Sunspots

Our latest Sunspot’s Disaster Partnership Conversation podcast features a three-part series, highlighting the tornado recovery efforts across the Presbytery of Arkansas. On March 31, 2023, a high-end EF3 tornado hit Central Arkansas, damaging areas of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, and Jacksonville. In that same storm system, another EF3 tornado swept through Wynne, Arkansas. Five lives...

On today’s episode, we have a conversation with the Rev. Mitchell Miller, who was unanimously elected at the Spring 2024 Stated Meeting as the new Synod Leader/Stated Clerk of Synod of the Sun.   Interviewing Mitch is Rev. Elizabeth Brinegar, who served on the Search Committee and Rev. Steve Shive, our current Bridge Interim Synod Leader and Stated Clerk. March 2024 Issue of Synod Newsletter, intr...

Today’s episode is all about volunteering and disaster recovery. Kathy joined a mission trip with a group of Presbyterians from Iowa as they as they work on storm damaged homes in Eastern Oklahoma. For this podcast, Kathy spoke with the group leader, the Rev. Tim Maxa, who is the pastor of two congregations who has been leading teams of youth and adults on these trips for over 30 years.  The synod...

On this episode of Sunspots, we continue the series of Living in Liminal Space but expanding it from the church setting to a global context. Bridge Interim Synod Leader/Stated Clerk Steve Shive welcomes his twin brother Ronald Shive to the conversation. Ron is a Retired Presbyterian Minister and Owner of Spiritus Mundi Travel.  Ron has been engaged with Israel/Palestine issue for the past 20 years...

Today's episode is part two of a two-part episode of a Sunspots’ Disaster Partnership Conversation. This episode features Jim Kirk, who serves as the Associate for Disaster Response in the U.S. for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and Michelle Muñiz, who serves as the Disaster Recovery Coordinator for the Presbytery of San Juan in Puerto Rico.  In this episode, Jim and Michelle reflect on ho...

Today's episode is part one of a two-part episode of a Sunspots’ Disaster Partnership Conversation. This episode features Jim Kirk, who serves as the Associate for Disaster Response in the U.S. for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and Michelle Muñiz, who serves as the Disaster Recovery Coordinator for the Presbytery of San Juan in Puerto Rico.  In this episode, Jim and Michelle share with us...

On this episode of Sunspots, Bridge Interim Synod Leader and Stated Clerk Steve Shive talks with Nikki Collins, the Coordinator for 1001 New Worshiping Communities.  Nikki Collins began serving as the Coordinator for 1001 New Worshiping Communities in June 2018. Previously she served Cherokee Presbytery as Stated Clerk and Mission Coordinator and, before that, as the founder of Bare Bulb Coffee, a...

This is part two of a two-part episode of Sunspots, featuring Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., Founder and Executive Director of The Privilege Institute, who talks about the upcoming White Privilege Conference that will be held on April 3-6 in Tulsa, OK. Click HERE to read Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr.'s bio and event details . Dr. Moore is interviewed by Natarsha Sanders, who is the Director of Centering the Sac...

On this first of a two part episode of Sunspots, Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., Founder and Executive Director of The Privilege Institute, talks about the upcoming White Privilege Conference that will be held on April 3-6 in Tulsa, OK. Click HERE to read his bio and event details Dr. Moore is interviewed by: Natarsha Sanders, who is the Director of Centering the Sacred . Natarsha also serves on the Columbia...

On November 9th, Steve Shive welcomed Fran Hilton Shelton to Liminal Conversations. The focus of the conversation was “How is the Diminishing Impact of our Churches and the Death of many Churches Affecting our Presbyteries and Churches Emotionally and Spiritually?” A founder of Faith & Grief Ministries, Fran leads bereavement workshops and spiritual retreats. She is a preacher and a keynote sp...

On October 28, Thomas Riggs welcomed fellow staff member Kathy Lee-Cornell, Director of the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery.  The focus of our conversation  was "The Church's Vocation Found in Disaster Resilience". You can read more about the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery on the Synod's website at:  https://www.synodsun.org/spdr-about-us .  Also, check out the...

On October 12, Thomas Riggs welcomed Mike Clawson to Liminal Conversations. The focus of the conversation was “What Christians can learn from the Spiritual But Not Religious” Mike Clawson is the Administrator for Illuman, a non-profit founded by Richard Rohr to promote healthy masculinity through contemplative spirituality and deep inner work. He also co-founded the New Story Festival together wit...

