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At the Future Christian Podcast, we talk to pastors, authors, and other faith leaders for helpful advice and practical wisdom to help you lead your church into the future.
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
In this episode, Martha Tatarnic welcomes Jason Byassee to talk about church growth in a Mainline church context. Jason discusses the importance of churches embracing their own limitations and uncertainties. He emphasizes the need for churches to recognize that their only hope lies in the resurrection of Jesus and to be willing to give away their assets to those who can fill them. Byassee also highlights the significance of funerals in conveying the meaning of life and the role of the church in providing a message that is worth hearing. He explores the commonalities among thriving churches, including a willingness to try new things and a focus on character rather than charisma. Ultimately, Byassee encourages pastors to have hope in a God who raises the dead and to trust in the future of Christianity.
Jason Byassee is senior pastor of Timothy Eaton Memorial Church in Toronto, ON. He previously taught preaching and held the Butler Chair in Homiletics at the Vancouver School of Theology. He is author or editor of 20 books on Christian faith, biblical interpretation, thriving congregations, leadership, and church history. Learn more at www.jasonbyassee.com.
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.
Theology Beer Camp
https://homebrewedchristianity.lpages.co/theology-beer-camp-24/
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Danny Burton - Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Tuesday Jul 16, 2024
Tuesday Jul 16, 2024
In this conversation, Professor Alison Milbank discusses the concept of the parish and its importance in the life of faith. She shares her experiences growing up in the Church of England and the changes she has witnessed due to secularization. Milbank emphasizes the significance of the parish as a local community that brings together people of different ages and cultures. She also explores the threats to the parish, including the influence of secularization and the rise of bureaucratic managerialism in the Church. Milbank argues for a return to the core activities of the church and a focus on mission and evangelism. They also discuss the significance of parish buildings as spaces for community engagement and the potential for the parish to address issues such as mental health, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Despite the challenges, she expresses hope for the future of Christianity and the resurgence of faithfulness.
Alison Milbank is Professor of Theology and Literature at the University of Nottingham, where she works in the field of religion and the arts. She has had a particular interest in horror fiction from Daughters of the House: Modes of the Gothic in Victorian Fiction in 1992 to God and the Gothic: Religion, Romance and Reality in the English Literary Tradition (2018). She has also published on Dante reception (Dante and the Victorians, 1998) and on fantasy and religion (Chesterton and Tolkien as Theologians: The Fantasy of the Real, 2007). She is also an Anglican priest, currently Canon Theologian and Priest Vicar at Southwell Minster, a cathedral and parish church in a small town near Sherwood Forest. In 2010, with Andrew Davison she wrote For the Parish: A Critique of Fresh Expressions and in 2023, The Once and Future Parish, with six lectures on the book available on you tube at https://www.youtube.com/@sshoxford5856/videos Associated with the Radical Orthodoxy movement, she co-edited Preaching Radical and Orthodox, with John Hughes and Arabella Milbank Robinson.
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.
Theology Beer Camp
https://homebrewedchristianity.lpages.co/theology-beer-camp-24/
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Danny Burton - Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
In this episode, Martha Tatarnic continues her conversation with Elizabeth Schrader Polczer for the second part of a groundbreaking conversation on biblical scholarship. Continuing from last week, Elizabeth delves deeper into her research on the Gospel of John, Papyrus 66, and the evolving understanding of Mary Magdalene's role in early Christianity. She explores the textual instabilities around the names Mary and Martha, revealing how these edits might have been attempts to downplay Mary's significance as a central figure in the Christian narrative. Elizabeth discusses the viral reaction to her work, sparked by Diana Butler Bass's sermon at the Wild Goose Festival, and the challenges of navigating public and scholarly reactions to her theories. She also addresses how her findings resonate with John scholars and the broader implications for understanding women's roles in the church.
This is the second of a two-part episode, so go back and listen to the first half, which can be found in the show notes below.
Elizabeth Schrader Polczer is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Villanova University. She holds a doctorate in Early Christianity from Duke University, with a focus on textual criticism, Mary Magdalene, and the Gospel of John. Her research has been published in the Harvard Theological Review, the Journal of Biblical Literature, TC: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism, the Comparative Oriental Manuscript Studies Bulletin, and the Journal of Early Christian Studies. She is regularly invited to present her peer-reviewed research at churches and conferences internationally.
On Twitter/X: @libbieschrader
Part One
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ushmm-16554d0
YouTube of Diana Butler Bass sermon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSH-nfdh_S0&t=5s
Elizabeth's Album:
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/libbie-schrader/16720802
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.
Theology Beer Camp
https://homebrewedchristianity.lpages.co/theology-beer-camp-24/
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Danny Burton - Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Tuesday Jul 02, 2024
Tuesday Jul 02, 2024
In this episode, Martha Tatarnic welcomes Elizabeth Schrader Polczer to talk about her groundbreaking work in biblical scholarship, particularly in how we see and understand Mary Magdalene and the Gospel of John. Elizabeth discusses the textual instabilities around the names Mary and Martha in John 11, visible in Papyrus 66, revealing intriguing insights and controversial edits that challenge traditional interpretations. She shares her discovery of editorial changes that suggest Martha may have been added to the Gospel of John in the second century. This revelation has significant implications for how we understand the role of Mary Magdalene in early Christianity.
This is the first of a two-part episode, so be sure to stay tuned next week for the second half.
Elizabeth Schrader Polczer is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Villanova University. She holds a doctorate in Early Christianity from Duke University, with a focus on textual criticism, Mary Magdalene, and the Gospel of John. Her research has been published in the Harvard Theological Review, the Journal of Biblical Literature, TC: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism, the Comparative Oriental Manuscript Studies Bulletin, and the Journal of Early Christian Studies. She is regularly invited to present her peer-reviewed research at churches and conferences internationally.
On Twitter/X: @libbieschrader
YouTube of Diana Butler Bass sermon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSH-nfdh_S0&t=5s
Elizabeth's Album:
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/libbie-schrader/16720802
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.
Theology Beer Camp
https://homebrewedchristianity.lpages.co/theology-beer-camp-24/
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Danny Burton - Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
In this episode, Martha Tatarnic welcomes back Alexander Lang for a deep and insightful conversation. Alex, a former PCUSA pastor, has transitioned from church ministry to a technology business aimed at fostering meaningful relationships. The discussion centers on Alex's recent experiences since leaving his pastoral role and delves into the themes of his new book, "Restored: Spirituality for the 21st Century Rationalist." Alex shares his journey over the past five months, reflecting on the sense of community he misses and the broader implications for society as traditional church communities decline. The conversation explores the concept of the overview effect, inspired by astronaut Edgar Mitchell's transformative experience in space, and how it can redefine our understanding of spirituality. The episode also tackles the challenges faced by 21st-century rationalists in reconciling scientific understanding with spiritual practices. Alex offers a fresh perspective on prayer, emphasizing its potential for fostering deep connections and personal transformation, and highlights the importance of beauty as a spiritual practice and its accessibility in everyday life.
Alexander Lang is a former PCUSA pastor who worked in church ministry for 20 years. He has since left the church to pursue a technology business that is designed to help people form meaningful relationships. Alex’s interests include independent film, electronic music and deep conversation with people who question, doubt and want to dig into the most complex issues we face as humans. When he’s not working on books, podcasts or the Restorative Faith Movement, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.
Previous Episode with Alex:
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-9dxb3-14b9d38
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.
Theology Beer Camp
https://homebrewedchristianity.lpages.co/theology-beer-camp-24/
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Danny Burton - Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
In this episode, Martha Tatarnic welcomes, Christopher Dawes, a veteran worship leader and musician in Canada. Chris discusses the challenges and pressures faced by church musicians and the unique role they play in worship. The conversation also explores the individuality and isolation experienced by church musicians and the need for better relationships between musicians and ministers. The conversation delves into the role of music in churches, the challenges faced by church musicians, and the significance of the Summer Institute of Church Music. It explores the power and pastoral potential of music, the overvaluation and undervaluation of music in churches, and the impact of music on the future of Christianity.
Christopher Dawes is a Toronto-based performer, conductor and consultant. A three-decade fixture of the Toronto music community and frequent collaborator with many of its top institutions, he currently serves as Organist and Director of Music to Rosedale Presbyterian Church, and Artistic Director of the 18-voice a capella Marion Singers of Greater Toronto. For two decades he has served as Collaborative Pianist and Coach to the graduate and undergraduate instrumental and choral conducting programs of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, and as a Director of Canada’s Summer Institute of Church Music. Since 2018 he has also chaired the Executive of the Southern Ontario Chapter (SOCHS) of the Hymn Society of the US and Canada. Chris’s graduate work in the area of Music Criticism and musical genre has led to occasional blogging and podcasting under the banner “Ideas About Music,” speaking at conferences, and eventually founding the Celtic-crossover band Chroí in 2013.
Web - http://ideasaboutmusic.ca, and on Facebook.
For more than 50 years, the Summer Institute of Church Music (SICM) has been helping church music to flourish by hosting a week-long transformative professional development program in July at Trafalgar Castle School in Whitby ON. Church musicians, worship leaders, clergy and choristers study under the direction of world class faculty, and participate in daily worship, workshops, and discussions of current issues facing churches and their music. Students of all skill levels and denominations are welcomed.
Recently re-located to All Saints' Anglican Church in Whitby, in 2024 SICM is debuting a 3-day, 12-hour program running in-person and online from 12pm-4pm Eastern Time, and will also feature the Final Round of the 26th biennial Osborne Organ Competition. It remains the only program of its kind in Canada.
Web - http://sicm.ca, and on Facebook.
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.
Theology Beer Camp
https://homebrewedchristianity.lpages.co/theology-beer-camp-24/
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Danny Burton - Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
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Tuesday Jun 11, 2024
Tuesday Jun 11, 2024
In this joint podcast episode with Vicars' Crossing and Future Christian, Kevin, Rob and Martha talk about why as busy pastors leading churches they carve out time to be part of hosting podcasts. What are the conversations that the church needs to be having? What has been difficult for the church to talk about? What do we see as the value of making time and space for conversations with different voices from a variety of perspectives figuring our leadership in our churches today? What do we hope to offer the church on Vicars' Crossing and Future Christian, and what have we been learning in the process? Vicars' Crossing is a theological and church leadership podcast cohosted by Anglican priests Kevin George and Rob Henderson.
Rob Henderson currently serves as rector of Holy Trinity St. Stephen’s Memorial Anglican Church in Ontario. His previous parishes have been in the town of Essex and the city of Windsor. Before his ordination in 2008, Rob worked in radio broadcasting in Chatham and Leamington. He has been co-hosting the Vicars Crossing podcast with his friend and colleague Kevin George since 2019. Rob is married to wife Margie and has 2 boys.
Kevin George was ordained in 1997 in the diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, and has been a priest in the diocese of Huron since 1998. Kevin has served in the Parish of Labrador West, NL; St Marks by-the-Lake Tecumseh, ON; and is currently the Rector of St Aidan’s Church London, ON. Kevin earned a Bachelor in Education degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland, a Master of Divinity Degree from Huron University, and a Doctorate in Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary. His thesis research was focused on faithful baptismal response in interfaith settings. Kevin is married to Catherinanne, who is the Director of Campus Ministry at Brescia University, and a chaplain in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. Kevin is a loyal Habs fan, prays for the return of Les Expos, and has learned what suffering looks like from being introduced to the Detroit Lions by Rob! Kevin is an avid reader, loves being involved in the community, and enjoys an appropriate adult beverage with friends. Fun fact: In 2019 Kevin preached for 55 Hours without sleep.
The Vicars' Crossing Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-vicars-crossing/id1439360909
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.
