Church and Main: At the Intersection of Religion and Public Life

Can Christians in the United States break out of the left-right binary?In the late summer of 2022, a young Christian public theologian penned a document where he asked the question: Am I Progressive?  That young man was theologian Amar Peterman who wrote this essay where he shared why he didn't consider himself a progressive Christian. “The conservative-progressive spectrum, I believe, is a false binary used to categorize and make assumptions about those around us,” he wrote in that essay. “Both “conservative” and “progressive” are handcuffs that align us with an in-group and ultimately distract us from thinking and acting with charity, nuance, and love. When we take on these identities as our own, we allow them to form our imagination of faith, our world, and the ideological “other.” We also place ourselves within the social commitments that these labels hold which limit our ability to speak truth in love.”In this episode, Amar shares what it means to be a Christian in such a politically polarized era and how the Christian faith must break out of the false binary.  Lest you think he is advocating a mushy middle, Amar is aiming for a faith that is not captured by the political definitions of our day while speaking prophetically to the challenges our society faces today.Show Notes:Am I Progressive? by Amar PetermanHow My Conservative Christian College Made Me A Leftist by Josiah Daniels (the article Amar is responding to in his essay)Why I Changed My Mind About Law and Marriage Again by David FrenchMake a One-Time Donation to Church and MainFollow Church and Main:FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeChurch and Main is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Or how to share your faith without being an ass.Mention the word, "evangelism" and people get nervous. People might have images of an angry preacher yelling at people. I understand and in this solo episode, I share an experience with a gentleman who was not sharing the good news of Jesus Christ even if he thought he was. Even though people like this man give evangelism a bad name it is still important to share our faith with others by looking to Jesus himself.‘An undercurrent of growth' Making a church of disciples in a secular age-Anglican JournalVideo Version:Follow Church and Main:Follow Church and Main:FacebookInstagramTwitterChurch and Main is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thank you for reading Church and Main. This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

The Evangelical Covenant Church is a denomination with roots in the pietist movement with Lutheran roots with about 200,000 members in the United States and Canada.  While it was founded by Swedish immigrants, it is a very diverse denomination.  At the 2019 Annual Meeting in Omaha, the church did something that had never been in done before: it expelled one of the oldest churches in the church, First Covenant Church in Minneapolis for its affirming stance on LGBTQ issues.  History might repeat itself later this year when two other churches could be expelled, one in the Twin Cities and another in Seattle. I chatted with historian Chris Gehrz on this important issue.  Gehrz is a professor of history at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Chris has written three books on pietism including the Pietist Option: Hope for the Renewal of Christianity, which he co-wrote with Mark Pattie.  We talk about the history of the Evangelical Covenant Church, the 2019 decision to expel First Covenant in Minneapolis, why the LGBTQ issue is so intractable and what might happen in 2023.Show Notes:Freedom in Christ- An Article written by Gehrz on the LGBTQ issueWhat is Pietism- Previous Episode with GehrzAmy Grant conquered Christian music. That was just her first act.Follow Church and Main:FacebookInstagramTwitterChurch and Main is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

In this solo episode, Dennis shares another video from October of this year where he asks what it means to be a "progressive" or "conservative" congregation and what should really matter to followers of Jesus. Stick around to listen to Dennis add some additional comments and also ask the audience for help in finding a future guest.Thoughtful. Independent. Moderate? by Chris GehrzAm I A Progressive? by Amar PetermanVideo VersionChurch and Main is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

We might not want to admit it, but faith lies at the heart of so many of the issues facing our modern world. That's why Church and Main exists, to talk about the main ways faith and modern life intersect and how the two inform the other. Join me in the journey to be people of faith in a very modern world.Church and Main is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

In this solo episode, I talk about how the church doesn't protect us from the evils of the world.In the audio version of a video Dennis did back in October for his congregation, he talks about how the world can invade the church. Events like the mass shooting in churches in Texas and South Carolina show the church can't be walled off from the evils of the world. However, Christians go out from our churches and bring God's reality into the world.The original video:Church and Main is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

