Conversing with Mark Labberton

Sacred spaces are not secret spaces. The church enacts a gospel reality that is inherently universal and transparent in the world. And what better metaphor than building a church sanctuary made of glass to communicate the invitation of the gospel to the world? In this Conversing Short, Mark Labberton reflects on the implications of this architectural decision. He also considers the opportunities f...

"When we pursue excellence it doesn't have to come at the cost of our emotional and relational health." (Ben Houltberg) How do we form an identity and sense of self? Do we define ourselves based on the fragile glass shelter of what we achieve or how well we perform? If so, how does that affect our sense of meaning and purpose in life? With the 2024 Paris Olympics underway, it's easy to imagine how...

People have been given so many reasons to despise Christianity. What would it be to communicate with and for the "cultured despisers of the faith"? This was the audience Friedrich Schleiermacher wrote to in his seminal work, The Christian Faith , and it is the audience Mark Labberton sought to speak to when preaching at First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, California. In this Conversing Short, M...

"Out of the greatest misery and the most devastating loss can come unimagined growth, and, in some cases, joy and happiness."   Mark Labberton welcomes pioneering social entrepreneur Mawi Asgedom, an award-winning innovator, author, and advocate for social-emotional learning (SEL). Sharing his story of struggle, resilience, and redemption, Mawi describes his extraordinary journey from war-torn Eth...

Imagine preaching in front of a crowd of protesters holding a banner: "HOW DARE YOU?" That's what Mark Labberton did every Sunday preaching in the clear, glass-walled sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, California. In this Conversing Short, Mark reflects on this foundational, animating question that defined his public leadership during his sixteen years as senior pastor of First Pr...

"The Constitution is neither a left-wing or right-wing document. It is ultimately about how to hold a society together." American political life today is fractured and splintered, but many still yearn for unity. How can we find social cohesion amid sharply felt differences? Political scientist Yuval Levin wants to bring us back to our founding document: the American Constitution. After all, the Pr...

"All of our emotions are there for a good reason. They're positive. They want to help. And a little anxiety is good. … All of society is saying, 'Get rid of emotion. It's awful. It's evil.' It's not true." In this episode, Mark welcomes Pete Docter, executive producer of Inside Out 2 , and the Oscar-winning director of Monsters, Inc ., Up , and Inside Out. Pete joined Pixar Animation Studios in 19...

"Reconciliation and reparations were never supposed to be two opposite things." The Church is called to be a repairer of the breach. Drawing on the prophetic texts of Isaiah and Nehemiah, Brenda Salter McNeil joins Mark to discuss her latest book: Empowered to Repair: Becoming People Who Mend Broken Systems and Heal Our Communities. Together they reflect on the Church's responsibility for social j...

Anne Snyder joins Mark to discuss the need for deeper listening in the work of genuine encounter and exchange in public life. They reflect on the contributions of public theology to contemporary life, the values of Christian humanism, and the mission and vision of  Comment  magazine. They also announce an exciting new partnership between  Conversing  and  Comment . Anne Snyder is the editor-in-chi...

Uli Chi and Mark discuss Uli's new book, "The Wise Leader," and how wisdom manifests in various contexts, from leadership roles to everyday life. Uli Chi  has spent his life practicing leadership in the intersection of for-profit and nonprofit businesses, the theological academy, and the local church. Uli serves as board chair of the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health System, vice chair and senior f...

Shirley Mullen talks about the work of intentional engagement in our polarized contexts and advocates for actively bridging divides in our society. Shirley Mullen is president emerita of Houghton College, where she served for 15 years, and author of Claiming the Courageous Middle: Daring to Live and Work Together for a More Hopeful Future.  

W. Thomas Boyce discusses new research on sensitivity and resilience in childhood development and talks about how learning to see our children well helps them flourish and thrive. W. Thomas Boyce is a pediatrician, professor emeritus of pediatrics and psychiatry at UC San Francisco, and author of The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Some Children Struggle and How All Can Thrive.  

Liz Jacobsen shares about teaching theater to high schoolers and about the power of art and storytelling to transform us. Liz Jacobsen is a theater teacher, currently teaching at Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington.  

Jennifer Wiseman shares about the journey of her finding a career in science, the interactions and connections between science and faith, and the upcoming solar eclipse. Jennifer Wiseman is an astrophysicist, author, and speaker, and she is director emeritus of the program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) for the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  

Michael Wear talks about the state of politics in the United States and the ways our faith is interwoven with public life. Michael Wear is founder, president, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life.  

Esau McCaulley, discussing his new memoir, reflects on the way we tell Black stories and how we make sense of our narratives for the glory of God. Esau McCalley is assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and the author of Reading While Black and How Far to the Promised Land, among other works.

Nikki Toyama-Szeto shares about her work leading Christians for Social Action, the organization's commitment to cultivating faithful engagement with issues of justice, and her experience as a Japanese American woman in leadership. Nikki Toyama-Szeto is executive director of Christians for Social Action.  

Tim Alberta takes a deep dive into the contemporary state of American Evangelicalism in a time of extremism. Tim Alberta is a journalist, author, and staff writer for The Atlantic.

Caleb Maskell discusses the beginnings of Vineyard USA, which is celebrating its 50th year, and the hopeful future ahead. Caleb Maskell is the associate national director of theology and education for Vineyard USA.  

Pamela Ebstyne King discusses her research and work on the topic of thriving, as well as her new podcast, With & For. Pamela Ebstyne King is Peter L. Benson Professor of Applied Developmental Science and executive director of the Thrive Center for Human Development.  

Andrew Hanauer describes the work of bridging the deep divides in American politics, the church, and faith communities more broadly. Andrew Hanauer is the president and CEO of the One America Movement. We invite you to take a brief listener survey at fuller.edu/survey in order to help the Conversing team guide the future of the show.

Stephen Newby reflects on the ability of Gospel music to invite all people in and what that means for today's world and church. Stephen Michael Newby is the inaugural holder of The Lev H. Prichard III Endowed Chair in the Study of Black Worship and also serves as Professor of Music and Ambassador for The Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University.

Jemar Tisby reflects on Tom Skinner's impactful speech "Racism and World Evangelism," delivered at the 1970 Urbana Missions Conference, and considers the ways it resonates with the reality of the American church today. Tom Skinner's speech can be listened to here. Jemar Tisby is the author of The Color of Compromise, How to Fight Racism, and, most recently, How to Fight Racism: Young Reader's Edit...

Luann Pannell discusses mental health and training in law enforcement and shares about her two decades of work with the Los Angeles Police Department. Luann Pannell is a Fuller alum, CEO of Exceptional Edge Consulting, and was director of police training and education at the LAPD for 18 years.  

Ben McBride talks with Mark about his new book, T roubling the Water: The Urgent Work of Radical Belonging , which outlines his journey and work in the "kill zone" in Oakland, CA. Ben McBride is a visionary leader of radical belonging. The co-founder of the Empower Initiative, a capacity-building firm devoted to empowering organizations and communities, he is a leading expert in fostering belongin...