Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio talks with Michelle Navarrete (Emory University, World Outspoken) about the connecting the Eucharist with embodiment, appreciating the communal power of belonging, and the importance of reading Scripture with others. This conversation is part of our ongoing series “Faith Overflowing with…
As part of our ongoing series “Faith Overflowing with Hope”, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Ayana Teter (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Eastminster Presbyterian Church) about rooting our hope in the story of Jesus, rethinking our shared vocation, and navigating the giant labyrinth of…
Our series “Faith Overflowing with Hope” continues as TMC Program Staff Mark Ramsey and Jennifer Maxell speak with Dr. Luther E. Smith (Candler School of Theology) about spiritual practices for pursuing justice, becoming the beloved community, and the wisdom of Howard Thurman.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Bianca Howard (Orange), and the Rev. Ashley Diaz Mejias (Voices of Jubilee, Richmond) about their work with youth and families, seeing faith as a landscape of resistance, and the freedom that comes in seeing yourself through God’s…
Ministry Collaborative program staff Adam Borneman and Beth Daniel continue our series “Faith Overflowing with Hope” with the Rev. Dr. Joe Scrivner (Stillman College, Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church) and Dr. Andrew Root (Luther Seminary) about secularism’s influence on worship, having our being in Christ, and the importance of…
We continue our series “Faith Overflowing with Hope” as TMC Program Staff Beth Daniel and Amy Valdez Barker speak with Dr. Andrew Root (Luther Seminary) about resonance and alienation, the ordinary, and the utter arrogance of the idea that we should “save the church”.
Content Curator Adam Mixon continues his conversation with the Revs. Charles Maxell (Breakthrough Fellowship, Smyrna, GA) and Laura Murray (Fuller Center for Spiritual Formation) about the encouragement of the small things, how closeness needs community, and the temptation of the “pastoral pivot”. This conversation is…
As we continue our series “Faith Overflowing with Hope”, Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with the Revs. Laura Murray (Fuller Center for Spiritual Formation) and Charles Maxell (Breakthrough Fellowship, Smyrna, GA) about the challenge of church programming for formation, the importance of nearness – both…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Esta Jarrett (Canton Presbyterian Church, North Carolina) and the Rev. Barrett Payne (Cape Fear and Lillington Presbyterian Churches, North Carolina) about the unique gifts and challenges of rural and small churches, the personal nature of ministry in…
We kick off our six week series “Faith Overflowing with Hope” with TMC Staff Adam Borneman and Adam Mixon in conversation with the Rev. Tim Soerens (The Parish Collective) about getting out of the business of projects, the meaningful lessons of failure, and the importance…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with David Zahl (Mockingbird Ministries; Christ Episcopal Church, Charlottesville) about moving away from “Project Christianity”, the hunger for a more God-directed faith, and the wisdom of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Click here for more information about Mockingbird NYC (April 25-27).
Ministry Collaborative program staff Amy Valdez Barker and Adam Mixon continue their conversation with the Rev. Melanie Marsh (Riviera Presbyterian , Miami) about the challenge of living into your humanity as a pastor, the importance of admitting what we don’t know, and the role her…
Ministry Collaborative program staff Adam Mixon and Amy Valdez Barker speak with the Rev. Melanie Marsh (Riviera Presbyterian , Miami) about her call to a church where she was the first female pastor (and the first person of color), her tumultuous arrival in a divided…
Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, Beth Daniel, Mark Ramsey) discuss our wariness around grace in community; the offensive nature of grace’s radical message; and the need for church leaders to receive grace ourselves, since it’s all we have to offer. Read the…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers (Church Planting, The Episcopal Church) and the Rev. Adam Mixon (The Ministry Collaborative; Zion Springs Baptist Church, Birmingham) about their congregations’ unique partnership across denominational and racial lines; the challenge of navigating shared space;…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Morgan Burge (Roswell Presbyterian Church, GA) about what the parachurch organizations and mainline congregations can learn from each other; the importance of asking who isn’t at table and why; and the way the global church reminds us that the…
Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker speaks with Dr. Ashley Boggan (General Commission on Archives and History) about her book Nevertheless, multi-vocational ministry, our current Reformation moment in both church and technology, and what a John Wesley bobblehead has to do with Pope…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers (Church Planting, The Episcopal Church) about her work with both church planters and established congregations, why would should both resource ministry risk and be willing to learn from it, and having the humility to…
Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker speaks with Eric Martin (Adaptive Change Advisors) about his book, how he brings what he has learned in corporate transformation work into church spaces, how those spaces are surprisingly well-prepared to do that work, and how undemocratic…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Karen Rohrer (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) about understanding innovation as unearthing, and the importance of embracing one’s own belovedness in order to see the belovedness around you.
Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker speaks with Chef Hank Reid (Lettum Eat!) about God feeding into his life, how he sees food as ministry, and what it means to use your God-given talents for the sake of the world.
Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Borneman, Jennifer Watley Maxell, and Beth Daniel) discuss the difference between waiting and anticipation, how hope is tethered to despair, and how hope leads to belonging.
Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, and Amy Valdez Barker) discuss the the in-between-ness of Advent, what we can learn from Watch Night services, and the beauty of waiting for God with God.
Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Amy Valdez Barker, Ryan Bonfiglio, and Jennifer Watley Maxell) discuss the ample reasons for despair, people’s yearning for depth, and the disruptive purpose of Advent.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Ayana Teter (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Eastminster Presbyterian Church) about the joyful and challenging tension of Advent waiting, the scandalous nature of grace, and how God shows up at the intersection of life and death.
Facilitator Curator Beth Daniel speaks again with the Rt. Rev. Dr. Brian Wallace (Diocese for Churches for the Sake of Others) about moving away from the model of information equals transformation, centering relationships, and why we need to hear “the Holy Spirit is with you”…
Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker speaks with Karina Aragon-Buchanan (Eastside Church, Atlanta) about what she sees as a self-described “cusper” (between Millenial and Gen-Z), avoiding the temptation to wrap theologies up neatly, and the growing importance of trauma-informed ministry.
Facilitator Curator Beth Daniel talks with the Rt. Rev. Dr. Brian Wallace (Diocese for Churches for the Sake of Others) about moving away from a worldly set of metrics for success, remembering that the Christian faith is a team sport, and what he learned from…
Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Watley Maxell, Beth Daniel, and Amy Valdez Barker) round out their discussion of Elise Loehnen’s book On Our Best Behavior as they talk about the double-standards of confidence, the importance of reconnecting with the Biblical models of confident women of…
Ministry Collaborative program staff (Amy Valdez Barker, Jennifer Watley Maxell, and Beth Daniel) continue their discussion of Elise Loehnen’s book On Our Best Behavior as they talk about the difference between envy and desire; Jesus’ unapologetic ministry; and how the myth of scarcity has particular…
Ministry Collaborative program staff (Beth Daniel, Amy Valdez Barker, and Jennifer Watley Maxell) discuss Elise Loehnen’s book On Our Best Behavior as they talk about the pressures on women – especially Christian women – to be “good”; what it means to live into our God-given…
Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker speaks with the Rev. Gina Campbell about her work at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC; finding her own way as a preacher; and the important practice of preaching dangerous sermons.
Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker speaks with the Rev. Dr. Joe Clifford (Meyers Park Presbyterian, Charlotte) about what he learned while hiking alone, the gift that Sabbath should be, and why Jesus’ message of love scares the powers of the world.
Ministry Collaborative program staff Adam Mixon, Beth Daniel, and Mark Ramsey talk about how hard ministry can be, the importance of putting call at the heart of this work, and the gratitude that visits us in the midst of it all.
Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker speaks with the Rev. Shannon Karafanda (Trinity UMC, Cartersville, GA) about disruptive acts of kindness, the science of generosity, and bridging the church and the world.
Program Director Adam Borneman and Facilitator Curator Beth Daniel speak about the seeming urgency of church programming, the growing gap between the interest in institutional and spiritual investment, and how congregational leaders also need to hear the word they proclaim. You can read more from…
Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Watley Maxell, Amy Valdez Barker, Adam Mixon, Beth Daniel, Adam Borneman, and Mark Ramsey) talk about the pressure on pastors to react, what it means to trust God fully, and the importance of tethering our stories to the hope of…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks again with Elizabeth Lynn (Lake Institute on Faith and Giving) about the changing trends in philanthropy, how that relates to religious communities, and how churches are uniquely situated in relation to valuable resources. Visit here to see the Faithful Generosity…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Carrington Moore (Common Cathedral, Bethel AME, Boston) about his ministry bridging the divide between housed and unhoused people, the importance of having your assumptions challenged, and how happiness is a sacred calling. To find out more about…
Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio talks with the Rev. Dr. Terrence Autry (Christ Community, Richardson, TX) and the Revs. Susan Rogers (The Well, Jacksonville, FL) and Marthame Sanders (Mudeif Productions) about connecting the Biblical stories with the sacred sites; the importance of dislocated exegesis; and the…
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talks with the Rev. Dr Asa Lee (President, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) about what makes for courageous leadership, the importance of going slow, and what it means to show up in your body.
