Podcasts about Saint Paul School

In this episode, Fred interviews Rev. Dr. Casey T. Sigmon, Project Director and architect of Pause/Play: https://www.pauseplaycenter.com Casey is the Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship and Director of Contextual Education at Saint Paul School of Theology. She is ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is a co-founder of TheoTechnics, a team consisting of a theologian, practical theologian, and audio video engineer helping congregations make decisions about implementing technological tools with theological discernment. Casey's first book, Engaging the Gadfly: How to Move from Reactionary to Reflective Hybrid, Online, and In-Person Preaching in the Digital Age comes out later this year!

In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, we are honored to welcome Dr. Stan Copeland, Senior Pastor of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas since 1998. Dr. Copeland has dedicated his ministry to "loving all people into relationship with Jesus Christ," fostering a vibrant and diverse congregation through various outreach ministries. Under his leadership, Lovers Lane UMC has expanded its impact, serving communities in need and emphasizing the power of faith in action.In 2022, Dr. Copeland was recognized as the Distinguished Graduate Award recipient and commencement speaker at Saint Paul School of Theology.Join us as we explore his journey, his passion for ministry, and his vision for the future of the church!

Finally! Wil introduces Ashley to one of HIS favorite people -- Joyce McCarty.Joyce is a lover of people, follower of Jesus, consumer of coffee, an ENFP on the MBTI, and an Enneagram 8w7. She is studying at Saint Paul School of Theology and the former Program Director - Latin America at The Church of the Resurrection.Please note: Ashley referred to Oksana Baiul as Russian, when, in fact, she is Ukrainian. Please forgive this misinformation. We apologize for not catching it sooner.

Open House is approaching at the end of the month on Sunday, January 28th from 11:00-1:00 pm.Saint Paul School is currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year. All current and prospective families will be invited to the Open House to see an Art Show of all our students work and have a chance to visit classrooms, meet our dedicated teachers and hear from school families. Enjoy our interview with students: Andrew Glowicki Grade 5 and Emery Tarry Grade 8. Joining the students and Renee DiNino are teacher and administrator: Grade 5 teacher Charolette Planeta and Kelly Esposito, Director of Admissions & Marketing.

Reverend John Cannon, Senior Pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church,  is our guest on Discover Lafayette. This is a special rebroadcast of an interview we did in March 2020, right before COVID shut down life as we knew it. We'll always treasure this inspirational message! A native of Shreveport, John Cannon graduated from the University of Arkansas and LSU Law School. While working as an Assistant District Attorney in East Baton Rouge, he began to discern a call to pastoral ministry that he had first experienced as a youth in the Episcopal Church. Following that call, John attended the Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. Before joining Asbury as Senior Pastor, John served as the District Superintendent for the 74 churches of the Acadiana District of The United Methodist Church. Cannon's first appointment as a pastor was at Church of Our Savior in Junction City, Kansas. Located near U. S. Army Fort Riley, the congregation was multi-ethnic with about fifty members, most of whom were retired military. It was a simple time for Cannon and his wife, Erin, and the church provided a home for them to live in as he commuted twice a week for two hours to attend his theological classes in Kansas City. Asbury UMC is one of the largest churches in Louisiana, with about 1000 active members attending services in any month. Cannon explained that even in large churches, it is important to maintain a “small church feel” so that people feel connected to one another. Large congregations have to work to create that feel; small groups such as Sunday School classes or adult and children ministries are important so that each individual member can connect with others and share their God-given gifts. Cannon's training in his first career as an appellate attorney has many similarities with his work as a pastor. He believes the best lawyers are storytellers and the best stories are the ones that make you think and bring you to a new place of understanding. Today as a pastor, Cannon is a collector of stories….odd, humorous, and interesting stories of real people he finds in the news and saves in a manilla folder for use in his sermons. The congregation enjoys his humorous openings to sermons where the true, offbeat human story is woven into a relevant passage of scripture to more impactfully deliver the message. Cannon believes that is why Jesus used parables as he taught His messages so that the crowds could understand the teaching and relate them to everyday life. You could say that John Cannon makes his closing argument for God each and every week! Asbury draws a diverse crowd of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and is a place of acceptance for the LGBTQ community. Cannon is proud that the congregation models what it means to be a family, even when all members don't agree on every societal issue, and stated, “At the end of the day, we love each other, support each other, and have each other's back.” Ultimately, it's all about love, the love that Jesus exemplified in His two great commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:35-40. We thank Reverend John Cannon for his contributions to our faith community. For more information on Asbury United Methodist Church, its worship services and ministries, please visit https://www.asburylafayette.org/

This month's episode of the Academy Podcast features teaching from Amy Oden on the topic of “Meeting God in Our Longing” from the 2021 cohort of Spiritual Formation in Today's World. Amy explores the art of discerning between the way that leads to life and the way that leads to death by paying attention to our deepest longings. She emphasizes that in our fast-paced and noisy world, practicing mindfulness, or pausing to listen within, can help us recognize what our soul needs and guide us in making the choices that will bring freedom and aliveness. Born and raised on the prairies of Oklahoma, Amy has found her spiritual home under the wide-open sky. She earned her PhD in Religious Studies at Southern Methodist University, writing her dissertation on Augustine. Over the last 30 years, she has served on the faculties of Oklahoma City University, Saint Paul School of Theology and Wesley Theological Seminary where she also served as Dean. She now is an itinerant professor, teaching at several schools in the areas of theology and history of Christianity and spiritual formation. She is also a spiritual director, companioning people as they listen for God in day-to-day life. Amy is committed in her scholarship to illuminating ancient voices for Christian life today, introducing spiritual practices that can ground and nourish lives of following Jesus into the world. Her most recent book is "Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness." The 2024 cohort of Spiritual Formation in Today's World begins February 1-3, 2024. You can learn more and apply at academy.upperroom.org/event/sftw-2023/.

Join us for a conversation with Bishop Delores Williamston, who is set to become the new bishop of the Louisiana Conference on January 1. This is the second of two episodes.  In this episode, Todd Rossnagel asks Bishop Williamston about what brings her joy and what sabbath looks like for her. We also get a glimpse of her call story, and we also get to meet her pet dog, a Shih Tzu, who has several names! ______ Bishop Delores J. “Dee” Williamston, a Kansas Army National Guard veteran, and a Methodist church administrator, was assigned to the Louisiana Conference at the South Central Jurisdictional meeting in Houston on November 3, 2022. Bishop Williamston was ordained as an elder in 2010 and previously served in the Great Plains Conference as the superintendent for the Hays, Hutchinson and Salina Districts. She also served as Director of Clergy Excellence and Assistant to the Bishop. Prior to beginning her service with the Great Plains Conference, Williamston served churches in Independence, Salina, Mentor, and Topeka in Kansas. She earned her master's of divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, with a specialty in Black Church ministries and evangelism. She is pursuing a doctorate of ministry from Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bishop Williamston's background includes a 22-year military career in the Kansas Army National Guard, where she served as a technician and eventually became chief supervisor of the account and finance operations at the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in Topeka. Her rank upon retirement from the National Guard was sergeant first class. Bishop Williamston, a breast cancer survivor, has one son, seven grandchildren, and one pet Shih Tzu.

Dr. Warren Carter is the LaDonna Kramer Meinders Professor of New Testament at Phillips Seminary in Tulsa OK. From 2007-2019, he was Professor of New Testament at Brite Divinity School, TCU, Fort Worth TX. Before going to Brite, he was Pherigo Professor of New Testament at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City MO. A native of New Zealand, he is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington (BA: BA(Honors) First Class), the Melbourne College of Divinity (Bachelor of Divinity; Masters of Theology) and Princeton Theological Seminary NJ (PhD in New Testament Studies). Dr. Carter has written numerous books on the New Testament including The Roman Empire and the New Testament: An Essential Guide and What Does Revelation Reveal? Unlocking the Mystery. In this episode, I talk to Warren about imperial-critical readings of the New Testament and what it means to read the New Testament with the Roman Empire not in the background but in the foreground. Warren talks about the relationship between Romans 13 and Revelation 13, the real meaning of Jesus's “render unto Caesar” statement, how Jesus's healings subvert empire, and the relationship between ancient Rome and modern America. https://ptstulsa.edu/warren-carter-2/ Thanks to Doug Smith for helping sponsor today's episode. To check out Doug's newest book, [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shapes Your Desires, and How You Can Break Free: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1625861966/ 

Join us for a conversation with Bishop Delores Williamston, who is set to become the new bishop of the Louisiana Conference on January 1.  This episode is the first of two.   In this episode, Todd Rossnagel asks Bishop Williamston about her family, her background, which includes work inside the church as well as military service. They also discuss the historic nature of her election.  To watch the consecration service from the 2022 South Central Jurisdiction, please head here.  ______ Bishop Delores J. “Dee” Williamston, a Kansas Army National Guard veteran, and a Methodist church administrator, was assigned to the Louisiana Conference at the South Central Jurisdictional meeting in Houston on November 3, 2022. Bishop Williamston was ordained as an elder in 2010 and previously served in the Great Plains Conference as the superintendent for the Hays, Hutchinson and Salina Districts. She also served as Director of Clergy Excellence and Assistant to the Bishop. Prior to beginning her service with the Great Plains Conference, Williamston served churches in Independence, Salina, Mentor, and Topeka in Kansas. She earned her master's of divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, with a specialty in Black Church ministries and evangelism. She is pursuing a doctorate of ministry from Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bishop Williamston's background includes a 22-year military career in the Kansas Army National Guard, where she served as a technician and eventually became chief supervisor of the account and finance operations at the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in Topeka. Her rank upon retirement from the National Guard was sergeant first class. Bishop Williamston, a breast cancer survivor, has one son, seven grandchildren, and one pet Shih Tzu.

This week we welcome Rev. Dr. Tiffany A. Nagel Monroe to the pulpit. Tiffany is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Campus of Saint Paul School of Theology. She's also the founder and co-leader of Epiphany Innovations. Streamed from the sanctuary of Mayflower Congregational UCC Church in Oklahoma City.

Angela interviewed Dr. Emilie M. Townes on October 12, 2021, via video conference. Townes talked about growing up in Durham, North Carolina, her formative years in theological education and parachurch work, and the necessity of having a robust hope. Emilie M. Townes, an American Baptist clergywoman, is a native of Durham, NC.  She holds a DMin from the University of Chicago Divinity School and a PhD in Religion in Society and Personality from Northwestern University. Townes is the Dean and Distinguished Professor of Womanist Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, becoming the first African American to serve as its dean in 2013.  She is the former Mellon Professor of African American Religion and Theology at Yale University Divinity School where she was the first African American and first woman to serve as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  In 2008, she was the first African American woman to serve as president of the American Academy of Religion and recently served as President of the Society for the Study of Black Religion from 2012-2016.  She taught on the faculties of Union Theological Seminary, NY and Saint Paul School of Theology. She is the editor of two collection of essays, author of four books including her groundbreaking book, Womanist Ethics and the Cultural Production of Evil.  She is a co-editor of two books. Townes was elected a Fellow in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009. 

In this month's episode we hear from Amy Oden on the topic of tradition and what we are handing over to those who follow. Born and raised on the prairies of Oklahoma, Amy has found her spiritual home under the wide-open sky. She earned her PhD in Religious Studies at Southern Methodist University, writing her dissertation on Augustine. Over the last 30 years, she has served on the faculties of Oklahoma City University, Saint Paul School of Theology and Wesley Theological Seminary where she also served as Dean. She now is an itinerant professor, teaching at several schools in the areas of theology and history of Christianity and spiritual formation. She is also a spiritual director, companioning people as they listen for God in day-to-day life. Amy is committed in her scholarship to illuminating ancient voices for Christian life today, introducing spiritual practices that can ground and nourish lives of following Jesus into the world. Her most recent book is Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness. Amy speaks of tradition: not a treasure chest sealed shut and unchanged but an openhanded gift that stays alive precisely because its practices and teaching adapt to a new time place and context. The advent season is here now and the season of Christmas will soon follow after that. There will be much handing down, handing over of gifts. There will be rituals that have been on pause that perhaps this year can finally be resumed. will we revel in the sameness? in the treasure chest that finally gets unlocked after 20 months of a pandemic? Or will it look look and feel different now as it is handed over and shared after so much of our communal and global life has changed?

