Church and Main

This is a joint episode with Loren Richmond Jr. host of the Future Christian podcast. In this special episode recorded live from the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Loren Richmond Jr is joined by guest Dennis Sanders to delve into the current state of the denomination and the unique challenges faced by local congregations. Together, they explore the pressing need to support and sustain existing congregations, recognizing the vital role they play in today's society. The discussion also delves into recent updates to the denomination's bylaws, highlighting the importance of staying informed and engaged with the evolving landscape of the church. Dennis and Loren also touch on the topic of incorporating pop songs into worship services, examining the potential benefits and challenges of bridging contemporary culture with traditional practices. They emphasize the significance of prayer and theology in guiding congregations towards a deeper understanding of their faith and the role of the church in advancing the gospel. Throughout the conversation, the importance of dialogue, relationships, and understanding is underscored as essential tools for navigating divisive issues within the church. Loren expresses his concern about declining numbers and the need for a compelling narrative to revitalize the denomination, sparking a thought-provoking reflection on the future of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Church and Main, we discuss the schism within the United Methodist Church regarding homosexuality. Lead pastor Ben Gosden shares insights on the messy breakup, especially within his home Annual Conference, but also highlights the resilience and determination within the smaller, yet vibrant, conference and denomination. We explore the importance of church planting and a more nimble future for the United Methodist Church. A middle ground is suggested to address differences in beliefs, fostering inclusivity and respect. Despite challenges, there is still belief in the vision of the church and its focus on holiness and discipleship. Ben Gosden is the Lead Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Savannah, GA, and is one of the hosts of the Faith Revisited Podcast. Show Notes: Faith Revisited Podcast Make a  Donation: https://donorbox.org/support-church-and-main Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchandmain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchandmain Website: https://churchandmain.org/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4CzMELfEV0oUYfbjdhdjqgrT3w8fHglj This podcast is a labor of love. It’s free to everyone, but there are costs associated with making this podcast available. Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber? It’s $5/month or $60/year. Thanks! Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Hey there! In this podcast episode, I'm gonna talk about two meetings I attended in my denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where we discussed the role of LGBTQ folks in the church. It's a pretty important topic, and we gotta grapple with it based on what the Bible says, while also honoring people's personal experiences. I gotta say, I was a bit concerned about the lack of debate and discussion around a resolution that welcomed transgender folks into the church. Even though I strongly supported the resolution, it seemed like we weren't really thinking about this, you know? So, I had a chat with David Watson, the Dean of Academic Affairs at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He stressed the importance of thinking like Christians and doing some theological reflection. We talked about how people seem to be losing interest in ideas these days, and how we really need to have conversations about complex issues. It's important to keep our Christian traditions intact, while also creating spaces that can transcend the secular world we live in. We also touched on the challenges of forgiveness and reconciliation within the church. It's not always easy, but it's something we gotta work on. At the end of the day, we both agreed that intellectual virtue is super important, and the church needs to engage with others and offer a unique vision of life. So, that's the gist of it! Hope you find it interesting and thought-provoking. Show Notes: The Cultivation of the Christian Mind by David Watson The Christian Mind by Harry Balmires The Firebrand Podcast The End of Apologetics by Amar Peterman Episode 97 with David Watson Make a  Donation: https://donorbox.org/support-church-and-main Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchandmain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchandmain Website: https://churchandmain.org/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4CzMELfEV0oUYfbjdhdjqgrT3w8fHglj This podcast is a labor of love. It’s free to everyone, but there are costs associated with making this podcast available. Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber? It’s $5/month or $60/year. Thanks! Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I chat with Loren Richmond Jr. host of the Future Christian Podcast about some of the major news taking place in June including Sports and Pride Month, Race Relations and DEI and the Southern Baptist Convention kicking out churches for allowing women pastors. Future Christian Podcast (Loren’s Podcast) Forgiveness In Black and White (Article by me on race relations) Leave a One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dennislsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchandmain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchandmain Website: https://churchandmain.org/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4CzMELfEV0oUYfbjdhdjqgrT3w8fHglj This podcast is a labor of love. It’s free to everyone, but there are costs associated with making this podcast available. Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber? It’s $5/month or $60/year. Thanks! Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

