Center for Congregations Podcast

Rev. Callie Smith and Dr. Rob Saler join Matt and Ben to discuss the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program. They unpack the importance of rest and renewal for both clergy leaders and congregations and offer some insights and resources.Resourceshttps://thecrg.org/collections/Don_t_Be_a_Clergy_Killer

Manuel Corazzari joins Matt and Ben to discuss marketing and branding for congregations including the importance of knowing your unique identity.ResourcesStorybrandPro Church ToolsLess Chaos. Less Noise. Effective Communication for an Effective Church

Pastor Javier Mondragon joins Ben and Matt to discuss the challenges and benefits of leading a multicultural congregation.Resources:https://thecrg.org/collections/Make_It_Personal_Leading_a_Multicultural_Congregation

David Gungor joins Ben and Matt to talk about how worship is more than just singing together. He also discusses how Good Shepherd New York is an integrated community where the gifts of the members are used to uplift the community and the importance of authentic relationship among all.Resourceshttps://thecrg.org/collections/Worship_as_the_Work_of_the_PeopleGood Shepherd New York's Website

Shellie and Ben speak with John Ray from Light of the World Christian Church about all that it takes to plan a successful worship service. They discuss music as a specific element of the worship serve and as the overarching lifestyle of the congregation. John explores the many hats that he wears and offers advice about balancing the technical quality of worship with the need to follow the invitation of the Spirit.

Ben sits down with Aimee Laramore and Louise Jackson to unpack the ins and outs of strategic planning. They take you into the mind of strategic planning consultants and identify common pitfalls they've seen derail the planning process while highlighting the importance of honestly assessing whether our vision aligns with the capacity and resources of our team. Resourceshttps://thecrg.org/collections/Congregational_PlanningALlydTalent Cabinet

Pastor John Stange joins Kate and Ben to explain the best practices for engaging with tech volunteers.Links:http://www.opensong.org/

Enneargram writer, teacher and coach Leanette Pokuwaah joins Ben and Matt to talk about how the enneagram can be used well in congregational contexts. She also discusses the importance of keeping space for trauma and racial identity in conversations about the enneagram.Resourceshttps://thecrg.org/collections/The_Value_of_the_Enneagram_in_Congregational_SpacesAlso, we'd love to hear your feedback about the podcast. Click here to do a quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CfCpodcast

Dr. Christina Jones Davis, Clinical Professor of Pastoral Theology and Marriage and Family Therapy at Christian Theological Seminary (CTS), sits down with Ben and Matt to discuss how the worlds of therapy and congregational life inform one another.Resourceshttps://thecrg.org/collections/The_Marriage_of_Mental_Health_and_Ministry

Musician, speaker and activist Propaganda joins Ben and Matt to discuss how storytelling is foundational to being human and to fostering change. They also also talk about his new book Terraform: Building a Better World.Resourceshttps://thecrg.org/collections/Storytelling_that_Changes_the_WorldCheck out Prop's work and follow him through the following:Website: https://www.prophiphop.com/Instagram: @prophiphopTwitter: @prophiphop