Lead Time

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Texas District President Jon Braunersreuther to discuss: • The growing pastor shortage in the LCMS • The debate surrounding SMP pastoral formation • Why the size of the harvest should change how we think about leadership • How First Article Gifts (reason, leadership, strategy) can be faithfully used in the church • Leadershi...

The latest LCMS nomination results may reveal far more than just who might become the next president. Stay up to date by Joining the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg break down what the vote totals could mean for the future trajectory of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Looki...

What is the “American Interim” — and is the Church compromising its identity? In this episode of LEAD TIME, Pastor Tim Ahlman sits down with Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Kloha (Dean for the Center for Missional & Pastoral Leadership) to thoughtfully respond to Rev. Karl Hess's presentation, “Pastoring Under the American Interim.” See the video here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0IizshrQn9E Together the...

What is God’s mission? Sounds like a simple question. In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim and Jack sit down with veteran missiologist, Rev. Dr. Bob Scudieri to unpack the theology, history, and controversy surrounding mission in the LCMS. From the early church to Walther and Grabau, from Constantine to today’s debates about the priesthood of all believers, this conversation goes deep. Is the mission...

Are we unintentionally losing relational leadership in the LCMS? In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim sits down with DCE Jonathan Zellar to unpack the ideas behind Rare Leadership by Jim Wilder — and why joy, emotional intelligence, and relational connection may be the missing ingredients in many of our leadership conversations. Concerned about what is happening in the wider LCMS? Check this out: htt...

Please excuse the internet issues experienced during today's episode. Is Concordia Seminary embracing “Seminex 2.0”? Does modern linguistic theory make Scripture meaningless? Can Christians interpret the Bible “objectively”? In this episode of LEAD TIME, Pastor Tim sits down with Jim Voelz, longtime professor at Concordia Seminary, to respond directly to recent critiques surrounding his books...

What happens when churches stop listening to their people—and what becomes possible when they do? In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman sits down with Ryan Ermeling, founder of Parent Pulse and the newly launched Church Voice, to explore why feedback often feels threatening in church leadership—and why avoiding it can quietly erode trust, unity, and mission. 👉 Learn more about Church Voice at...

Tim's Book - Confessing Jesus' Mission is finally out! Find it here: http://amazon.com/Confessing-Jesus-Mission-Pastors-Prayer-ebook/dp/B0FZW7MSTV This is a very special episode of LEAD Time. On launch day of Confessing Jesus’ Mission, Tim Ahlman joins the podcast for a different kind of conversation—not to defend a book, but to ask a deeper question facing the church today: Have we lost...

Want to take part in the private Zoom Call with Pastor Tim?? ONLY 14 Spots remain! Your Purchase is your ticket to the event! https://pci.jotform.com/cglc/confessing-jesus-mission-order-form Is there really a spiritual openness emerging among Gen Z—and if so, how should the church respond? In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg are joined by Mike Jessop, Director of Christian...

Want to take part in the private Zoom Call with Pastor Tim?? 40 Spots remain! Your Purchase is your ticket to the event! https://pci.jotform.com/cglc/confessing-jesus-mission-order-form What does faithful mission look like in today’s fractured, post-Christian culture? In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman is joined by Pastor Brandon Boos, missions pastor at Faith Lutheran Church (Oakville, MO)...

Stay up to date on what is happening in the LCMS! (bi-weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics from Pastor Tim) https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor Scott Kirchoff to explore one of the most defining — and often misunderstood — aspects of Lutheran identity: the centrality of the Sacraments. Drawing fr...

Stay up to date on what is happening in the LCMS! (bi-weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics from Pastor Tim) https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent Many churches feel tired, conflicted, or stuck—but can’t quite explain why. In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Kurt Senske, longtime LCMS leader and governance expert, to talk about something mos...

Stay up to date on what is happening in the LCMS! (weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!): https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman sits down with theologian and PhD candidate Will Fredstrom to explore AI through the lens of Christian theology, vocation, and embodied life. This is not a fear-based conversation — it’s a thoughtful, hopeful,...

