Your congregation is important and we know that leading and serving in congregations is hard work. Join staff from the Center for Congregations as they interview thought leaders and experts to encourage, inspire and help you find the right information and resources to address your congregation's needs. Center for Congregations staff will share what they're learning through our work with congregations. Speakers, authors and congregational practitioners will share their stories and best practices to help your congregation thrive.
S4 E10: Possibility Lessons from Jazz
Dr. Kirk Byron Jones joins the podcast to discuss what we can learn from jazz about beauty, creativity, and liberation. Kirk Byron Jones is a graduate of Loyola University and Andover Newton Theological School, and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Emory University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Drew University.
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S4 E9: What's Right with Congregations
Former Center for Congregations staff members Nancy DeMott and Doug Hanner join the podcast to share past congregational stories and why it is important to learn from others' successes.
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S4 E8: When Digital Ministry is not Plug-and-Play
Rev. Dr. Rosario Picardo, co-author of Fresh Expressions in a Digital Age, discusses the role of digital ministry in congregational life.
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S4 E7: Remembering Our History in Order to Heal
Rev. Sue Park-Hur, co-director of ReconciliAsian and Denominational Minister for Mennonite Church USA talks about the challenges facing the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community including discussing the model-minority myth, the rise of hate crimes against the AAPI community and the 30th anniversary of the LA Riots of 1992.
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S4 E6: Navigating Grief and Lamentation
Chaplain Jon Swanson joins the Center for Congregations' podcast to discuss what it means to explore the ways we manage loss and disappointment. Jon Swanson is a writer and organizational consultant and serves as a chaplain for Parkview Health in Fort Wayne, Ind.
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S4 E5: Moving Forward — Anti-racism in Congregational Life
Podcast hosts Kelly Minas and Ben Tapper talk with theology professor, church anti-racism leader, and social change practitioner Drew G.I. Hart of Messiah University about the scope of antiracism work in congregations since the racial unrest of 2020.
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S4 E4: Pandemic and Purpose
Podcast hosts Matt Burke and Shellie Riggs Jordan explore the changing nature of congregational life with Pastor Rob Dyer of Ministry Architects. Rob encourages congregations to explore the question behind the question.
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S4 B3 The Review — Facing Death-Learning from Kate Bowler
Podcast hosts Ben Tapper and Abby Miller reflect on several podcast interviews with Kate Bowler and explore what it means to face the gravity of life with grace and joy.
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S4 E3 Is Race the Real Problem?
Racial division is a current topic in many areas of life, but is race the real issue here? Rev. Wallace Butts joins podcast hosts Ben Tapper and Matt Burke about the Listen, Learn and Live (L3) Initiative in which he lays out a way for people in our society to live more peaceably together. Find more resources on The CRG.
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S4 E2: Providing Touch in a Touchless Time
Deidre (Dee Dee) Gray and Adrian Warren join podcast hosts Ben Tapper and Matt Burke to talk about how congregations can improve their digital presence.
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S4 B2: The Review — Can I Get Your Number? Unpacking the Enneagram
Podcast hosts Abby Miller and Ben Tapper discuss The Paths Between Us and talk through the reasons they find the Enneagram both useful and fascinating.
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S4 B1: The Review — Learning from Mars Hill
In this fun bonus episode, podcast host Ben Tapper and Center for Congregations staff member Abby Miller discuss the podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and explore what we can learn from it.
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Kara Powell from Fuller Youth Institute joins podcast hosts Ben Tapper and Matt Burke to discuss the new book: 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager.
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S3 E11: Ghosts
Borrowing from Charles Dickens' classic novel, co-hosts Ben Tapper and Matt Burke and Center for Congregations President Tim Shapiro, reflect on where congregations have been, where they are and where they’re going.
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S3 E10: Gloriously Out of Place
Joe Johns and So Min Oo join podcast hosts Ben Tapper and Matt Burke to discuss the relationship their congregations have built while celebrating their differences. Joe is the former paster of Fellowship Missionary Church in Fort Wayne, Ind., and So Min is the secretary of Masjid Noor ul-Islam (Burmese Muslim Education and Community Center) also in Fort Wayne. Find more resources on the CRG.
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Center for Congregations Associate Director of Evaluation Kelly Minas joins podcast hosts Ben Tapper and Matt Burke to discuss the importance of evaluation, metrics and analytics for congregational life. Find more resources on the CRG.
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S3 E8: Forced into the Water
Mike Palmer joins podcast hosts Ben Tapper and Matt Burke to unpack emerging trends in education. They explore how these trends will affect religious education and congregational life moving forward. Find more resources on the CRG.
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Rev. Sabrina Gray discusses the importance of end of life planning, and talks through how leaders can initiate those conversations within their community. Find more resources on the CRG.
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S3 E6: Don't Be a Clergy Killer
Rev. Callie Smith and Dr. Rob Saler join podcast hosts Matt Burke and Ben Tapper to discuss the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program. They unpack the importance of rest and renewal for both clergy leaders and congregations and offer some insights and resources. Find more resources on this topic on the CRG.
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S3 E5: Who Are You? Marketing and Branding for Congregations
Manuel Corazzari joins podcast hosts Matt Burke and Ben Tapper to discuss marketing and branding for congregations including the importance of knowing your unique identity. Find more resources on the topic on the CRG.
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S3 E4: Make It Personal: Leading Multicultural Congregations
Pastor Javier Mondragon joins podcast hosts Ben Tapper and Matt Burke to discuss challenges and benefits of leading a multicultural congregation. Find more resources on the topic on the CRG.
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S3 E3: Worship As a Work of the People
David Gungor joins Ben and Matt to talk about how worship is more than just singing together. He also discusses how Good Shepherd New York is an integrated community where the gifts of the members are used to uplift the community and the importance of authentic relationship among all. Find more resources on this topic on the CRG.
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S3 E2: Never-ending Worship: Where Preparation and Inspiration Meet
The Center's Ben Tapper and Shellie Riggs Jordan speak with John Ray from Light of the World Christian Church about what it takes to plan a successful worship service. They discuss music as a specific element of the worship service and as the overarching lifestyle of the congregation. John explores the many hats that he wears and offers advice about balancing the technical quality of worship with the need to follow the invitation of the Spirit. Find more resources on this topic on the CRG.
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S3 E1: Stay Ready: Preparing to Prepare
Ben sits down with Aimee Laramore and Louise Jackson to unpack the ins and outs of strategic planning. They take you into the mind of strategic planning consultants and identify common pitfalls they've seen derail the planning process while highlighting the importance of honestly assessing whether our vision aligns with the capacity and resources of our team. Find more resources on this topic on the CRG.
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S2 B2: Tips on Working with Tech Volunteers
Pastor John Stange joins Center for Congregations staff members Kate White and Ben Tapper to share best practices for engaging with tech volunteers.
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