Absolution or Accountability? Navigating Racial Justice in Christian Spaces... yeah, it's a very Pass The Mic type of episode this week. In this thought-provoking episode of Pass The Mic, Dr. Jemar Tisby and Pastor G. Tyler Burns dive deep into the complicated dynamics of Black Christians being expected to offer absolution to white Christians in the face of racism.

They explore how some Black Christian leaders have been pressured — or at times have chosen — to position themselves as brokers of racial reconciliation, often using the role to build platforms rather than pursuing genuine, hard truths about justice.

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Are popular movements with explosive growth healthy in the life of a Believer? In this thought-provoking episode of Pass The Mic, Dr. Jemar Tisby and Pastor G. Tyler Burns take a deep dive into the rise of popular Christian movements, including the Young, Restless, and Reformed crowd, and examine the growing influence of celebrity pastors like Mike Todd. What does it mean when ministry becomes a platform and growth outpaces accountability? The hosts unpack the spiritual, cultural, and communal implications of rapid church expansion, the allure of influence, and the challenges of navigating faith in the age of viral sermons and curated theology. Whether you're leading a church or scrolling through Christian content online, this episode invites you to reflect on what true discipleship and sustainable growth really look like.

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In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Jemar Tisby and Pastor G. Tyler Burns dive into the evolving landscape of "Digital Discipleship"—what works, what doesn’t, and what it all means for the Church in 2025. Does technology reshape how we connect and grow in faith? What is the strengths of online ministry & digital community-building? What are the pitfalls of virtual discipleship & where does it falls short? And is the local church still the center of spiritual formation? All of these questions and more will be discussed on this week's Pass The Mic.

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In this episode of Pass The Mic, Dr. Jemar Tisby and Pastor G. Tyler Burns dive into the rich history of Black institutions and their ongoing significance in today’s world. From historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to Black churches, businesses, and media, these institutions have been pillars of strength, resilience, and progress for generations.

Dr. Tisby and Pastor Burns explore why these institutions were created, the challenges they have faced, and why they remain vital for Black communities today. They also discuss the threats to these institutions—both external and internal—and what must be done to protect and sustain them for future generations.

Key Topics Covered:

• The historical necessity of Black institutions in the face of systemic exclusion.

• The role of HBCUs, Black churches, and Black-owned businesses in community development.

• The cultural and spiritual significance of Black institutions.

• Modern threats to Black institutions, including economic pressures and political challenges.

• How Black communities can invest in, support, and preserve these vital spaces.

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First is was Cultural Marxism, then Social Darwinism, Social Justice Warriors aka SJWs, then Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter.... Tesla Lives Matter?... then CRT... Y'all remember CuRT!? And let's not forget about Woke... but today all problems and everything wrong with everything comes down to 3 letters: DEI

On a very special episode of Pass The Mic, Dr Jemar Tisby and Pastor G. Tyler Burns dive into the effects of the federal governments sweeping actions against DEI initiatives, how we must protect our Black institutions, Black boycotts, and where do we go from here.

You can support this podcast at patreon.com/PassTheMic

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Dr. Malcolm Foley serves as the Special Advisor to the President for Equity and Campus Engagement. In this role, Dr. Foley facilitates engagement and interaction with and among the many diverse members of our community and works collaboratively to develop initiatives designed to foster a welcoming and inclusive campus for all.

Dr. Foley holds a B.A. in Religious Studies with a second major in Finance and a minor in Classics from Washington University in St. Louis. He then completed a Master of Divinity at Yale Divinity School, focusing on the theology of the early and medieval church, and a Ph.D. in Religion from Baylor. His dissertation investigates African American Protestants responding to lynching from the late 19thcentury to the early 20th century. From 2018-2020, Dr. Foley served as a student regent on the Baylor University Board of Regents. He is the former Director of Black Church Studies at George W. Truett Theological Seminary and is currently a pastor at Mosaic Waco, where he serves with his wife, Desiree.

Support this podcast at patreon.com/passthemic

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Dr. Malcolm Foley serves as the Special Advisor to the President for Equity and Campus Engagement. In this role, Dr. Foley facilitates engagement and interaction with and among the many diverse members of our community and works collaboratively to develop initiatives designed to foster a welcoming and inclusive campus for all.

Dr. Foley holds a B.A. in Religious Studies with a second major in Finance and a minor in Classics from Washington University in St. Louis. He then completed a Master of Divinity at Yale Divinity School, focusing on the theology of the early and medieval church, and a Ph.D. in Religion from Baylor. His dissertation investigates African American Protestants responding to lynching from the late 19thcentury to the early 20th century. From 2018-2020, Dr. Foley served as a student regent on the Baylor University Board of Regents. He is the former Director of Black Church Studies at George W. Truett Theological Seminary and is currently a pastor at Mosaic Waco, where he serves with his wife, Desiree.

Support this podcast at patreon.com/PassTheMic

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Our videographer Ryan Gentry is back this week sharing his experience visiting the nation's capital for the National Prayer Breakfast and the choice to walk out at the surprise arrival and speaking of President Donald Trump.

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Rev Lorenzo Sewell & Rev Mariann Budde. 2 pastors with the opportunity to speak from the pulpit directly to the President of the United States. This week we are talking about the care and weight of the responsibility that fall on those with the gift of preaching and teaching as well as how the style of Black preaching can be abused in it deployment for self-advancement.

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The performance began with Kendrick Lamar and his backup dancers getting out of a 1980s Buick GNX and onto a stage resembling a giant PlayStation controller. The opening was a portion of the unreleased song "Bodies". Samuel L. Jackson appeared in a recurring role as Uncle Sam, who provided satirical commentary and advice to Kendrick between songs to illustrate the spirit of America. Lamar initially teased a performance of "Not Like Us," playing the beat and stating "I wanna play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue." Lamar played "Luther" and "All the Stars" with SZA before returning to "Not Like Us." Professional tennis player Serena Williams, who shares Lamar's hometown of Compton, made a cameo appearance as a dancer doing a crip walk during "Not Like Us", a reference to Williams performing a similar dance after her victory at the 2012 Summer Olympics, for which she faced criticism. Williams's appearance was also received as a diss towards Drake, with whom she was rumored to have dated several years earlier. The performance was capped off by "TV Off" with Mustard coming out as a special guest, finally with Lamar "turning the TV off" and the words "GAME OVER" being displayed through crowd wristband lights.

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