Holy Friends Bear Witness over Time with Bishop Laura Merrill and Bishop Janice Huie

Igniting Imagination

The guests in this episode are ‘all in’ with the church; they are dear friends of our host, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, who also happen to be Bishops in the United Methodist Church, Bishop Laura Merrill, and Bishop Janice Huie. In their conversation the three of them explore what has been meaningful about their friendship and how their friendship has impacted their leadership for the better, throughout their careers. They provide important insight into the critical role of vulnerability in friendship and how that means intentionally creating space for unlikely friendships, especially during challenging times. And they discuss how friendship is vital not only for us personally, but for the thriving of the church itself. Please enjoy and let us know what you think!

Quotations

"I'm in a holy friendship when I have both the desire and the energy and the willingness to be better, to be my best, truest self—that I want to, and I feel empowered to do so by that relationship."

- Bishop Laura Merrill

“[Sanctified friendship] is a time and a space and a relationship in which love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness—all those are expanded and make us more whole. It's when the fruit of the spirit is enlarged.”

- Bishop Janice Huie

We discuss:

The depth and breadth of friendship (8:35)

The importance of deep trust and vulnerability in friendship, even during challenging times. (23:08)

Intentionally creating spaces for unlikely friendships and the potential impact of these connections in the church and society. (29:35)

The significance of friendship in leadership roles (34:52)

Challenges of maintaining friendships as a bishop (36:16)

Find the poem from the podcast here.

About

Bishop Janice Huie serves with Texas Methodist Foundation in the area of Learning and Innovation, following twenty years as a bishop of the United Methodist Church. Previously, she served as bishop of the Texas Annual Conference and the Arkansas Conference. Bishop Huie served as president of the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry from 2000-2004, president of the Council of Bishops from May 2006 through May 2008, president of the UMCOR Board of Directors from 2008-2012, and president of the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops in 1998 & 2013.

Bishop Laura Merrill is Capital District Superintendent for the Rio Texas Conference of the UMC in Austin, Texas. Her Cabinet experience includes service as Assistant to the Bishop, Director of Clergy Excellence, and El Valle District Superintendent on the Texas-Mexico border.

When she was ten, Bob and Bishop Janice Huie were her pastors, and Bishop Huie has supported her ever since. As a young adult, Laura served as a missionary in Chile and with the Desert Southwest Conference in Tucson, Arizona. After seminary, she pastored local churches in Victoria, Los Fresnos, and Wimberley, Texas, followed by her appointment to the Cabinet in 2010. Her experience working with people experiencing poverty and in cross-cultural regions has fundamentally shaped her approach to ministry.

Show Notes

Bishop Janice Huie serves with Texas Methodist Foundation in the area of Learning and Innovation, following twenty years as a bishop of the United Methodist Church. Previously, she served as bishop of the Texas Annual Conference and the Arkansas Conference. Bishop Huie served as president of the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry from 2000-2004, president of the Council of Bishops from May 2006 through May 2008, president of the UMCOR Board of Directors from 2008-2012, and president of the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops in 1998 & 2013.

Bishop Laura Merrill is Capital District Superintendent for the Rio Texas Conference of the UMC in Austin, Texas. Her Cabinet experience includes service as Assistant to the Bishop, Director of Clergy Excellence, and El Valle District Superintendent on the Texas-Mexico border. After seminary, she pastored local churches in Victoria, Los Fresnos, and Wimberley, Texas, followed by her appointment to the Cabinet in 2010.

This podcast is brought to you by the Learning and Innovation team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Learning and Innovation connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

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