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November 8, 2025
At the 2025 Iowa Annual Conference, keynote speaker Dr. Ashley Boggan Dreff., General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, delivered a powerful and provocative message that challenged United Methodists to embrace their historic roots of radical love, social transgression, and spiritual courage. Drawing from the theme of being “Equipped for Such a Time as This,” Dr. Boggan introduced the concept of “Wesleyan vile-tality”— a call to disrupt the status quo in pursuit of God’s inclusive and boundary-breaking love.
Quoting John Wesley’s famous journal entry from April 2, 1739—“I submitted to be more vile”—Boggan unpacked the historical context of Wesley’s decision to preach in the fields of Bristol, a transgressive act that broke with ecclesiastical norms and shocked the polite society of his day. “He did it because he was compelled by love,” she said. “Because the people were out there, and he could no longer stay inside the church walls.”
“Our heritage is one of breaking barriers,” Boggan declared. “If we’re going to move forward as a church, we must reclaim the spirit that made us vital—and yes, vile—in the first place.”
She challenged attendees to embrace the risk of loving boldly in today’s world, even if it invites ridicule. “The love of God compels us to be weird,” she said. “To preach in new fields, create new communities, and be the church the world needs now.”
This promises to be a rich time of fellowship, inspiration, and discovery as we reflect on our history and imagine how God is calling us as laity to lead boldly in our own time.