The Genesis Podcast

Katy Shedlock and Jonathan Myers, founders of West Central Abbey in Spokane, WA, join Bishop Gretchen Rehberg and Katie Nakamura Rengers for a conversation about nurturing innovation, church planting and the blessings of "scrappy church."  This live panel was recorded after church on April 22, 2024.

We talk a lot about core teams - but how do you REALLY go from no one... to team?  Mike Michie, founder of St. Andrew's, McKinney, Joseph Kovitch, redeveloper of St. Matthews, Columbus and Katie Nakamura Rengers, founder of The Abbey, Birmingham, share their stories.  This audio was recorded during our October 3rd Thursday conversation.

To get the latest updates on 3rd Thursdays, discernment events, funding, etc., sign up for our newsletter here: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/new-episcopal-communities/

Our Presiding Bishop’s Church Planting and Redevelopment team gathered in Atlanta last week to set goals, plan 2023 events, and muse upon the current (and future) state of the Episcopal Church.  

Rosie Veal Eby is the founder of Traveler's Altar, a faith community and chaplaincy with people experiencing homelessness in Huntsville, Alabama.  We talk about moving from check-writing to developing real and mutual relationships with neighbors, the stories that make this work worthwhile, and the learning and wisdom that carries over to just about any Episcopal Church.  

It's obvious that the Episcopal Church is in numerical decline, and some estimates are that there could be no one in worship by 2050.  Fred Vergara, Missioner for Asiamerica Ministries, thinks differently.  He envisions a "re-peopling" of the denomination, primarily with people of color, who more fully reflect the changing demographics of the U.S.   It sounds like a Pentecost moment.

But, for this future to emerge, there are important decisions the church should make now... most importantly, a willingness to follow the Holy Spirit and accept that the Episcopal Church of the future will look very different than it does now.

Some of us have a stereotype of the kind of person who makes a good church planter.  So you might be surprised to hear what Ann Steigerwald, our consultant for missional leadership discernment, has to say about the characteristics she's observed are helpful in new faith community leaders.  Also, Steve Matthews joins us to talk about leadership traits to look for in congregational redevelopers.

The Way Station in Iowa offers a "third space" cafe, chapel, art room, and love and welcome to all their neighbors.  

https://www.facebook.com/thewaystationspencer
https://thewaystationspencer.com/

How does God move through small, gathered communities - and what does "church without walls" really mean?  In this episode, we visit Jill and Mark Haworth in the Diocese of Hawaii.  Learn more about Halau Wa'a on their website:
https://www.halauwaaepiscopal.org/

How are we in Christian Community called to care for one another?  And what happens when care gets in the way of, oh, those infamous goals and benchmarks we set?  (or vice versa?). In this episode, we're talking with The Rev. Audra Abt, founder of Abundant Life Ministries in Greensboro, NC.

We'll follow this episode with a 3rd Thursday conversation on the same topic - November 18th at 1:00-2:00 Eastern.

"Saint Benedict said, that the people we are supposed to be paying the most attention to, and the people we are supposed to be caring for most deeply, are the poor and the pilgrim."  Brother James Dowd talks about Benedictine Spirituality and life, and how his community is living into its' practices in the 21st century.