In Episode 3 we’re in conversation with Rev. Dr. Tex Sample, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Kansas City. Through personal stories and extensive research, Tex shares insights and actionables related to reaching the white working class. Tex Sample is the Robert B. And Kathleen Rogers Professor Emeritus of Church and Society at The Saint Paul School of Theology where he taught for 32 years. A freelance lecturer and speaker in North America and overseas, he has published 14 books. His book, Blue Collar Ministry, was named a “Judson Classic” by the Judson Press, and his book U. S. Lifestyles and Mainline Churches was the bestseller for Westminster/John Knox Press for over two years. His most recent book is Working Class Rage, available from Abingdon Press. RESOURCES Teaching Biblical Patriotism as Pastoral Care: God, Country and Stories of Working Class Pain, Tex Sample for Ministry Matters Community Organizing Bibliography Working Class Rage by Tex Sample

Repping Orlando, Florida, Beckie Campbell shares her experiences as a tech director and production company owner. Being a tech director takes a lot of knowledge, skill, patience, leadership, and communication. Not every church needs one, but the second your production hits a certain level it’s time to bring in the big guns. Beckie and I discuss the path towards some kind of legacy — acting selflessly and trying to give back to those around us and those who will come after us. Care about your team and watch them sacrifice what they want for the greater mission.Beckie's Production Company, B4 MediaKnow a woman or girl in sound? Check out SoundGirls.OrgChurch Sound Podcast is sponsored by Saint Paul School of Theology and DiGiCo, and is hosted by Samantha Potter, co-lead instructor with Church Sound University and editorial director with ProSoundWeb and Church Sound Magazine. Get ahold of her via email

Networked audio... the new wave of technology we cannot escape from not matter how hard we cry. It's the way of the future and there's no getting out now. Dan Leafblad joins me this week to talk not only about audio, video, and lighting networks, but what ministry can look like beyond the walls of our church buildings in a technical and spiritual approach. Dan's first installment of AVL NetworkingDan's Articles on PSWYamaha Pro Audio Networking PlaylistWiki Page for Networking ProtocolsChurch Sound Podcast is sponsored by Saint Paul School of Theology and DiGiCo, and is hosted by Samantha Potter, co-lead instructor with Church Sound University and editorial director with ProSoundWeb and Church Sound Magazine.

In light of the murder of George Floyd - Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery - South Georgia, Breonna Taylor- Kentucky, the Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church massacre - Charleston SC.  The protest, the riots and the list goes on and on. As difficult as it has become, as Christians we must speak truth about race, racism in America, and how the Church can no longer be silent, sit on the sidelines, believe that there is not a problem, that it is not my problem, I didn’t cause this problem etc… As people of God, each of us has a mandate on our lives by God. Matthew 25:31-46 reminds us all, "the son of man will judge the nations." Each person individually, and collectively will have to answer to our response to the clarion call. There is much kingdom work to be done. Who's in? Contact Dr Stephanie Moore Hand, shand@wnccumc.org  OUR GUEST: Rev. Junius Dotson A nationally recognized leader, speaker, and author.  He is presently the General Secretary (chief executive officer) of Discipleship Ministries, an international agency of The United Methodist Church an organization with a staff of more than 130. Rev. Dotson is the author of Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books). Dotson was Senior Pastor of Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, where he was instrumental in transforming the 3,500-member church into a multi-campus congregation. Dr. Lovett Weems Jr., recognized leaders in the United Methodist Church in America. He is a relevant, distinguished professor of church leadership and senior consultant of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Weems was the founding director of the Lewis Center in 2003, coming to the position after 18 years as president of Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. Prolific leaders with a passion.   Resources: Kendi, Ibram X. Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. New York: Nation Books, 2016. Williams, Chad, Kidada E. Williams, and Keisha N. Blain, eds. Charleston Syllabus: Readings on Race, Racism, and Racial Violence. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 2016. Jennings, Willie James. The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2010. Lovett, Weems jr., High Yield: Seven Disciplines of the Fruitful Leader (with Tom Berlin), Abingdon Press, 2014 Lovett, Weems jr., Overflow: Increase Worship Attendance & Bear More Fruit (with Tom Berlin), Abingdon Press, 2013 Lovett, Weems jr., Focus: The Real Challenges Facing The United Methodist Church, Abingdon Press, 2012 Lovett, Weems jr., Bearing Fruit: Ministry with Real Results (with Tom Berlin), Abingdon Press, 2011

Monitors. What a freakishly important, yet entirely ignored wonder of audio. Jordan Tracy joins me this week for all things monitor world. KLANG, personal monitor mixers, and IEMs galore! Jordan hails from SoCal but lives in the Midwest helping an admittedly massive church achieve perfect monitors for every musician that walks on stage. With a background working and learning with Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, this monitor engineer has more than enough knowledge to go around. Jordan's In-Ear Hookup, Inside Monitor World LLCChurch Sound Podcast is sponsored by Saint Paul School of Theology and is hosted by Samantha Potter, co-lead instructor with Church Sound University and editorial director with ProSoundWeb and Church Sound Magazine.

