The Faith Chair

We've all heard about it: the Great Resignation. But did you know, pastors have been leaving ministry in record numbers long before the pandemic. So, what is causing it, and what can we do about it? We've got at least three answers, and this is Part 2. Hope you're ready; let's get into it!

We've all heard about it: the Great Resignation. But did you know, pastors have been leaving ministry in record numbers long before the pandemic. So, what is causing it, and what can we do about it? We've got at least three answers, and we'll share them with you across three episodes, starting with this one! Hope you're ready; let's get into it!

Welcome to the new and improved Faith Chair Podcast, featuring shorter run-times and a focus on building positive and healthy Christian faith by engaging the questions that arise at the intersection of faith and culture through barbershop-style discussions. We kicked off Season 8 by discussing the recent eclipse and the end-times prophecies it sparked. Here is Part 2, as we bring that conversation...

Welcome to the new and improved Faith Chair Podcast, featuring shorter run-times and a focus on building positive and healthy Christian faith by engaging the questions that arise at the intersection of faith and culture through barbershop-style discussions. We kick off Season 8 by discussing the recent eclipse and the end-times prophecies it sparked. And this is only Part 1, so be sure to catch th...

In the past we have explored how supremacy mindsets serve to create power structures that make it easier and even unavoidable for people to be abused. In this episode, we look at the other side of the equation: how does supremacy and the resulting power structures help leaders become victimizers? We hope you're ready; let's get into it!

In this episode, Tommy and I try to process all the explosive information we received from Dr Michael Emerson in Episode 7. What rang true? What was the most challenging? And how do we see the ROW play out in the church and world around us? We hope you're ready; let's get into it!

In this episode Tommy and I truly get into an explosive topic - The Religion of Whiteness. We are joined by Dr Michael Emerson, one of the preeminent researchers of race and religion in the United States, author of many books including "Divided by Faith" and the upcoming "Religion of Whiteness." Dr Emerson discusses with us his groundbreaking and explosive research, what it tel...

In this episode, Tommy and I tackle the question of conferences, or more precisely, the question of what value church conference culture holds? Is it effective? Meaningful? Truly life-changing? Does the impact match the cost? How could we make conferences more impactful and less costly? All that and more! Hope you're ready; let's get into it!

In this episode, Tommy and I get into a current event hot topic, and really one that has raged for decades, but has been highlighted by the violence in Israel: "Does God expect Christians to always defend and support Israel without question?" We get into some of the ancient and modern history of Israel, some of the lesser known and lesser reported violence by Israel against Palestinians,...

In this episode, Tommy and I tackle the question, "is accessibility important in church? And we're not just talking handicap access or an elevator - we get into physical, spacial, emotional, cultural, socio-economic, and even lingual accessibility. Hope you're ready; let's get into it!

In this episode, Tommy and I continue our early season 7 focus on worship by tackling the question, "do we need suffering-informed worship?" This conversation was sparked by an article published at ChristianityToday.com by Kelsey Kramer McGinnis titled, "Worship in a Time of Trauma: New Releases Offer Songs for Healing." Why is suffering, pain, trauma, and other struggles impor...

In this episode, Tommy and I are excited to be joined by two members of the Worship Leader Research team as well as Worship Pastor Genesis Ueligitone-Parker as we discuss the WLR's most recent research results about what songs worship leaders are picking to sing and why. How much do things like theology, the performing artist, and/or public controversy affect what songs are sung in churches? A...

Tommy and I are excited to kick off season 7 with a doozy as we get into the documentaries, news, and questions surrounding Hillsong that came out this summer. How do we separate questions surround Pastor Brian Houston vs Hillsong Church vs Hillsong Music? Should we still listen to, play, and sing Hillsong music? What does it mean that Pastor Houston was found Not Guilty in court? All that and mor...

With Juneteenth just a few days away, we thought it would be a great way to wrap up Season 6 to discuss the theology, practice, rewards, and challenges of doing intentionally diverse ministry with guest, Pastor Peter Chin of Rainier Avenue Church in Seattle, WA. What does it mean to intentionally do diverse ministry? What are the differences between diversity, multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and multi...

In this episode, we are excited to be joined by Tommy's cousin, two-time grammy winning jazz vocalist, Samara Joy! We talk about Samara's journey to becoming a recording artist, what it's like touring, and how she maintains her witness as a Christ-follower in the music industry. All that and more in this uplifting and encouraging conversation. Hope you're ready; let's get into it!

In this episode, Tommy and I are excited to be joined by Tim Whitaker, founder of the New Evangelicals, an organization and movement striving to reclaim the Christlike heritage of evangelicalism and serve the countless believers who have been harmed and disenchanted by modern evangelicalism in America. Hope you're ready; let's get into it! DISCLAIMER: Just a heads up to our listeners, ther...

In this episode, Tommy and I are excited to be joined by guest Marc Jolicoeur of Worship Leader Research to discuss their most recent research into what music is dominating contemporary worship services, where it comes from, and what that might mean for the Church today and tomorrow. All that and more in this fascinating look behind the curtains of worship music! We hope you're ready; let'...

In this episode, Tommy and I tackle the questions surrounding prayer and God's answers by asking, "How can we be better at seeing God's answers?" What happens when God's answers aren't what we expected or wanted? Do we still see them as answers? Do we still give Him thanks and praise? Do they build our faith? How do we expand our awareness of what God is capable of? All t...

In this episode, Tommy and I get into the battle of the dreams: American vs Jesus. What exactly is the America Dream? Is it compatible with Jesus' dreams for His disciples and for His body, The Church? What are the risk and dangers when we replace our Jesus dreams with American dreams? All that and more; hope you're ready, let's get into it!

In this episode, Tommy and I tackle the church culture/doctrine/practice of breakthrough - the idea that by doing more good works, serving more, or giving more, we can qualify for new levels of blessing from God. Is this biblical? Is it New Covenant? What are some of the hidden or ignored consequences of such doctrines? All that and more in this episode. Hope you're ready; let's get into i...

As we continue on this theme of church trauma and it effects, Tommy and I go from blacklisting to the question of what part this deep and long legacy of church-perpetrated trauma has in the persecution the Church is experiencing today? What responsibility might be have in creating the very animosity and resistance we label persecution? Has the Western Church ultimately been it's own worst enem...

In this episode, Tommy and I talk about blacklisting. We've all heard of actors being blacklisted for having bad attitudes, of athletes like Colin Kaepernick being blacklisted for undesired political stances, and even pastors being backlisted for adopting false teachings or doctrines. But what about when churches blacklist regular people? Why do we do it? What are the motives and effects? How...

As Tommy & Jesse get some much needed rest after Holy Week, we look back to one of our "GoAT" (Greatest of All Time) episodes from Season 2: our amazing conversation with Sister Helen Prejean, author of the book that inspired the movie "Dead Man Walking," starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn. The conversation ranges from justice and the death penalty to systemic racism to...

In this episode, Tommy and I explore the benefits and dangers of rigid belief systems within Christianity. Where do we need to immovable and where do we need to stay flexible? How can being rigid in the wrong areas be harmful? Can we even become more and more like Jesus if we refuse to change? All that and more! Hope you're ready; let's get into it!

Ever wondered about Hell Houses, fire and brimstone sermons, or the use of fear to drive people to Jesus? Well, so have we! That and some recent conversations sparked Tommy and I to discuss the question of hell and how important it really is to the Gospel? How aware do we need to be about hell? What about the unsaved? When is hell a useful topic and when is it not? All that and more - hope you&#39...