Connecting our Conversations

In the third episode of the Matthew 25 series, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo is joined by Rev. Jermaine Ross-Allam, Director of the PC(USA)'s Center for the Repair of Historic Harms, for a discussion on one of the main pillars of the Matthew 25 church—Dismantling Structural Racism—and how we can apply our faith to advocate for change and break down the practices and mindsets that underlie discrimination and oppression.

Together, they explore:

• The primary ministry of Jesus, which was a ministry of healing
• Guiding others to an understanding that reparative justice is both necessary and possible 
• Identifying opportunities to repair harm caused to marginalized groups

Rev. Jermaine Ross-Allam is the first-ever Director of the PC(USA)'s Center for the Repair of Historic Harms, an office working to recognize, acknowledge, and repair the harm caused to Indigenous peoples, African Americans, and other marginalized groups. Rev. Ross-Allam was ordained as a minister by the Presbytery of the Twin Cities in 2013. He served as executive director of 21st Century Academy at Liberty Community Church PC(USA) and associate pastor for Social Justice at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, and is a doctoral candidate in Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary.

Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.

In the second episode of the Matthew 25 series, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo is joined by Rev. Veronica Cannon and Rev. Nikki Collins  for a discussion on one of the main pillars of the Matthew 25 church - Congregational Vitality, and what it means for churches to engage in ministry, including:

• Creating dynamic spaces for individuals to connect with God and each other
• Building inclusive, equitable communities by promoting awareness, understanding, and action
• How New Worshipping Communities can strengthen existing churches and bring the gift of diversity

Rev. Veronica Cannon is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Waxhaw in North Carolina, and the manager of the PC(USA)'s Vital Congregations Initiative, working alongside leaders of existing congregations to increase vitality through intentional spiritual practices that take them deeper into following Jesus Christ.

Rev. Nikki Collins is the National Coordinator of the PC(USA)'s 1001 New Worshiping Communities,  movement of people committed to seeing the church come alive again, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Previously she served Cherokee Presbytery as Stated Clerk and Mission Coordinator. Before that she was the founder of Bare Bulb Coffee, a rich brew of full-service coffee shop, music and arts venue, and home to a diverse group of disciples committed to shedding light in the world.

Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.

In the first episode of the Matthew 25 series, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo and Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall explore the essence of being a Matthew 25 church, highlighting the call for deeper engagement within faith communities to address systemic injustices. 

This conversation dives into the intersections of ministry, community needs, the vital importance of embodying Jesus’ teachings and much more:

• Acknowledging the role of intersectionality in ministry
• The church's historical commitment to community engagement
• Exploring the collective identity of faith and discipleship

Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall is the Deputy Executive Director of Vision and Innovation of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Prior to that he served as the Executive Presbyter(EP) for Presbytery of the Northwest Coast. A Ruling Elder, Corey grew up in the Dakotas and graduated from the University of Oregon He earned a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication from the University of Minnesota and is an ICF credentialed leadership coach. 

Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.

The PCUSA’s 226th General Assembly took place in Salt Lake City Utah from June 25th - July 4, 2024, and it was a powerful experience for all involved! 

In this episode, meet the PSNE 226th General Assembly Team:

• Rev. Anne Weirich (Commissioner and Polity Committee Chair; Honorably Retired, serves on Commission on Ministry at PSNE)
• Elder Nicole Aronson Champagne (Commissioner and Environment and Climate Committee Member; Nominating Committee Chair at PSNE)
• Rev. Kate Carlisle (Stated Clerk for PSNE and Boston)

Hear about their experiences from GA, including committee processes, electing new Co-Moderators and a new Stated Clerk, passing items of business, worshiping together, and dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. From discussions on reducing single-use plastics and divestment from fossil fuels, to offering personal testimony as an overture advocate, this gathering truly offered an opportunity to live into hope.

Learn more about General Assembly and future meetings at https://ga-pcusa.org/

Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.

Who does your building belong to? What are our money stories, theological frameworks, and core values? How do you make strategic decisions out of abundance and hopefulness?

In today’s conversation, we hear from:

• Mieke Vandersall, founder of Vandersall Collective, and ministry member at PSNE 
• Tim Anderson, coach and consultant from Minneapolis MN
• Nancy Baseel, Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Hartford 

Vandersall Collective is a consulting group that focuses on fundraising, communications, and strategic thinking to raise money, reach people, and reimagine the future. They are collaborating with three congregations in our Presbytery (First Presbyterian Hartford, Westminster, and MLK Community Presbyterian Church), alongside with our Trustees, Roundtable, and Commission on Ministry. Vandersall Collective is helping us to answer questions about property and missional views, to help us find clarity at both the congregational and Presbytery level for values-based decision making.

To learn more about the Vandersall Collective, visit https://www.vandersallcollective.com/

Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.

The Rev. Dr. Terrlyn L. Curry Avery is the Pastor of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church in Springfield MA. She has a passion for dismantling racism, and is deeply involved in the work and advocacy with the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. 

This podcast was recorded a week before the Mass Poor Peoples and Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls, a national gathering in Washington that draws attention to the interconnected struggles of issues such as affordable housing, gun violence, health care, environmental racism, and other compounding factors and politics of poverty. In this conversation, Shannan and Terrlyn bear witness to the importance of testimonies, encourage pastors to give a prophetic word, and ask us if we are living the way of Jesus, who gives us the Matthew 25 mandate.

