Rev'ing Up: Answering the Call of Liberal-Religious Leadership

It's our Rev'ing Up Series Finale (for now)! As Meagan and Carrie look toward the end of their internships at Community Church of New York, and producer Amy moves on to other pursuits as well, we are taking a moment to reflect on our collective project of Unitarian-Universalist broadcasting. What does it mean to approach media from the religious left?. Join us for a roundtable discussion of what we learned and our hopes for liberal-religious broadcasting into the future.Thoughts? Comments? Reflections on Rev'ing Up? Please find us at facebook.com/groups/revingup or send us an email at podcast@ccny.org. Thank you for being a part of our journey!

We are coming to the end of our short season of Rev'ing Up, as our hosts Carrie and Meagan prepare to wrap up their internships at Community Church. But! We still have a few more shows to go. Join us for today's episode, where Meagan and Carrie discuss the question, "how can I know what to believe?" from a pastoral and personal perspective.We have had so much fun exploring the Riddle & Mystery curriculum by Richard S. Kimball and encourage you to look into the online resources and perhaps answer a few questions yourself or with a small spiritual community. You can view the full curriculum here: https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/riddleThoughts on this season of Rev'ing Up? Please feel welcome to share at podcast@ccny.org or on our Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup. 

On today's episode, Carrie and Meagan discuss one of life's biggest questions: why do bad things happen? One of the thorniest theological conundrums that can be faced by any spiritual leader or seeker. Hear how Meagan and Carrie would respond to this question as ministers, then their own thoughts on the issue. Stick around for a beautiful telling of a traditional story by Meagan!This is a continuation of our Riddle & Mystery series, inspired by the Tapestry of Faith curriculum of the same name by Richard S. Kimball. Enjoying this series? Let us know! Send us an email at podcast@ccny.org or join our Listener Community on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/revingup. 

On this week's continuation of the Rev'ing Up: Riddle and Mystery series, Meagan and Carrie address a perennial question commonly found in playgrounds and throughout the human experience: is life fair? Join us as Meagan and Carrie consider this question first from a pastoral perspective, then an individual one. We invite you to reflect on each week's question and, if you like, join the conversation! Email us at podcast@ccny.org or join us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/revingup.

Unitarian-Universalism is an open faith dedicated to a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. As such, the question "what does Unitarian-Universalism mean to me?" is a rich and complex one that many UUs revisit throughout their spiritual journey.Join Carrie and Meagan today to meditate on this question as part of our continuing "Riddle and Mystery" series, based on the UUA Tapestry of Faith curriculum of the same name by Richard S. Kimball. On this episode, you'll hear the many ways this question could be answered as well as learn what Carrie and Meagan have to say on it themselves.This episode references the 7 Principles and 6 Sources of Unitarian-Universalism, plus the 8th Principle which is affirmed and promoted by many UU congregations (including Community Church of New York). Find more information about the principles and sources here: https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/adults/river/principles-sourcesFind more information about the 8th Principle here: https://www.8thprincipleuu.org/Write back to us at podcast@ccny.org or join the conversation on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/revingup. Thanks for your support of liberal-religious broadcasting!

Welcome to the journey on our third season of Rev'ing Up. Each week, our hosts Meagan and Carrie are taking inspiration from one question pulled at random from the Riddle & Mystery curriculum authored by Richard S. Kimball for the Unitarian-Universalist Association.On today's show, Carrie and Meagan discuss the question "What are we?" first from how they would approach answering it as ministers, and secondly how they would answer it as individual spiritual seekers. You won't want to miss this thoughtful exploration of one of life's biggest questions, and there's much more to come this season.Inspired by this episode? Want to share a reflection? Reach out to us at podcast@ccny.org or join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/revingup. 