Get ready for an audio explosion. Brian Maddox (Patti LaBelle, James Brown, Herbie Hancock) is a pro audio veteran with enough experience to fill several books. Our main topic covers some best practices for live sound: the importance of proper gaffing, objectivity vs subjectivity, troubleshooting tips, and more. What are your best live sound practices? Brian Maddox on ProSoundWebProSoundWeb ForumsChurch Sound Podcast is sponsored by Saint Paul School of Theology and is hosted by Samantha Potter, co-lead instructor with Church Sound University and editorial director with ProSoundWeb and Church Sound Magazine.

Reverend John Cannon, Senior Pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church,  is our guest on Discover Lafayette. A native of Shreveport, John graduated from the University of Arkansas and LSU Law School. While working as an Assistant District Attorney in East Baton Rouge, he began to discern a call to pastoral ministry that he had first experienced as a youth in the Episcopal Church. Following that call, John attended the Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. Before joining Asbury as Senior Pastor, John served as the District Superintendent for the 74 churches of the Acadiana District of The United Methodist Church. Cannon's first appointment as a pastor was at Church of Our Savior in Junction City, Kansas. Located near U. S. Army Fort Riley, the congregation was multi-ethnic with about fifty members, most of whom were retired military. It was a simple time for Cannon and his wife, Erin, and the church provided a home for them to live in as he commuted twice a week for two hours to attend his theological classes in Kansas City. Asbury UMC is one of the largest churches in Louisiana, with about 1000 active members attending services in any month. Cannon explained that even in large churches, it is important to maintain a "small church feel" so that people feel connected to one another. Large congregations have to work to create that feel; small groups such as Sunday School classes or adult and children ministries are important so that each individual member can connect with others and share their God-given gifts. Cannon's training in his first career as an appellate attorney has many similarities with his work as a pastor. He believes the best lawyers are storytellers and the best stories are the ones that make you think and bring you to a new place of understanding. Today as a pastor, Cannon is a collector of stories....odd, humorous and interesting stories of real people he finds in the news and saves in a manilla folder for use in his sermons. The congregation enjoys his humorous openings to sermons where the true, offbeat human story is woven into a relevant passage of scripture to more impactfully deliver the message. Cannon believes that is why Jesus used parables as he taught His messages so that the crowds could understand the teaching and relate them to everyday life. You could say that John Cannon makes his closing argument for God each and every week! John Cannon is a collector of stories....odd, humorous and interesting stories of real people he finds in the news and saves in a manilla folder for use in his sermons as he weaves in a relevant passage of scripture to deliver an impactful message. You could say that John Cannon makes his closing argument for God each and every week! Asbury draws a diverse crowd of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and is a place of acceptance for the LGBTQ community. Cannon is proud that the congregation models what it means to be a family, even when all members don't agree on every societal issue, and stated, "At the end of the day, we love each other, support each other, and have each other's back." Ultimately, it's all about love, the love that Jesus exemplified in His two great commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:35-40. Asbury has started a new church ministry in Youngsville and offers a service on the second Sunday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Ascension High School. Led by Reverend Allison Sikes, the service is a casual, family experience that is a "Dinner Church model," where attendants enjoy acoustic music and share conversations around the table. Cannon says you can just walk in dressed in shorts and t-shirt. *Please note that all services offered by Asbury have been su...

Societal expectations can shame women for their sexuality. It is important to challenge these unhealthy narratives and reclaim them in a restorative and liberating way. Join us for a conversation with Jeanne Hoeft, Ph.D., professor at Saint Paul School of Theology. Rev. Dr. Hoeft's works include pastoral care, human sexuality, feminist and womanist issues, queer theory, violence against women and children, gun violence, and rural communities.

