Center for Congregations Podcast

You likely deal with some kind of diversity in your congregational life. Whether that be ethnic, cultural, generational or some other kind of diversity. Wilisha Scaife believes that the answer to dealing with diversity in ministry is learning to listen, learn and love. The phrase is simple but being able to do this takes effort and intentionality. Wilisha unpacks what this means and Ben and Matt s...

At the heart of every congregation is the desire to pass on the beliefs and practices of its tradition. This can be called lots of things: catechism, faith formation, discipleship, etc. In this interview, John Roberto discusses how this passing on of faith can be distilled into seven parts that, when addressed in your congregation's context, can help form the faith of everyone. Furthering the conv...

In this short episode, Ben and Matt recap the guests and topics thus far and preview the rest of season 4. We'll be back in action with you all on August 10, 2022!

This episode provides the narratives of three members of the LGBTQ+ community focused on their lives in congregations. These stories highlight the highs and lows of their experiences in faith communities. We offer these narratives in the hope that it will provide wisdom and guidance to your congregation as you navigate this complex issue.

In congregations many have questions and concerns about LGBTQ+ issues. Regardless of your theological stance, it's important to know how to care for youth that may identify as LGBTQ+ and their families as they navigate this complex situation. Mark Oestreicher, youth worker and co-found of The Youth Cartel, shares his wisdom and personal experience on this topic. Resources Us versus Us: The Untold...

Dr. Kirk Byron Jones joins Matt and Ben to discuss what we can learn from jazz about beauty, creativity and liberation.  Resources https://faithandleadership.com/jazz-belongs-church https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310361176/ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/8817-music-therapy

Former Center for Congregations staff members Nancy DeMott and Doug Hanner join Matt to share stories about their work at the Center. These stories highlight what congregations can accomplish and why they are important. Find more congregational stories here: https://centerforcongregations.org/blogs/congregational-stories

Rev. Dr. Rosario Picardo joins Ben and Matt to discuss digital ministry in congregational life. Roz is the co-author of Fresh Expressions in a Digital Age. In this interview Roz shares his thoughts as a pastor on the place of digital ministry in congregational life. Resources roz@wearemosaic.org https://www.rosariopicardo.com https://www.amazon.com/Both-Maximizing-Experiences-Person-Engagement/dp/...

Ben and Matt talk with Rev. Sue Park-Hur about the challenges facing the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. They discuss the model-minority myth, the rise in hate crimes against the AAPI community and reflect on the 30th anniversary of the LA Uprising.  Resources https://stopaapihate.org https://thecrg.org/resources/Asian_American_Christian_Collaborative https://thecrg.org/resou...

Matt and Ben talk with Chaplain Jon Swanson about what it means to explore they ways we manage loss and disappointment. Resources CRG-Strategic Leadership for Change This Is Hard Social Media Chaplain Prayer in the Night Liturgy of the Ordinary

Kelly and Ben talk with Professor Drew Hart about the scope of antiracism work in congregations since the racial unrest of 2020. Resources Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism (book) Who Will Be a Witness: Igniting Activism for God's Justice, Love and Deliverance (book) Designing Disorder: Experiments and Disruption in the City (book) Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)

Ben and Abby explore Ben's visit to the Equal Justice Initiative Museum and Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. Resources: https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/ https://collegevilleinstitute.org/bearings/faith-and-justice/

Matt and Shellie explore the changing nature of congregational life with Pastor Rob Dyer of Ministry Architects. Rob encourages congregations to explore the question behind the question. Rob Dyer: @pastorrobdyer Ministry Architects: @minarchitects Resources https://ministryarchitects.com/theyre-not-coming-back/ https://ministryarchitects.com/the-room-where-it-happens/ https://thecrg.org/resources/...

Abby and Ben reflect on several podcast interviews with Kate Bowler and explore what it means to face the gravity of life with grace and joy. Resources Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved Everything Happens for a Reason Podcast Being Human w Kate Bowler and Emily P. Freeman Walking Our People Through Hard Things w Glennon Doyle

Racial division is a current topic in many arenas of life. However, Rev. Wallace Butts asks the question "Is race the real issue here?" Matt and Ben talk with Rev. Wallace Butts about the Listen, Learn and Live (L3) initiative in which he lays out a way for people in our society to live more peaceably together. Resources https://thecrg.org/collections/Is_Race_The_Real_Problem Pastor Wallace Butts'...

Abby and Ben discuss The Paths Between Us and talk through the reasons they find the Enneagram both useful and fascinating. Resources: https://www.amazon.com/Path-Between-Us-Enneagram-Relationships/dp/0830846425

Dee Dee (Deidre) Gray and Adrian Warren join Ben and Matt to talk about how congregations can improve their digital presence. Resources https://blog.capterra.com/church-seo-best-practices-to-get-your-church-found-in-search/ https://www.webfx.com/industries/local-consumer-services/churches/seo/ https://missionalmarketing.com/basic-guide-to-church-seo/ Adrian Warren's website: http://www.mrawarren.c...

In this fun bonus episode of the Center for Congregations Podcast, Ben and Abby discuss the podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and explore what we can learn from it.

Kara Powell from Fuller Youth Institute joins Ben and Matt to discuss the new book 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager. Resources https://thecrg.org/resources/The_Essential_Power_of_Belonging https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a-generation/534198/

Riffing off of Charles Dickens' classic novel, Ben and Matt and Tim Shapiro, reflect on trends in the life of congregational ministry.

Joe Johns and So Min Oo join Ben and Matt to discuss the relationship their congregations have built while celebrating their differences. Resources https://thecrg.org/collections/Gloriously_Out_of_Place

Kelly Minas, the Center for Congregations' Associate Director for Evaluation, joins Ben and Matt to discuss the importance of evaluation, metrics and analytics for congregational life. Resources https://thecrg.org/resources/completing-the-circle-reviewing-ministries-in-the-congregation https://www.betterevaluation.org/ https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/projects-that-matter-successful-planning-and-eval...

Mike Palmer joins Ben and Matt to unpack emerging trends in education. They explore how these trends will affect religious education and congregational life moving forward. Resources https://thecrg.org/collections/Forced_into_the_Water_Emerging_Trends_in_Religious_Educations

Rev. Sabrina Gray joins Ben and Matt to discuss the importance of end of life planning, and talks through how leaders can initiate those conversations within their community. Resources https://thecrg.org/collections/End_of_Life_Planning_Conversations The Conversation Project Extremis Documentary Dem Dry Bones Five Wishes

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. Resources https://thecrg.org/collections/Don_t_Be_a_Clergy_Killer