Future Christian

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. He discusses the need for a new way of thinking about God and the importance of embracing the complexities of life.  Mark Feldmeir is the author of five books, including his latest work, Life after God: Finding Fath When You Can’t Believe Anymore. He has served on the Adjunct Faculty at Claremont School of Theology, where he has taught homiletics, and has spoken at various conferences throughout the country on topics ranging from preaching, politics, and pop culture. He currently serves as Lead Pastor at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Mark received his B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of California, Riverside (1990), and his M.Div. from Claremont School of Theology (1993). Mark enjoys cycling, skiing, fly fishing, and camping in his 2002 VW Eurovan. Previous Episode with Mark: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-w4uw5-f882a9   Presenting Sponsor: Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.    Supporting Sponsors: I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian' Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.   Future Christian Team: Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host Paul Romig–Leavitt – Executive Producer Danny Burton - Producer Dennis Sanders – Producer

Experts discuss AI's role in the church, including using AI for articulating faith stories and boosting productivity. They address the fears of AI replacing human gifts and the importance of ethics. The conversation also explores consciousness in AI and the ethical dilemmas surrounding its development.

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 churches and leaders to practice humility and address patriarchal structures in worship and theology. Liz also discusses the importance of inclusive worship, genuine representation, and the importance of including diverse voices. She encourages male pastors and leaders to actively support women in ministry. Liz Cooledge Jenkins is a writer, preacher, former college campus minister, and the author of Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women’s Humanity from Evangelicalism. She writes at the intersections of faith, feminism, and social justice, and her work can be found at places like Sojourners and The Christian Century—as well as her new Substack, Growing Into Kinship, and her blog at lizcooledgejenkins.com. Liz lives in the Seattle area with her husband and their black cat Athena, where she enjoys hiking, swimming, attempting to grow vegetables, and drinking a lot of tea. Social media (Instagram): @lizcoolj and @postevangelicalprayers   Presenting Sponsor: Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.    Supporting Sponsors: I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian' Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.   Future Christian Team: Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host Paul Romig–Leavitt – Executive Producer Danny Burton - Producer Dennis Sanders – Producer  

Jessica Dominguez discusses mobilizing churches for affordable housing, sharing her journey from teaching to housing development. The podcast explores the challenges and solutions for churches in creating affordable housing projects, emphasizing the importance of faith, collective effort, and community action in addressing housing insecurity.

Dave Boden discusses reaching people beyond the church, belonging before believing, and the power of hospitality. He highlights the limitations of logic-based arguments and the importance of experiential learning in faith. Boden encourages stirring spiritual curiosity, helping young people understand their identity and purpose, and re-enchanting people.

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 accommodating. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and resilience for clergy to effectively address personal and systemic issues. Tate also reflects on the limitations of virtual interactions for connection, the alignment of beliefs with lived experiences, and the necessity for clergy to process emotions healthily. She advocates for intentional reflection, community support, and the potential for positive change and hope within the church. Rev. Kinsie Tate is the Founder and Executive Director of Restore Clergy, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support clergy with programs that improve wellness to cultivate faithful and sustainable ministry. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and has a private practice where she has facilitated growth and transformation for clients for over a decade. She completed her Master of Divinity at Phillips Theological Seminary and was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 2007. She served as an associate minister for 3 years prior to returning to complete her Master of Education in Applied Behavioral Studies at Oklahoma City University in 2010. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oklahoma in 2012 and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California in 2021. She was certified as a Truce Coach in 2022. She lives in California with her spouse, who is United Methodist Clergy serving in a local congregation, and their 3 school age children.    FB: https://www.facebook.com/restoreclergy/  Insta: https://www.instagram.com/restoreclergy/  website: www.restoreclergy.com    Scott Thumma episode: https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/understanding-the-impact-of-societal-changes-on-congregational-dynamics-insights-from-dr-scott-thumma/   Irie Lynn Session episode: https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/womanist-ministry-dr-irie-session-talks-preaching-the-black-church-tradition-and-womanist-theology/   Presenting Sponsor: Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.    Supporting Sponsors: I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian' Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

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 highlights how womanism has shaped her approach to scripture, informed her theological perspective, and shaped her preaching. She also tells the story of the founding of her church, which emphasizes Womanist preaching and theology within the Black religious tradition. Rev. Dr. Irie Lynne Session was raised in New York City, and now resides in Cedar Hill, Texas a suburb of Dallas. She's the proud mother of India Liana Session. Dr. Irie holds a B.S. in Social Work from Oklahoma Christian University, an M.Div. with a Certificate in Black Church Studies from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School, specializing in Transformative Leadership and Prophetic Preaching. She's an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and CEO of DreamBIG Coaching & Consulting. Dr. Irie is currently the Co-Pastor of The Gathering, A Womanist Church in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Irie is co-author of, The Gathering, A Womanist Church: Origins, Stories, Sermons, & Litanies. She is also author of Badass Women of the Bible and, Murdered Souls, Resurrected Lives. Her latest Journal article is titled, “Sawubona in a Pandemic: Black Women, Embodied Ecclesiology, and Sacred Spaces in Cyberspace.” Facebook: @revdririe IG: Revdririe / SheRev_Style Twitter: @revdririe   Presenting Sponsor: Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.    Supporting Sponsors: I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian' Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.  

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 leaders in discerning God's call and living into the contributions each individual can make to their communities. Dea Jenkins is an award winning interdisciplinary artist originally from Houston, Texas. Dea's art practice spans multiple fields, including visual art, performance, and film. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, and is currently developing multiple multimedia projects. As the recipient of three fellowships and multiple artist grants, Dea has fused her art practice with a deep love for research. She has a dual master's degree from Fuller Seminary with an emphasis in Theology and the Arts. In addition to her art practice, Dea is also an independent curator and the Director of the Inbreak Collective. Her love for creating expands beyond her individual practice to include crafting spaces for others to explore their own creative journey. @dea.artist   Presenting Sponsor: Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.    Supporting Sponsors: I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian' Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.   Chapters 07:40 Art and Spirituality in the Church 13:55 Working with Spiritual and Church Leaders 19:13 Commitment to the Big C Church 23:20 Discerning God's Call 31:43 Supporting Leaders in Ministry 35:28 The Importance of Rest and Replenishment 37:01 Not Forgetting the Gift of the Pandemic 39:09 The Work of Cyclical in Supporting Church Leaders 42:29 Closing Questions

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 delivery, highlighting the role of the Holy Spirit in the act of preaching. The discussion also touches on the secular ideology of the "imminent frame" and the need to reclaim a sense of enchantment and curiosity in faith. Jay Kim also shares some practical analog ideas for engaging with scripture, such as reading it aloud, to counteract the individualistic approaches. Jay Y. Kim serves as the lead pastor at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley and on the leadership team of the ReGeneration Project. He has experienced the digital church in all its splendor and writes about it in his two books, Analog Church and Analog Christian. Kim's writing has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, and Relevant Magazine. He lives in Silicon Valley with his wife and two children. Presenting Sponsor: Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.    Supporting Sponsors: I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian' Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.

Mark Elsdon discusses the impending transition of church properties and explores alternatives to selling, such as donations and social enterprises. He emphasizes the need for purposeful action in repurposing these spaces and highlights the community impact. The podcast also touches on the value of preserving sacred spaces amidst these changes and the importance of aligning money and mission in church property transitions.