Center for Congregations Podcast

Rev. Tim Lake and Rev. Raymond Dix Jr. discuss the unique makeup of their congregations and the challenges they face. They emphasize the importance of embracing diversity, understanding congregation uniqueness, and navigating transitions within the church community.

Nathan Parr, Facilities Stewardship Specialist with Smart Church Solutions, joins Dr. Terrance Bridges and Matt Burke of the Center for Congregations to discuss the challenges and solutions with facility management of congregational buildings. Nathan shares practical tips for congregations to assess and quantify the issues and costs for maintaining facilities.ResourcesSmart Church Solutions (organization)FacilitiesNet (web resource)Church Facility Management Solutions (Facebook Group)Church Facility Maintenance (article)Preserving Black Churches (organization)

National speaker, advocate and emcee, Rev. Julian DeShazier, joins JC Campbell and Matt Burke from the Center for Congregations to discuss how congregations can better adapt to changing culture and circumstances. Topics discussed include ministry arms of congregations being open about their faith background, using modern tools without losing your values, the strength of "old" songs and more. Matt and JC also discuss how change in congregations appears in the work of the Center for Congregations and share resources to help congregations navigate changes.ResourcesReimagining How We Reimagine Church by Julian DeShazier (article)Traditioned Innovation in Action by Dave Odom (article)Leading Change in the Congregation by Gil Rendle (book)Managing Transitions by William Bridges and Susan Bridges (book)Rediscovering an Evangelical Heritage by Donald Dayton (book)

Rev. Jermine Alberty joins Abby Miller and Matt Burke from the Center for Congregations to share about his experiences as a pastor and Mental Health First Aid trainer. He discusses the importance of mental health awareness both for congregational leaders and the members of congregations.ResourcesMental Health First Aid (organization)Jermine Alberty (website)NAMI (organization)Pathways 2 Promise (organization)Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries (organization)Latino Mental Health (article)A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser (book)

Please note: this episode contains conversation related to suicide. Feel free to pause or stop listening if you need to and seek personal support of a friend or loved one. If you find yourself struggling with suicidal thoughts please reach out to a professional and/or call 988.Col. Glen Bloomstrom joins Matt Burke and Shellie Riggs Jordan from the Center for Congregations to talk about how congregations can be places of support and help in suicide prevention. Glenn has worked extensively with the US military as a chaplain and consultant and is now the Director of Faith Community Engagement at LivingWorks Education.ResourcesCentre for Suicide Prevention (organization)Centre for Suicide Prevention safeTalk TrainingLivingWorks (organization) - provides training including Safe Talk, LivingWorks Faith and LivingWorks ASISTQPR Institute (organization)Mental Health First Aid for Youth (training)Saving the farm: Heartland clergy train to prevent agriculture workers' suicides (AP news article)Americans Are in a Mental Health Crisis - Especially African Americans. Can Churches Help? (article)988: National Suicide & Crisis LifelineThe Essentials of Suicide Prevention: A Blueprint for Churches by Karen Mason (book)Preventing Suicide: A Handbook for Pastors, Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors by Karen Mason (book)

As the year begins, allow yourself and your team the power to take hold of your pace and passion for work. Brenda Jank, Founder and CEO of Run Hard, Rest Well, joins Matt Burke and Abby Miller from the Center for Congregations to talk about how to help clergy and congregational leaders find rhythms of rest in order to lead well. Compelling, practical, and eye-opening, this episode will help to create a work life balance that is life-giving, transformative, and powered by God.ResourcesRun Hard, Rest Well (organization)Increasing Wholeness: Jewish Wisdom and Guided Meditations to Strengthen and Calm Body, Heart, Mind and Soul (book)Flourish by Martin Seligman (book)Ruth Haley Barton (website, author)Check out her podcast and the books Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, Sacred Rhythms and Invitation to Solitude and Silence.Kirk Byron Jones (website, author)Check out his books Addicted to Hurry and Fulfilled

Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes joins Abby and Matt to talk about how she envisions engagement with young adults. The conversation focuses on defining what one means by "young adults" and ways to create relationship and space for this demographic.ResourcesYoung Adults and Your Congregation (article)Thinkq media (organization)Technology, Innovation, & Digital Engagement Lab (Tidel)Engaging Young Adults: Creating a Culture of Belonging (video) Passcode: GCWOct23!

Tyler Harden, co-founder of Firm Foundations Marketing joins Shellie and Matt to talk about marketing and communications. He discusses the importance of understanding not only those who you are speaking to but also understanding your own congregational identity.ResourcesLess Chaos, Less Noise by Kem Meyer (book)The Association of Religious Data Archives (website)Ministry Reset (website)Firm Foundations Marketing (organization)Who Are You? Marketing and Branding for Congregations (podcast)The Congregational Resource Guide (website)

Dr. Nii Addy talks with Shellie and Matt about how he came to his interest in neuroscience and mental health, how understanding neuroscience can benefit knowledge about mental health, medication reluctance and processes for approving psychiatric medication and mental health resources for congregations. Shellie and Matt talk about why they are so interested in neuroscience and also recommend some helpful resources for congregational leaders.ResourcesMental Health: A Guide for Faith Leaders (web resource)National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) (organization)Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson (book)The Addy Hour (podcast)The Addy Minute (blog)Middle School Ministry by Mark Oestreicher and Scott Rubin (book)You're a Miracle and a Pain in the Ass by Mike McHargue (book)Parent Cue (website)Beauty in Broken Things: A Guide to Kintsugi (article)

Kaitlyn Schiess, author, speaker, podcaster and doctoral student joins Matt and Abby to discuss her book The Liturgy of Politics. The conversation centers on the deeper meanings of politics and liturgy and how this deeper understanding can create a flourishing community.ResourcesThe Colossian Forum (organization)Hijacked: Responding to the Partisan Church Divide (book)The Ballot and the Bible by Kaitlyn Schiess (book)The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor by Kaitlyn Schiess (book)Kaitlyn's WebsiteThe Congregational Resource Guide (The CRG)