El Director del Programa, Adam Borneman, habla con la Rev. Natalie Gonzalez (Revealing Greatness), el Rev. Edgar Vergara Millan (Iglesia La Semilla, Durham, NC), e Ivette Toriz (Enciende Una Luz, Durham, NC) sobre el contexto inmigrante, el afrontamiento con el daño causado por la iglesia,…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Natalie Gonzalez (Revealing Greatness), the Rev. Edgar Vergara Millan (Iglesia La Semilla, Durham, NC), and Ivette Toriz (Enciende Una Luz, Durham, NC) about the immigrant context, church hurt, and how their ministries revolve around justice, education, and…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty (Presbyterian Foundation) about seeing vibrancy, inklings about what’s emerging for the church, and the hopeful growing places in theological education.
Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Watley Maxell, Amy Valdez Barker, Beth Daniel, Adam Mixon, and Adam Borneman) talk about what drew them to this work, what they are seeing in ministry, and what it means to rediscover our love for Christ’s missional purpose…
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talks with the Rev. Stephen J. Thurston about his work as a pastor, consultant, and serial entrepreneur, and how this all connects to the vocation of ministry.
Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio talks with Dr. Gareth Higgins, the Rev. Dr. Brian Ammons (The Porch), and the Rev. Carla Jones Brown (Arch Street Presbyterian, Philadelphia) about how their experience of Northern Ireland provided an opportunities for rest, spiritual rejuvenation, and how the peace…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Dr. José Irizarry (President, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary) about the connection between practice and knowledge, entering a new context well, and developing better models of leadership.
In the third of a three part conversation, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Kyle Bender (Center for Relational Care, Austin), and the Rev. Bianca Howard (Orange), and Brittany Porch (Broad Street Presbyterian, Columbus) about doing ministry in this trying moment, integrating youth into intergenerational…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Michelle “Misha” Cazas (Westside Church Internacional, Denver) about her conversion to Christianity in her native Bolivia, the importance – and challenges – of ministry with immigrant communities here in the United States, and how God continues to…
Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio talks with the Revs. Amy Miracle (Broad Street Presbyterian, Columbus, OH), Melanie Marsh (Riviera Presbyterian, Miami, FL), and Miriam Mauritzen (Mountain View Mennonite, Kalispell, MT) about their experience of Glacier National Park provided an opportunities for rest, spiritual rejuvenation, and…
In the second of a three part conversation, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Brittany Porch (Broad Street Presbyterian, Columbus), Kyle Bender (Center for Relational Care, Austin), and the Rev. Bianca Howard (Orange) about approaching faith formation holistically, moving toward a theology of fullness, and…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Elizabeth Lynn (Shifting Ground, Lake Institute on Faith and Giving) about the wisdom of civic reflection, asking better questions vs. dispensing information, the critical importance of good facilitation in our pluralistic society, and her co-authored blog with Mark Ramsey….
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Dr. Matthew Bates (Quincy University) about the prevalence of tepid versions of the “good news”, what it means to call Jesus “King”, and his latest book.
In the first of a three part conversation, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Bianca Howard (Orange), Brittany Porch (Broad Street Presbyterian, Columbus), and Kyle Bender (Center for Relational Care, Austin) about the changes in youth ministry, the enduring importance of relationships finding a…
In part one of this round table conversation, the Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Watley Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Adam Borneman, and Beth Daniel) talk about what Easter really means, the difference between resurrection and resuscitation, and importance of how we live in the…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Mina Nau-Mahe (Good Shepherd UMC, Colorado Springs) about growing up Tongan in Salt Lake City, her transformative experience in a Ministry Collaborative cohort, and the power of seeing God turn people’s lives around.