Call to Action! If you are interested in using your power for good, here are some ways to get involved in this work and learn more:

• Get involved with the Poor People’s campaign! Join the RI or MA chapters. Connecticut needs a chapter - maybe you could help organize it. You can also donate funds. Learn more at https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/ 
• Advocate. The Presbyterian Office of Public Witness is an advocacy office in Washington DC, and has many resources: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/compassion-peace-justice/washington 
• Pray (a practice which change our own hearts)
• Learn more:
  • Recent article from Presbyterian Mission Agency: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/june-29-moral-march-gathers-steam-as-pcusa-and-others-offer-continued-support/
  • Books from Liz Theoharis: https://liztheoharis.org/books/
  • Liz Theoharis keynote speech from the Matthew 25 Summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDHsvT77wXE 

This is the second episode of the fourth season of Connecting Our Conversations. This season is a Summer Series! We'll hear from folks engaged in Presbytery and beyond, including updates from General Assembly, Pride celebrations, marches, summer camps, and Vacation Bible Schools. Connect with us on social media, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and let us know if you have other ideas for conversations to share!

Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.

Happy Pride Month! Listen in our conversation with board members from Presbyterian Promise, an LGBTQIA+ organization in our Presbytery for education, outreach, and advocacy. This year is the 25th anniversary of Presbyterian Promise, and we are so excited to celebrate alongside them this month!

In this episode, we hear from:

• Rev. Jenny Peek, Chaplain at Yale University, co-moderator
• Leah Miller, First Presbyterian Church of New Haven, co-moderator
• Ellen McDonnell, First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, member

Learn about the history of Presbyterian Promise, and dive into their current work at Pride events, curating resources, and presence at local churches. The invitation to be in conversation is always open - all are welcome!

Contact Presbyterian Promise at [email protected] and learn more at https://presbyterianpromise.wordpress.com/ 

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Book Recommendations:

• Heather Has Two Mommies - Lesléa Newman
• Queerfully and Wonderfully Made - Leigh Finke (Editor)
• God vs. Gay - Jay Michaelson

Our Promise:

We believe the time has come to live out God’s call to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” This is a call to an inclusive love that welcomes all people to God’s table. That invitation is central to the Gospel. God calls us to embrace those who have been excluded or marginalized, to welcome them into the fold, and to honor their call and their desire to serve God. Presbyterian Promise is committed to this vision of a just and inclusive church.

We therefore promise to be a resource, a presence, and a witness of inclusion to all LGBTQIA+ people. We further promise to work as agents of reconciliation, inviting all to join in the conversation.

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This is the start of the fourth season of Connecting Our Conversations. This season is a Summer Series! We'll hear from folks engaged in Presbytery and beyond, including updates from General Assembly, Pride celebrations, summer camps, and Vacation Bible Schools.  Connect with us on social media, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and let us know if you have other ideas for conversations to share! 

Won't you bee my neighbor? 🐝  At First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, CT, more commonly known as the Fish Church, bees truly are neighbors! In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance Ocampo chats with Rev. Shelley Donaldson, Associate Pastor at First Pres in Stamford, and with John Bitner, who has been a member for 30 years and served as a deacon and elder.  Shelley and John share how they transformed an old garden bed into 5 hives and the variety of things they are doing with the honey. They also discuss how this act of caring for creation and community supports their work as a Matthew 25 church. Plus, learn some fun bee trivia!

Learn more about First Presbyterian Church of Stamford at https://fishchurch.org/welcomeonhome

Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.

In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo speaks with Rev. Ben Bond (Faith Inclusion and Belonging Associate at RespectAbility) and our Communications Manager Katie Grosh, about disability and church communities. Ben shared tips about how to be more accessible and welcoming in your congregational communities, including giving visual descriptions, attending to a variety of physical and sensory needs, and shifting attitudes. Ben also gave a Disability 101 overview and gave context to the history of disability and the church. Katie shared her experience with leading a weekly zoom discussion group with Kearsarge Community Presbyterian Church, focused on the Justice Unbound series Disabling Lent: An Anti-Ableist Lenten Devotional. There was so much to talk about that a part 2 (focused on disability and theology) will be coming soon! 

Links:

• RespectAbility's Faith, Inclusion, and Belonging page: https://www.respectability.org/faith-inclusion/
• Inclusive Congregations Guide: https://www.respectability.org/faith-inclusion/inclusive-congregations/
• Disabling Lent: An Anti-Ableist Lenten Devotional from Justice Unbound: https://justiceunbound.org/disablinglent/
• Presbyterians for Disability Concerns: https://presbyteriansfordisabilityconcerns.wordpress.com/
• The Institute of Theology and Disability (the conference June 17-20, 2024 will be held at Boston College!): https://faithanddisability.org/about-the-summer-institute/2024-institute-on-theology-and-disability/

A transcript of our episode today is available here.

Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.

In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo speaks with Christian educators and pastors in our Presbytery who attended the recent Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) conference in St. Louis Missouri. Tara Church, Patrick Notley, Karen Hammond, and Mark Montgomery all share their takeaways from the conference and what the future of Christian Education holds.

Featured on this episode:
- Tara Church, Director of Children's Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich
- Karen Hammond, Director of Faith Formation at Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Hartford
- Patrick Notley, Pastor at Barrington Presbyterian Church
- Mark Montgomery, Pastor at Wilton Presbyterian Church

Learn more about APCE at https://apcenet.org/

Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship.