In this episode, Rev. Dr. Irie Lynne Session, co-pastor of The Gathering Experience, a Womanist church in Texas, joins the show to talk about Womanism and how it has profoundly influenced her interpretation of scripture and her methodology in preaching. Recorded at Phillips Theological Seminary during the Remind and Renew conference, Dr. Irie discusses her transition from Churches of Christ to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), her spiritual practices, and her calling to ministry. She highlights how womanism has shaped her approach to scripture, informed her theological perspective, and shaped her preaching. She also tells the story of the founding of her church, which emphasizes Womanist preaching and theology within the Black religious tradition.

Rev. Dr. Irie Lynne Session was raised in New York City, and now resides in Cedar Hill, Texas a suburb of Dallas. She's the proud mother of India Liana Session. Dr. Irie holds a B.S. in Social Work from Oklahoma Christian University, an M.Div. with a Certificate in Black Church Studies from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School, specializing in Transformative Leadership and Prophetic Preaching. She's an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and CEO of DreamBIG Coaching & Consulting. Dr. Irie is currently the Co-Pastor of The Gathering, A Womanist Church in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Irie is co-author of, The Gathering, A Womanist Church: Origins, Stories, Sermons, & Litanies. She is also author of Badass Women of the Bible and, Murdered Souls, Resurrected Lives. Her latest Journal article is titled, “Sawubona in a Pandemic: Black Women, Embodied Ecclesiology, and Sacred Spaces in Cyberspace.”

Facebook: @revdririe

IG: Revdririe / SheRev_Style

Twitter: @revdririe

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I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'

Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

Do you believe you can accomplish what God has placed on your heart? This is the key question Dea Jenkins helps pastors and spiritual leaders through, encouraging them to trust their heart and trust the process, letting go of the results. In this conversation, Dea also addresses the challenges of harmful practices within church institutions and emphasizes the importance of relationships and listening to God, oneself, and the community for guidance. She also shares how she coaches spiritual leaders in discerning God's call and living into the contributions each individual can make to their communities.

Dea Jenkins is an award winning interdisciplinary artist originally from Houston, Texas. Dea's art practice spans multiple fields, including visual art, performance, and film. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, and is currently developing multiple multimedia projects.

As the recipient of three fellowships and multiple artist grants, Dea has fused her art practice with a deep love for research. She has a dual master's degree from Fuller Seminary with an emphasis in Theology and the Arts.

In addition to her art practice, Dea is also an independent curator and the Director of the Inbreak Collective. Her love for creating expands beyond her individual practice to include crafting spaces for others to explore their own creative journey.

@dea.artist

Presenting Sponsor:

Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world. 

Supporting Sponsors:

I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'

Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

Chapters

07:40 Art and Spirituality in the Church

13:55 Working with Spiritual and Church Leaders

19:13 Commitment to the Big C Church

23:20 Discerning God's Call

31:43 Supporting Leaders in Ministry

35:28 The Importance of Rest and Replenishment

37:01 Not Forgetting the Gift of the Pandemic

39:09 The Work of Cyclical in Supporting Church Leaders

42:29 Closing Questions

Since Covid, most churches have whole-heartedly embraced digital. But what are the effects of the digital age on discipleship, community, and understanding the Bible? In this episode, Jay Kim talks about the intersection of digital culture and the church, emphasizing the importance of maintaining analog, embodied practices within the church to foster transformation, despite the informative nature of digital mediums. Kim describes the sermon as a relational exchange rather than mere content delivery, highlighting the role of the Holy Spirit in the act of preaching. The discussion also touches on the secular ideology of the "imminent frame" and the need to reclaim a sense of enchantment and curiosity in faith. Jay Kim also shares some practical analog ideas for engaging with scripture, such as reading it aloud, to counteract the individualistic approaches.

Jay Y. Kim serves as the lead pastor at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley and on the leadership team of the ReGeneration Project. He has experienced the digital church in all its splendor and writes about it in his two books, Analog Church and Analog Christian. Kim's writing has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, and Relevant Magazine. He lives in Silicon Valley with his wife and two children.

Presenting Sponsor:

Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world. 

Supporting Sponsors:

I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'

Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

It's predicted by 2030, an estimated 100,000 church buildings will either be sold or repurposed. With this impending reality, Mark Elsdon asks a key question--will these buildings be gone...for good? In this conversation, Mark compares this shift to the decline of video rental stores and underscores the need for purposeful action in repurposing these spaces. Mark highlights the community impact and explores alternatives to selling, like donations or social enterprises, drawing from his positive experience with property redevelopment at University ministry center. The conversation also touches on the value of preserving sacred spaces amidst these changes.

Mark Elsdon lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of, We Aren't Broke, about the use of faith-based property and investments for social enterprise and impact investing. Mark’s new book, Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition is available now.

Mark is cofounder of RootedGood, which supports catalytic and innovative church leaders working on property development, money and mission alignment, and social enterprise; executive director at Pres House and Pres House Apartments on the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus; principal at Threshold Sacred Development; and past president of the board of directors for Working Capital for Community Needs, an impact investing fund that provides microfinance funding to the working poor in Latin America. 

Mark has a BA in Psychology from the University of California - Berkeley, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin School of Business. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark is an avid cyclist and considers it a good year when he rides more miles on his bike than he drives in his car.

Previous Episode:

https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/mark-elsdon-on-why-we-arent-broke/

Presenting Sponsor:

Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world. 

