What can the wider church learn from the rich history and theology of Black Christianity? In this episode of the Future Christian Podcast, Loren Richmond Jr. interviews Dr. Walter Strickland, a theologian and pastor, about his faith journey, spiritual practices, and the history of Black Christianity in America. Drawing from his book Swing Low, Dr. Strickland explores the anchors of Black Christianity, the impact of the Great Migration, and the tension between social engagement and gospel proclam...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 17Ep. 203
In this conversation, Reverend Jocelyn Jones shares her journey of faith, trauma, and healing, emphasizing the importance of community and therapy in overcoming personal challenges. She discusses her experiences in ministry, the barriers women face, and the significance of understanding one's value beyond societal definitions of success and failure. The conversation highlights the need for spiritual practices and wise counsel to stay centered in God's guidance while passionately sharing one's mi...
Nov 19, 2024•50 min•Season 17Ep. 202
What if the key to a deeper relationship with God lies in the way we remember? In this episode, spiritual director and author Casey Tygrett joins us to explore how memory shapes our identity and faith journey. Together, we discuss how embracing spiritual practices that center on intimacy, rather than punishment, can help us unlearn harmful narratives about God. Casey shares insights on remembering as a path to healing, especially in addressing generational trauma that influences our beliefs. We ...
Nov 13, 2024•50 min•Season 17Ep. 201
In this milestone 200th episode of the Future Christian Podcast, hosts Loren Richmond Jr. and Martha Tatarnic celebrate with a roundtable discussion on clergy wellness, joined by Brian Davis, and Kinsie Tate. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities surrounding pastoral health, sharing insights and personal experiences from their diverse backgrounds. The conversation delves into the importance of community, the performative nature of clergy life, and the challenges of burnout and ...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 17Ep. 200
What if the core problem in most humans these days isn't that we think too highly of ourselves, but rather that we live with an underlying sense of worthlessness, alienation, and disillusionment? In this episode, Chuck DeGroat joins the pod to talk about his book Healing What's Within and the concept of Internal Family Systems theory. Sharing from his background as a therapist and pastor, DeGroat explains the importance of befriending our different parts and becoming aware of how they show up in...
Nov 02, 2024•44 min•Season 17Ep. 199
What if common worship practices are elevating our anxiety rather than centering us in the peace of God? In this conversation, J. Michael Jordan joins the show to talk about the intersection of faith and mental health, particularly in relation to anxiety. He explores the historical context of the anxiety-relief repentance model in revivalist movements and its impact on worship practices. He emphasizes the need for a more holistic and sustainable approach to faith that goes beyond the cycle of an...
Oct 22, 2024•53 min•Season 17Ep. 198
Despite the headlines, young adults are still interested in church, says Jeff Keuss. In this episode, he discusses the surprising findings that young adults view churches as vital social change agents and are not opposed to their existence. Instead, they seek meaningful, inclusive, and intellectually engaging communities that address real-world issues and offer genuine care and mentorship. He also explores the concept of "belong, believe, behave" in church life, challenging traditional membershi...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 17Ep. 197
How do we make church less "white," and more welcoming and inclusive of different non-white cultures, perspectives, and persons? In this conversation, Grace Ji-Sun Kim discusses her book When God Became White: Dismantling Whiteness for More Just Christianity and the need to challenge the white, male image of God in Christianity. She shares her personal experiences with racism and explores the impact of the image of a white Jesus on the perception of race and power in the church. Dr. Kim suggests...
Oct 08, 2024•32 min•Season 17Ep. 196
Have you ever wondered if the battles we face in the modern church are just echoes of centuries-old conflicts? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. dives deep with Elesha J. Coffman to uncover how the struggles of the past are not only shaping our present but could be setting the stage for the church’s future. Elesha delves into the pivotal events that have shaped American church history, with a particular emphasis on the Methodist Church's split over slavery in 1844 and similarities between the ...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 17Ep. 195
In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. welcomes Rev. Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, who delves into her recent research, including the Latino Congregations Trends from the Faith Communities Today (FACT) study and the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) study. She highlights key findings on the state of Latino congregations in the U.S., including challenges related to building ownership, generational wealth, and reliance on fundraising. Kristina also shares insights from her book, Unr...
