker: James Gardner, Director of the Positive Direction for Youth & Families (PDY&F) Community Garden
James is an educator and urban farmer who launched the PD&F garden initiative to actively combat local hunger. His work focuses on utilizing innovative growing techniques to eliminate food deserts and empower the next generation.
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July 27: The History of Women in the United Methodist Church
Speaker: Vicki Tolar, Emeritus Faculty in the School of Writing, Literature, and Film at Oregon State University
Vicki is a professor of rhetoric and author of Spiritual Literacy in John Wesley’s
Methodism. She is a leading expert on early Methodist women’s preaching, exploring how early church structures gave a cultural voice to women.
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August 2 | Children and Poverty
Speaker: Robin Britt, Former U.S. Congressman and Youth Services Leader
Robin served North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives before devoting his life and career to early childhood education and anti-poverty initiatives. He spent 15 years leading Guilford Child Development to support low-income youth and families. Robin is a member of ChristGreensboro.
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August 9 | Christian Nationalism: A Theological Perspective
Speaker: Dr. Lester Ruth, Research Professor of Christian Worship at Duke Divinity School
Lester is an historian of Christian worship and a former Methodist pastor. He has published extensive academic and popular literature tracking liturgical history, early Methodism, and the evolution of modern Protestant church worship. He teaches a course on Christian Nationalism at Duke Divinity School.
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August 16 | The Power of Guaranteed Income to Transform Lives
Speaker: John Thornton, Executive Director of Held Greensboro
John is a former North Carolina pastor who transitioned into local homeless services. He designed and implemented Greensboro’s first-of-its-kind direct guaranteed income model to help vulnerable individuals secure stable housing.
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August 23 | Understanding the Current Realities for Immigrants and Refugees in the United States
Speakers: Jeremy McKinney & Ann Marie Dooley (McKinney Immigration Law), Featuring a Guest Speaker from The New Arrivals Institute
Jeremy is a Board Certified Immigration Law Specialist and past President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Ann Marie is a Board Certified Specialist focusing on humanitarian benefits and removal defense. Both practice at McKinney Immigration Law. Ann Marie is a member of Christ Greensboro.
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August 30 | Employment and Spiritual Community for People Impacted by Incarceration
Speaker: The Reverend Dustin Mailman, Founder & Pastor of Deep Time and Associate Pastor at Trinity UMC in Asheville
Dustin is an ordained Full Connection Elder in the Western North Carolina Conference and an alumnus of Candler School of Theology. He founded Deep Time, a pioneering UMC ministry and coffee roastery social enterprise that creates a supportive spiritual community and meaningful employment for individuals impacted by incarceration.