Supporting Sponsors:

I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'

Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

In this episode,  Dr. Scott Thumma discusses the evolution of congregational life and denominational shifts, drawing from 30 years of research. He reflects on his personal faith journey and the rise of megachurches, noting their advantages and the challenges smaller congregations face. The conversation also explores the growth of non-denominational churches and the decreasing importance of denominational identity. Dr. Thumma emphasizes the necessity for congregations to adapt to societal changes and technology, especially highlighted by the pandemic's impact on religious practices. The episode concludes with insights into the Hartford Institute for Religion Research's work on contemporary religious trends.

Scott L. Thumma is Professor of Sociology of Religion and director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford International University, Hartford, Connecticut. He has published numerous articles, research reports, and chapters on religious life in addition to co-authoring three books, The Other 80 Percent, Beyond Megachurch Myths, and Gay Religion.

He has researched and written on megachurches, evangelicalism, gay religious life, congregational studies, the rise of nondenominational churches, and the changing religious landscape. Scott is the Principal Investigator for 5-year Lilly Endowment grant to study the impact of the pandemic on churches.

He co-leads the Faith Communities Today national research project and has conducted national studies of megachurches and nondenominational churches. He is also a member of the team that recently conducted the 2020 US Religion Census of US congregations.

Scott will also be a guest at Remind & Renew, a conference hosted by Phillips Seminary January 24-26, along with Dr. Irie Lynne Session and musical guest Carrie Newcomer.

Presenting Sponsor:

Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world. 

Supporting Sponsors:

I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'

Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

In this episode of the Future Christian Podcast, guest host Martha Tartarnic sits down with Justin Anthony, the rector of Chingford (UK) parish, to delve into the nuances of leadership within the church and why our pervasive language around leadership is actually ill-defined and problematic. The conversation aims to invite careful and considered thought about how we talk about ministry in the church and why the language we use has in some important sense failed our faith communities.

Justin Anthony is Rector of Chingford parish, and was until recently the Deputy Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome. He has worked in Alexandria, Virginia (as Dean of Students at a theological college), Canterbury (as Rector of a parish in the city), Oxford (as precentor of Christ Church Cathedral), and Cirencester (as curate and team vicar in the parish). He was born in Singapore, and educated there, in Germany, North Yorkshire, the LSE and Oxford. He has written three books as a sole author and contributed to others on issues of church life, ministry, and culture.

Presenting Sponsor:

Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world. 

Supporting Sponsors:

I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'

Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

In this episode, Martha Tatarnic talks with Michael Graham, co-author of The Great De-Churching about his journey from a fundamentalist upbringing to a more gospel-centered faith. Graham shares his transition from a focus on end times and culture wars to a tradition that emphasizes the core of the gospel and its implications for life. He discusses the importance of Bible study, healthy discipleship, and interdenominational cooperation, reflecting on his own spiritual practices and the vitality of engaging with non-believers. The conversation also explores the unique religious landscape of the United States, the church's role in society, and the effects of online worship.

Michael Graham is program director for The Keller Center. He is also the executive producer and writer of As In Heaven and has written a forthcoming book entitled The Great Dechurching. He received his MDiv at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. He is a member at Orlando Grace Church. He is married to Sara, and they have two kids.

Presenting Sponsor:

Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world. 

Supporting Sponsors:

I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'

Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

Guest host Martha Tatarnic leads a conversation with Dr. Amy Frykholm, senior editor at the Christian Century magazine. They discuss the role of media in serving the church, their personal faith journeys, and the mission of the magazine. The conversation also covers the redesign of the magazine, the themes of the Future Christian Podcast, and Dr. Frykholm's hopes for the future of Christianity. 

Amy Frykholm is a senior editor at The Christian Century magazine. Her most recent book is Wild Woman: A Footnote, the Desert, and My Quest for an Elusive Saint. She hosts the In Search Of podcast. www.amyfrykholm.com; @amyfryk. 

Presenting Sponsor:

Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world. 

Supporting Sponsors:

I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'

Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

In the final episode of Season 14 of the Future Christian Podcast, guest host/co-host Martha Tatarnic joins Loren Richmond Jr. to reflect on the season's highlights and broader themes.  The conversation includes a discussion on the church's role in a secular age, why sacred space matters, and the importance of maintaining wonder and awe in faith. They also touch on the grief of church closures and the future of theological education. And, in this season of Advent, they discuss the importance of Advent traditions. Stay tuned for the upcoming "Martha season," a special run of episodes over winter break hosted by Martha Tatarnic. 

Presenting Sponsor:

Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world. 

Supporting Sponsors:

I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'

Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

Historically, the church has a tendency to colonize as a means to achieve growth. To break that dynamic, new models need to emerge. Enter DisciplesNEXT, a methodology from Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez and the New Church Ministry Team of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In this conversation, we talk about how the model emerged, how it seeks to be different from previous models, and what are the "ecclesial minimums" or "faithful marks" of what it means to be a church. He also emphasizes the importance of deep listening, dialogue, and considering diverse community inputs in shaping the future of the church.

Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez serves as the Minister for New Church Strategies for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Jose also created a ministry as an Incubate participant with the National Benevolent Association called StoryWagen. Additionally, he is co-planter of Multi Nation Christian Church, which is the largest and only Haitian Ministry in the Midwest for the Disciples of Christ and along with planting MissioKC Church. Co-vocationally, he is an endorsed Protestant Chaplain, at the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph, Missouri and a chaplain with Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. He has served in different capacities in ministry from the regional level to local congregations by bringing innovative and entrepreneurial ideas about the shifting paradigm of church. His mixture of talent, tenacity, and experience has helped him in all contexts of ministry, which was recognized by the Air National Guard in 2016 by awarding him the Samuel Stone award.  

https://newchurchministry.org/introducing-impact/

https://newchurchministry.org/about/disciplesnext/

Presenting Sponsor:

Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world. 

Supporting Sponsors:

I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'

Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.