The Pastor's Table

Humans are shaped by community.  Tara Beth & Mark explore with Matt Croasmun the implications of understanding sin beyond an individualistic framework. America has a set of unique cultural norms that make it challenging to understand all that Paul has to say about the impact of sin on the community.   Dr. Croasmun discusses the vital role of community in understanding sin, the influence of soc...

Sin is a big deal.  In this episode of The Pastor's Table, hosts Tara Beth Leach and Dr. Mark Quanstrom engage in a compelling conversation with Dr. Matthew Croasmun about the multifaceted nature of sin. Drawing from his book, "The Emergence of Sin," Dr. Croasmun discusses sin from personal, social, and cosmic perspectives, challenging the conventional view that sin is merely individual misdeeds o...

Do you truly experience the promises Jesus gave to those who follow him—the benefits of peace, freedom, and love?  The fact is that many of us struggle with a gap between what we believe about God and how we encounter him in our everyday lives. We don't want our faith to be merely conceptual—we want to experience it viscerally—and yet we often come up against one or more of these major gaps: I bel...

Steve Cuss suggests, “Until you've gotten to the end of yourself, you're kind of a dangerous person.” In this episode of The Pastor's Table, Steve discusses his journey of finding the end of himself. From being unchurched to becoming a pastor, his transformative experiences as a hospital chaplain, and the challenges of pastoral leadership. Highlighting the importance of vulnerability, self-awarene...

The ordinary moments of life contain some of the most holy moments. In this episode of The Pastor's Table, Tara Beth and Mark discuss the challenges and joys of pastoral life beyond the pulpit. They share personal anecdotes, including Mark's weekly routine and the guilty pleasure of watching 'Survivor,' and Tara Beth's heartfelt journey of caring for her mother with dementia.  Play & rest are...

Having a “balanced” life is challenging when serving in ministry.   In this episode of the Pastor's Table, hosts Reverend Tara Beth Leach and Dr. Mark Quanstrom candidly discuss the challenges pastors face in balancing their professional and personal lives. They share personal anecdotes about their own struggles and strategies for maintaining well-being, such as embracing hobbies and setting bound...

Those who don’t “behold” and contemplate a life in God never experience God’s fullness.  When we behold God there is a transformative power that flows. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus subverts so many ways in which we view spirituality.  Life with God transcends moralism, successism, and individualism. In this conversation, Mark & Tara Beth have a profound discussion with Pastor Rich Villoda...

Rich didn’t grow up as a Christian.  Following Jesus means following Him along Jesus’ narrow way. Spiritual practices aren’t just an add-on to the way of Jesus. Rich Villodas presents a compelling theological vision for a church that focuses deeply on the formation of Jesus’ disciples.   Rich also highlights the unique membership process at New Life Church, which emphasizes relational and spiritua...

Listen to Theology on Mission Podcast on your favorite platform: https://pod.link/999549544   Pastors face unexpected challenges all the time.   Tara Beth and Mark talk with David Fitch and Mark Quanstrom from Theology on Mission Podcast about the many active struggles of ministry. Antagonism and all sorts of sources have created a polarized world. Often this blows up in the church.  Mark and Tara...

In a world where we can see the abuses of power everywhere. David Fitch & Mike Moore from The Theology on Mission Podcast join Mark and Tara Beth to discuss power dynamics in the church's life.  Church leaders must discern power and avoid its abuses and traumas. By learning from the church's historical pitfalls, Christians can be empowered to relinquish worldly power and make space for God to...

Amanda and their team eventually decided to close the coffee shop.  Amanda opens up about the challenges they faced, the emotional and spiritual toll, and the eventual decision to close the shop. Her story is one of resilience, empathy, and unwavering faith. Throughout the episode, Amanda reflects on Jesus’ vision to seek peace and leave if necessary.  In the end, Amanda and her team were struck b...

Jesus promises, “In this world, you will have trouble.” Backlash is a common experience for those trying to live out the faithful call of Jesus.   Tara Beth, and Mark have an engaging conversation with Pastor Amanda Oichel. Coming from a non-religious background in Canada, Amanda's journey to becoming an ordained Wesleyan pastor and church planter in Boston unfolds.  Amanda and their church had a...