A frequent guest returns to talk about the ordination of women in the Southern Baptist Convention and more.This is the last interview for 2022 and I'm ending it with one of my favorite people to interview: Andrew Donaldson.  Donaldson hosts the Heard Tell Podcast and is also a prolific writer for Young Voices and Ordinary Times.  I usually have Andrew on to talk about evangelicalism and the Southern Baptists and that's what we did in this episode.  He provides an update on the investigation of the SBC following an explosive report on sexual abuse, and the move to punish congregations that ordain women among other things.  We didn't get to talk as long as I would have liked due to our busy schedules, which just means I will have him back on in the new year.  Heard Tell PodcastAndrew's Bio on YoungVoicesAndrew on Ordinary TimesAndrew on TwitterChurch and Main TwitterChurch and Main FacebookChurch and Main InstagramThanks for reading Church and Main! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit churchandmain.substack.com

A Minneapolis Pastor sees the world around his church differently when he got on his bike.My guest today is someone that is also interested in transportation, but he's taken his interest one step further making it an issue of discipleship.Travis Norvell is the pastor of Judson Baptist Church in Minneapolis and a decade ago he decided to put his money where his mouth is by giving up his car and getting around Minneapolis via bike, public transportation or on foot.  When he did this he started to see the world around his congregation in a very different way.  Travis has become an advocate in helping Christians get out of their cars once in a while and move around their world in a different mode of transportation to see what they might be missing. Tarvis is the author of A Church on the Move: A Practical Guide for Ministry in the Community where he talks about his story and how you can become more familiar with the neighborhood around your church.Judson Baptist Church-MinneapolisChurch and Main's Second websiteThanks for reading Church and Main! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit churchandmain.substack.com

As I said in a prior episode, I've been doing these videos of about 5-7 minutes called the Weekly Check-in.  I have no idea if people are really interested in them, but I like doing them and I wanted to share a few for the podcast.  This is one I did in early October about Christian NationalismTalk about Christian Nationalism has risen considerably after the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.  There are a number of laypersons, pastors, theologians, and others that have arisen to talk about what they see as the goodness of Christian Nationalism.  I did a video responding to one prominent nationalist whose tweet seemed to drift into xenophobia.  I talk about how nationalism is different from patriotism, a difference that is sometimes lost in the debate.  What Christian About Christian Nationalism VideoChristian Nationalism Episode with Jack JenkinsEvangelicalism and Trump Episode with Napp NazworthThanks for reading Church and Main! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit churchandmain.substack.com

So, I've been doing these videos of about 5-7 minutes called the Weekly Check-in.  I have no idea if people are really interested in them, but I like doing them and I wanted to share a few for the podcast.  I want to set up this episode which is called Church in the time of TikTok.As you know I've been the pastor of a small church and one of the things that has been hard over the last year or so is how hard it has been to be church in the aftermath of COVID.  People have left the church and I can remember one person telling me he thought the church didn't have much of a future so he was going to move on.  There's always this feeling that being a pastor means that it's all on you and it feels so much that to be a successful church is to be a “special” church.  I think especially in mainline Protestant churches, you feel that you have to be this big social justice church or basically the Democrats in prayer.  And sometimes what I want is a church where we gather for prayer and worship and reading of scripture.  I want to be a normie church.  That's the setup for what you are going to hear.  Let let me know what you think of these short talks.  I will also put the link to the video in the show notes and there will be other episodes like this in the future.Church in the Time of TikTok VideoFirst Christian Church of St. Paul This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit churchandmain.substack.com

Over the last 20 years or so most of the mainline Protestant denominations have ended their controversies on the role of LGBTQ people in the life of the church.  The arguments usually ended with the denominations voting in favor of gay clergy and allowing for gay marriages and conservatives in each denomination leaving to form their own denominations.  The two latest are the Reformed Church in America where conservative churches left to create the Alliance of Reformed Churches and the United Methodist Church where conservatives are creating the Global Methodist Church.  It's easy to think that more conservative and evangelical churches aren't dealing with LGBTQ issues, but that is not true. The Christian Reformed Church has also been dealing with LGBTQ issues and last summer's Synod shows it is still not resolved.  Today, I talk with Paul VanderKlay about what's going on the denomination and what it says really about the larger culture and how the church deals with such fraught issues.Paul's Twitter PagePaul's SubstackPaul's YouTube Channel This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit churchandmain.substack.com