How did a radio engineer end up transitioning into a career in disaster ministry? To find out, you’ll have to listen to this Sunspots Disaster Partnership Conversations episode and get to know a very special person named, Kathy Broyard.  Kathy Broyard is the Executive Director and Emergency Management Specialist of FLAPDAN (what a great acronym, right?). After two years of catastrophic hurricanes...

On Thursday, September 28th, this conversation was led by Steve Shive, Bridge Interim Synod Leader/Stated Clerk. The focus of the conversation was "Welcome to the Unknown - How do we Live and Lead in this Time of an UnFolding Future?"

On September 7th, Steve Shive welcomed Lee Hinson-Hasty, senior director for Theological Educations Funds Development for the Committee on Theological Education of the Presbyterian Church (USA).  The focus of the conversation was “Why Creating a Culture of Call Matters to the Future of Pastoral Leadership and How to Do It.” You are also invited to join this conversation. You can present your quest...

This latest Disaster Partnerships Conversation features Emily Hooker, the Associate Director for Ferncliff, a camp and conference center located just outside of Little Rock, Arkansas.  You will hear Emily wonderfully summarize the many ways Ferncliff lives out its passion for mission and outreach through several partnerships and offerings that support individuals, families, and communities touched...

On August 24th, Steve Shive welcomed B.J. Woodworth to the conversation. B.J. is the minister of spiritual life and Taize worship at East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg, Penn. The focus of the conversation was entitled “Grounding Practices amidst Unstable Times”.  We pick up the conversation after an introduction and after Pastor Woodworth led the group in a contemplative worship experie...

This conversation was moderated by Thomas Riggs, Communication and Administration Coordinator for Synod of the Sun and featured Rebecca Eldridge, Sr. Director of Development from FPC/Dallas. The focus on this conversation was entitled "Moving Church Communications to What's Next." 

This summer, the Synod of the Sun began a series of conversations called “Living in Liminal Space: A Conversation Seeking Wisdom on the Way”.  Hosted by Bridge Interim Synod Leader and Stated Clerk Steve Shive, these dialogues are a way for people to discuss the liminality of a post-pandemic and post-Christian world, as well as the liminal space in which the Synod finds itself now. On July 13th, S...

On this episode of Sunspots, the official podcast of Synod of the Sun, Kathy Lee-Cornell, Director of the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery has a conversation with Oliva Lane, Head of Staff at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Pastor Lane talks about her recollection of the event, the aftermath in Tulsa, and Southminster’s response and partnership with the Red Cross.  Also...

On June 22, 2023, the Synod of the Sun began a series of conversations called “Living in Liminal Space: A Conversation Seeking Wisdom on the Way”.  Hosted by Bridge Interim Synod Leader and Stated Clerk Steve Shive, these dialogues are a way for people to discuss the liminality of a post-pandemic and post-Christian world, as well as the liminal space in which the Synod finds itself now. This first...

On this episode of Sunspots, Kathy Lee-Cornell, Director of the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery has a conversation with Ben Henderson and Katherine Kerr Kubatzky, members of Mission Presbytery’s Disaster Preparedness & Assistance Task Force. For this first Disaster Partnership Conversation, Kathy, Ben, and Katherine host a discussion on Grants for Church Security. Here are links to res...

On this episode of SunSpots, Coordinating Team Moderator Kristy Rodgers interviews Bridge Interim Synod Leader and Stated Clerk Rev. Dr. Steve Shive. They talk about the ‘liminal space’, the role of an interim, and listening to the stirring of the Spirit.

On this episode of Sunspots, 2022 Moderator Kristy Rodgers interviews our outgoing Synod Leader and Stated Clerk Valerie Young. As she prepares to become the new Synod Leader/Stated Clerk of the Synod of South Atlantic, Valerie shares some of her stories from 18 years of ministry in the Synod, looks forward to her new experiences, and says thank you to the friends and colleagues who she believes w...

On this episode of Sunspots, we visit with Rev. Pepa Paniagua of kin·dom community, a 1001 New Worshiping Communities in North Texas. Enabling the dream of friends Andy Hackett and Garrett deGraffenreid, they created kin·dom camp, an opportunity for LBGTQIA+ youth to come and experience a week of affirmation, celebration and fun at Camp Gilmont. They talk about how the camp came to be, what happen...