The Leader’s Way

This special Halloween episode focuses on the Salem witch trials with a focus on what church leaders can learn from this period of history. Dr. Kenneth Minkema—Executive Editor of The Works of Jonathan Edwards and of the Jonathan Edwards Center & Online Archive at Yale University—teaches us about the witch trials in New England, highlighting their religious and social contexts, the dynamics of fear and accusation, and the lasting impact on American culture. The episode explores the complexities of Puritan beliefs, the role of fear and control in the witch hunts, and reflections on how these historical events relate to contemporary issues that church leaders face daily of fear, control, and othering.     Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black   Guest: Ken Minkema   Production: Goodchild Media   Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast   berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast

Brandon and Hannah chat about why the podcast is called The Leader’s Way. We hear Brandon’s definition of leadership and talk about the courage, vulnerability, and commitment required of leaders. We hear Brandon’s vocation story and reflect on the work we do, offering continuing education to church leaders.

In part 2 of our recording with a live studio audience, Bishop Barber breaks down how spiritual leaders are either prophets of the kingdom or chaplains to empire. He takes questions from the audience about the relationship between Episcopal tradition and moral demands, interfaith leadership, and leadership amid the military-industrial complex. Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black Guest: William Barber Production: Goodchild Media berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast

The Rev. Dr. William Barber joined us at the Berkeley Center with a live studio audience for this episode of The Leader's Way Podcast, which will be released in 2 parts. Barber tells his vocation story and explains how morality is the key to nonpartisan spiritual leadership in politics. He talks about the "least of these" as a central part of moral engagement in politics and takes us inside a UN conversation about poverty.   Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black Guest: William Barber Singer: Yara Allen Filmed/Edited: Goodchild Media   berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast

The Very Rev’d Randy Hollerith, Dean of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, joins us as we continue thinking about leading churches through especially political times. He talks about the church’s role as being a voice for the “better way”: the promotion of values like unity and love in contrast to what we often see in the world around us. He talks about the cathedral’s role in politics as one of convening conversation and creating space for prayer and reflection.

A rare mostly unserious episode amid serious times: Brandon and Hannah take a moment one year into the show to reflect on past episodes and celebrate the new podcast art and music. We play the inaugural Golden Retriever Games: “Taylor or Dante?” and “The Question Game.”

Kaitlyn Schiess explores the fusion of faith and politics, emphasizing spiritual formation during election season. She offers tips for discussing politically charged topics at family gatherings and addresses the unique challenges theology students face in today's environment. The conversation humorously contrasts childlike faith with adult distractions and delves into how the Bible influences our understanding of social justice. Schiess highlights the need for empathy and contextual interpretations to navigate complex political discussions within faith communities.

Father and son Richard and Christopher Hays discuss their new book The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality Within the Biblical Story. This book seeks to take the Bible seriously by taking more of the Bible seriously. These authors do not focus solely on the prooftexts that have been used to deny LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the church, nor do they try to write them off. In this book, New Testament professor Richard Hays and Old Testament professor Christopher Hays provide a fresh map through the Bible that tells the story of a God of mercy and a sexual ethic of inclusion. We talk about their reason for writing this book, the metanoia of Richard’s viewpoint since 1996, some of the passages at play, and what happens next.

The Rev’d Rob Fisher tells the story of St. John’s Lafayette Square in Washington, DC. He tells us stories about Presidents Madison and Lincoln and reminds us that the church’s history, including having lived through the American Civil War, gives us perspective. He talks about the life of the church in 2020 and tells stories of Trump’s photo op, a Molotov cocktail, the pandemic, and more. He tells the story about the city putting a fence around the church and the murals that resulted. Fisher calls us to ground ourselves this election season by tempering our media diet and paying attention to the living saints around us.

The Rev’d Rob Fisher is Rector of St. John’s Lafayette Square, known as the “Church of the Presidents.” He joins us to talk about his vocation story and what it’s like to be the priest at a church where people’s lives and careers revolve around politics. Join us next week for part 2, where Fisher discusses what it was like to be the rector of St. John’s during the events of 2020.   Hosts: Brandon Nappi, DMin and Hannah Black, PhD Guest: The Rev’d Rob Fisher   See show notes at berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast