How Does Theology Shape Church Property Decisions? with Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings

This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their take over of the Igniting Imagination podcast to speak with Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings, Professor of Theology and Africana Studies at Yale University Divinity School. Shannon, Mark, and Rev. Dr. Jennings dive into a powerful conversation about faith, land, and community, exploring how church property decisions are deeply intertwined with discipleship. Rev. Dr. Jennings challenges churches to rethink their relationship with the land, encouraging a deeper awareness of the historical and ethical implications of their choices.

Join us as we discuss the power of community memory and envision a renewed approach to church life—one rooted in love, shared responsibility, and the potential for true flourishing within our neighborhoods.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Mark Elsdon is the Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.

Guest

Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Jennings received his B.A. in Religion and Theological Studies from Calvin College (1984), his M.Div. (Master of Divinity degree) from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena California, and his Ph.D. degree from Duke University. Dr. Jennings, who is a theologian, teaches in the areas of Christian thought, race theory, decolonial and environmental studies. Dr. Jennings is the author of The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race published by Yale University Press. It is one of the most important books in theology written in the last 25 years and is now a standard text read in colleges, seminaries, and universities. Dr. Jennings is also the recipient of the 2015 Grawemeyer Award in Religion for his groundbreaking work on race and Christianity. 

Episode Highlights  

• Church property can be viewed through a lens of discipleship, ethics, and theology.
• The church must engage deeply with its local context, including its history and land.
• Rituals tied to real space can foster community connections and meaningful reflection.
• The incarnation signifies that God became flesh, emphasizing the importance of our relationship with the dirt.
• Churches can facilitate conversations about community needs and the moral implications of zoning laws.
• Reimagining church property involves creating opportunities for healing and community flourishing.

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(05:48) Interview with Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings 

(41:30) Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings answers rapid-fire questions

Links

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

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