There is evidence out there that kids feel the impact of church camps long after the campfires go out.  According to the Effective Camp Research Project, a survey of 1000 campers and 300 parents showed that while there is a temporary “camp high” there are positive long-term effects as well including the relevance of faith in everyday life and increased interest in spiritual practices like Bible Study and church attendance.Today, I'm talking with Jared Rendell.  Jared is the Director of Communication and Innovation at Sacred Playgrounds a kind of “think-tank” and research and development organization geared towards camp ministry.  Jared is a communications and web consultant, a musician and also the host of the Sacred Playgrounds podcast.Thanks for reading Church and Main! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Sacred Playgrounds websiteSacred Playgrounds podcastThe Lasting Impact of Christian Church CampThe Boundless Power of Camps (Dakota and Minnesota Conferences UMC)Jared Rendell's website This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit churchandmain.substack.com

I first met our guest today out of the blue on Facebook about four years ago.  I was looking for some leadership coaching for the congregation I serve and he offered to help and help he surely did.  Alex Ruth has been a congregational leader for years.  In 2021 he was called to become the Associate Regional Minister for Transformation in the Illinois-Wisconsin Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) after years of serving in parish ministry, the most recent in Missouri.  Alex is also the Associate Director for Disciples Men and teaches with the Center for Ministry and Lay Training at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma.In our time together we talk about his call to help clergy and congregations respond to a changing culture.  Surprisingly we also spend some time talking about neurodiversity and the church.  Neurodiversity is a topic that is near and dear to my heart since I am on the autism spectrum and I've been diagnosed with ADHD.  Thanks for reading Church and Main! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit churchandmain.substack.com

Today, we will talk about what's going on United Methodist Church, how it got to this point that's it's splitting in two and what is the future of the church. I'm talking with not one, but two guests. Drew McIntryre is a frequent guest on Church and Main and is the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ben Gosden is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Methodist in Savannah, GA and this is his second time on the podcast. We had a great discussion that is actually broken up into two parts. The main part is about the United Methodists in General and a smaller part talks about the former Bishop and writer Will Willimon, his role in the UMC and what it means to be an institutionalist. One quick note; Ben had some technical issues, which I tried to fix, but if there are still glitches that's what it is. I hope you enjoyed the episode. Just a reminder that it takes a lot to make great content like this available to you. Consider making donation by going to Church and Main's website at churchandmain.org. 

In the wake of the 2020 COVID pandemic, churches were forced into the digital frontier whether they liked it or not. But now what? In this episode, I talk to Rev. Jim Keat the Digit al Minister at Riverside Church in New York City about the importance of reaching out to those people living across town and across the country who might want to worship with your congregation.

In Methodist, Episcopal and Lutheran traditions the deacon is a specific ministry in the church. Their ministry is different than pastors, focused more on acts of service whereas pastors are focused more on preaching and the sacraments. The word deacon comes from the Greek word diakonos which means “service.” This understanding of the role of a deacon which adheres more to the original understanding found in the book of Acts and in the early church is not always easily understood by people in the pew who might wonder when deacons are going to be pastors. I talk to Deacon Nina Joygaard about the importance of deacons in the local church, what led her to her call as a deacon, the struggles deacons face and the future of the diaconate in the church. Nina the Deacon for Adult Ministry at Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake, MN.  Show Notes: DOTAC -(Diakonia of the Americas & Caribbean)  https://dotac.diakonia-world.org/ Deaconess Community of the ELCA - https://deaconesscommunity.org/ Lutheran Diaconal Association - https://thelda.org/ Diakonia World Federation - https://diakonia-world.org/ churchandmain.org 