Facilitator Curator Beth Daniel talks with the Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton (House United) about the rarity of agape love in our culture, the challenge of holding space for others, and the urgent need for courageous conversations. Additional Links: Allen’s Book Braver Angels
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talks with the Rev. Dr. Jamie Eaddy-Chism (Thoughtful Transitions) about her work as a loss navigation specialist, and the importance of knowing we are not alone in our grief, and understanding how loss is a much bigger topic than we…
In part one of this round table conversation, the Ministry Collaborative program staff (Beth Daniel, Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Adam Borneman, and Jennifer Watley Maxell) talk about viewing the church as an airport rather than a destination, the difference between form and function, and the…
Adam Borneman speaks with Kimberly Daniel (Forum for Theological Exploration, Do Good X) about Christian innovation, getting curious, making meaning, and her co-authored book with Stephen Lewis. Dwight Zscheile podcast conversation Adam Borneman and Adam Mixon article
Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Adam Young (Chapel of the Incarnation, Gainseville, FL) about the prevalence of anxiety, the need for hybrid platforms, and the enduring importance of mystery.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Dr. Adam Hilderbrandt (First Methodist, Lawrenceville, GA) about connecting with local schools, focusing on being Jesus in the community, and how First Lawrenceville aspires to put Lawrenceville First.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Matt Adair (Transformational Discipleship, Friendship Bible Church) about the possibility of the deeper center, how people really change, and his hope to see churches filled with people who love like Jesus.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with Dr. Heath Carter (Princeton Theological Seminary) about the future of American democracy, polarization, and the historical connections between Christianity and the American working class.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Charles Johnson (Pastors for Texas Children, Bread Fellowship) about his cohort experiences with the Ministry Collaborative, how it can be difficult to build community, the importance of public education as a public trust, and how Genesis reminds…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Terrence Smith (Bolst Real Estate) about the evolution of his call, his hope for more pastors in the pasture, and a startling number of acoustic guitars.
Program Director Adam Borneman follows up his earlier conversation with David Zahl (Mockingbird Ministries; Christ Episcopal Church, Charlottesville) about the complicated and important nature of speaking about sin, his latest book, and the wisdom of Nick Cave.
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talks with the Rev. Sheila Beckford and Rev. Dr. Michelle Ledder about their collaboration, interrupting and dismantling racism, and how their book presents real talk with real strategies in real time for real change.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Carla Jones Brown (Arch Street Presbyterian, Philadelphia) about the importance of doing what needs to be done today, the practice of contemplative activism, and how being old and cranky can lead to patience.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Carrie Graham (The Church Lab) about the growing sentiment against dialogue, her work with people who don’t like church, and the emerging post-COVID yearning for something beyond ourselves.
In part two of this round table conversation, the Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Mixon, Ryan Bonfiglio, Jennifer Watley Maxell, Adam Borneman, and Mark Ramsey) talk about the importance of wilderness, the problem of making assumptions, and puncturing our bubbles of invincibility.
In part one of this round table conversation, the Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Mixon, Ryan Bonfiglio, Jennifer Watley Maxell, Adam Borneman, and Mark Ramsey) talk about orientation, disorientation, and reorientation, and the critical role that they have in different parts of our lives and…
Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with the Rev. Dr. Tyshawn Gardner (Samford University) and and the Rev. Dr. Tom Long (Candler School of Theology) about the art of preaching, speaking truth to both the powerful and the powerless, and mining hope out of mountains of…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with Dr. Jared Alcantára (George W. Truett Theological Seminary) about the importance of addressing trauma in the Body of Christ, his book The Practices of Preaching, and what we can learn from first century preachers about thinking strategically.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Mary Kay DuChene (Co-Director, LeaderWise) about the epidemic of isolation, the church’s promise of community, and her co-authored book on clergy loneliness.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with David Zahl (Mockingbird Ministries; Christ Episcopal Church, Charlottesville) about finding a gracious view of others and self, the limitations of self-progress, and his latest book.
Content Curator Adam Mixon shares his reflection on the difference between grief and mourning, the wisdom of John P. Kees and Frederick Buechner, and his own vacillation between joy and sorrow. This reflection originally appeared on our blog.
Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio shares his reflections on our theologies of deathlessness, the difference between recharging and resurrecting, and what an unrecognizable transformation might mean for us. This writing originally appeared on our blog.
Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with the Rev. Dr. Tyshawn Gardner (Samford University) about his new book for pulpit and pew, prophetic radicalism, and unbiblical nature of colorblindness.