Join the LCMS Current to receive the final edition of 2025! (weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!): https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent What does faithfulness look like when the culture around the Church changes? In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with ATK Ministry founder Josh Atkinson, whose Christ-centered hip hop ministry on the north si...

What happens when faithful Christians disagree—and refuse to caricature one another? In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor David Bukes for an honest, brotherly conversation about some of the most sensitive and debated issues in the Lutheran Church—without turning it into a fight. This is not a debate episode. It’s a listening episode. Together, they explo...

Learn More about the Songwriter Initiative: https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/christcollege/center-for-worship-leadership/songwriter Music from the Songwriter Initiative https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd3R1O9BFY1fGEI6aoZfNFfB8eEYxp2-F&si=0a8D71hlAmDZCFFg In today’s episode, Tim and Jack sit down with Kip Fox, director of the Songwriter Initiative at Concordia University Irvine. Kip’s re...

Join the LCMS Current! (weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!): https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent In this special episode of Lead Time, Pastor Tim Ahlman sits down with Pastor Jeff Sutherlin to walk through the LCMS Pastoral Formation Committee’s newly released SMP policy requirements—including the widely debated 40-year-old minimum age, the restrictions on SMP placements,...

Join the LCMS Current! (bi monthly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!): https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent Is pastoral formation reform in the LCMS really a “threat to the Synod”? Pastor Joe Beran joins Tim Ahlman for an honest, thoughtful conversation about fear, change, seminary pathways, SMP restrictions, and why this topic has become so emotionally charged across Lutheran ci...

Join the LCMS Current! (bi monthly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!): https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent Dr. Mychal Thom joins Tim and Jack for a powerful conversation about belonging, Lutheran identity, and the future of Lutheran schools. From his own story of adoption to his leadership at Concordia St. Paul—and now his upcoming role as President & CEO of Faith Lutheran i...

Join the LCMS Current! (bi monthly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!): https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent Why do some LCMS churches thrive—and others decline? Pastor Thomas Marcis, 36-year pastor of Zion in Bismarck and a Synodical Reconciler, joins Lead Time to talk about church health, conflict, rural ministry, next-gen engagement, and why pastors must get out of their bubble...

Join the LCMS Current! (bi monthly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!): https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent In this episode, Dr. Jamison J. Hardy, President of the Concordia University System, joins Tim to discuss the exciting progress being made across LCMS universities — from record growth in church work enrollment to new scholarship initiatives and strategic partnerships. Dr....

Information and Registration: https://www.psd-lcms.org/koinonia-gathering This special bonus episode of Lead Time features Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson, President of the Pacific Southwest District (LCMS), joining Pastor Tim Ahlman to announce a historic upcoming event — the Koinonia Gathering, January 7–8, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Koinonia Gathering isn’t a debate. It’s a moment for honest, face-to...

Join the LCMS Current! (bi monthly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!): https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent What if we could see how the LCMS is really doing — district by district? Today, Pastor Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor Jonathan Buescher, who compiled a comparative data study on all 35 LCMS districts — revealing surprising insights about membership, bud...

Join the LCMS Current! (sign up now so you receive the next Edition release on Thursday!): https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent The LCMS is wrestling with a familiar question: are we keeping distinctions or breaking barriers? What does healthy leadership look like in today’s church? Dr. Ben Haupt, Global Executive Director of PLI (Pastoral Leadership Institute), joins Tim Ahlman to unpac...

Want to stay up to date on LCMS Happenings from Pastor Tim? Join the LCMS Current: https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent The LCMS is wrestling with a familiar question: are we keeping distinctions or breaking barriers? Pastor Tim Ahlman, Jack Kalleberg, and Pastor Jonathan Dinger return to one of Lead Time’s most popular conversations—this time reframed around access. - What does it mean...