So the church where I serve is starting an experiment. For the next year, we will be taking sabbath. We won't be doing some the regular things we used to do and we are focusing on our spiritual walk and then on walk together as a congregation and finally in the spring we focus on the world outside the church. The point of this is to stop, slow down and think about who we are as a congregation moving forward. Today, I chat with Kara Root, the pastor of Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. She's been pastor of the congregation for nearly 15 years. We talk about how a year into her call the church did something different. They decided to not worship every Sunday and take a sabbath on the Sundays they didn't meet for worship. The story is a bit more complicated than that, but it's a story about how a congregation redefined and renewed itself not through a new program, or a new mission, but by taking time off and not doing things. I had a great time talking with Kara about this concept of sabbath and I hope it will be as exciting for you as well. Besides being the pastor of Lake Nokomis she is also a certified Spiritual Director and Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She's written for Christianity Today, Christian Century, Working Preacher and many other publications. She is also the author of The Deepest Belonging: A Story of Discovering How God Meets Us and blogs at In the Here and Now. Root Creative: Kara's webs ite that she shares with her husband theologian Andy Root. God and Whiskey Podcast  churchandmain.org 

Mainline Protestant churches and denominational bodies don't know how to handle part-time clergy. The standard has been clergy working full time. But has that always been the standard? (The short answer is no.) What happens when churches can't afford a full-time clergy? Does that mean the church is no longer viable? Mainline denominations assume that all calls to ministry should be full time and if a pastor is working part-time, this is because the congregation is on the downward slope towards closure. The thing is, the reality is far different and these denominations aren't ready for the change. Today, I talk to G. Jeffrey MacDonald the author of Part Time is Plenty: Thriving Without Full-Time Clergy. Jeff is an ordained United Church of Christ minister and a freelance journalist whose writing credits include the Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, Religion News Service and others. He's an interim minister of a UCC congregation and lives in New England.

We all know what happened in March of 2020. COVID began to shut society down. We canceled the event and in fact we didn't meet in person for 14 months. When we started worshipping in person again, things were different. People who were part of the community, moved on. Others watched mostly online. There were still things we couldn't do. Even some of what we used to do became different. COVID changed the church where I served and nothing will ever be the same. But this wasn't just the case in my case, Churches large and small have all had to deal with a changed world. Theologian Andy Crouch wrote that COVID was more like a blizzard or a mini ice age, meaning that it was an event that would shatter cultural assumptions within American congregations. What is mission and ministry like after COVID? How should the church rise to meet this challenge? Where are we failing? I spoke to Sean Chow about this. Chow is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA and is an associate in that denomination's 1001 New Worshipping Communities movement. Sean resources and consults with regional denomination bodies, churches, and church plants as they launch new creative expressions of church. His aim is to prepare, equip, and sustain leaders to do the work to which God calls them. He works with many congregations as they seek to redefine their mission and ministry and if you are like me and trying to figure out what to do post COVID, then you will want to hear this interview. Visit the website at churchandmain.org. 

As churches become unable to fund full-time ministry mainline denominations are starting to notice and have begun offering ideas in how to pastors can find outside work. One idea is taking part in social entrepreneurship. What is social entrepreneurship? One way it's been defined is from the Faith and Leadership website from Duke Seminary . They define it as “the process of pursuing innovative solutions to social problems. For Christian leaders, this blending of a business model with Christian mission can be a valuable tool to help sustain an organization while at the same time bearing witness to the reign of God.” That sounds exciting! But is it really? Loren Richmond Jr. doesn't think so. Loren is a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and he has his own misgivings when it comes to using social entrepreneurship as a way to help fund bi-vocational ministry. Loren is also the host of the Future Christian podcast and he and I talk about this new endeavor and why it might not be the best way to supplement part time ministry. Stick around for the end of the podcast when Dennis remembers the actor Nichelle Nichols of Star Trek fame who died on July 30 at the age of 89.   ChurchandMain.org 

One of my biggest regrets is not accepting a call to become the college chaplain at a Lutheran college in the Midwest. The college in Illinois was really interested in them, but I wasn't sure if I wanted the position or not. After a while, the college went with someone else. Being a college chaplain has to be the coolest job ever, according to Paul Raushenbush. “I spent eight glorious years at Princeton University as associate dean of religious life and the chapel,” he writes in a 2015 essay for the Huffington Post. “I had the privilege of serving students, staff and faculty from every tradition and background. Our office was a magnet for people from every corner of the world with a huge range of beliefs, but all of whom were looking for a place on campus where they could hang out and be themselves.” Chaplains work in various settings, from colleges to hospitals to businesses and other places. Being a chaplain is a lot of things, but one thing it should not be is a backup plan, writes our guest Jeremy Wilhelmi. "I'm called to be a chaplain. I didn't settle for this vocation. I am not a chaplain because I couldn't cut it in the parish. I truly believe the Holy Spirit guided me here." That quote is from the June 2022 edition of Presbyterian Outlook under the headline. “This is not your backup plan – An open letter from a chaplain.” In the article, he tries to misspell the belief among some clergy that being a chaplain is a good place to land if congregational ministry doesn't work out. “You should not be a chaplain just because you have had a difficult experience in a congregation or need a break from congregational ministry. You should be a chaplain because you are called to be one.” In this episode, we talk about the chaplaincy in general and about his position in particular. Jeremy is an ordained pastor in Presbyterian Church (USA) and he is the college chaplain at Ozarks University in Arkansas a position he's held since 2016. churchandmain.org 

