The Ministry Collaborative Podcast

The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Ryan Bonfiglio, Adam Mixon, and Adam Borneman) kick off the year talking about the nature and purpose of the church, the shape of our calling, and how quickly ministry can devolve into constituent services.

Program Director Adam Borneman and Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell speak with the Rev. Brady Radford ( Trinity Presbyterian, Decatur ; Lovewell Collective ) about resilience, resets, and the strengthening power of community.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Jennifer Pharr Davis ( Blue Ridge Hiking Company ) about resilience, her record breaking hikes, ecological stewardship, and the importance of recovering on the move.

The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Maxell, Ryan Bonfiglio, Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, and Mark Ramsey) talks about vulnerability,  redundancy, and how the faithful community models what resilience looks like.

Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Ben Johnston-Krase ( Farm Church ) about moving past superficial gratitude, disentangling it from material abundance, and its revolutionary character.

In this season of gratitude, the Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Borneman, Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss the importance of lament, the difference between gratitude and gratification, and the greed that undermines our ability to be grateful.

In part two of this conversation, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Revs. Amy Starr Redwine ( First Presbyterian, Richmond, VA ), Susan Rogers ( The Well at Springfield, Jacksonville, FL ), and Kjell Ferris ( Peace Lutheran, Plymouth, MN ) about their recent sprint cohort experience; truth telling and whiteness; navigating congregational systems; and pushing on racial justice with con...

In part one of this conversation, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Revs. Amy Starr Redwine ( First Presbyterian, Richmond, VA ), Susan Rogers ( The Well at Springfield, Jacksonville, FL ), and Kjell Ferris ( Peace Lutheran, Plymouth, MN ) about their recent sprint cohort experience, truth telling, whiteness, and justice in the church.

Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with Dr. Donyelle McCray ( Yale Divinity School ) and the Rev. Dr. Tom Long ( Candler School of Theology ) about their new book of Advent Devotions , the "disappointing Jesus", and what's required of us.

Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell shares her reflections on Saul, managing multiple pandemics, and Tina Turner. This writing originally appeared on our blog in February.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. David Swanson ( New Community Covenant Church ) about his book, working on the South Side of Chicago, and the importance of from moving from cheap diversity to true discipleship.

Content Curator Adam Mixon shares his reflections on Ezra 3:11-13. This writing originally appeared on our blog in September .

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Dr. Dwight J. Zscheile ( Luther Seminary ) about church agility, faithful innovation, and how the massive shifts around institutional identity are affecting congregations.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Dominique DuBois Gilliard ( Evangelical Covenant Church ) about his newest book and scripture's call to leverage privilege.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Bec Cranford ( Gateway Center ) about her tales of messy faith, complicated community, and stories of effing amazing grace.

Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Mark Elsdon about his new book, the wealth of churches, reparations, and how we might align our mission with our money.

In the wrap up to our series on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative's Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, and Ryan Bonfiglio discuss the difference between diversity and belonging, seminaries as conduits instead of gate keepers, and the possibilities that collaboration brings to the hunger for deep learning.

In our fifth conversation on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative's Jennifer Maxell and Ryan Bonfiglio welcome the Rev. Dr. Willie Jennings ( Yale Divinity School ) to talk about his new book , the importance of belonging, and why theological education needs to find its center in communion.

In our fourth conversation on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative's Jennifer Maxell and Ryan Bonfiglio welcome Dr. Kwok Pui-Lan ( Candler School of Theology ) and Dr. Patrick Reyes ( Forum for Theological Exploration ) to talk about de-colonization, embracing global and local diversity, and how only a fraction of theological education is happening within recognized inst...

In our third conversation on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative's Jennifer Maxell and Ryan Bonfiglio welcome Dr. Leah Gunning Francis ( Christian Theological Seminary ) and Dr. Ted Smith ( Candler School of Theology ) to talk about identity formation, the changing partnerships of theological education, and the vocational shifts toward making a difference in the world.

In our second conversation on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative's Jennifer Maxell and Ryan Bonfiglio welcome the Rev. Porsha Williams Gates ( Porshanality Media ) the Rev. Dr. Denise Thorpe ( Pittsburgh Theological Seminary ) to talk about the importance of a deep learning community, reimagining the pulpit, and the wisdom of Zora Neale Nurston.

In our first conversation on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative's Jennifer Maxell and Ryan Bonfiglio welcome the Rev. Dr. Kelly Farrow ( Circle of Sacred Fire ) and Rev. Laura Cheifetz ( Vanderbilt Divinity School ) to talk about how our rapidly changing world is transforming theological education, the importance of seeing wisdom outside of the institutions, and how di...

In a conversation recorded back in February, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Borneman, Mark Ramsey, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss thriving, finding the beauty in the moment, and learning not to celebrate leaky roofs.

Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Dr. Guy Sayles ( From the Intersection , Center for Healthy Churches ) about what ministries can be archived, the importance of understanding how larger systems work, and the power of Romans 8.

In a conversation recorded back in February, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss technical vs. adaptive leadership, imaginative space, and whether we truly believe God's plans are better than ours.