The Poor People's Campaign was formed in 1968 because Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others saw how poverty was interrelated to both racism and the war economy. His analysis was that in order to remake the whole of American society, the nation's poor would need to come together to tackle the triple evils of poverty, racism, and the war economy. Today, nearly 140 million people are either poor or low income, and this touches all demographics. Rev. Dr. Tex Sample, pastor at Trinity United Methodist and professor Emeritus at Saint Paul School of Theology, will facilitate a discussion about poverty, faith, and the need to come together to fight poverty, not the poor.

A Conversation with Amy Oden, Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at Saint Paul School of Theology of Oklahoma City University and author of "God's Welcome"

The Reformed Theology and History Group and the Martin Luther and the Global Lutheran Traditions Group host a joint panel on the meaning of 'Reformation' and what implications the notion of 'Reformation' or 'reformations' has for us today—theologically or ecclesially. Panelists explore the relevance of 'reformation/s' for the contemporary context, including ways in which aspects of the Protestant Reformation deserve retrieval, reframing, or retraction today. Panelists: - Amy Plantinga Pauw, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary - Kristen E. Kvam, Saint Paul School of Theology - Cornelis van der Kooi, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam - Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar, Lenoir-Rhyne University Kirsi Stjerna, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, presiding The panel was recorded at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion on November 20 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Racism has been deeply embedded in both society and religion, so how can we take part in the righting of the wrongs of generations both past and present? Join us for the first installment of our fall/winter series on race, a conversation about how racism has evolved over time in both the church and society. We will be joined by two Saint Paul School of Theology professors, Dr. Angela Sims and Dr. Nancy Howell, for this important conversation.

Dr. Amy Oden is a Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at the Saint Paul School of Theology. In her latest book Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness Amy draws upon the roots and connection points of mindfulness found in the Christian Tradition. In this episode, Amy shares what ‘mindfulness’ means to her, her own practices to cultivate mindfulness, and the brilliance of Jesus using mindfulness metaphors such as ‘asleep’ and ‘awake’ in his teaching (and some practical application points of those metaphors in our current technology saturated state).

As a graduate of the Ohio State University and a 1984 graduate of the Saint Paul School of Theology, David Meredith brings over 30 years of experience in ministry, and a lifetime of lived out experiences within the church, to the conversation of sexuality and spirituality and the long-standing conflict over human sexuality within the United Methodist Church. David’s marriage to his husband Jim this past May became a national news story within hours of it happening. David talks to us about what it was like to grow up knowing his was different than other boys, his call to ministry, and what the future may look like for both him and the denomination. Recorded on 11/30/16. The purpose of 'We Are Compatible' is to explore the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals and families as well as their allies in order to show that, regardless of what the United Methodist Book of Discipline may say, they are, in fact, compatible. Please join hosts, Alex Shanks and Josh Culbertson, as they explore these stories of courageous authenticity. Facebook: www.facebook.com/wearecompatible Twitter: @wearecompatible E-mail: wercompatible@gmail.com If you would like to support this podcast financially, please click the link below: https://act.myngp.com/Forms/-3552487593902536960 Or mail checks to: Equality Ohio Education Fund; 118 E. Main St; Columbus, OH 43215.  Write 'We Are Compatible' in the memo line.

Dr. Jeanne Hoeft is the Academic Dean of Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. In addition, she is the Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Care and Franklin and Louise Cole Chair in Town and Country Ministries. We talk about vocation, eating out of sterilized flower pots and the future of church leadership in the next few decades.

To close out our political series, we looked at ways the church's practices can transcend the narrower political systems that end at every nation's geographic boundaries. Rev. Dr. Mike Graves, Professor of Preaching and Worship at Saint Paul School of Theology, led us in a discussion about the political power of common practices like Communion.

In his book Prosperity, published during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore wrote: “We cannot be very happy if we are poor, and nobody needs to be poor. It is a sin to be poor.” Unity ministers have been defending that remark for more than 70 years. Today the “Prosperity Gospel” has gone mainstream. Televangelist Joel Osteen regularly assures his audiences that God wants them to be happy and prosperous. Yet, surprisingly, some of Rev. Osteen's harshest critics are not members of the Religious Right but progressive theologians, liberal Christian thinkers who question the morality of asking for personal wealth in a world where so much hunger and economic oppression persists. This week Rev. Dr. Robert Martin of Saint Paul School of Theology will join Rev. Dr. Thomas Shepherd's panel of distinguished guests to consider the controversial “Prosperity Gospel” in 21st-century Christian thought.