Innovative Community Initiatives in Faith and Social Change

This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane speak with Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean and Rev. Dr. Michael Beck to explore the concept of "small boats," or small experiments that are giving us vision and hope for the church as we look to the future. Traditional leadership models are transitioning to leadership that empowers others in the community, fostering gifts and spiritual growth. Kenda and Michael discuss various themes integral to the evolving church, highlighting the significant role of trust-building and patient, deliberate leadership in fostering genuine community connections. 

Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Kenda, and Michael explore how small, nimble efforts within faith communities can achieve extraordinary impacts. 

Guests

Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean is an ordained pastor, professor, and author. She is Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. Her work has focused on building meaningful connections among youth, culture, and the church. She is the author of Innovating for Love. Kenda was named the 2024 Distinguished Locke Innovative Leader.

Rev. Dr. Michael Beck is a pastor, professor, coach, consultant, and author. Michael is the Director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church, Director of Fresh Expressions Florida, and Director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church. He serves as the co-pastor of Wildwood UMC, St. Marks UMC, and Compassion UMC with his wife, Jill. 

 Quotes

• “You can't do the vision God has given you without winning the trust of the people God has given you. That is something that's a slow walk of patience in a lot of cases. There are some risks that you take for sure, but you do a lot of really normal stuff, like just walking with people while they struggle." -Kenda Creasy Dean [26:16]

• “We're teaching what we think is the heart of the faith, which is union with Jesus. That is the goal here. It's not that you become a member of something or, you know, that you do all the religious service stuff, but that you experience deep union with Jesus. From doing that, you will change and you'll be a more compassionate kind of person.” -Michael Beck [45:55]

Episode Highlights  

• Small Boats: The concept emphasizes the substantial impact of numerous small, adaptable initiatives within the church.
• Trust and Patience: Building trust within communities and going at a pace that allows for real connection and leadership development.
• Innovative Models: Fresh Expressions demonstrates how integrating faith into everyday activities can make the church more accessible and relevant.
• Leader of Leaders: The need for modern clergy to be leaders who empower others, moving away from the "pastoral vending machine" model.
• Deep Formation: Ensuring new church movements incorporate deep spiritual and communal formation to sustain long-term impact.

Timestamps

(00:00) Exploring Small Boats and Innovation in the Future Church

(06:43) Small Boats Solving Big Problems: The Dunkirk Analogy

(09:43) Fresh Expressions and the Shift from Big Boats to Small Boats

(18:30) Reimagining Church Leadership and Mission

(21:47) Trust, Transformation, and Community in Church Leadership

(25:20) Building Trust and Leadership in Pastoral Training

(38:06) Integrating Faith into Everyday Life

(47:13) Future of the Mainline Church and Youth Ministry Innovations

Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

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