The Role of Pastors in Community Engagement and Politics with Tyler Burns

Although there are notable examples of evangelical churches with overt ties to political leaders and leanings, many churches take a more ambivalent posture. Many pastors are loathe to even mention politics or political issues from the pulpit. But perhaps they can learn from the example of Black church leaders. As this week’s guest Tyler Burns explains, in the Black church a pastor's role often extends far beyond the walls of the church. They are not solely spiritual leaders but can also exert significant influence within their communities, especially in the realm of politics.

Burns is a dedicated pastor and advocate for community engagement and political involvement. With host Kaitlyn Schiess, they centered on the multifaceted responsibilities and opportunities for pastors when it comes to community and politics, and how Christians in the majority culture can learn from the experiences of often-marginalized voices in the church.

In a society marked by short-lived, emotional change, Burns encouraged pastors and ministry leaders to prioritize deep, transformative soul work. This approach involves going deep within oneself to understand the origins of anger and frustration and to engage with the community before speaking loudly on important issues.

To learn more, to tune in and discover the valuable perspective and insights that Burns and Schiess shared.

In this episode, we highlight the following themes:

• The importance of pastors engaging with their community and being political
• Debunking the popular narrative about charismatic churches and their political affiliations
• Acknowledging the role of grief, recognizing mistakes, and taking responsibility for complicity.

Links from this episode:

• Know more about Tyler Burns: https://chasingjustice.com/tyler-burns
• Listen to Tyler’s podcast: https://chasingjustice.com/podcasts

For its fifth season, hosted by Kaitlyn Schiess, The Disrupters podcast from IVP asks the question, "What does it mean to disrupt ourselves?" Join Kaitlyn as she explores the ways that Christians can prepare themselves—spiritually, emotionally, and relationally—to faithfully disrupt the church and the world. Pastors, scholars, activists, and therapists share their own experiences of formation and transformation to educate and inspire listeners who seek lasting change, both within themselves and in their communities. 

Books to add to your reading list:

• Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley
• Thinking in Tongues by James K.A. Smith

Other links

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Maila Kim, Helen Lee, Travis Albritton, and Andrew Bronson

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅ Production Assistant: Isis Toldson

✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅ Theme Song: "People" by Lightmuzik

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

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