The Second Coming. Armageddon. The End Times. Since its beginning at Pentecost, Christians have long wondered if and when Christ would return as promised in the Bible. Books and movies have all wondered: when is Jesus coming back? But what are Christians to think about all of this, especially Mainline Protestants? Some are dismissive, but many people just have nothing to say. In this episode, I chat with Pastor Robert Cornwall, who along with theologian Ronald Allen wrote Second Thoughts About the Second Coming: Understanding the End Times, Our Future and Christian Hope. We talk about why it matters that Christians think about the End and what all of this means for our own faith. Show Notes: Second Thoughts on the Second Coming Book Robert Cornwall’s Bio on Amazon Ponderings on a Faith Journey (Bob’s Blog) Make a  Donation: https://donorbox.org/support-church-and-main Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchandmain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchandmain Website: https://churchandmain.org/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4CzMELfEV0oUYfbjdhdjqgrT3w8fHglj This podcast is a labor of love. It’s free to everyone, but there are costs associated with making this podcast available. Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber? It’s $5/month or $60/year. Thanks! Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

There is a slew of new interviews coming down the pike, but in the meantime, I want to share this episode as LGBTQ Pride Month comes to a close. What does Pride mean? Pride is considered one of the seven deadly sins, so what does it mean to be proud of being LGBTQ? In what was originally a Vespers video from 2022, I shared what I’ve learned and shared an encounter from my own life where God filled me with a sense of pride by knowing I was loved for who I was as a man. Interview episodes are coming this week. Stay tuned! Leave a One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dennislsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchandmain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchandmain Website: https://churchandmain.org/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4CzMELfEV0oUYfbjdhdjqgrT3w8fHglj This podcast is a labor of love. It’s free to everyone, but there are costs associated with making this podcast available. Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber? It’s $5/month or $60/year. Thanks! Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Mainline Protestant churches haven’t always done a good job of focusing on the role the Holy Spirit plays in the life of our churches and that’s a shame because the Holy Spirit is what makes church more than just a social club that meets on Sunday mornings.   In this episode, I am honored to have Juan Sarmiento as my guest.  A native of Venezuela and ordained in Brazil, Juan is the Executive Presbytery of the Presbytery of San Fernando, a Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) located in the Northwest of the Los Angeles metro area.  We talk about the role of the Spirit in the life of the church, the new churches taking root in his Presbytery, and the importance of the church as an institution, especially in this time of polarization. What Does Denominational Decline Look Like?- by Ryan Burge San Fernando Presbytery website Leave a One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dennislsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchandmain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchandmain Website: https://churchandmain.org/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4CzMELfEV0oUYfbjdhdjqgrT3w8fHglj This podcast is a labor of love. It’s free to everyone, but there are costs associated with making this podcast available. Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber? It’s $5/month or $60/year. Thanks! Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Here is the second of two solo episodes out this week. Filmed last week at the end of a very strange day, Dennis reflects on being the pastor of a small church and why these churches matter, especially in Mainline Protestantism. A new interview episode should be available this coming Monday or Tuesday. Stay tuned! Why Small Churches Matter (original video version) At the Intersection Video Series Leave a One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dennislsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchandmain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchandmain Website: https://churchandmain.org/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4CzMELfEV0oUYfbjdhdjqgrT3w8fHglj This podcast is a labor of love. It’s free to everyone, but there are costs associated with making this podcast available. Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber? It’s $5/month or $60/year. Thanks! Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Hello, this is Dennis Sanders. I’ve been on a holding pattern with some potential guests. The interviews should be on the way soon, but in the meantime, I’m sharing the first of two videos I make for my weekly At the Intersection videos. In this first video, I talk about Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene who called for a "national divorce" a few months ago. I remember when two women showed a more excellent way to handle disagreements. How to Disagree and Still Be Friends- the video At the Intersection Video Series Leave a One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dennislsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchandmain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchandmain Website: https://churchandmain.org/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4CzMELfEV0oUYfbjdhdjqgrT3w8fHglj This podcast is a labor of love. It’s free to everyone, but there are costs associated with making this podcast available. Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber? It’s $5/month or $60/year. Thanks! Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we talk with Pastor Seth Perry, the pastor of Elim Lutheran Church in Scandia, MN. During Lent when people give up certain things for the season, Seth is asking the church to “give up the stigma” of mental illness. Seth talks about living with bipolar disorder, the importance of being honest about mental illness in the church, and mental health care in the United States and his native Canada. Show notes: Giving Up the Stigma- local newspaper article on Seth’s journey Seth’s YouTube Channel Give Up the Stigma: Seth’s campaign to foster discussion of mental illness in the church NAMI -National Alliance on Mental Illness website Elim Lutheran Church website Leave a One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dennislsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchandmain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchandmain Website: https://churchandmain.org/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4CzMELfEV0oUYfbjdhdjqgrT3w8fHglj This podcast is a labor of love. It’s free to everyone, but there are costs associated with making this podcast available. Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber? It’s $5/month or $60/year. Thanks! Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe