As Ned fights the pastor's modern methods, the Lovejoys go to Michigan to learn why he left and came to Springfield.

Meanwhile, a young man named Bode Wright turns up in Springfield to apply for the job of youth minister after he saw an advert placed by Helen Lovejoy.

Bode gets the job after a short interview, with Helen offering to let him stay with them, to Lovejoy's annoyance.

Bode then takes over as the pastor for the service and proves a hit with everyone including even Homer, singing "Amazing Grace" and getting the congregation involved, though Ned Flanders dislikes his modern methods.

As Bode continues to bring record crowds to the church with his fresh ideas and good looks, Ned is disappointed and misses the old ways.

Lisa finds that the new minister's teachings help reconcile her with the church, though Marge warns her that Springfield has been traditionally hostile to new ideas.

Club gave Part One of the episode a B+, stating "Holmes himself plays Bode, the guitar-strumming young pastor who's come to Springfield at the behest of not Reverend Lovejoy (of the interminably sleepy sermons and defensive moralizing), but wife Helen.

"[4] Tony Sokol of Den of Geek stated that Part One was more character focused and liked the steadier escalation.

The series gets more adventurous, allows more attention to details, develops supporting personalities and lets the tensions grow.