Connecting our Conversations

In this episode of Connecting Our Conversations, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo is joined by  Dr. Heidi DeBlock, Visiting Research Scientist with NASA’s Johnson Space Center Cardiovascular Laboratory , for a thoughtful conversation about space exploration, human physiology, scientific discovery, and the sense of awe that comes from seeing Earth in the context of the wider universe. Together, they r...

In this episode, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo, along with Rev. Gusti Newquist, pastor at Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church, discuss a key pillar of nonviolence: The Universe is on the Side of Justice. Together they discuss how nonviolence is lived out in everyday ministry, and challenge us all to trust that even in complexity, God is on the side of justice.

In this episode, Rev. Dr . Shannan Vance-Ocampo talks with Rev. Trina Portillo of Burlington Presbyterian Church in Burlington, MA about the fifth pillar of Kingian nonviolence: Avoid Internal Violence of the Spirit as well as External Physical Violence. Together, they reflect on ministry, immigration justice, public witness, righteous anger, and the discipline of nonviolence in a time of fear and...

Rev. Dr/ Shannan Vance-Ocampo discusses the theology of belonging with Erin Weber-Johnson, lead editor of the transformative new book, Pathways to Belonging. The editors have generously offered a 40% off code for ordering directly from the publisher’s website with a discount : PATHWAYS   https://wipfandstock.com/9798385203321/pathways-to-belonging/#:~:text=Description,%2D%2Dincluding%20our%20faith...

In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo is joined by Rev. Kathryn Beilke for a discussion on how our faith calls us to care for God's creation, and address the growing plastic pollution crisis. Together, they explore: The accelerating production of plastics and its impact on the current climate and public health crises How practices like fasting from pla...

The PSNE's All-Presbytery Antiracism Training with Rev. Dr. William Yoo is coming up on March 1, 2025. In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, Rev. Nancy Baseel and Rev. Kevin White chat with Rev. Dr. William Yoo about the PSNE’s upcoming Antiracism Training, where Dr. Yoo will be our keynote speaker. We talk a bit about Dr. Yoo’s historical work and how that intersects with the Chur...

In the fifth episode of the Matthew 25 series, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo is joined by the PC(USA)'s Luciano Kovacs, World Mission 's Area Coordinator for the Middle East and Europe, and Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, Director, Humanitarian and Global Ecumenical Engagement, for a discussion on the intersectional focus on Militarism, and how the Presbyterian Church can transition from charity...

In the fourth episode of the Matthew 25 series, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo is joined by the PC(USA)'s Rev. Rebecca Barnes, Coordinator of the Presbyterian Hunger Program , and Rev. Dr. Alzono Johnson, Coordinator of the The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People , for a discussion on one of the main pillars of the Matthew 25 church—Eradicating Systemic Poverty - and the p...

In the third episode of the Matthew 25 series, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo is joined by Rev. Jermaine Ross-Allam, Director of the PC(USA)'s Center for the Repair of Historic Harms , for a discussion on one of the main pillars of the Matthew 25 church—Dismantling Structural Racism—and how we can apply our faith to advocate for change and break down the practices and mindsets that underlie di...

In the second episode of the Matthew 25 series, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo is joined by Rev. Veronica Cannon and Rev. Nikki Collins  for a discussion on one of the main pillars of the Matthew 25 church - Congregational Vitality, and what it means for churches to engage in ministry, including: Creating dynamic spaces for individuals to connect with God and each other Building inclusive, equitabl...

In the first episode of the Matthew 25 series, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo and Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall explore the essence of being a Matthew 25 church, highlighting the call for deeper engagement within faith communities to address systemic injustices.  This conversation dives into the intersections of ministry, community needs, the vital importance of embodying Jesus’ teachings and much more:...

The PCUSA’s 226th General Assembly took place in Salt Lake City Utah from June 25th - July 4, 2024, and it was a powerful experience for all involved!  In this episode, meet the PSNE 226th General Assembly Team: Rev. Anne Weirich (Commissioner and Polity Committee Chair; Honorably Retired, serves on Commission on Ministry at PSNE) Elder Nicole Aronson Champagne (Commissioner and Environment and Cl...

