Church is Changing
We bring you stories of hope and resilience from leaders around the world who are engaging the gospel message in new ways. We interview thought leaders who bring wisdom about the changing cultural landscape and its implications for faith formation. If you are a church leader looking for practical ideas and new ways of approaching church in the 21st century, this podcast is for you.
About the Hosts:
Beth Estock
After serving as a United Methodist pastor in a variety of settings in Georgia and Oregon, and then as Director of New Faith Community Development in the Oregon and Idaho conferences of The United Methodist Church, Beth Estock wanted to help big-hearted leaders have impact without exhaustion. She is a Master Certified Integral Coach™ as well as a meditative yoga instructor. Her contemplative sensibilities and integral approach inform her coaching work with leaders all over North America and the United Kingdom.
She has written two books, Weird Church: Welcome to the 21st Century and Discernment: Spiritual Practices for Building a Life of Faith. You can find out more about her at www.bethestock.com
Paul Nixon
Paul Nixon is Director of Church Multiplication for Discipleship Ministries, an agency of The United Methodist Church. He has served as a Director of Church Development for an annual conference, served as a church planter, and coached scores of innovative leaders across the last quarter century. Paul is the president of Epicenter Group, a coaching organization currently focused on ministry in North America and the United Kingdom. Paul has written eleven books – including a joyful collaboration with Beth Estock in 2016 as they released Weird Church: Welcome to the 21stt Century. His most recent book is Launching a New Worship Community: A Field Guide for the 2020s, co-authored with Craig Gilbert and twelve ministry innovators. You can find out more about him at www.epicentergroup.org.
Latest episodes
Jan 22, 2025 • 31min
Church is Changing: Episode 66 – Erin Martin
Are you feeling stuck? Are the things that used to work no longer working? Are you questioning the future of the church as we know it? Then this conversation is for you!
Listen in on this conversation from Portland, Oregon – a post-Christendom area of the United States that is a harbinger for the rest of the country in terms of the changing landscape of the church.
Erin Martin left her role as a DS in the Portland Metro area to serve a local church during Covid lockdown. She shares how immersing in the grief of a dying institution led her to new life for herself and her local congregation.
You can find out more about Fremont UMC at fremontumc.org
In our conversation Erin refers to 2 books:
• Jesus, Jubilee, and the Politics of God’s Reign by Christian T. Collins
• Hospicing Modernity by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira
Jan 3, 2025 • 35min
Church is Changing: Episode 65 – Improv Theology
In this episode of Church is Changing, Paul Nixon interviews the Rev. Katie Philips of The Vine UMC in northern Virginia. The Vine is host of a monthly gathering called Improv Church, using improv comedy as a vehicle for celebrating Gospel. Beyond this particular program of the Vine, the larger focus of this conversation is about Ministry as improv – or what Katie calls improv theology. For more about the topics explored, check out Katie's website improvtheology.com.
Jan 3, 2025 • 42min
Church is Changing: Episode 63 – Dan Pezet
Dan Pezet is district superintendent in Charlotte, North Carolina, with urban, suburban, and rural churches. Paul Nixon considers this district a microcosm of American Methodism east of the Rockies. In this episode, Paul poses many of the same questions to Dan that he and Beth Estock explored in the year end episode of 2024. This is a conversation about emerging trends in American congregational life.
Jan 3, 2025 • 31min
Church is Changing: Episode 64 – Wayne Grewcock
What is possible with twelve elderly people in an old church building? Listen to this conversation with Wayne Grewcock, who led this group of bright-eyed people to reimagine sacred community online. Listen to Shoreline’s origin story and the impact this ministry is having as it ripples out on multiple platforms.
Click here to learn more about Shoreline Methodist Community: https://www.facebook.com/shorelinemethodistcommunity
Dec 4, 2024 • 32min
Church is Changing: Episode 62 – 2024 Year in Review
In this final episode of 2024, Church is Changing hosts Paul Nixon and Beth Estock reflect on trends and issues of parish ministry that marked the year now ending.
Dec 2, 2024 • 36min
Church is Changing: Episode 61 – Samuel Lacher & Moritz Mosebach
In this episode, host Paul Nixon interviews two young German United Methodists, Samuel Lacher and Moritz Mosebach. Samuel and Moritz reflect on shifts happening in German Methodism that are leading to more success in engaging young adults. The key is a re-emphasis on encounter – an idea as old as the Gospels and prominent in evangelism theory across the ages.
Nov 11, 2024 • 43min
Church is Changing: Episode 60 – Storyline Community PDX
How does transformation happen? Anna Hoesly and Stori Long would say – one story at a time, especially when you believe that everything that is needed can be unearthed and nurtured through listening deeply to our sacred stories in community.
If you are interested in the inherent simplicity in building beloved community through story, you won’t want to miss this conversation!
Click here for more information on Storyline Community PDX: https://www.storylinecommunitypdx.org
Oct 23, 2024 • 31min
Church is Changing: Episode 59 – David Teel & Karen Jones
In this episode, host Paul Nixon interviews two pastors who have helped birth new, vital UMC congregations after predecessor churches disaffiliated from the denomination. David Teel of North Alabama and Karen Jones of South Carolina share what they have learned on their planting journeys!
Sep 18, 2024 • 34min
Church is Changing: Episode 58 – Elizabeth LeMaster
What would you do if you had five grieving people and an entire church campus as your canvas for starting something new? Listen to my hope-filled and energizing conversation with Rev. Dr. Elizabeth LeMaster, pastor at Sedona United Methodist Church in Arizona.
The church has a beautiful campus set against the red rocks, but ended up with five members after the season of disaffiliations. Elizabeth talks about the importance of prayer and deep listening as the foundation for flourishing in ministry against the odds.
Sep 4, 2024 • 34min
Church is Changing: Episode 57 – Jessica Taylor
In this episode, Paul Nixon interviews Jessica Taylor, Associate Director of Fresh Expressions United Methodist (FXUM). Paul and Jessica explore the basics of the FX movement, ponder the difference (or lack of difference) between Fresh Expressions and new churches. Jessica comes to ministry as a laywoman, a 20-something, a young mom, and a person who came to faith as a young adult. She has a lot to teach those of us who have been at ministry for a good while.
