In the 1950s, Mainline Protestants were the largest group of Protestants in the United States. Since then, the churches have seen decline and their footprint in American culture has shrunk. Members have left, churches has closed and budgets shrink. Some people think this tradition is doomed and will die in a few decades. But is that really the story? Is the Mainline tradition worth saving? What caused the decline and what could bring about a renaissance?What I need is Jesus.Confronting the Progressive Obsession with Fundamentalism Grumpy Old MenPreaching As Truth TellingSupport this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsanders Be sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: [email protected]. website: enroutepodcast.org Twitter Facebook Page   Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Dennis talks about the changing narrative of the Civil War, from the Dukes of Hazzard to the removal of statues. He notes there are two concepts that are battling for prominence and why those two must be held in tension for the future of the nation. He ends by offering thoughts on the passing of blogger Doug Mataconis today.Flipping the Script on the Civil War From Civil War to Culture War Support this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsanders Be sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: [email protected]. website: enroutepodcast.orgTwitter Facebook Page   Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sectors of society and the church wasn't immune. In this interview, we interview Joe Tognetti, a Methodist pastor in the Rio Grande Valley as he shares how he and his church experienced this once-in-a-century pandemic.Church in the Time of the Apocalypse Support this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsanders Be sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: [email protected]. website: enroutepodcast.org Twitter Facebook Page   Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

As the Fourth of July passes us by, Dennis thinks about the missed opportunities the anti-Trump/NeverTrump movement is making and what that means for American democracy. He ends talking about the downfall of Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance, from anti-Trump critic interested in helping the working class to Trump-loving MAGA troll. The future is bright on this episode!Populism & Policy: Where to go from here‘Trump Forever’ clobbers ‘Never Trump’ in TexasAttention Must Be Paid: The Electoral Lessons of the Working ClassWhy Moderate Republicans SuckJ.D. Vance says he regrets since-deleted tweets criticizing TrumpHypocrite’s Elegy: J.D. Vance Is an Avatar of GOP CorruptionSupport this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsanders Be sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: [email protected]. website: enroutepodcast.org Twitter Facebook Page Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

After a few amazing interviews, Dennis is solo again and talks about his recent experience in the (hopefully) post-COVID church, why mainline Protestantism needs to be bold in preaching about sin, grace and Jesus. Dennis concludes with an idea on how to save dying churches. The answer might surprise you.How to Revive a “Dead” ChurchWhat I need is Jesus.Where There Is Faith, There Is Resurrection (a sermon by Dennis Sanders based on the episode)Confronting the Progressive Obsession with Fundamentalism Support this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsanders Be sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: [email protected]. website: enroutepodcast.org Twitter Facebook Page Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

There have been enough changes in the podcast to warrant a second trailer. What is En Route? Listen to find out.La Vie En Route Support this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsanders Be sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: [email protected]. website: enroutepodcast.org Twitter Facebook Page  YouTube Channel   Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

With local newspapers cutting staff, and other closing, local news is in peril. We talk to communications professional Kevin Hendricks who started his own online local news outlet for a suburb of the Twin Cities. West St. Paul Reader Why Has Local News Collapsed? Blame Readers.Colorado Sun (local paper started by former Denver Post reporters)MinnPost (local news based in Minneapolis)Flint Beat (local news started in 2017 in my hometown of Flint, Michigan)How Jiquanda Johnson is building Flint Beat from the ground upSupport this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsanders Be sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: [email protected]. website: enroutepodcast.org Twitter Facebook Page  YouTube Channel Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

What happened in the Southern Baptist Convention this week? We talk to Andrew Donaldson about how the largest Protestant denomination in the US handled an ongoing battle between conservatives and ultra conservatives.The Southern Baptist Convention, Far Past The Age Of AccountabilitySleeping With the Past: The Battle for the SBCCharacter Is Destiny for the Southern Baptist ConventionUnder Attack from Fundamentalist Pirates, Evangelical Baptists Refused to Give Up the Ship‘Take the Ship’: Conservatives Aim to Commandeer Southern BaptistsSouthern Baptists approve abuse task force, say abusive pastors should be bannedWho is Ed Litton, the new Southern Baptist Convention president?Abuse and Abusers Episode of Heard Tell PodcastNapp Nazworth InterviewSupport this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsanders Be sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: [email protected]. website: enroutepodcast.org Twitter Facebook Page  YouTube Channel Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Dennis decides to keep sharing German words this week as he talks about what it means to rebuild or reconstruct the fabric of American life, including how all us can take part. The podcast concludes with some thoughts on this first Juneteenth as a national holiday and what it means for all Americans.Show notes:This Is Why Your Holiday Travel Is Awful Why we can’t build How To Revive A “Dead” Church Can Catholic social teaching redeem a post-Trump, pro-labor Republican Party? The case for wooden pews How Did Americans Lose Faith in Everything? Be sure to rate us and leave a review.  Share the podcast with others!  Questions? Send an email: [email protected].  website: enroutepodcast.org Twitter Facebook Page  YouTube Channel Support this podcast by leaving a tip  Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Is America facing a coming collapse? Is it facing a coup? There is talk and fear about our democracy. Donald Trump ‘s hold on the GOP is tighter than ever and he plans to run again for President in 2024. Moves by Trump and the Republican Party aim to delegitimize American democracy. Is this inevitable? Is it a tempest in a teapot? Dennis opines about the future of America and how our cloudy political future is tied to the complacency of American Society.Ross Douthat’s ArticleArticle from Dispatch on AZMona Charen Article in BulwarkFor All Mankind ArticleThreats to Election WorkersThe GOP base is the problem by David FrenchGOP and political violence by David FrenchWill Saletan ArticleIt’s Time To Build by Marc AndreesenBe sure to rate us and leave a review.  Share the podcast with others!  Questions? Send an email: [email protected].  website: spheresofinfluence.org Twitter Facebook Page  YouTube Channel Support this podcast by leaving a tip Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe