Church is Changing
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 17, 2024 • 30min
Church is Changing: Episode 49 – Felicia Hopkins
In this episode, Paul Nixon interviews Northwest Texas DS Felicia Hopkins on her experience through disaffiliation of 80 percent of her churches. Hopkins also discusses moving onto a season of planting and creativity in West Texas.
Apr 3, 2024 • 35min
Church is Changing: Episode 48 – Paul Nixon
If you refuse to lead a dying church, this conversation is for you! Paul Nixon has recently revised his best-selling book "I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church" for the new cultural context in which we find ourselves.
In this episode, he offers six choices that churches and church leaders need to make in order to thrive in our post-Covid world. They include the following: choosing life over death; choosing community over isolation; choosing fun over drudgery; choosing bold over mild; choosing frontier over fortress; and choosing now rather than later.
The book will be available on May 15. You can also host a book party in person or online by contacting Paul at paulnixon@me.com. Learn more at epicentergroup.org.
Mar 20, 2024 • 35min
Church is Changing: Episode 47 – Nigel Pimlott
Nigel Pimlott reflects on 40 years of ministry, highlighting innovative church practices and leadership dynamics. He discusses transitioning towards sustainable practices post-pandemic, proposing caution, fresh perspectives, and a federation model for Methodism. The conversation dives into relational discipleship, community engagement, and the need for prophetic voices in evolving church practices.
Mar 6, 2024 • 34min
Church is Changing: Episode 46 – Dustin Mailman
What do coffee roasting, Howard Thurman, and people with criminal records have in common? Listen to our conversation with Dustin Mailman, who leads Deep Time, a new ministry anchored at Trinity UMC in West Asheville, North Carolina.
To find out more or purchase some coffee go to deeptimeavl.org. To contact Dustin Mailman directly, email dustin@trinitywavl.org.
Feb 21, 2024 • 53min
Church is Changing: Episode 45 – Dr. Candace Lewis
Dr. Candace Lewis discusses church innovation, pursuing peace, addressing racial bias, and empowering community involvement for systemic change with host Paul Nixon. They emphasize the importance of addressing hard issues, fostering dialogue, and promoting shared leadership in the evolving church landscape.
Feb 7, 2024 • 40min
Church is Changing: Episode 44 - Patricia Peña
In this episode of Church is Changing, host Paul Nixon interviews Patricia Peña of the Path 1 team. Patricia focuses on diversity in new ministry development in the UMC. Paul and Patricia discuss the future of ethnic ministries in the UMC, after so many churches disaffiliated.
Jan 10, 2024 • 31min
Church is Changing: Episode 43 - Edgewalkers
In this episode, Paul Nixon and Beth Estock explore the concept of Edgewalking. Edgewalking church leaders have one foot firmly within the church, typically with strong core convictions and Christology, even as they engage with people beyond the church, gaining wisdom of perspective that helps the church in its mission. Beth and Paul are convinced that this Edgewalking concept is core to effective spiritual leadership in the 2020s. To learn more about Edgewalkers, see the 2006 book Edgewalkers by Judi Neal, and the daily meditation by Richard Rohr's team, written by Victoria Loorz, entitled Edge Walking.
Dec 27, 2023 • 42min
Church is Changing: Episode 42 - NETT Church
In this episode, Paul Nixon interviews Rodrigo Cruz and Nora Colmeneras of NETT Church near Atlanta. They discuss what they are learning about multicultural church and about church recovery from the pandemic season.
Dec 13, 2023 • 35min
Church is Changing: Episode 41 – Cindy Thompson
Does your church space sit empty during most of the week? Do you dream about it being used for the common good but don’t know how to begin? Listen to Beth Estock’s conversation with Cindy Thompson, Executive Director of Boundless Impact – a nonprofit that equips faith communities to build bridges into their community through creating pathways for equitable economic empowerment.
Click here for more information on ImagineHub. https://www.boundlessimpact.org/imaginehub
Here are some of Cindy’s favorite book suggestions:
• Doing the Math of Mission by Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle
• Creative Confidence by Tom & David Kelley
• Jesus on Main Street by Dave Kresta
• Recovering Abundance by Rev. Andy Stanton-Henry
• Flood Gates by Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey
• Faith-Rooted Organizing by Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra and Peter Heltzel
Nov 29, 2023 • 38min
Church is Changing: Episode 40 – Melissa Maher
In this episode of Church is Changing, Texas Conference church developer Melissa Maher visits with Paul Nixon about why addiction recovery groups were so resilient during the pandemic, even as churches struggled. It is a conversation full of surprises. But if you know much about twelve-step rooms, you will not be surprised that they are more proficient than many churches in terms of convening engaging and transformational community.
