Across American Christianity, there is a shortage of clergy, and this is exacerbated by financial struggles, housing issues, and the emotional toll of being a pastor. In this episode, Carol Howard joins the show to talk about challenges and trends in clergy health. She also explored the impact of these trends on younger clergy and the need for the church to invest in clergy support. Howard also shares from her book Wounded Pastors, which explores the concept of Family Systems Theory and its appl...
Apr 16, 2024•51 min•Season 15Ep. 173
Its no secret that the church as an institution in America is undergoing great change, and with it the role and function of clergy. In this episode, Ted Smith joins the show to talk about the history of formal theological education in the United States, the transition from the standing order to voluntary associations as the primary sociological gathering model, the professionalization of ministry, and the emergence of denominations as we know them. He also talks about the downsides of the profes...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 15Ep. 172
So, you're trying to sustain a church for continued health... while also disrupting the status quo... impossible, right? Not so, says Pastor and author Doug Powe. In this episode, we talk about his book Sustaining While Disrupting, emphasizing the importance of thinking like an outsider, taking risks, and putting aside convictions. Doug makes his case from the stories of the early church in Acts. He also addresses the challenges of navigating disputes in the church, particularly regarding issues...
Apr 02, 2024•48 min•Season 15Ep. 171
Churches and individuals are facing a time of division and uncertainty, as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, political discord, and changing beliefs about God. In this episode, Mark Feldmeir delves into the realities of leading a progressive congregation in a conservative community, the innovative responses to the pandemic, and the denominational shifts within Methodism. Mark also shares insights from his book, 'Life After God,' which explores finding faith when one can't believe anymore. H...
Mar 26, 2024•46 min•Season 15Ep. 170
In this episode, Ryan Panzer and Jake Doberenz join Loren and Martha to discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the church. They share examples of how they are currently using AI in ministry. They also discuss the potential and possibilities of AI, including its role as a tool for helping to articulate faith stories and as a productivity booster. The conversation also highlights the importance of preaching and teaching, the caution of embracing AI without replacing human gifts, and th...
Mar 19, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 15Ep. 169
In this conversation, Liz Cooledge Jenkins shares her journey from growing up in a Mainline Protestant church to exploring conservative evangelicalism and eventually returning to Mainline Protestant communities. She discusses the reasons why many people leave mainline contexts for evangelicalism and the challenges she faced within evangelical churches. She shares insights from her book, 'Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women's Humanity from Evangelicalism,' and highlights the need for church...
Mar 12, 2024•51 min•Season 15Ep. 168
Is your church seeking to advocate for affordable housing? In this episode, Jessica Dominguez joins the show to talk about her work helping churches develop land for housing and what churches can do, big and small to make a difference. Beginning with a 20-year career in public education to a pivotal role in shaping Denver's housing priorities, Jessica recounts the moment that ignited her mission to combat housing insecurity, a call that led her to significant contributions in the housing sector....
Mar 05, 2024•50 min•Season 15Ep. 167
In this conversation, Dave Boden discusses the importance of reaching people beyond the church and the need for a fresh approach to evangelism and discipleship. He emphasizes the concept of belonging before believing and the power of hospitality in creating a sense of community. Dave also highlights the limitations of logic-based arguments and the importance of experiential learning in the process of faith. He encourages Christians to connect with people where they are and to show and tell the m...
Feb 27, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 15Ep. 166
Pastoral ministry seems harder than ever. Data shows pastors are increasingly feeling burnt out while churches are also less inclined to want to change. What is a stressed pastor to do? In this episode, recorded at Phillips Theological Seminary during the Remind and Renew conference , Kinsie Tate, a licensed counselor and founder of Restore Clergy, discusses the challenges clergy face, including burnout exacerbated by the pandemic, and the common stress responses of competing, avoiding, and acco...
Feb 20, 2024•55 min•Season 15Ep. 165
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 ...
Feb 13, 2024•51 min•Season 15Ep. 164
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 leade...
Feb 06, 2024•51 min•Season 15Ep. 163
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 deliv...
Jan 30, 2024•48 min•Season 15Ep. 162
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 ...
Jan 23, 2024•46 min•Season 15Ep. 161
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 ...
Jan 16, 2024•51 min•Season 15Ep. 160
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 Anth...
Jan 09, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 159
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 o...
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 158
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:...
Dec 19, 2023•59 min•Ep. 157
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 A...
Dec 12, 2023•52 min•Season 14Ep. 156
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 i...
Dec 05, 2023•51 min•Season 14Ep. 155
What's the Future of Theological Education? In this episode, Rev. Ulysses Allen, the Director of Recruitment and Retention at Phillips Seminary joins the show to talk about the challenges faced by seminarians, including student loan debt and limited job opportunities. Despite these challenges, Allen highlights the importance of seminary education in providing a foundation for engaging with difficult texts, understanding oneself better, and preparing people to walk with people during their toughe...
Nov 28, 2023•55 min•Season 14Ep. 154
Most Pastors would agree that the American church in the midst of a crisis of decline, as lagging attendance, giving, and influence continue to cause havoc in local congregations. Yet, despite all this, Andrew Root argues the real crisis that should keep pastors up at night isn't shrinking budgets or lessening participation--rather it is the realization that for most people, even many pastors, we can live and act as if God doesn't matter and doesn't even exist. In this conversation, we talk abou...
Nov 21, 2023•52 min•Season 14Ep. 153
In this episode, Dorcas Chang-Tozun joins the show to talk about her personal faith journey, her thought-provoking book Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul, and her profound insights on social activism. Dorcas passionately emphasizes the significance of acknowledging the unique experiences of sensitive individuals within the realm of activism, urging listeners to broaden their understanding of what constitutes effective social change. Furthermore, she delves into the complex interplay between ...
Nov 14, 2023•53 min•Season 14Ep. 152
David Emery joins the show to talk about why church structure is a significant obstacle in the church, as it can stifle the openness and potential for growth. He emphasizes the need for the structure to align with the vision and direction of the church, rather than becoming a hindrance. He also highlights the importance of theological humility and the willingness to listen. Emery also talks about his hopes for the future of Christianity, why he thinks there is a need for humility in mainline con...
Nov 07, 2023•48 min•Season 14Ep. 151
Rev. Gail Cafferata was heartbroken when the church she pastored closed its doors. It may have been the right decision, but it led to a million questions in her mind about her call, leadership, and future. In this episode, Gail interviews Loren about his own experience closing a church, and together they talk about some of the challenges, heartbreak, and experiences learned from their experiences, sharing wisdom from the book The Last Pastor which Gail wrote from a sociological study she conduct...
Oct 31, 2023•47 min•Season 14Ep. 150
In this mid-season recap of the Future Christian Podcast, hosts Loren Richmond Jr. and Martha Tatarnic reflect on the topics and guests featured so far in season 14. They discuss their process for selecting guests and the podcast's focus on issues relevant to churches and pastors. They highlight themes such as church planting, reimagining church structures, and love for the church. They also discuss the importance of pastors' mental health and the need for support systems, while examining the fi...
Oct 24, 2023•59 min•Season 14Ep. 149
Pastors and church planters need more support, but where should they look and what types of relationships should they seek? In this conversation, Pastor, church planter, and author Scott Nelson shares about the five essential relationships each ministry leader needs to have. They also discuss setting boundaries and finding the right kind of support in ministry, the redemptive nature of suffering, and the inner journey that clergy and ministers must go through. Scott emphasizes the importance of ...
Oct 17, 2023•53 min•Ep. 148
How can churches foster innovation and reinvent their ministry in today's changing world? Meghan Hatcher, the Director of the Innovation Laboratory at the Center for Youth Ministry Training, joins the pod to share ideas. Meghan talks about her personal experience of taking a break and returning to the church. She also explains the purpose and approach of the Innovation Lab, which aims to help faith communities reinvent ministry models across the whole church. Meghan emphasizes the importance of ...
Oct 10, 2023•51 min•Season 14Ep. 147
Do you remember that viral post about pastoral ministry? In this episode, we welcome the author of that piece, Rev. Alexander Lang, an ordained pastor and author. Martha Tatarnic hosts the conversation, and they discuss Lang's background and key points from his article, especially the emotional toll of being a pastor and the challenges of maintaining a declining institution. They also explore the challenges pastors face in navigating their personal emotions while fulfilling their pastoral duties...
Oct 03, 2023•1 hr•Season 14Ep. 146
As more churches explore the opportunity of affordable housing, Rev. Melissa St. Clair shares the journey of developing her church's property. In this episode, we talk about the dream for Heartside Hill and its evolution over time, fundraising efforts and partnerships for the development of Heartside Hill, and how they built relationships with existing neighbors and gained community involvement. Melissa also shares the importance of connecting the project to the church's mission while also offer...
Sep 26, 2023•58 min•Season 14Ep. 145
These days, it seems like everyone is walking away from church. Not so for Ally Henny, who discusses in this episode the potential of the church and why she hasn't given up on it, despite its flaws and challenges. She believes that the church has a unique role in providing a sense of community and support, especially for marginalized groups. Ally also emphasizes the importance of the church in addressing social justice issues and making a positive difference in the world. Looking towards the fut...
Sep 19, 2023•57 min•Season 14Ep. 144
