22. Pastor Joe Graves (United Methodist) – The Progressive Planter: Finding—and Building—the Church You Wish Existed

When so many are walking away from church, Pastor and Author Joe Graves (@josephdavidgraves) is reimagining what it can be—clear, inclusive, justice-rooted, and grounded in grace. From launching free stores and violence-reduction funds to writing The Progressive Planter, Joe shares how “clear is kind,” why progressives must move from gatekeeping to organizing, and how we can all help build the kind of faith community we’ve been longing for.

Together, Alexis & Joe dive into:

• Why “clear is kind”: finding churches that state values up front (no bait-and-switch)
• How the United Methodist Church holds a wide umbrella—largely contemporary, liturgical, and LGBTQ+ affirming
• Deconstruction diversity: when one person still prays with hands laid on, and another has stopped praying altogether
• Mental health as ministry—covering therapy sessions, normalizing care, and breaking stigma
• How City View Church became an incubator for justice through Little Bottoms Free Store and the Columbus Violence Reduction Fund
• The Methodist theology of prevenient grace—God’s love already everywhere
• Why progressives must stop gatekeeping and start organizing around shared values

💡 Key Takeaways

• Grace is everywhere—before, within, and beyond the walls of church.
• Empathy is the heart of the gospel. The incarnation itself is “cosmic empathy.”
• Progressives can disagree theologically yet work together for justice.

⛪ About Our Guest
Rev. Joe Graves, (he prefers Joe) is pastor of City View Church in Columbus, Ohio—a progressive United Methodist congregation formed through an innovative merger. He has helped launch or support 10+ new ministries across the Midwest and founded justice-centered initiatives including Little Bottoms Free Store and the Columbus Violence Reduction Fund.
🌐 Website: joegraves.org
🏛️ Church + sermons: cityviewcolumbus.org

📚 Resources Mentioned

• God Didn’t Make Us to Hate Us — Rev. Lizzie McManus-Dail | IG: @rev.lizzie
• The Bible for Normal People (podcast) | IG: @biblefornormalpeople @peteenns, @jaredbyas
• The Progressive Planter: A Handbook for Ecclesial Entrepreneurs — Joe Graves (Abingdon Press) https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791040116/
• New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary
• Columbus Violence Reduction Fund: cityviewcolumbus.org/give
• Little Bottoms Free Store: https://www.littlebottoms.org/

Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground.
For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity, exploring its many expressions.

🌿 Community Guidelines

If we claim to follow Jesus, let’s be known by our love—evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control
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