Welcome back to Rev'ing Up!As our hosts Carrie and Meagan enter their last semester of seminary and of internship at Community Church of New York, life's big questions are looming on the horizon. Questions like "where do we come from", "what are we", and "where are we going," recur at so many stages of our lives and are always fruitful to examine and consider.For this season of Rev'ing Up, we're drawing inspiration from the Riddle & Mystery curriculum authored by Richard S. Kimball for the Unitarian-Universalist Association Tapestry of Faith curriculum. Each show, Carrie and Meagan will answer one of the questions from this curriculum from their perspective as Unitarian-Universalist ministers in formation and as spiritual seekers.Follow along each week for new episodes and keep in touch with us by emailing us at podcast@ccny.org. The discussion continues on our Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup. View the entire Riddle & Mystery curriculum at https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/riddle. 

It's our Rev'ing Up Live Holiday Special, broadcast on Thursday, December 16!This episode features discussion, sharing, reading, and reflection on the holidays from our hosts, Community Church of New York intern ministers Carrie McEvoy and Meagan Henry. Grab a cookie and a mug of cocoa and get cozy with us! To view the special on YouTube, visit youtube.com/c/ccnyuu. Write back to us with any comments or suggestions at podcast@ccny.org!

Our second season of Rev'ing Up is coming to a close, and we hope you'll join us to celebrate on Thursday, December 16 at 7pm for our live event! It'll be streaming on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/ccnyuu. With questions about the event, please do not hesitate to email Amy at podcast@ccny.org.On this penultimate episode of our season, Meagan and Carrie discuss what's next for them in their ministerial development as they look toward the close of their seminary program. So many paths are available to would-be ministers, how do we choose among them and balance our goals with the other demands of life?We are so grateful to our Rev'ing Up community for following along and listening. Let us know your thoughts in comments or by email and we look forward to seeing you 12/16!

Everything about the way we do "church" is changing, and that includes stewardship and giving. Today, Meagan and Carrie share their perspective as ministers in formation on stewardship, pledging, and all things fundraising. What works, what needs a re-think, and how can ministers adapt to changing demographics and congregational needs? Questions or thoughts on this topic or anything else we've presented this season? We are VERY pleased to invite you to our Rev'ing Up Live Event on Thursday, December 16 at 7pm Eastern time, streaming on our YouTube page at youtube.com/c/ccnyuu. Grab your festive gear and join us for warm conversation and sharing!Keep in touch with Rev'ing Up by emailing podcast@ccny.org or joining the Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup. 

The holiday season often inspires reflection about our practices of generosity and gratitude. This year, as we continue to recover and heal from the ongoing COVID pandemic, the holidays may be even more meaningful.On this episode, Carrie and Meagan discuss generosity in the liberal religious context and where it shows up -- or doesn't -- in our congregations. What does true generosity mean and how is it different from practicing gratitude? We hope this conversation will inspire you to start or re-commit to a practice of generosity, whatever that means for you. Please let us know what's on your mind by emailing podcast@ccny.org, commenting below, or joining our Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup.

What does healing look like? In ourselves, in our communities, and in the world?After a year and a half of the COVID pandemic, we all have healing to do. On this episode, Meagan and Carrie discuss healing on many levels. Meagan, who is dealing with a new and mysterious health issue, shares her reflections about the journey of healing that chronic illness can require. Whether it's bodily illness, spiritual hurts like loss and bereavement, or the general trauma and fatigue caused by the COVID pandemic and a culture that is hyper-focused on growth and productivity, the arc of healing can be long. On today's episode, Meagan and Carrie discuss their personal experiences and how ministers can work to bring healing to spiritual communities and the world.Community Church offers many virtual programs throughout the week to help you re-connect with your body and spirit, from crafting circles to art appreciation and more. This fall and winter, Carrie will be leading a series called Soul Restore about embodied spiritual experiences. Please check ccny.org/calendar and feel welcome to join us whether you are a CCNY member or a friend from elsewhere.With thoughts or comments about the show, please email podcast@ccny.org or join the conversation in our Listener Community on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/revingup. 

While Meagan enjoys some well-deserved time off with her spouse, Carrie takes a virtual visit to Montpelier, Vermont to hear from our first-ever special guest on Rev'ing Up! Verdis LeVar Robinson is a student at Meadville Lombard Theological School currently serving as an intern minister at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier. Join us for a chat with Verdis on their journey from a Pentecostal upbringing to Unitarian-Universalist ministry and much more. Verdis and Carrie compare and contrast their experiences of intern ministry in Vermont and New York City and discuss the many roles a minister must be ready to play.We welcome you to join Carrie, Verdis, and Meagan in conversation in our Listener Community Facebook group, accessible at facebook.com/groups/revingup. For those without Facebook or who prefer email, send us a note at podcast@ccny.org! Finally, all are welcome at our second Rev'ing Up live event, to be held in mid-December. 

