What the Hell is a Pastor?

In which Spanks and the Dude revisit the rapture, talk about narrative, and what life might be like if COVID had never happened.  Ready for Jesus to come back tomorrow? You can give us some of that material wealth that's weighing you down over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com. Like Twitter? We...

In which Ethan and Jo talk about some minor ordination envy, what Methodist Liberation theology looks like, and why you should really consider joining your local community theater group.  Some reading suggestions:  NO RELIGION BUT SOCIAL RELIGION: LIBERATING WESLEYAN THEOLOGY by Joerg Rieger With Contributions by Paulo Ayres Mattos, Helmut Renders, and José Carlos de Souza The Man Jesus...

In which Spanks tells the devastating story of the Von Erich family of pro wrestlers and the duo discuss toxic masculinity and pro wrestling. Please, please, please, if suicidal thoughts are a part of your life, be careful when listening to this episode. Know that you're loved, even if it doesn't feel like it, and reach out. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Want more pro wrestling content? T...

In which, among other things, Jo talks about her absurd potential tax bill and Ethan gushes about Young Rock on NBC (seriously, guys, give us a sponsorship, we'll absolutely gush .) Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said, want to send us a reading list, or, apparently, give us ideas ab...

In this special bonus episode, Corey, Ethan, and Jo revive Reel Christianity, their movie review podcast, to tackle 1972's A Thief in the Night . The movie was... awful, but it gives us the opportunity to talk about horror movies, conspiracy theories, and how Evangelical thinking about the end times hasn't really changed in fifty years.  Interested in that Conspiracy Theory Handbook Corey tal...

In which Charles Wesley's Process Stepchild and Spanks Rebok talk through who is actually the sovereign in this bananas time in United Methodist history.  Wanna give us money so we can keep doing stuff like this? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com....

In which Ian joins Jo to give an update to last episode. Spoiler alert: it's not great.  Anyway, J.J.'s book is called Reclaiming Church and the audiobook is available tomorrow! Pre-order here . Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said, want to send us a reading list, or, apparently...

In which J.J. and Tom join us for a conversation about the status of 20202 lay delegates to the General Conference commissioned for ministry. It's a doozy.  J.J.'s book is called Reclaiming Church and the audiobook is available tomorrow! Pre-order here .  You can (and should) follow J.J. on twitter @itsmejjwarren , Tom @nottomwebster , and Ian @iurriola . Feeling sympathy pains for that...

In which Spanks regales The Dude with a fascinating pro-wrestling story.  Wanna give us money so we can keep doing stuff like this? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com. Like Twitter? We do too, we guess. Find us under the handle @wthisapastor. And fo...

CW: brief discussion of sexual violence  In which Ethan and Jo talk about what Ethan's reading in class, including some history on the religion of enslaved people in the United States and the writing of Sylvia Wynter.  Jo shouts out Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde (which would have been really important to bring into this conversation, if she had tried) and The Fire Next Time by James Bal...

In a preview of future patreon-only content, Ian and Jo discuss the reality of Bigfoot.  Want more of this? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com. Like Twitter? We do too, we guess. Find us under the handle @wthisapastor. And follow us and our larger n...

***SO MANY WANDAVISION SPOILERS*** In which Ethan and Jo talk through two recent pop culture experiences.  Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said, want to send us a reading list, or, apparently, give us ideas about Patreon tiers? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com.   Like...

In which Spanks Rebok and the Dude are joined by Generic White Woman #3 to tell stories of church homecomings, technology, and more.  Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com. Like Twitter? W...

In which Kate joins Jo and Ethan to talk about the challenges of being a pastor who is also a parent of young children, along with some good old fashioned hopes and frustrations about ministry and the church.  Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said, want to send us a reading list,...

In a delightfully theological conversation, Spanks Rebok and the Dude try to suss out why God created the universe and what we should do with that information, anyway.  Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wthecki...

In which Jo cries and Ethan helps.  Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said, want to send us a reading list, or, apparently, give us ideas about Patreon tiers? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com.   Like Twitter? We do too, we guess. Find us under the handle @wthisapastor. &...

In which Spanks Rebok is joined by John Westley and Balaam's Donkey to discuss the joys and travails of working with the youths.  Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com. Like Twitter? We do...

In which Ian and Patrick join Ethan to talk about managing ideological differences in rural settings.  Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said, want to send us a reading list, or, apparently, give us ideas about Patreon tiers? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com.   Like Twit...

In which Spanks Rebok and the Dude discuss how we deal with incomprehensibility in this world. Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com. Like Twitter? We do too, we guess. Find us under the handle...

In which Ethan and Jo talk about death, mourning, and the pastors they needed.  Book Ethan mentioned in this episode: We Built Reality by Jason Blakely Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a reading list? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com.   Like Twit...

In which Spanks Rebok and Jorbatroth discuss everyone's favorite new Star Wars series, with pretty substantial spoilers.  Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com. Like Twitter? We do too, we...

In which Ian joins Jo and Ethan to talk through their political histories, the boundaries around coming alongside others, and what Christians are responsible for in liberal democracies. Also, butts.  Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a reading list? Email u...

In which Spanks Rebok and the Dude gush about how much they love Bob's Burgers.  Here's the video the Dude references: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYpjkbSXw1c Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wtheckisapast...

In which Ashley joins Ethan and Jo to talk through a few pastoral run-ins and why coming together doesn't necessarily mean coming to the middle.  Book recc from Ethan this episode: Models of the Church by Avery Dulles Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a rea...

In which Spanks Rebok and the Dude do their best to figure out what the hell it is that pastors do.  Feeling sympathy pains for that grad school/funemployment life? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wthiap . Have thoughts about what we said or want to send us a suggestion for a minisode topic? Email us at wtheckisapastor@gmail.com. Like Twitter? We do too, we guess. Find us under...