Any church merger has a multitude of moving pieces.   To pursue unity and community impact amidst institutional challenges is no small effort. From the logistics of merging congregations to the theological and practical implications of such moves, "Navigating Church Mergers" offers rich insights into the transformative power of faith-led union. In This Episode, You'll Discover: - The inspiring jou...

The people of Jacob Gregory’s church didn’t just want to be “revived” they wanted to be “recreated.”  God led their church community to create a much-needed homeless shelter as an expression of their church. This change over time had the romance wear off eventually. Mark and Tara Beth talk with Jacob about the challenges of adapting to modern community needs while staying true to deep theological...

Every pastor at some point will have to navigate uncharted waters.   Dr. Dan Meyers shares about some of his unexpected ministry situations. The conversation delves into the challenges of pastoral leadership, the burden of power, and the importance of humility in guiding a church community. Dan recounts a significant turning point in his ministry when he had to make a difficult decision that ultim...

How important is unity in the Body of Christ?   Dan Meyers has a compelling vision of the importance of a unified Church. Tara Beth and Mark dig into everything from Dan’s call to ministry and the early years of ministry he navigated.  Dr. Meyer shares his transformative experiences, including facing internal and congregational conflict, learning from failure, and recognizing the importance of fai...

Restoration is always possible.   Tim Doyle told God that he would go anywhere and do anything. God’s call brought Tim back to his hometown of St. Joseph, MO.  Last week we covered the beginning of Tim’s surprising thrust into ministry. Despite losing millions in property and facing personal attacks, Pastor Tim's story highlights themes of resilience, hope, and community impact. From starting over...

It’s a unique situation to Pastor in your hometown. It’s even more unique when the opportunity unexpectedly presents itself.   Tim Doyle shares with Mark and Tara Beth about the challenge of leading a tumultuous and declining church. Ultimately their church made the difficult decision to leave their current denomination and work through a grueling lawsuit. Tim's journey is a testament to the resil...

Living a life filled with the values of God’s Kingdom requires imagination.  Much of the Church is plagued with a deficit of imagination about how God could use them in their lives. The role of women in particular faces a significant anemic imagination.  Sherry shares her story of being faithful to a call that is leading her through the process of ordination and preaching more regularly at College...

Hard things happen all the time in ministry.   What Sherry had to endure was more than hard. It was abusive and unacceptable.  Despite all this adversity Sherry shares how she navigated all this pain and still could say that she still loves the church.  In the face of unimaginable challenges and profound pain, Sherry Mitchell's unwavering faith and commitment to her calling shine through. Her stor...

How can we keep ourselves from becoming cynical about the Church?   Coach Wayne Gordon continues the conversation with Tara Beth and Mark. They talk honestly about the many ways churches can be painful and fall short of the ideal set by Jesus.  The process of confessing these faults is a powerful opportunity to be transformed to become more like Jesus!   Embracing humility is a courageous and bold...

What happens when a vision for God’s Kingdom gets taken seriously?   Filled with the Holy Spirit Coach Wayne Gordon retells the dynamic way God led a group of people that founded Lawndale Community Church.   Discover the transformative impact that has shaped the Lawndale community and understand why the Church, as God's change agent, holds a pivotal role in the contemporary world. Unravel the prof...

Life in the church is a complex reality.   The Church is what it will become, yet it also has a here and not yet reality. Acknowledging the tensions within, Beth, Mark & Tara Beth explore the coexistence of brokenness and Christ's presence in the Church. The discussion delves into the impact of sin, addressing the significant pain experienced, especially by church leaders. Despite the struggle...

The Church is filled with tension. How does the brokenness of humanity found in the Church co-exist with being Christ’s presence in the world?  Sin has ravaged the church. The pain and fallout have been significant, especially among church leaders. Yet, the church will always be the place where messy people interact and work out their salvation from sin.  Holiness often looks less spectacular and...

How does sin manifest itself in the world?  The inescapable nature of sin is felt in so many ways including the church. Whether it’s the pervasive brokenness in systems or grave offensives, God’s people are constantly bumping up against sin.  Tara Beth & Mark talk with Beth Felker Jones about the way God intersects with the reality of sin in the world.   Discussion Questions:  The steadfast lo...