Tis the season of Halloween, All Souls' Day, Samhain, and Dia de los Muertos. A time of transition and turning inward, when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead becomes thinner. On today's episode of Rev'ing Up, Meagan and Carrie discuss their recent experiences with death and dying. We hear from Meagan on crafting memorial services for two different families this summer, and from Carrie on her personal experience with major grief and the ashes internment of her beloved husband William.The inevitability of death can give new meaning to life and to participating in a religious community. We invite you to be in community with us by sending us an email at podcast@ccny.org, joining our Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/revingup, or attending our Rev'ing Up live event in mid-December. 

"I don't know what I'm doing. But because they trust me, I'm going to do something: live into that role, live into ministerial authority and ministerial presence. That's what I would want if I were in [a patient's] situation, so I'm just going to do it.” -- Carrie McEvoyIn today's episode of Rev'ing Up, hosts Meagan and Carrie continue their discussion of Clinical Pastoral Education and chaplaincy. Sometimes, being perceived as a source of authority or spiritual presence activates our own ability to be authoritative or present. Hear a powerful anecdote from Carrie about witnessing an intense moment of grief as a chaplain in training, and follow along with Meagan and Carrie's discussion about how this informs their ministerial formation.We love hearing from you. Please get in touch at podcast@ccny.org, join the conversation in our Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup, and mark your calendar for our second Rev'ing Up live event in mid-December.

Author Anne Lamott says that there are three essential types of prayer: HELP, THANKS, and WOW. On today's episode, Meagan and Carrie discuss learning new ways to pray as part of their chaplaincy training in Clinical Pastoral Education. From learning from colleagues of other faiths about their prayer traditions to praying for patients on the burn ward, Carrie and Meagan share their reflections on the nature of prayer and speaking with the Divine from a liberal-religious perspective. We welcome you to join our community conversation. Email us at podcast@ccny.org or join our Facebook group at Facebook.com/groups/revingup to share your thoughts and comments! We appreciate your taking the time to listen to this Community Church of New York podcast. If you would like to support our work, like and subscribe to our channel or tell a friend about the show.

“Clinical Pastoral Education was the moment where I felt like a minister.” -- Carrie McEvoyWelcome back to Rev'ing Up! It's been a busy summer for our hosts Carrie and Meagan. Catch up with us in this episode where Meagan and Carrie begin a discussion of one of this season's major themes: Clinical Pastoral Education, or CPE. Today we hear about Carrie and Meagan's experiences during the summers of 2020 and 2021 being Unitarian-Universalist intern ministers undergoing their chaplaincy training in interfaith environments.We love staying connected with you and responding to your comments and questions. Whether or not you are pursuing a life in ministry, please feel welcome to contact us to discuss the show. You can email us at podcast@ccny.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/revingup. Mark your calendar for our second Rev'ing Up live event in mid-December! 

Our first season of Rev'ing Up: Answering the Call of Liberal-Religious Leadership is coming to a close! Join us for our live event on CCNY YouTube (youtube.com/c/ccnyuu) at 7pm Eastern on Thursday, May 27 and bring your thoughts and questions. On today's show, Carrie and Meagan continue their discussion about intern ministership during the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, we focus on self-care and the ongoing question of how to make ministry sustainable for the people who pursue it. The concept of self care originates in the work of radical poet and activist Audre Lorde. If you'd like to investigate the concept outside of a consumerist framework, the Audre Lorde Project provides resources to do so: https://alp.org/breaking-isolation-self-care-and-community-care-tools-our-peopleThis episode also references the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Learn more or pick up a copy: https://milkweed.org/book/braiding-sweetgrass. Join our Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup or drop us a line at podcast@ccny.org!