Who does your building belong to? What are our money stories, theological frameworks, and core values? How do you make strategic decisions out of abundance and hopefulness? In today’s conversation, we hear from: Mieke Vandersall, founder of Vandersall Collective, and ministry member at PSNE  Tim Anderson, coach and consultant from Minneapolis MN Nancy Baseel, Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of...

The Rev. Dr. Terrlyn L. Curry Avery is the Pastor of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church in Springfield MA. She has a passion for dismantling racism, and is deeply involved in the work and advocacy with the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.  This podcast was recorded a week before the Mass Poor Peoples and Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Wash...

Happy Pride Month! Listen in our conversation with board members from Presbyterian Promise, an LGBTQIA+ organization in our Presbytery for education, outreach, and advocacy. This year is the 25th anniversary of Presbyterian Promise, and we are so excited to celebrate alongside them this month! In this episode, we hear from: Rev. Jenny Peek, Chaplain at Yale University, co-moderator Leah Miller, Fi...

Won't you bee my neighbor? 🐝  At First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, CT, more commonly known as the Fish Church, bees truly are neighbors! In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance Ocampo chats with Rev. Shelley Donaldson, Associate Pastor at First Pres in Stamford, and with John Bitner, who has been a member for 30 years and served as a deacon and elder.  Sh...

In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo speaks with Rev. Ben Bond (Faith Inclusion and Belonging Associate at RespectAbility) and our Communications Manager Katie Grosh, about disability and church communities. Ben shared tips about how to be more accessible and welcoming in your congregational communities, including giving visual descriptions, attending to a...

In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo speaks with Christian educators and pastors in our Presbytery who attended the recent Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) conference in St. Louis Missouri. Tara Church, Patrick Notley, Karen Hammond, and Mark Montgomery all share their takeaways from the conference and what the future of Christian Educatio...

The church is changing. Wilton Presbyterian Church is thriving with innovative staffing and programming! In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, the Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo talks with Wilton Presbyterian Church's triple-pastor team: Rev. Jessica Jones - Co-Pastor, Pastoral Care and Education Rev. Chris Tate - Co-Pastor, Outreach and Technology Rev. Mark Montgomery - Co-Pastor, Admi...

Get to know our PSNE Moderators! In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo interviews our Moderator, Rev. Kevin White, and our Vice Moderator, Rev. Dallas Bradel. Especially as our stated meetings are online this year, it's important to have opportunities to get to know one another in different ways. This is both an introduction to Kevin and Dallas, as well as...

Connecting our Conversations is hosted by the Presbytery of Southern New England, a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This is our space for conversations that push the edges of our faith and help us deepen discipleship. Today, Shannan Vance-Ocampo speaks with Bruce Reyes-Chow about his new book, Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith. In this primer on progres...

Friday December 1st is World AIDS Day, but HIV and AIDS is something that Rev. John Merz thinks about everyday. John is the CEO at Advancing CT Together (ACT), which addresses the root causes of poverty, addiction and health inequities through strength-based services and advocacy to ensure all people in Connecticut have equitable resources necessary to achieve multi-generational health, wealth and...

How can we work in our churches and communities to address systemic poverty? Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo talks with Rev. Dr. Alonzo Johnson (Coordinator at SDOP), Juliet Owuor (Young Adult Volunteer at SDOP), Keyarra Johnson and Jazz Kearse (Jubilee Arts: Youth in Business), about the mission and impact of Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP). Presbyterian Committee on the...

In this episode of Connecting our Conversations, Rev. Shannan Vance Ocampo speaks with Rev. Julie Emery about an exciting summer sermon series: The Gospel According to Ted Lasso.  Rev. Julie joined Westminster Presbyterian as lead Minister in 2014. She brings creativity and a passion for inclusive worship and preaching and a heart for social justice.  Julie grew up in Michigan and earned a Bachelo...

In this "pivot moment" in the life of the church in the United States, where what it means to be The Church and to live out a Christian faith is constantly being questioned, our Presbytery is leaning in to our ongoing antiracism and equity work of discernment - how are we currently structured? How has our church been coopted into systems of injustice and sin? If we are by nature a cooper...