Sep 24, 2024•49 min•Season 17Ep. 194
In this episode, we explore with Megan Bissell the evolving landscape of American Christianity and how faith communities can adapt to new challenges. We begin by discussing the latest data on "nones" (those with no religious affiliation) and Gen Z, highlighting the need for a shift in thinking within American Christianity. Megan shares why she believes faith should be viewed as "a conversation" and why relationships rooted in listening are essential for churches looking to reconnect with modern ...
Sep 17, 2024•50 min•Season 17Ep. 193
In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. welcomes Rebekah Simon-Peter, a passionate advocate for reconnecting spiritual leaders with their divine potential to co-create miracles. They discuss the importance of moving beyond mere church attendance to fostering deep spiritual growth and apostleship within congregations. She emphasizes the significance of understanding Jesus from a Jewish perspective and how this can transform our reading of the New Testament. Loren and Rebekah also explore the challeng...
Sep 10, 2024•49 min•Season 17Ep. 192
What does it look like to live ethically as a Progressive Christian? In this episode, Amanda Udis-Kessler explores ethics from a Progressive Christian context, emphasizing the importance of loving our enemies and the connection to generosity of spirit as she believes Progressive Christianity is about striving to follow Jesus's path and working towards building a beloved community. The conversation also touches on the complexity of human nature, with the capacity for both tremendous good and terr...
Sep 03, 2024•52 min•Season 17Ep. 191
In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. welcomes Yolanda Solomon, the Director of Discipleship at Epiphany Church in Brooklyn, New York. Yolanda shares her journey in ministry, her love for the Knicks, and the importance of creating a reciprocal discipleship culture within the church. They discuss the challenges of modern discipleship, the pitfalls of fear, shame, and hatred, and the need for a long-term commitment to spiritual growth. Yolanda also provides insights on fostering a community where ev...
Aug 27, 2024•50 min•Season 17Ep. 190
In this conversation, Martha Tatarnic welcomes Rob Hurkmans about his journey in ministry and the lessons he has learned along the way. They discuss topics such as their 20th anniversary of ordination, the faith context in which Rob was raised, his calling to ministry, and his current role at Trinity Streetsville. Rob shares his experience of being an idea person and the importance of slowing down and bringing others along in the process. They also touch on the challenges of personal investment ...
Aug 13, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 16Ep. 189
Bishop Michael Pryse joins the show to share his perspectives on change and leadership in the Church from his three decades of experience in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. He has helped the church navigate change, particularly in becoming more inclusive of LGBTQ+IA individuals. The conversation explores the challenges and pitfalls of the church, particularly in relation to the changing cultural context. It emphasizes the need to let go of the past and embrace new ways of being the ch...
Aug 06, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 16Ep. 188
The conversation between Martha and Callie Swanlund covers Callie's journey in the Episcopal Church, the changes in her Christian experience, her current ministry context, and the inspiration behind her book 'From Weary to Wholehearted: A Restorative Resource for Overcoming Clergy Burnout'. The discussion also delves into the challenges of clergy burnout, the pressure points for church leaders, and the importance of support systems and retreats. The conversation explores the concept of retreat a...
Jul 30, 2024•55 min•Season 16Ep. 187
In this episode, Martha Tatarnic welcomes Jason Byassee to talk about church growth in a Mainline church context. Jason discusses the importance of churches embracing their own limitations and uncertainties. He emphasizes the need for churches to recognize that their only hope lies in the resurrection of Jesus and to be willing to give away their assets to those who can fill them. Byassee also highlights the significance of funerals in conveying the meaning of life and the role of the church in ...
Jul 23, 2024•1 hr•Season 16Ep. 186
In this conversation, Professor Alison Milbank discusses the concept of the parish and its importance in the life of faith. She shares her experiences growing up in the Church of England and the changes she has witnessed due to secularization. Milbank emphasizes the significance of the parish as a local community that brings together people of different ages and cultures. She also explores the threats to the parish, including the influence of secularization and the rise of bureaucratic manageria...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 16Ep. 185
In this episode, Martha Tatarnic continues her conversation with Elizabeth Schrader Polczer for the second part of a groundbreaking conversation on biblical scholarship. Continuing from last week, Elizabeth delves deeper into her research on the Gospel of John, Papyrus 66, and the evolving understanding of Mary Magdalene's role in early Christianity. She explores the textual instabilities around the names Mary and Martha, revealing how these edits might have been attempts to downplay Mary's sign...
