The Faithful Resistance

If you listened to the series, you know a bit about church planting. Yet, each church has unique needs. Back in 2016 Reverend Maggie returned to Cincinnati straight from seminary and found herself thrust into a neighborhood that needed more than a pulpit. What begins as homework club grows into a fragile, radiant community called Iglesia Episcopal del Espíritu Santo. Between language gaffes and la...

This is the chaotic, joyful birth of new church, St. Lucy’s!  Everything does not go as planned. And some things, elder Abbey has not had to think about – The Many Children! How do you mesh spiritual traditions with rambunctious toddlers? Well, this episode you get to hear how the crew handled it, corralling babies behind an altar rail, and ultimately discovering- you have to feed the kids! Tune i...

What's coming on The Faithful Resistance

St Lucy’s is almost a church! But, what will a church service be like? In the final month of planning, the team learns what is required for an Episcopal Eucharistic Service. They discuss each of the 7 steps that provide structure, and wonder about the meaning behind each one. How do you create an experience that won't create in-groups and out-groups, but practices anyone can participate in? Poking...

This is the messy middle: a church being born amid political turmoil, attacks on the vulnerable, and communities in despair. The St. Lucy’s team navigates the turbulent climate in early 2025, leading to some reality checks. They face questions about how they can support those with religious trauma, those who are grieving, and those who are afraid. And do it all while processing their own grief and...

The hard truth is that a church needs money to operate. But, is it possible to ask for money and not feel gross about it? Tune in to hear how the team attempted to build financial scaffolding for St. Lucys, inviting others into the vision, creating structures for visibility, and asking for help when they're out of their depth. Meet spreadsheet guy, Tommy, who shares his sketchy church experience,...

How do you advertise a church in a way that doesn’t trigger literally everyone? The St. Lucy’s team discusses initial efforts to get the word out, including how to use social media. They attempt to create a website that speaks to a diversity of visitors, and quickly discover that the whole thing is a big ol’ trigger factory.  Reflecting on feedback about the website, Jen talks about "Sunday segreg...

"We are still hungry for spaces, rituals, and rhythms that will help us beat despair and recover wonder." – Debie Thomas In this episode, the New Church team wrestles with writing a mission statement—and with it, a bigger question: Can we truly "recover wonder" in a space built not on perfection, but on patience, smallness, and honesty? Team member Lizzie brings the concept of wonder to life throu...

Who is this church for? This is the pivotal question Emily and her team begin to tackle. Brenna shares her own journey, one which highlights the reality of faith transitions, family dynamics, and the challenges faced by parents of LGBTQ children within the church. Using each of their stories as a foundation, the team generates a list of “personas” — the disenfranchised evangelicals, the questionin...

Emily bravely steps into the shoes of a church planter. (Eek!) The stakes are high, as it's been 45 years since a successful church has been planted in this diocese. We'll witness her first steps, gathering a supportive team, creating an official proposal, and juggling the chaos of life.  The ecclesiastical bureaucracy is daunting, and the terminology a bit icky. Yet, she finds the structure of th...

Liturgy is freaky. It’s a barrier to entry, but there are things ex-evangelicals would also find attractive about the Episcopal Church. So, Emily decides to pilot a Sunday *night* service which will be more accessible than the standard morning version. Partnering with Reverend Maggie, they attempt to create a space where wanderers, the curious, and the jaded alike feel comfortable to explore.  We’...

Meet Reverend Maggie Foote, a not-so-formal priest. Hailing from conservative Ohio, Maggie grew up in the Episcopal church and felt a pull toward ordained ministry from a young age. Contrasting with Emily’s story, Maggie’s journey of self-discovery is sweetly simple. Following normal growing pains, Maggie is able to flourish within her family and church. Maggie shares some of the history and theol...

A devout Evangelical girl, Emily was offered the highest of compliments - that she’d make a great Pastor’s Wife. Yet, she had a "lingering sin issue" that haunted her. She worked so hard to get rid of it, becoming a missionary, joining a Christian 12-step program, and finally, going to seminary. We encounter moments of humor, vulnerability, and unexpected joy as Emily recounts her wild college day...

What happens next with Christianity in America? Those who have been hurt by the church have a role to play. We are in a “hinge” period- a time for reformation- where the old fades away and new forms of religious community are birthing. We don’t know what will be transitory and what will stick. But the brave are paving new paths; resilient communities popping up like mushrooms across the country. T...