In this episode (which feels like a really, really long trailer), Dennis talks about why this podcast exists and who gave him the inspiration for this podcast. Where Did the Mainline Go Wrong- by Walter Russell Mead churchandmain.org

In this episode, Drew joins us again to talk about what it means to be an antifragile congregation in challenging times, especially in his own denomination, the United Methodist Church which is in the midst of a schism. Show Notes The Church is Not Resilient: On Antifragility & Mitosis  Antifragile Video with Nasim Teleb  Like what you hear? Leave a tip. Join the mailing list churchandmain.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain

We bring back Geoff Mitchell pastor of Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis to talk about the future of his denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Show Notes: Last year's interview with Geoff  Dennis' recent solo episode on the future of the Disciples  Lindenwood Christian Church website  Covenant Project- A New denominational initiative to modernize the church

Ukrainian pastor and theologian Fyodor Raychynets talks about living out your faith in God in the midst of the current war with Russia.   Show notes: Interview with Fyodor by Baptist News Global  Podcast Episode with Miroslav Volf Interviewing Fyodor  Like what you hear? Leave a tip. Join the mailing list churchandmain.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: hello@enroutepodcast.org

Former Sears Canada CEO Mark Cohen talks about the downfall of Sears and Kmart from his vantage point inside the company. Show Notes: Who Killed Sears and Kmart Series by Dennis Sanders: Part One and Part Two  Radio Canada Documentary About Sears with Mark Cohen  Who Killed Sears and Kmart Episode  The Hedge Fund that Ate Sears Episode   Like what you hear? Leave a tip. Join the mailing list churchandmain.org  Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: hello@enroutepodcast.org

Dennis shares the audio of a vespers video he made for his congregation about the theological and spiritual significance of LGBTQ pride and the imperative to share the good news with LGBTQ people that the God of the universes loves them as they are. A Christian's Posture towards Pride Month and LGBTQ+ People  Happy Pride! (video version) 

As the public hearings of the January 6th Committee continue we talk to Jack Jenkins a reporter for Religion News Service about the connections between Christian Nationalism and the attack on the Capitol. How Christian Nationalism Paved the Way for January 6 by Jack Jenkins  Jack's website  Like what you hear? Leave a tip. Join the mailing list website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: hello@enroutepodcast.org

Dennis marks the 100th episode of the podcast by announcing the final name change and opining on the vitality of the Disciples of Christ, the denomination that has been his church home for a quarter-century. Dennis feels the movement has gone off track and lacks focus. Can a mainline Protestant denomination get back on track?   Show Notes: Fatalism and the Disciples of Christ  Disciples 3.0  Praying For Revival (I Think)  Faith Among the Ruins  Like what you hear? Leave a tip. Join the mailing list website: churchandmain.org  Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: hello@enroutepodcast.org

"They didn't teach that in seminary." That's the phrase you will hear a pastor say sometimes as they encounter an unexpected situation. But the education of a minister doesn't end when they get their Masters of Divinity degree. Indeed, it is a lifelong education that can last decades. Methodist pastor Ben Gosden began writing a series of articles on his blog to new pastors, sharing some of the knowledge he's learned in over a decade of ministry. Ben is the Lead Pastor of Trinity United Methodist in Savannah, GA. We talk about what he's learned in over a decade of being in the pulpit, as well as how to talk about racism and privilege. He even gives me some needed advice. Covered In the Master's Dust- Ben's Website Faith Revisited Podcast Like what you hear? Leave a tip. Join the mailing list website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: hello@enroutepodcast.org