Jul 09, 2024•50 min•Season 16Ep. 184
In this episode, Martha Tatarnic welcomes Elizabeth Schrader Polczer to talk about her groundbreaking work in biblical scholarship, particularly in how we see and understand Mary Magdalene and the Gospel of John. Elizabeth discusses the textual instabilities around the names Mary and Martha in John 11, visible in Papyrus 66, revealing intriguing insights and controversial edits that challenge traditional interpretations. She shares her discovery of editorial changes that suggest Martha may have ...
Jul 02, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 16Ep. 183
In this episode, Martha Tatarnic welcomes back Alexander Lang for a deep and insightful conversation. Alex, a former PCUSA pastor, has transitioned from church ministry to a technology business aimed at fostering meaningful relationships. The discussion centers on Alex's recent experiences since leaving his pastoral role and delves into the themes of his new book, "Restorative Beauty: Spirituality for the 21st Century Rationalist." Alex shares his journey over the past five months, reflecting on...
Jun 25, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 16Ep. 182
In this episode, Martha Tatarnic welcomes, Christopher Dawes, a veteran worship leader and musician in Canada. Chris discusses the challenges and pressures faced by church musicians and the unique role they play in worship. The conversation also explores the individuality and isolation experienced by church musicians and the need for better relationships between musicians and ministers. The conversation delves into the role of music in churches, the challenges faced by church musicians, and the ...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 16Ep. 181
In this joint podcast episode with Vicars' Crossing and Future Christian, Kevin, Rob and Martha talk about why as busy pastors leading churches they carve out time to be part of hosting podcasts. What are the conversations that the church needs to be having? What has been difficult for the church to talk about? What do we see as the value of making time and space for conversations with different voices from a variety of perspectives figuring our leadership in our churches today? What do we hope ...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 16Ep. 180
Rev. Teresa Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) shares about the Covenant Project, which aims to increase participation and decision-making in the church, the Church Narrative Project, which focuses on changing the narrative of the church to be more inclusive and anti-racist, and the Proclamation Project, which equips clergy with preaching resources. She also talks about the importance of data gathering and analysis in understanding the state ...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 15Ep. 179
In this episode, Loren and Martha review the highlights of the season and discuss three broad themes: pastoral health, individualization versus connection, and leading change. They play clips from interviews with Kinsie Tate, Jonathan Foster, Ted Smith, Tessa Pinkstaff, Doug Powe, Scott Thumma and more to explore these themes. They discuss the challenges clergy face in dealing with their own issues while ministering to others, the need for support and community, and the tension between individua...
May 21, 2024•56 min•Season 15Ep. 178
With the continued decline of churches and denominations, many pastors and church leaders are facing a future filled with doom. In this conversation, Brian McLaren discusses his new book Life After Doom and how the four possible scenarios for the future of our world mirror the reality of institutional church: collapse avoidance, collapse rebirth, collapse survival, and collapse extinction. McLaren emphasizes the need for pastoral care and support in the face of these challenges and encourages in...
May 14, 2024•55 min•Season 15Ep. 177
In this conversation, Tessa Pinkstaff and Dwight Zscheile discuss their book, Leading Faithful Innovation. They define faithful innovation as the adoption of new or ancient practices that help the church connect more deeply with God, each other, and their neighbors. They emphasize the need for leaders to create an environment where the Holy Spirit can lead and for the church to embrace failure as a learning opportunity. They also discuss the importance of cultivating a culture of listening, acti...
May 07, 2024•51 min•Season 15Ep. 176
With the breakdown of institutions and denominations, faltering also are the credentialing methods for pastors and clergy. In this conversation, Jonathan Foster joins the show to talk about Open Table Network, a clergy network that provides credentialing and support for pastors, chaplains, and counselors who have been excluded or marginalized by their faith traditions. With culture moving away from "big tent" institutions to affinity groups, Foster acknowledges the dangers of such but emphasizes...
Apr 30, 2024•55 min•Ep. 175
University Chaplain and Professor Nichole Torbitzsky joins the show to talk about her work with college students, how they are engaging and identifying with Christianity, and what are the biggest "stumblingblocks" for students as they consider faith. She also discusses as Open and Relational / Process theology, the importance of community and spiritual connection for young adults, and the challenges faced by college students in finding their identity and place in the church. Torbitzsky believes ...
Apr 23, 2024•47 min•Season 15Ep. 174
