The Ministry Collaborative Podcast

Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with Heather Brown and the Rev. Barrett Payne (James Island Presbyterian Church, South Carolina) about the centrality of forgiveness to Christian identity, the problem with a "checkbox" approach to faith, and what personal and communal crises reveal about the witness of the church.

Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio speaks with the Rev. Dr. Albert Russell (Grace Community Church, Millbrook, AL; Tuskegee University)  and the Rev. Leon Bell, Jr. (St. Joseph Baptist, Mobile, AL; Hope for All Gulf Coast) about the tension between forced dislocation and the practice of spiritual dislocation, the challenge of rest for multi-vocational pastors, and their reflections on our South Africa immersion experience.

Program Director Adam Borneman continues his conversation with Marthame Sanders (Mudeif Productions) and Terrence Smith (Kill Pride Club) about their current perspective as "lay people", the need to move away from seeing ministry through the lens of "return on investment", and why traditional and non-traditional ministries need each other.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Terrence Smith (Kill Pride Club) and Marthame Sanders (Mudeif Productions) about their transition from congregational pastors to alternative forms of ministry, the connection between intuition and disruption, and how the institutional church cannot contain the fullness of the gospel.

Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio speaks with the Rev. Jamie Butcher (Covenant Presbyterian, Atlanta) and the Rev. Kelly Chatman about the push and pull of dislocation, the connection between belonging and accountability, and their reflections on our Northern Ireland immersion experience.

Program Director Adam Borneman continues his conversation with Elizabeth Lynn (Lake Institute on Faith and Giving) and Andrew Yeager about the disruptive power of parables, the important tension between prescriptive and open interpretation, and how stories can help preachers engage their congregations.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Andrew Yeager and Elizabeth Lynn (Lake Institute on Faith and Giving) about our cultural fragmentation, the challenge of the attention economy, and their view from the pew as active laity.

Program Director Adam Borneman continues the conversation with Esther Sanders and the Rev. Morgan Burge (Roswell Presbyterian, GA) about how to be in community with those who are unlike us, the underlying issue of shame, and the role of fear in church and society these days.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Morgan Burge (Roswell Presbyterian, GA) and Esther Sanders about the assumptions that churches make, what small groups can - and can't - do, and how important it is to be known.

Program Staff Adam Borneman and Beth Daniel speak with Katie Garrison and Dee Bibbs (Narrow Gate) about mirroring the methods of Jesus, reproducing disciples, and Beth's recent blog post on doing the "little things."Read Beth's blog post here.

Program Staff Adam Borneman and Adam Mixon speak with Heather Brown and Andy Patterson about the importance of approaching everything with compassion, why reading and travel are important practices, and whether the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace are still possible.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Mixon, Beth Daniel, Mark Ramsey, and Adam Borneman) about the need to preach resurrection, when anxiety masquerades as prophecy, and why proximity and community make a difference in ministry.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Beth Daniel, and Adam Borneman) about the imbalance of the current moment, the reality of disappointing others, and the importance of remembering that the final word is resurrection.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Mixon, Adam Borneman, and Beth Daniel) about the importance of proximity in embracing the humanity of others, the comforting mystery of God, and the timely wisdom of James Baldwin.Read the original blog post here.Listen here.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, and Beth Daniel) about the enduring presence of Jesus, the peril of retreating into our enclaves, and the wisdom of Ecclesiastes for such a time as this.

Program Staff Amy Valdez Barker and Jennifer Watley Maxell speak with the Andy Hendren (Wespath) about the overall frustrating trends in clergy health, places where positive impact is happening, and what it might look like to redeploy church assets for communal well-being.

Program Staff Jennifer Watley Maxell and Amy Valdez Barker speak with the Rev. Dr. Danielle Buhuro (Sankofa CPE) about the difference between hurt and trauma, the importance of clinical pastoral education, and what the Japanese practice of Ikigai can teach us about differentiating our call/s and identity.

Program Staff Amy Valdez Barker and Jennifer Watley Maxell speak with the Rev. Matthew Watley (Kingdom Global, Calverton, MD; TKN Leadership Summit) about doing ministry at a high level, the challenge and barrier of pleasing stakeholders, and the gift of rising to meet the crisis. Listen here.

Program Staff Jennifer Watley Maxell and Amy Valdez Barker speak with Rev. Dustin Mailman (Deep Time, Asheville) about the power of ministry through social enterprise, his own call to working alongside folks impacted by incarceration, and Deep Time's approach to ministry - including their coffee subscription service. Listen here.

Program Staff Jennifer Watley Maxell and Amy Valdez Barker speak with Dr. Thema Bryant about the importance of intergenerational coalitions for wisdom and innovative courage; the need for people of faith to offer continuity of care; and her upcoming book on healing, Matters of the Heart. Listen here.

Program Staff Adam Mixon and Amy Valdez Barker speak with Kathi Vodenicker and Adrienne Mixon (Better Days Counseling) about what the church gets right - and wrong - about mental health, the difference between healing and wholeness, and what Jesus offers us by sharing his wounds. Listen here.

Program Staff Amy Valdez Barker and Adam Mixon  speak with Adrienne Mixon (Better Days Counseling) about caring for the caregivers, destigmatizing mental health support, and the wisdom of Fred Sanford. Listen here.

Program Staff Adam Borneman and Mark Ramsey speak the Rev. Dr. Joe Scrivner (Stillman College, Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church) about the dangers of communal and individual self-righteousness, the universality of human longing, and how the church can be a source of hope in this moment. Listen here. Read the original blog post here.

Program Staff Jennifer Watley Maxell and Amy Valdez Barker speak with the Rev. Carla Jones Brown about the importance of language, finding hope in the every day, and what kind of preaching is needed.

Program Staff Adam Mixon and Jennifer Watley Maxell speak with the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers (Church Planting, The Episcopal Church) about this post-election moment, the distinctive Christian character of the table, and how we choose to show up as the Church.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Revs. Susan Rogers (The Well, Jacksonville, FL) and Kathy Escobar (The Refuge, Broomfield, CO) about the downward mobility of Jesus, how we form leadership and wield power, and Kathy's upcoming book (to be released in January, 2025).

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Dr. Dustin Benac (Truett Theological Seminary) about his research into ministry innovation, how crises can truncate our theological imaginations, and the critical importance of testimony.

Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker speaks with the Revs. Esta Jarrett (Canton Presbyterian, NC) and Tom Owens (Central United Methodist, Canton, NC) about their ministry in the wake of Hurricane Helene, how the community came together to support one another, and the importance of the church as a safe haven in moments like these.

Program Director Adam Borneman continues the conversation with Mark Nelson (Three Rivers Collaborative) and Dr. Heather Gorman (Johnson University) about curiosity as a Christian value, getting stuck at the point of just talking, respecting the image of God in each other, and their book Lunchroom Theology.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Dr. Heather Gorman (Johnson University) and Mark Nelson (Three Rivers Collaborative) about their book Lunchroom Theology, rooting their work in Jesus' hope for Christian unity, and why it's import to take power and abuse into account when building bridges across our divides.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Ryan Bonfiglio, Adam Mixon, Adam Borneman, and Jennifer Watley Maxell) discuss how God's voice comes from surprising places, what the Creation lesson teaches us, and the sermon they would like to preach to the American church at this moment.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Beth Daniel, Amy Valdez Barker, Jennifer Watley Maxell, and Mark Ramsey) discuss strength and weakness in Christ, the price of discipleship, and what they would preach to the world today.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Watley Maxell, Adam Mixon, Adam Borneman, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss the importance of creating hope locally, speaking prophetically and compassionately, and being thoughtful about what we need to recover.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Beth Daniel, Amy Valdez Barker, and Jennifer Watley Maxell) discuss the lovely surprise of optimism, the importance of looking out for community and support, and why we need to continue to root ourselves in Scripture.

Executive Director Mark Ramsey wraps up our “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith” series, speaking with the Rev. Carol Patterson (Setting the Captives Free) and the Rev. Rebecca Gurney (Reems Creek-Beech Presbyterian, Weaverville, NC) about Jesus' gift for bringing "news from another network, the challenge of educating without alienating, and taking seriously the idea that every proclamation moment is life or death for somebody.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Cody Balfour (Koinonia Church, Nashville) and the Rev. Morgan Burge (Roswell Presbyterian Church, GA) about the challenging, uplifting text of Titus 3; how younger generations give them hope; and what today's church can learn from the American Civil Rights movement. This conversation is part of our ongoing series “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith”.

Program Staff Adam Borneman and Jennifer Watley Maxell continue our “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith” series, speaking with Cody Balfour (Koinonia Church, Nashville) about his book; the connection between sin, oppression, and anxiety; the importance of finding faithful community; and how to resist being shaped by fear.

Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio speaks with the Rev. Nicole Bates (NorthPark Presbyterian, Dallas) and the Rev. Dr. Terrence Autry (Christ Community, Richardson, TX) about seeking the flourishing of all, planning for prayer and worship in this highly political season, and how momentary dislocation can help us build compassion and resilience. This conversation is part of our ongoing series “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith”.

Program Director Adam Borneman continues our “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith” series, speaking with Anna Stamborski (Crossroads) and the Rev. Dr. Joe Scrivner (Stillman College, Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church) about the dangers of the "zero sum game", why local relationships matter, and the importance of thinking critically about who benefits from our polarization.

Program Staff Amy Valdez Barker and Adam Mixon speak with Dr. Olusimbo Ige (Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health) about compassion as her "why", building trust across differences, and how she sees her public health work as ministry. This conversation is part of our ongoing series “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith”. You can listen to the Healthy Chicago Podcast in English and Spanish on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

Executive Director Mark Ramsey continues our “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith” series, speaking with the Rev. Leon Stevenson (Mack Avenue Community Church, Detroit) and the Rev. Dr. Barry Jones (Irving Bible Church, TX) about their advice for younger pastors, what we can learn from ancient church history, and the importance of preaching with specific people in mind.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Revs. Carla Jones Brown (Arch Street Presbyterian, Philadelphia) and Sherrad Hayes (Union Baptist Church, West Point, GA) about trusting God more than self, the concentric circles of mission, and how each of their communities is most often misunderstood. This conversation is part of our ongoing series “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith”.

Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell continues our “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith” series, speaking with the Revs. Megan Johnson (Clairmont Presbyterian, Atlanta) and Anthony Giboney (The AND Campaign) about the interplay between anxiety and empathy, the importance of both clarity and nuance, and why congregations can have outsized impacts in their local community.

Content Curator Adam Mixon continues his conversation with the Revs. David Feltman and Jennifer Lusher (Family Promise, New Ministry Strategies) speaking about the importance of seeking "the common good", the difficulty of confronting false gospels, and why we need to read Scripture in diverse community. This is part of our ongoing series “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith”.

Content Curator Adam Mixon continues our “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith” series, speaking with the Revs. Jennifer Lusher (Family Promise, New Ministry Strategies) and David Feltman about seeing COVID as a prophetic moment, the pain of the "great divide", and embracing the places we see faithfulness now.

Program Staff Amy Valdez Barker and Adam Borneman speak with the Rev. Johannes George (St. Mark's Episcopal, Houston) about his harrowing escape from the civil war in Sierra Leone, what that experience taught him about betrayal and trust, and his wisdom for the American context in our particular moment. This conversation continues our series “When Politics Is Upstream of Faith”.

Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell continues our "When Politics Is Upstream of Faith" series, speaking with the Rev. Kate Flexer (St. Michael's Church, NYC) and the Rev. Dr. Albert Russell (Grace Community Church, Millbrook, AL; Tuskegee University) about keeping Christ and Christ's table at the center, the challenge of avoiding the political expectations placed upon us, and the importance of being citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

TMC Staff Beth Daniel and Adam Mixon extend their conversation with the Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton (House United) about building robust discipleship; exegeting both text and congregation; and what leadership looks like, called for such a moment like this. This conversation continues our series "When Politics Is Upstream of Faith".

TMC Staff Beth Daniel and Adam Mixon continue our series "When Politics Is Upstream of Faith" with the Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton (House United) about shaping a concern for a shared future, the risk that civility is linked to privilege, and being shaped by what God's Love wants us to do.

Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker and producer Marthame Sanders speak with the Rev. Jennifer Butler (Faith in Democracy) and Dr. Napp Nazworth (⁠American Values Coalition⁠) about their partnership across the political aisle, pastoral strategies for broadening the conversation, and the enduring desire for belonging. This conversation is part of our ongoing podcast series, When Politics Is Upstream of Faith.

TMC Staff Adam Borneman and Amy Valdez Barker kick off our new podcast series, When Politics Is Upstream of Faith, speaking with Dr. Napp Nazworth (American Values Coalition) about differentiating our democratic context from Jesus' context, the vital importance of promoting pluralism, and what he wishes pastors knew about politics.