As our first season of Rev'ing Up moves toward its close, Meagan and Carrie take time to discuss a question we saw frequently in the responses to our Rev'ing Up initial community survey: what the heck is it like to learn ministry during a pandemic? From opening meetings with spiritual readings and personal check-ins to cultivating gratitude for new tech tools and competencies, today's show discusses the ins and outs of ministry during COVID. We are living in a time filled with grief and anger, and effective ministers are very much needed. This episode references Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown. Read more about emergent strategy: https://www.colorlines.com/articles/three-lessons-adrienne-maree-browns-emergent-strategyOr purchase the book: https://www.akpress.org/emergentstrategy.htmlNext week we will discuss self- and community-care from an intern minister's perspective. We hope you will join us for that and for our LIVE SHOW on Thursday, May 27 at 7pm! Meagan and Carrie will be chatting and taking your questions on our CCNY YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/ccnyuu. In the meantime, join our Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup or drop us a line at podcast@ccny.org. 

Thank you for joining us for another episode of Rev'ing Up: Answering the Call of Liberal-Religious Leadership. Today, Meagan and Carrie have serious news to share regarding our colleague Anthony Cruz, whose journey at Community Church has come to an unexpected end.From that announcement, the conversation moves into a meditation on the importance of collegiality for ministers in formation. We don't have to go it alone. You are heartily invited to the Rev'ing Up live event, which will be streamed on CCNY YouTube on May 27. Join our Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup or email us at podcast@ccny.org with questions, comments, or suggestions for topics you'd like to see us discuss.

Welcome back to Rev'ing Up: Answering the Call of Liberal-Religious Leadership! Last week Meagan shared her story of facing the economic realities of pursuing a life in ministry. This week, we hear a bit of Carrie's personal narrative, then expand into a discussion of the competing pressures that define ministry as a career (especially in Unitarian-Universalism). Finally, Meagan and Carrie ask: how would social reforms like universal healthcare and student debt cancellation affect the issues faced by liberal-religious ministers in formation?If you're pursuing ministry or considering it, you won't want to miss this honest conversation. We hope to continue the conversation with you! Please send us a note at podcast@ccny.org or join the Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup. We will be sharing more details about our Rev'ing Up live event very soon.This episode is also available on YouTube at youtube.com/c/ccnyuu. Community Church of New York appreciates your time spent listening to and watching our shows. If you would like to support our work, subscribing or leaving a comment, rating, or review is a wonderful way to do so.

Ministers are people too and have economic and social needs just like anyone else. Is our faith structured to support them? On today's mini-episode of Rev'ing Up: Answering the Call of Liberal-Religious Leadership, CCNY intern minister Meagan Henry tells her story of being discouraged from pursuing ministry as a young single parent and how she found a way to serve her faith and answer her call in later life.We plan to revisit this very important topic later on in our season of Rev'ing Up. We invite you to share your thoughts and comments with us by emailing podcast@ccny.org, or joining our Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup. Stay tuned for more details about our Rev'ing Up live event, coming in late May.

The process of becoming a minister is both individual and community-based. On today's episode, Carrie, Anthony, and Meagan explore some of the complexities and contradictions of ministerial formation through the lens of their personal backgrounds. In a liberal religion where a path to ministership is not restricted by gender, sexuality, or adherence to dogma, what *is* a minister? How is this continuing to change as ministry adapts to the 21st century and new community needs in the COVID-19 pandemic?This episode is also available on YouTube at youtube.com/c/ccnyuu. We always welcome your thoughts and comments on our shows. Join the Listener Community at facebook.com/groups/revingup, or send us a note at podcast@ccny.org. We will be hosting a live event in late May with our Rev'ing Up hosts, so stay tuned for that! If you would like to support CCNY broadcasting, please subscribe, leave a rating or review, or write a comment!

Welcome back, Anthony! Anthony has returned from his retreat for Unitarian-Universalists of color and joins Carrie and Meagan for today's conversation about sources of hope. Our three hosts share personal stories of encounters with kind strangers, receiving help from unexpected sources, and moving from the "I" to the "we" by living in community. Stick around 'til the end to hear Meagan share her teen-friendly "elevator speech" on Unitarian-Universalist theology!One way hope shows up in our lives is through connection and sharing. We invite you to share your experience with us by joining our Listener Community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/revingup. If you prefer email, send us a note at podcast@ccny.org. And please know you are welcome to join us for our Rev'ing Up live event hosted by CCNY in late May. More details coming soon!This show is also available on YouTube at youtube.com/c/ccnyuu. Thank you for listening. If you enjoy the show and would like to support CCNY broadcasting, subscribing, rating, and leaving a review or comment is a wonderful way to do so. 

Between Easter, Passover, and the rites of spring, this is a busy time for liberal-religious leaders! At these transitional times of year many of us feel the urge to engage in communal rituals, and lots of Unitarian-Universalist individuals and congregations share in celebrations of Easter, Passover, and the equinox. And of course, Unitarian-Universalism has its own homegrown seasonal traditions such as Water Communion and Flower Communion. As Anthony is away on a retreat for Unitarian-Universalists of color, Carrie and Meagan host today's conversation about the traditions we share and how we seek to celebrate them respectfully.We send our great thanks to Rev'ing Up listener Allan for sharing this question with us! If there is a topic you would like to see our hosts discuss, please let us know at podcast@ccny.org. If you would like to learn more about the Water Communion and Flower Communion rituals discussed on today's show, here are resources provided by the Unitarian-Universalist Association:https://www.uua.org/worship/holidays/water-communionhttps://www.uua.org/worship/holidays/flower-ceremonyThis show is also available on YouTube at youtube.com/c/ccnyuu. Thank you for listening and responding! 

"We must transform ourselves and our communities in order to transform society." -- Grace Lee Boggs (1915-2015), organizer and author.On today's show, our hosts Carrie, Anthony, and Meagan discuss theological formation and moving between theory and practice in a process-oriented religion like Unitarian-Universalism. How do ministers develop their own theology and assist others to do the same?At the end of today's episode, Meagan mentions a few resources for anti-racists to engage with in response to the recent upsurge in violence against Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities in the US. Learn more and sign up for Hollaback bystander intervention training:  https://www.ihollaback.org/bystanderintervention/Donate to Asian-Americans Advancing Justice -- Atlanta: https://www.advancingjustice-atlanta.org/Read Michelle Kim on transformative justice, policing, and AAPI/Black solidarity: https://medium.com/awaken-blog/on-anti-asian-hate-crimes-who-is-our-real-enemy-207ee7354926Throughout the season, we will respond to your comments, suggestions, and questions. Please contact us at podcast@ccny.org and know you are invited to join us for a live conversational event hosted by CCNY at the end of May.This episode is also available on YouTube at youtube.com/c/ccnyuu! Subscribing, rating, and leaving a review is a wonderful way to support CCNY's broadcasting program. Thank you!

Welcome to Rev'ing Up, the newest media ministry from Community Church of New York.This show is a container to explore the intersectionalities of life, ministry, and professional clergy formation from the perspective of three Unitarian-Universalist intern ministers.On today's show, our hosts Meagan, Carrie, and Anthony discuss the challenges of developing a ministerial presence in a time where social contact is limited to the phone and video conference. Join us to discuss how ministerial presence is ever-shifting!We are so grateful for your feedback and comments on our first episode. Throughout the season, we will respond to your comments, suggestions, and questions. Please contact us at podcast@ccny.org and know you are invited to join us for a live conversational event hosted by CCNY at the end of May.This episode is also available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/Fa59c4KvXJc! Subscribing, rating, and leaving a review is a wonderful way to support CCNY's broadcasting program. Thank you! 

Welcome to Rev'ing Up, the newest media ministry from Community Church of New York.This show is a container to explore the intersectionalities of life, ministry, and professional clergy formation from the perspective of three Unitarian-Universalist intern ministers.On today's show, our hosts Anthony, Meagan, and Carrie lay the foundations of our ongoing conversation by discussing the call to ministry and the many forms it may take. We are in community with you, our listeners. We invite you to co-create this space with us as we move through our first season. Contact us at podcast@ccny.org and mark your calendar for a live conversational event hosted by CCNY in late May.