Back in February, I was blessed to have the Rev. Tracey Barnowe on the podcast. Tracey is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and she has made it her mission to help congregations grow by using time-tested and simple methods that can help a congregation grow. When I had her on the podcast in February we had a ton of technical difficulties and I promised to have to her back for a longer interview. Well, this is that interview. If you didn't hear the February interview, the link is in the show notes. How to Grow Your Church website February's interview with Tracy Like what you hear? Leave a tip. Join the mailing list website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: hello@enroutepodcast.org  J6dh7gaFzM4XSzDVQEAc

Today, we are going to talk about liberalism. That doesn't mean we are talking about the Democratic party. No, instead we are talking about what has been called “classical liberalism,” which today's guest describes as “the notion of universal human dignity.” David Watson joins the show today to talk about classical liberalism in the life of the church and the rise of postmodern liberalism, how it is different from classical liberalism and how it can influence the church. On Liberalisms by David Watson Like what you hear? Leave a tip. Join the mailing list website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: hello@enroutepodcast.org q2dJWUdQUHgP9sBaZzov

An experiment: Dennis reads from a recent essay on business and stewardship. Consider supporting EnRoute. Your donations help me continue to produce good content on religion and public affairs. Thanks in advance for your generosity! Leave a tip or become a member  Join the mailing list  Show Notes: Bad Stewardship Killed Sears and Kmart  website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: hello@enroutepodcast.org

In this special solo episode, Dennis briefly reflects on the horrific school shootings in Uvalde, TX and what it says about American society.

Andrew Donaldson returns to talk about the Southern Baptist Convention Leadership Report on Sexual Abuse and what it means for the SBC, survivors and the wider evangelical community. Like what you hear? Leave a tip.  Guidepost Solutions Report on the SBC Executive Committee Southern Baptist Convention Horror by David French This is the Southern Baptist Apocalypse by Russell Moore Earlier En Route podcast on the 2021 Annual Meeting with Andrew Heard Tell Episode on Abuse with Jennifer Greenberg  website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com

Like it or not, technology, including social media is here with us to stay. The question is how do we use it, especially faith communities? How does online worship help the wider church? How do we use Facebook and Instagram in creative ways that reach out to both near and far? Today's guest is Ryan Panzer. Panzer is a learning and leadership development professional in the technology industry and a speaker and consultant on technology for ministry. A student of digital media and its influence on our lives, he often writes and speaks about the intersection of faith and technology. He wrote Grace and Gigabytes: Being a Church in a Tech-Shaped Culture and due this fall is The The Holy and the Hybrid: Navigating the Church's Digital Reformation. We talk about the good and bad of social media and how churches are moving towards a hybrid model of ministry.

On May 1, a new denomination launched. The Global Methodist Church started, splitting off from the United Methodist Church. The split was the result of years if not decades of fighting over the issue of homosexuality. For this episode, I look at this from the standpoint of a United Methodist pastor on the ground as events happened. I decided to chat with the Reverend Joe Tognetti. Joe has been the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Rio City, Texas and will soon be the pastor of St. Mark United Methodist in McAllen, TX. We try to understand what's happening in the United Methodist Church and it's future. Like what you hear? Leave a tip.  Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/ Show Notes: Seven Reasons Why I Love The United Methodist Church  Bishop Ruben Saez Jr Shares Why He is Choosing to #BeUMC  Global Methodist Church website  website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter

In 1973 the Supreme Court voted 7-2 in favor of abortion rights nationwide. This began a nearly 50-year battle on the issue of abortion rights. Last week, a someone leak a draft opinion written in February that appeared to overturn Roe v. Wade. This would send the issue of abortion to the states where a number of states are already crafting legislation that would either radically expand abortion rights, or dramatically restrict abortion. Where does the church stand in the midst of this? In part two of my conversation with Episcopal Priest and writer Frederick Schmidt, we chat about how the church shouldn't rely solely on the law, moving from what's legal to what's moral when it comes to women and the unborn. Schmidt is currently the Vice-Rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Nashville. He is an Episcopal Priest, spiritual director, retreat facilitator, conference leader, writer, and academic. This is the second part of a two part interview with Schmidt.   A Gay Dude Talks About Abortion (my take on abortion) If Roe Is Overturned, Where Should the Pro-Life Movement Go Next? Like what you hear? Leave a tip.  Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/ website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube

The General Convention of the Episcopal Church will consider an important proposal this summer. The measure proposed by the Diocese of Northern California would repeal canon law that requires those who receive communion must be baptized. “We believe that all the people are God's people, so it's not just the gifts of God for just baptized people,” said Martin Heatlie, speaking in favor of the resolution. Hospitality and inclusion are the values that are pushing the resolution. Those are two important values, but is that enough? Baptism and communion have been tied together since the early church. Does it matter if they become decoupled? Would the nature of communion and baptism change if they are split apart? Today, I welcome back Frederick Schmidt to the podcast. Schmidt is currently the Vice-Rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Nashville. He is an Episcopal Priest, spiritual director, retreat facilitator, conference leader, writer, and academic. In this interview we talk about the theology behind baptism and communion as well as Mainline Protestantism's obsession with countering fundamentalism. This is part one of a two-part episode. In the second part, I talk with Fred about abortion in light of the leak of a draft opinion from the Supreme Court that could overturn Roe v. Wade. General Convention to consider proposal to end Episcopal Church's baptism requirement for Communion Baptism and Communion (2012 debate on the issue) Frederick Schmidt's Blog Confronting the Progressive Obsession with Fundamentalism Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1 Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/ website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube

This interview originally aired in July 2021. In the 1950s, Mainline Protestants were the largest group of Protestants in the United States. Since then, the churches have seen a decline and their footprint in American culture has shrunk. Some people think this tradition is doomed and will die in a few decades. We talked to Geoff Mitchell, Senior Pastor of Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis, TN and ask, is that really the story? Is the Mainline tradition worth saving? What caused the decline and what could bring about a renaissance? Lindenwood Christian Church website What I need is Jesus. Confronting the Progressive Obsession with Fundamentalism Grumpy Old Men Preaching As Truth Telling Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1 Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/ website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube

In this unplanned solo episode, Dennis talks about the recent leak of a draft of an opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, the Supreme Court case that could overturn Roe v. Wade, the ruling that allowed for abortion rights nationwide. Dennis, acknowledging he is a man, shares his criticisms of pro-choice and pro-life Christians and how we as a society should have a balanced views on the woman and the unborn child. Dennis then talks about a proposal to be taken up at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church this summer that would allow people to have communion without being baptized. Show Notes:  Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows SBC calls for ‘immediate abolition of abortion without exception or compromise' Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions on Abortion   The Systemic Realities Created by Legal Abortion  For red-state clergy who back abortion rights, losing Roe is a call to action  This Is and Isn't the Moment Pro-Life Evangelicals Have Waited For  General Convention to consider proposal to end Episcopal Church's baptism requirement for Communion  Like the episode? Leave a tip!  Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/ website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube

What comes to mind when I use the word piety or pious? I'm guessing you are thinking of a person who is outwardly religious and believes they are better than anyone else around them. For people of a certain age it might be Dana Carvey's Church Lady. But instead of thinking of a smirking and prim guy wearing a dress and a wig, you might want to think of John Wesley, the founder of what became Methodism and had an experience at a church in London where his heart was strangely warmed. Today, I talk to Chris Gehrz, a professor at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul. Chris grew up in the Evangelical Covenant Church, an evangelical denomination founded by Swedish pietists. In this episode we talk about pietism beyond the stereotypes and figure out how this practice can help the modern church.

Methodist Bishop and writer, Will Willomon has this to say about preaching. “Preaching is an attack - it is an invasion from Jesus into an unbelieving world.” Willomon is right that preaching is about an invading Jesus into an unbelieving world, but how do you do that in an age where people don't trust institutions like the church? For Pastor Brian Christopher Coulter, preaching means restoring trust. Brian is the pastor of First Presbyterian in Ft. Worth. He's a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) where he has been a congregational consultant for the Presbyterian Mission Agency. He is a regular contributor to Presbyterian Outlook Magazine and the author of the book Be Holy. In this episode, we talk about the craft of preaching and what it means to preach in these very, interesting times. Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1 Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/ Show Notes: The preaching task of this age: rebuilding trust (Brian's article) Brian's webpage website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube

This is a re-broadcast of an episode from January 2022. Today we are chatting with Lutheran pastor Steve Thomason, who also happens to be an artist. Steve loves to draw and paint and it has been his passion since he was a child. He is the author and artist behind the cartoonist guide to the Bible. Steve is on a mission to use his art to tell the story of faith. “It is my mission to use art to create resources that help people grow deeper in God's love,” he says on his website. In the episode, we talk about how he became an artist, how he became a pastor and how the two passions intersect. Like the episode? Leave a tip!  website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain YouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteyt Show Notes: A Cartoonist's Guide to the Bible website Steve's website

The war in Ukraine has made people think again about Christians and war. When is it possible for a Christian to take up arms? Are all wars okay, or are there wars that are totally unjust? Is it time for a revival of the just war movement? Today,I talk with H. David Baer is a professor at Texas Lutheran University where he teaches theology, philosophy, and ethics. He is also the author of the book Recovering Christian Realism: Just War Theory as a Political Ethic. He writes frequently about just war theory and how “the work of peacemaking depends upon the responsible exercise of power.” Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1 Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/ Show Notes: David Baer's website Baer Talk Podcast website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube

On Easter Sunday a congregation in south Minneapolis will hold its last worship service after 105 years. This closing has a lot of meaning for me because it was the church that I interned at when I was in seminary. Mainline Protestant churches seem to be closing at a faster clip than their evangelical counterparts. Can more progressive faith traditions still plant churches? Today I talk to Paul Moore, the pastor of Chain of Lakes Presbyterian Church in Blaine, Minnesota. Working through the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, he helped to plant this new church in the Northern Twin Cities suburbs over 10 years ago and the church is finally building its own church building. We talked about the challenges of planting new churches these days and the future of church planting within Mainline Protestant churches. Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1 Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/ Show Notes: Chain of Lakes Presbyterian Church website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube

In this EnRoute Excursions episode, Dennis reads an article he wrote on the advent of the Second Cold War and the fear of nuclear war. He ends sharing his husband's thoughts about planting a tree in this uncertain time. Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1 Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/ Show Notes: Ukraine and the Second Cold War-by Dennis Sanders  website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube

Last month in Washington, there was a gathering of mostly NeverTrump Conservatives called Principles First. People came from across the nation to discuss the current state of conservatism and how to beat back Trumpism. Among the many speakers was Reed Howard. Reed is the Director of Communications at the Institute of Politics and Public Policy at Georgetown University. He served as minister at Central United Methodist in Atlanta and received his Masters of Divinity at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. He has been a long-time activist within the NeverTrump movement, representing a generation that wants to see a better conservatism. In this episode, we talk about the role of faith in politics and what's next for the Never Trump movement. Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1  Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/ Show Notes: Reed's Bio Reed's May 2021 Podcast Interview Principles First website  website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube

This special episode of En Route looks at the religious roots of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Vladimir Putin working with leaders in the Russian Orthodox Church to use the Christian faith in the service of Russian nationalism. Help to support relief efforts in Poland to help Ukrainian refugees. Matthew 25 Ministries WorldVision Episcopal Relief and Development Lutheran World Relief United Methodist Committee on Relief Catholic Relief Services Church World Service International Ministries-American Baptist Churches Week of Compassion-Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Ukrainian Orthodox Church-USA Humanitarian Relief Sources Used for this Podcast 

Dan Buttry is an American Baptist minister that has worked in peacemaking efforts for several decades. In 2020 he retired from his role as the Global Consultant for Peace and Justice for International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches. I talk to Dan about his experiences in Ukraine, what he's learned and how that relates to the current Russian invasion of Ukraine. Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1 Show Notes: Dan's visit to Dnipro, Ukraine Buttry Center for Peace and Nonviolence at Central Seminary- Shawnee, KS (named after Dan and his wife Sharon) website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube

I know you're going to enjoy today's episode with Corey Nathan. We had a wide ranging conversation on theology and culture and life in general. It's a little different than recent interviews that has a specific focus on an issue. Instead it's more of a conversation about faith, civility, respect and gratitude. Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1 Show Notes: Corey's Podcast website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube