S4E2: An Aura of Hope with Lovett Weems

The United Methodist Church has been through a lot. COVID. Declining attendance. Disaffiliation. Financial uncertainty. Congregational conflict. And, for many pastors and churches, a whole lot of exhaustion.

But what if we’ve been telling the wrong story about what’s happening to the UMC?

On this episode of Holy Roast, Rev. Rob Tucker and Rev. Rachel Wallace sit down with longtime United Methodist leader, scholar, and author Lovett Weems to talk about his book, An Aura of Hope, and what the data actually tells us about the state of the United Methodist Church.

Lovett challenges us to look beyond 2019 and consider the longer story of United Methodism—what is genuinely a sign of decline, what may be a symptom of profound transition, and where there are signs of new possibility.

We talk about John Wesley’s vision for evangelism and mission, what United Methodists can learn from Francis Asbury, and what it means for the church to go where the people are in 2026. We also get practical: What should bishops and cabinets prioritize? What can local pastors and congregations do right now?

And, because this is Holy Roast, we don’t shy away from the hard question: How do we talk honestly about difficult numbers without surrendering to despair?

For pastors and lay leaders who are tired, discouraged, or wondering whether there is still a future for their congregation, this conversation is an invitation to look again—not with rose-colored glasses, but with honesty, mission, and hope.