Collared Chicks

Rev Sandra Sykes, an Anglican Priest in the UK, serves six distinct churches. Upon becoming ordained, Rev Sykes found herself frustrated by the lack of fun, feminine, and fitting clergy attire for women. Tapping into her creative spirit and her desire to help other women find clothing that fit not only their bodies but also their personalities, she ventured out with her daughter Sarah to create a company that designs and produces a diverse range of women's clergy wear. Now in its fifth year, Collared Clergywear UK has been featured on television and radio shows, showcased in magazines, and is expanding its customer base all over the world while still offering an amazing personal touch to each order.

Life will throw us all some major sucker punches at one point or another. We will get knocked down. Mary Fran Bontempo discovered that her son was a heroin addict at about the same time her career in the newspaper industry was facing major cultural shifts and an uncertain future. Kristin Smedley's first son was born blind. Then, her second son was born blind as well. Today, Mary Fran and Kristin co-produce the Brilliantly Resilient Podcast in addition to leading other advocacy groups. On this episode, they share their personal stories, and teach us a think or two about resilience and hope. Go Phils!

Rev. Rochelle Andrews in an Ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She currently serves as the Director of the The Center for Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary and as the Associate Pastor of Oak Chapel UMC. In this episode, Rev Andrews speaks to the need for ministry leaders to see beyond the pulpit. Her experience in the business world, politics, and church leadership gives her keen insight into the racial, economic, and social disparities that exist in our world, which have created the world we live in. Rochelle speaks to her passion for justice, not charity, advocacy, and policy change, calling the church to task and inviting us to pray with our actions.

Rev Amor Woolsey serves as the Brigade Chaplain for the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade of the Maryland National Guard, in addition to serving the local church as a senior pastor. In this episode, Chaplain Woolsey discusses her experience as a woman in a male dominated career field. She talks boots on the ground ministry, how Jesus is made real in world of nones and dones, and how military chaplaincy extends the work of the local church in this particular setting.

Rev Jenny Smith is an ordained elder and lead pastor serving Washington state. Jenny is the founder of Palms Up, a contemplative ministry practice that guides people through the difficult practices of showing up, paying attention, cooperating with God, and releasing the outcome. Learning to show up and release the outcome is much harder than it sounds. Jenny talks about living a Palms Up life as a woman, wife, mama, and pastor in this episode.

In the post-Christendom West, many church leaders struggle to organize in ways that allow them to both gather together for worship as a local Body, and equip disciples to be sent into the world. Many other leaders spend so much time debating whether the church should be attractional or missional in form. Few leaders, however, embrace the needed both/and approach. A church that sees and lives into the need to bother gather, and be sent into the world.

In this episode, Rev Janet Durrwachter, Executive Pastor at First Church in Williamsport, PA discusses her role and passion in this large and innovative church that followed God's lead, and has been living into a gathered and sent form for many years.

In many ways, the COVID pandemic has simply accelerated the changes ministry leaders have needed to make in order to intersect with how culture connects and engages. Many of the current ministry adaptations that COVID has forced, will continue long after this current pandemic passes. This is true regardless of age or demographic. Therefore, we should likely make peace with our new reality and continue to live into our purpose, which never changes.

In this episode, Rev. Monica Reynolds hosts a conversation with two ministry leaders from Ebenezer Church, a large and thriving congregation in the Washington DC metro area. Michelle Paquette, the Director of Student Ministries, and Vicki Stones, the Director of Empty Nest and Older Adult Ministries discuss how COVID is shaping the current and future reality of their ministry areas. Because whether one is in 6th grade or 85 years old, the church is still called to be the church. Take a listen, and find out what Vicki and Michelle have learned about matters most, and how they are organizing to make it happen...

Rev. Jessie Colwell is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church who has served several local churches and various boards and agencies for over 10 years. In this episode, Pastor Jessie speaks to Pastor Monica about the importance of mentorship in her own life and in the life of the church. Jessie credits strong mentors for making her who she is today believes everyone should always both have a mentor and be a mentor.

Pastor Jessie is passionate about discipleship, music, and the Word of God. In addition to her local church appointment, she currently serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Calling 21 Team, and the District Committee on Ministry. Jessie has been married to Nelson for five years and Dean is their three-year-old son.

You can connect with Jessie here: