Leading Theologically

How are faith leaders and congregations engaging the communities around them? How can values like love, justice, and democratic decision-making become part of a multi-faith civically-engaged ministry? Join Lee as he talks with Dr. Keisha E. McKenzie (she/they), a strategist who interprets communication, religion, spirituality, and politics as social change technologies and serves as Senior Vice President for Programs at Auburn Theological Seminary. Raised Seventh-day Adventist and educated in the UK, Jamaica, and West Texas, Keisha believes that all people have inherent worth and dignity, we were made for a world where every soul can flourish, and people of faith have a key role in making that world real for us all.

There may be no one that knows more about Presbyterian world mission than the Rev. Dr Hunter Farrell. He has been a professor in the Democratic Republic of Congo, coordinator of the PC(USA)’s mission work in East and West Africa, network coordinator addressing issues of poverty and justice in Peru, director of World Mission for the PC(USA), and since 2017 the Director of the World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. During our next episode of Leading Theologically, Hunter will be with us to talk about decolonizing congregational mission and his 2022 book Freeing Congregational Mission: A Practical Vision for Companionship, Cultural Humility and Co-Development. If you care about mission in 2022 and beyond, you will not want to miss this!

José Irizarry began service as the 10th president of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary on August 22, 2022, less than three months after being named by the APTS Board. Bring your curiosities about transitioning out and into new ministries and contexts for this conversation with José!

Prior to his role at APTS, José was serving as the Vice President for Education at the Board of Pensions of the PC(USA) and has been a leader in theological education as well as a pastor for decades. José is a bilingual practical theologian, a husband, a father, an artist, and an intercultural relations specialist. Church leaders simply do not want to miss this conversation.

For many churches, the 18-30 demographic is a coveted group. Rachel Penmore has spent all of her ordained ministry working with young adults in some capacity and has found that churches are constantly trying to get more young adults in their church because they think it will save them, or help them survive. And what she has learned is that all of that is a fallacy and is, in fact, keeping young adults out of the church. Join the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty for this conversation with SFTS alum the Rev. Rachel Penmore, the Director of UKirk Knoxville, TN. Penmore also serves on the national board for the PC(USA) UKirk Collegiate Ministries.

David LaMotte's forthcoming book, You Are Changing the World Whether You Like It Or Not, wrestles with how we tell the story of large-scale societal change versus how it actually happens, and the implications of marinating in a narrative that is not true. Don’t’ miss this conversation with this author, artist, non-profit founder, singer-songwriter, speaker, and social activist.

If God is sovereign over all our life, how might people of faith invest responsibly?

Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) was created in recognition of the church’s unique opportunity to advance its mission faithfully and creatively through the financial resources entrusted it. MRTI implements the General Assembly’s policies on socially responsible investing (also called faith-based investing) by engaging corporations in which the church owns stock.

Join us for this conversation on responsible investing with one of the wisest, most practical, and effective ruling elders the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty knows, Rob Fohr, the Director of Faith-Based Investing and Corporate Engagement.

The current ship of “ministry” we’re captaining is in need of turning, of painting, maybe docking, and possibly being rebuilt. And, this just might be critical to do with younger people in the church and the world. Join Gina Yeager-Buckley in this important conversation about where the ship of "ministry" should be going!

What is the spotlight of public ministry? Who is our neighbor when we're online? How can you have integrity when you have to lead worship but don't feel like it? Join us for an exploration of these questions and more including why church members put leaders on a pedestal and what it means to be authentic in ministry with Sarah Bereza.

Sarah Bereza, who has served a number of congregations, holds a PhD and a Certificate the Feminist Theory from Duke University and has focused her research on American Christianity and what people think about music.

Jenny McDevitt began sharing @writing.lightly as she calls it on Instagram, “writing faithfully, not perfectly” as one of her spiritual practices and disciplines in December 2021. What friends, colleagues, and congregations that know her was shared more broadly, that her words, wisdom, liturgy and poetry are captivating and deeply meaningful. Join Lee Hinson-Hasty for this episode of Leading Theologically as a Holy Week pause to breathe in the Spirit in preparation for the final days of Lent.

Formerly senior pastor at Madison Avenue PC(USA) in NY, NY and on staff at Village PC(USA) of Kansas City, Jenny McDevitt, a creative writing major and field hockey player at Kenyon College in OH and Union Presbyterian Seminary grad, says writing is more about practice and grace than it is about inspiration. McDevitt’s preaching, prose, pastoral leadership, creativity and collegiality is inspiring whether in a Benedictory in the Presbyterian Outlook, preaching from pulpits across the country including at Shandon Presbyterian in Columbia, SC where she has served since May 2020.

Best-selling author, profound teacher, and highly sought preacher and Episcopal priest, Barbara Brown Taylor talks about “COVID (as) essentially turn(ing) us into a nation of shut-ins. I've had a lot of time to reflect on what happens to identity (especially, perhaps, ministerial identity) during such a long period of social isolation, disembodied meetings (including worship), limited travel, diminished physical activity, and the unavoidable nearness of death. It's like we've all gotten some practice in old age no matter what age we are, bringing up parallels with retirement and Sabbath practice for me. The connection to the farm is about how I have grounded myself during this time--literally--by giving my attention more fully to the rhythms and realities of the created world. My center of gravity has shifted very noticeably.” Join me for this plain yet quotable and gracious conversation with a preachers-preacher, Barbara Brown Taylor.