Theology Beer Camp
https://homebrewedchristianity.lpages.co/theology-beer-camp-24/
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Danny Burton - Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Wednesday May 29, 2024
Wednesday May 29, 2024
Rev. Teresa Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) shares about the Covenant Project, which aims to increase participation and decision-making in the church, the Church Narrative Project, which focuses on changing the narrative of the church to be more inclusive and anti-racist, and the Proclamation Project, which equips clergy with preaching resources. She also talks about the importance of data gathering and analysis in understanding the state of the denomination. Hord Owens also highlights the importance of theological diversity, staying together at the table, and the need for moral and theological grounding in political engagement. Finally, she emphasizes the role of imagination, the importance of spiritual practice and Bible study, and why we need a more connected church that leverages its resources to do good in the world.
Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens is the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. She is the first person of color and second woman to lead the denomination, and the first woman of African descent to lead a mainline denomination. Elected in 2017, Rev. Hord Owens was re-elected to a second term as General Minister and President in 2023. Her ministry actively reflects the Disciples’ priority of being an anti-racist church, being a movement for wholeness, welcoming all to the Lord’s table as God has welcomed us. Her exhortation to the church is “Let’s be the church we say we are. It is in being who we say we are that we actively bear witness to God’s limitless love for all.” Rev. Hord Owens earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and her MDiv from the University of Chicago Divinity School, where she subsequently served as Dean of Students for 12 years. Rev. Hord Owens’ resume includes more than 20 years of leadership in corporate America leading diverse teams in data management. She serves on the National Council of Churches as the Treasurer of the Governing Board and is a member of the World Council of Churches Central Committee.
Relevant Links
David Anderson Hooker on the power of narrative
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'
Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Executive Producer
Danny Burton - Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Tuesday May 21, 2024
In this episode, Loren and Martha review the highlights of the season and discuss three broad themes: pastoral health, individualization versus connection, and leading change. They play clips from interviews with Kinsie Tate, Jonathan Foster, Ted Smith, Tessa Pinkstaff, Doug Powe, Scott Thumma and more to explore these themes. They discuss the challenges clergy face in dealing with their own issues while ministering to others, the need for support and community, and the tension between individualism and connection in the church. They also touch on the impact of live streaming and online ministry on the church community. The conversation explores the themes of consumerism, leading change, and the Messiah complex in church leadership. It emphasizes the need to resist the temptation to view churches as products and pastors as content creators. The dangers of quick fixes and the importance of discernment and listening are discussed. The conversation also touches on the interconnectedness of different topics in Christian leadership and teases upcoming conversations on the importance of the small and local in the church, flourishing mainline churches, clergy burnout and wellness, and more.
Episodes Highlighted:
How to Lead Faithful Innovation
New Models of Clergy Credentialing
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'
Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Executive Producer
Danny Burton - Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Tuesday May 14, 2024
With the continued decline of churches and denominations, many pastors and church leaders are facing a future filled with doom. In this conversation, Brian McLaren discusses his new book Life After Doom and how the four possible scenarios for the future of our world mirror the reality of institutional church: collapse avoidance, collapse rebirth, collapse survival, and collapse extinction. McLaren emphasizes the need for pastoral care and support in the face of these challenges and encourages individuals to show up for what they love. He also suggests reimagining the Christian faith as a series of movements rather than institutions. McLaren emphasizes the importance of small groups of people coming together to live simpler and more meaningful lives, focusing on conversation and enjoying the beauty of nature.
Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a core faculty member and Dean of Faculty for the Center for Action and Contemplation. and a podcaster with Learning How to See. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and is a co-host of Southern Lights. His newest books are Faith After Doubt (January 2021), Do I Stay Christian? (May 2022), and Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart, (May 2024). Born in 1956, he graduated from University of Maryland with degrees in English (BA, 1978, and MA, 1981). His academic interests included Medieval drama, Romantic poets, modern philosophical literature, and the novels of Dr. Walker Percy. In 2004, he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity Degree (honoris causa) from Carey Theological Seminary in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and in 2010, he received a second honorary doctorate from Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal).
Past Episodes with Brian:
https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/brian-mclaren-on-faith-after-doubt/
https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/do-i-stay-a-christian-with-brian-mclaren/
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
I Help Pastors Get Jobs: Use code 'futurechristian'
Torn Curtain Arts is a non-profit ministry that works with worship leaders, creatives, and churches to help avoid burnout, love their work, and realize their full creative potential.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Executive Producer
Danny Burton - Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer