The Church Podcast

We often begin developing faith formation opportunities in our parish without thinking through what it is we hope participants will gain from being involved. In this episode, Chris and John start with the end in mind and encourage leaders to discuss the spiritual habits they hope participants will develop in formation programs and use that as the starting point for developing your faith formation...

As we celebrate episode 100 of The Church Podcast, John and Chris look back at two years of ministry in the Church and name the significant events and experiences that have shaped the Church. Then, looking forward at the next 100 episode, Chris and John talk about what the future might bring for the Church and leaders in ministry.

Inspired by the book The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath , John and Chris talk about being intentional about creating special moments in ministry that can be memorable. In addition, they share some specific ideas from the book that can be used in ministry

In this episode, Chris and John share openly about the struggles parishes have regarding administrative tasks that leaders in ministry need to embrace. They suggest that, to create the thriving ministry parishes hope to create, they must develop a solid leadership and management foundation. Resources: In this episode, we refer to a few resources, including:   Manager Tools It’s The Manager

Religious and ministry data suggests that one of the experiences that often lead to transformation and conversion of heart are service opportunities. In this episode, we explore the power of these experiences and how to go about setting up these opportunities in your ministry. In this episode, we refer to the following resources that can help you get started:   C atholic Charities Catholic Relief...

The annual performance evaluation is an essential process for ministry leaders, yet too many people in ministry loathe them or find them ineffective. In this episode, Chris and John share strategies for implementing a performance evaluation process that is effective and fruitful to enhance your ministry. In this episode, we refer to the following podcast episodes:   Episode 95: Providing Feedback...

Providing feedback to your team is an essential component of management and leadership in the Church, yet we rarely do it effectively. In this episode, Chris and John share why regular and consistent feedback is important for your staff. We provide a simple formula that you can use as a way to be a more effective manager and leader. Resources: In this episode, we refer to a previous podcast episod...

In this episode, Brenda Noriega from the Diocese of San Bernardino , California, joins us for a dialogue on pastoral juvenil and understanding the needs of Latino young people in the Church today. We break open the idea of generational differences and discuss how identity and popular piety play a role in ministry. To find out more about Brenda Noriega, visit her Facebook page .

In this episode, Chris shares his experience at the 1st annual Voice and Vision Dialogue: A National Summit for Ministries with Youth and Young Adults. This event was inspired by the Pope Francis’ post sydonal document called “Christ is Alive” (Christus Vivit). Chris shares what went well, what went flat, and shares his excitement and energy for the future of this event and others like it. Resourc...

In this episode, Chris and John explore the traps that lead to burn out in ministry and discuss strategies that help each of us stay healthy in our role as leader and minister in the Church.

In this episode, we continue the conversation regarding Restored Order in the Church from a theological perspective. Chris and John are joined by Nick Wagner, who is the co-founder of Team RCIA. Together, we walk through the history of the sacraments and discuss how they came to be in the order that they currently in most of the western Church. Nick lays out an argument as to why restored order of...

Restored order of the Sacraments of Initiation continues to be a topic of discussion in many parishes and dioceses. But is it the solution to “The Confirmation Problem”? In this episode, John and Chris discuss what the problem is, why restored order may or may not be the solution, and how leaders in ministry can address the problem in their own church. In this episode, we refer to a previous episo...

Committee meetings with volunteers are practically a necessity in ministry, but can be frustrating and ineffective when not well managed. In this episode, Chris and John discuss the best practices for managing a volunteer committee in your parish so that they are effective and life-giving for you and your team. In this episode we refer back to an episode on Leading Meetings Well .

If you are going to build a healthy and sustainable ministry you will face some challenges. How you overcome them depends on your mindset and willingness to work as a team. In the final installment of this podcast series Chris and John talk about the best way to overcome the obstacles that get in the way of creating a holistic and intentional ministry.

When it comes to crafting the ministry your parish needs requires a plan. That plan should help you determine what’s necessary to reach and achieve the vision. In this episode, Chris and John talk about the right questions to ask and the best moves to make to create an intentional and holistic ministry.

When we don’t have a grasp of the bigger picture we tend to build ministries that are one dimensional and don’t reach the people in our mission field. In this episode, Chris and John discuss the initial steps to creating a ministry that is holistic with the ability to reach more people and bring them closer to Christ.

Whether we know it or not, the culture of our parish and our parish staff determines our success or failure in our ministry. In this episode, John and Chris explore the importance of creating a healthy culture and some tips to enhance your collaboration with your colleagues.

In this episode, Chris and John explore the question of whether we should shut down our parish ministry during the summer. They explore some of the reasons why keeping your ministry going during the summer can be a powerful tool for evangelization. In this episode, we refer to Episode 32: Take a Vacation

Many of us can remember a time in ministry where our leader shared a movie clip or a song and tied it to the message of the Gospel. They stand out as powerful moments that many of us remember decades later. In this episode, John and Chris discuss how influential the use of movie clips and songs can be in ministry when used well.

In this episode, Chris and John explore the decline of priest vocations and Catholic marriages and attempt to understand some of the reasons for the decline. They explore three reasons that explain the decline and share some ideas of how to address it. One resource that was shared was the following book: Unrepeatable: Cultivating the Unique Calling of Every Person

In this episode, John and Chris share how to nurture the shift in mindset of apprentice based formation and ministry away from a model of catechesis as a “depository of facts.” Referenced in this episode is Episode #74 on the RCIA .

Learning and growing is an essential part of being a leader. In this episode, Chris and John discuss multiple ideas to intentionally grow as a leader in the Church so as to raise your ministry to new levels.

Social media has changed over the years and it’s not what it was 5 years ago. This requires us to change and adapt how we use social media in ministry. In this episode, John and Chris share their experience with social media and talk about the pros and cons of using it. For more information, visit some past episode we have recorded on the topic of social media: Episode 18: Judgment, Social Media,...

Volunteers are an essential aspect of Church ministry and require vision, clarity, and encouragement. In this episode, Chris and John explore how to best connect and manage your volunteers in your ministry, including scheduling regular One on One’s (1:1’s).

One on One’s (1:1’s) are an important and effective tool for all ministry leaders who supervise staff in their parish or Diocese and should be a standard part of management. In this episode, Chris and John explore the best practices of 1:1’s, their purpose, their structure, and why we must make 1:1’s a priority in our ministry.