In this episode of the Tritank Podcast, Lorenzo Lebrija hosts Bob Johansen and Gabe Cervantes to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence, leadership, and faith. They explore how AI can augment human capabilities, the fears surrounding its adoption, and the importance of maintaining human connections in a rapidly changing technological landscape. The conversation emphasizes a future-back approach to leadership, the role of AI in theological exploration, and the need for clarity and flexibility in navigating the complexities of modern faith communities.

In this episode, Fr. Lorenzo Lebrija sits down with the Rev. Chantal McKinney, a dedicated Episcopal priest and church planter with over 20 years of experience in ministry. Recorded on the road in Kansas City, they explore the transformative journey of rediscovering a church's missional call. Chantal shares her insights from successfully planting a bilingual, multicultural church in a low-income neighborhood and how she now coaches congregations across the nation to engage deeply with their communities. Listeners will learn practical steps on how to shift church culture, grow in discipleship, and become truly present in their neighborhoods. This episode emphasizes the importance of being proactive in outreach and the joy that comes from building genuine relationships within the community.

The Rev. Chantal McKinney, D. Min., ACC is a missional coach and consultant, a faith-based entrepreneur, a speaker and a writer. She was the Founder and church planter at Christ’s Beloved Community / Comunidad Amada de Cristo, a bilingual, bi-denominational church in Winston-Salem, NC. Using Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and community organizing, their new faith community grew a dynamic neighborhood presence that fostered a vibrant and growing church. She then founded Root Thrive Soar, a parachurch organization that works with denominations, dioceses, churches, seminaries, and ecumenical organizations around the country to nurture, train, and support mutual, circular mission and community engagement. She is passionate about envisioning and co-creating a future church that is centered on community, compassion, and Christ. She lives in Winston-Salem, NC with her family. Learn more at rootthrivesoar.com

In this episode, Fr. Lorenzo Lebrija engages in a thought-provoking conversation with author Carey Wallace about her book, The Discipline of Inspiration: The Mysterious Encounter with God at the Heart of Creativity. They delve into the essence of inspiration, exploring how it transcends mere talent and technique to become a divine gift that fuels artistic expression. Carey shares her insights on cultivating strong creative habits and reframing ministry as an art form, emphasizing the importance of surrendering to inspiration as a path to encountering God. This enriching dialogue encourages listeners to embrace creativity in their spiritual lives and to recognize the sacredness embedded in artistic endeavors.

Carey Wallace is the author of The Discipline of Inspiration: The Mysterious Encounter With God At The Heart of Creativity (Eerdmans), The Blind Contessa’s New Machine (Penguin), and The Ghost In The Glass House (Clarion). She works to help people from all walks of life find inspiration and build strong creative habits to sustain a lifetime of creation. She performs as a songwriter, exhibits her own fine art, and has spoken on art, faith, and justice with students at Princeton, Julliard, Emory, Pratt, and Yale. Her articles and poems have appeared in Time, Detroit’s Metro Times, and America. She is the founder of a retreat for artists in Michigan, and the Creative Discipline Class to form strong creative habits, which has been in operation for over a decade across the US and internationally. She grew up in small towns in Michigan, and lives and works in Brooklyn.

https://www.careywallace.com/

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo Lebrija chats with the Rev Tricia Lyons about the Mutual Ministry initiative at Virginia Theological seminary. A grant initiative and multi-year process designed to leverage the strengths and address the challenges of a residential, denominational seminary to meet the urgent need for clergy and lay leaders trained as ministry developers in local, culturally specific contexts by shifting from the model where professional clergy are the sole minister that others gather around.

https://vts.edu/resource/mutual-ministry/

Patricia “Tricia” Lyons is a Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology at Virginia Seminary, teaching theology and evangelism. She works with the VTS Lifelong Learning team and serves as the Senior Advisor to the Dean for Evangelism Initiatives. Tricia was a lay chaplain and teacher of religion in Episcopal Schools for 20 years before being ordained a priest and then serving urban parishes in Washington, DC, and eventually serving as Canon for Evangelism in the Diocese of Washington. Tricia also serves as a non-stipendiary priest at the Church of Saint Clement in Alexandria, VA. 

Tricia is a member of the Presiding Bishop’s Strategic Cabinet on Evangelism and one of the original writers of the “Way of Love” church-wide curriculum. She is an honors graduate from Harvard College, the Harvard Divinity School and received her doctorate from the Virginia Theological Seminary. Tricia also currently directs a 1-million-dollar grant from the Lilly Foundation, Inc., to study models of mutual ministry across the country. She is the author of five books on faith formation, “The Soul of Adolescence,” “Teaching Faith with Harry Potter,” “What is Evangelism?” “The Evangelist’s Breviary,” “Thirty Days: A Devotional” and the upcoming devotional “From Rome to Home: A 30-Day Devotional for those traveling from Roman Catholicism to the Episcopal Church.”

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo Lebrija and Fr. Dave Lloyd discuss the Garden Church Network in Norwich, England. Garden Churches Recorded in Dave's kitchen and car, the conversation explores how these lay-led missional communities are redefining faith through liminality, communitas, and radical hospitality. Dave highlights the core values of the Garden Church: devoted worshippers, loving families, equipped disciple-makers, Spirit-filled missionaries, and suffering sojourners. Discover how these communities thrive without traditional church structures, letting the Holy Spirit lead and creating space for unexpected connections.

Rev. Dave Lloyd is the Mission Development Officer for the Diocese of Norwich and Leader of The Garden Church Network, a family of 18 lay-led missional communities across rural Norfolk. Passionate about house churches and discipleship movements, Dave thrives on the entrepreneurial edge of ministry. He holds a Doctorate in Church Planting in Post-Christendom Europe from Asbury Theological Seminary and studied Theology at Oxford University before training as a lawyer in London. Called to ministry in 2008, Dave has planted a Church of England free school on a London estate, established a resource church in Norwich City, and revitalized satellite churches. In 2019, he transitioned to a co-vocational role to focus on lay-led missional communities. An adventurer at heart, he loves the sea—whether wakeboarding, sailing, fishing, or swimming—and is an accomplished jazz, gospel, salsa, and folk trumpet player, combining music and mission in venues across Norfolk. Married to Anna, with two teenage children, Zach and Georgia, Dave delights in the rich heritage of Norfolk, home to one of the world’s highest concentrations of medieval churches, as he helps others live a gathered and scattered life with Jesus.

Website: https://garden-church.org/  

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo Lebrija and Dr. Josh Packard discuss the transition of TryTank from an experimental research laboratory to an applied research institute. They explore the importance of data-driven research in understanding faith communities, particularly focusing on the role of sacred listening and the challenges of faith transmission among young adults. The conversation emphasizes the need for churches to adapt to changing dynamics and leverage research to inform action, ultimately aiming to recognize and harness God's abundance in their communities.

Josh Packard, Ph.D.

Dr. Josh Packard is the co-founder of Future of Faith and one of the foremost experts in the spiritual lives of American youth and religious trends in the United States. He is an accomplished researcher in the sociology of religion and new forms of religious expression. He has authored numerous books and articles in both popular and academic outlets including Church Refugees: Sociologists reveal why people are DONE with church but not their faith and Meaning Making: 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations. 

Josh was previously a professor, founding Executive Director of Springtide Research Institute and Vice President of Strategy with the National Catholic Educational Association.  He has a B.A. in English from Texas Lutheran University and Ph.D. in Sociology from Vanderbilt University.

He lives in Greeley, Colorado with his wife and teenage son where he is quickly becoming the third best golfer in his family of three.

Website: www.futureoffaith.org 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshpackard/ 

Twitter: @drjoshpackard

In this episode, Father Lorenzo and Anto discuss the characteristics and needs of Generation Z and the emerging Generation Alpha. They explore the age range and defining events of Gen Z, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. They highlight the importance of community for Gen Z and the opportunity for the church to provide a third space where young people can find belonging. They also discuss the challenges of the church's toxic brand and the need to reframe the church's image as a community-centered and relevant institution. Finally, they touch on the potential of mysticism and experiential spirituality to engage young people.

Antonin Ficatier has a portfolio career at the crossroad of entrepreneurship, youth culture, and academic work. He co-founded Chinese Institute, today one of France's leading training centers dedicated to teaching Chinese. Anto went to Business School in France, studied Economics in China, and completed a Master's Degree in Christian Education at Princeton Seminary. He worked for 6 years with youth and young adults in Hong Kong and England, before joining YPulse (the world’s best youth intelligence company) as the Director for Western Europe in 2022. His hope is to one day finish his Ph.D. in experimental theology that he started a while back at the University of Birmingham (UK). Originally from France, Anto lives in south London with his wife Jess and their baby Leo.

In this episode, Father Lorenzo Lebrija sits down with Reverend Tay Moss to discuss the innovative AI tool, AskCathy.ai. Discover how this groundbreaking technology, infused with Anglican and Episcopal theology, is transforming the way people engage with faith, offering answers, resources, and support 24/7. From handling theological queries to providing pastoral care insights, Cathy is here to assist congregations and individuals alike. Join us as we explore the fascinating development journey of Cathy and her potential to enhance faith communities everywhere. Tune in for an enlightening conversation on the intersection of faith and technology!

The Rev. Tay Moss earned his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and has been involved in creative ministries at the congregation and judicatory levels for the past 20 years. Some of his projects have included developing social enterprises, video production, arts-and-spirituality, food banks, continuing education for clergy in transition, children’s ministry, creative-edge worship, running conferences, and coaching churches investing grant money to grow in mission. He has been a volunteer consultant for the Diocese of Toronto working with the Congregational Development Department for more than 12 years. Tay is an excellent sailor and an above-average cook. His wife and three kids keep him quite busy, but besides sailing and cooking Tay enjoys canoe camping and chilling in hammocks.

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo talks with The Rev Callie Swanlund about clergy burnout: how prevalent it is, some of the reasons causing it, and how clergy (or lay leaders too!) can avoid it. It’s based on her book: From Weary to Wholehearted: A Restorative Resource for Overcoming Clergy Burnout.

Callie shares her journey of deciding to write the book and the signs that led her to it. She highlights the crisis of burnout among clergy and the need for support and nourishment. The conversation also touches on the changing landscape of ministry, the emergence of part-time clergy, and the importance of finding one's calling and purpose. In the chat, they explore the themes of weariness, disillusionment, comparison, and the need for rest and self-care in clergy burnout. It highlights the importance of touch and human connection, the challenges of adapting to technological changes, and the impact of racial injustice on white clergy. The show also delves into the role of spirituality and the struggle to believe in one's own worthiness.

Takeaways

·      Clergy well-being is a pressing issue in the church that needs more attention and support.

·      There is a crisis of burnout among clergy, with many contemplating leaving their call or the priesthood altogether.

·      The church needs to adapt to the changing landscape of ministry, including the emergence of part-time clergy and the need for more sustainable and fulfilling positions.

·      Finding one's calling and purpose is essential for clergy and individuals in any profession to experience fulfillment and avoid burnout. Clergy experience weariness and burnout due to various factors, including the pressure to make an impact and the challenges of their roles.

·      The COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustice in 2020 added additional stress and disillusionment for clergy.

·      Comparison and the need to prove oneself are common struggles in clergy burnout.

·      Rest and self-care are essential for clergy to prevent and overcome burnout.

·      Believing in one's own worthiness and embracing one's belovedness is crucial for clergy well-being.

Callie Swanlund is an Episcopal priest, retreat leader, spiritual companion, and coach who helps others know their belovedness and find their Spark. Her new book, From Weary to Wholehearted, is a restorative resource for overcoming ministry burnout. Callie is a creative minister and leads individuals and groups in the work of Dr. Brené Brown as a Certified Daring Way Facilitator. Her How2charist: Digital Instructed Eucharist film has reached Christians and curious individuals around the world, and her Wholehearted Wisdom movement invites others into deeper reflection and connection across social media. She lives in Philadelphia with her co-dreaming partner Jeremy, their two tween/teen children, and a rescue pup named Rufus. Join her on social media @callieswanlund or callieswanlund.com       Website: https://iona.ssw.edu/

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo talks with The Rev Nandra Perry, Ph.D. about the emerging models of ministry as the church continues to change. 

The conversation explores the changing landscape of the church and the emerging models of ministry, particularly focusing on lay-led and bi-vocational congregations. The statistics show a decline in the number of priests entering the workforce and an increase in lay-led congregations. The discussion highlights the opportunities and challenges of these new models, including the need for spiritual support and the shift towards a relational model of church. The conversation also touches on the importance of reimagining the role of buildings and embracing ecclesiastical flexibility. Overall, the conversation offers a hopeful perspective on the future of the church.

Takeaways

·      The number of priests entering the workforce is declining, while lay-led and bi-vocational congregations are increasing.

·      Lay-led congregations offer opportunities for more engagement and bottom-up approaches to ministry.

·      There is a need for spiritual support and community for lay leaders in these congregations.

·      The church needs to embrace ecclesiastical flexibility and reimagine the role of buildings.

·      Despite the challenges, there is hope and potential for growth in small congregations.

The Rev. Nandra Perry, Ph.D, joined the seminary’s staff and faculty as Director of the Iona Collaborative on June 1, 2020. In her addition to her role at the seminary, Perry serves as Vicar of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Hearne, Texas (since 2017). She is a graduate of the Iona School for Ministry in the Diocese of Texas and was ordained to the priesthood in 2017. Perry received her Ph.D. in Renaissance Literature and Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2003. Among her many published works is Imitatio Christi: The Poetics of Piety in Early Modern England (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2014). She comes to the seminary from Texas A&M University, where she was an Associate Professor in the Department of English and a faculty affiliate in Religious Studies.

Website: https://iona.ssw.edu/