Program Director Adam Borneman shares his reflections on volunteer decline, changing priorities, and the persistent importance of connection and meaning. This writing originally appeared on our blog.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston (Senior Pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, NYC) about his new book, loving your enemies, and striving for grace.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Amy Miracle (Pastor of Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Columbus, OH) about innovation fatigue, the myth of normalcy, and why her church has found authenticity in online worship.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with our founder, the Rev. Dr. Tom Tewell, about the needs he and Tom Cousins saw fifteen years ago that led to our founding, what changes he has seen in his decades of ministry, and what it is that persists.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Ryan Bonfiglio, Adam Borneman, and Jennifer Watley Maxell) talk about engaging our ministry leaders, Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus, and finding new ways to measure the impact of the gospel in our communities.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Ryan Bonfiglio, Adam Borneman, and Jennifer Watley Maxell) talk about the latest report on anxiety and depression within the U.S. population, how worshiping communities are experiencing this, and what the Spirit might be saying at this…
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Starlette Thomas (The Raceless Gospel, Good Faith Media) about Harriett Tubman, Clarence Jordan, and the hope that Baptism should be for the Church.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Dr. Jack Fortin (Charity to Change, Christensen Center for Vocation at Augsburg University) about the dangers of self-absorption, God’s surprising love for institutions, and Peter the businessman.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker (Candler School of Theology, Citizen Exchange Art Collective) about the declining confidence in institutions, speaking the truth in love, and the importance of doing what we say we’re going to do; as well…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey and Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talk about pandemic’s disruption to congregational relationships, the challenge of prioritizing, and what practices of reintroduction might offer us moving forward.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Dr. Thad Austin (Ormond Center) about his new book, the importance of understanding the disconnected network of providers, and what pastors can learn from the example of Simone Biles.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Carmelle Beaugelin (BeauFolio Studio) about why it’s difficult for congregations to innovate, why it’s important for them to do so, and what artists can bring to the flourishing of congregations. Carmelle’s article in Faith & Leadership can be found…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the author and practical theologian Dorothy C. Bass about her latest book Stepmother, the 25th anniversary of her seminal Practicing Our Faith, and how reflecting on her calling as a stepmother helped her understand God’s grace.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Dr. Dustin Benac (Truett Theological Seminary) about his forthcoming book Adaptive Church and the importance of collaboration and community in a changing world.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Watley Maxell, Mark Ramsey, and Adam Borneman) talk about how trust is being targeted, the problematic way our society views faith as a hobby, and the unique position of the church for building trust across differences.
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talks with the Rev. James Goodlet (First Presbyterian, LaGrange, GA) about vulnerability, contrition, Mother Emanuel, and the city of LaGrange’s 2016 public apology for a 1940 lynching.
Content Curator Adam Mixon shares his reflections on how Scripture points us to the deep connection between body and soul and thus the need to integrate the liberating work of the gospel. He originally shared these words with Faith in Action Alabama.
Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio talks with Dr. Graham Reside (Vanderbilt Divinity School) about his work with death row inmates, the paradox of forgiveness and justice, and the critical place of healing.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Borneman, Jennifer Watley Maxell, Mark Ramsey, and Ryan Bonfiglio) talk about the countercultural nature of forgiveness, the power of grudges, and the particular practice of confession and apology.
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell and Content Curator Adam Mixon talk with the Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes (Double Love Experience, Brooklyn) about Pentecost, the challenge of online and in-person community, and the vitality of being together.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Dr. David Buys (State Health Specialist and Assoc. Professor, Mississippi State) about the importance of relationships, the long term trend of social isolation, and how his faith informs his public health work.
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talks with the Rev. Dr. Lydell Lettsome (Vanbert Health Equity Project) about Jesus’ role as a healer, the centrality of health care in Christian formation, and the importance of clergy embracing their role as moral leaders.
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talks with the Rev. Patrick Clayborn (Bethel AME Church, Baltimore) about Howard Thurman, interdependence, and the search for common ground.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Ryan Bonfiglio, Jennifer Watley Maxell, Mark Ramsey, and Adam Borneman) talk about standing in the face of discord, the messiness of change, and how theology happens everywhere.
Program Director Adam Borneman shares his reflections on trust-building, mending the social fabric, and joining people in hope across difference. This writing originally appeared on our blog.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with minister and therapist the Rev. Erica St. Bernard (Your Life’s Well) the importance of personal invitation in a time of isolation, building communities of trust and burden-bearing, and the challenges and possibilities of hybrid ministry.
Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with the Rev. Kristy Farber (Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, WA) and the Rev. Dr. Amy Wiles (Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa) about good places to go and cry, the difference between loneliness and being alone, and the importance of being…
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Watley Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon) talk about the prioritizing humility and compromise, examining a community’s personality, and the trap of sorting ourselves. Click here to read Adam Borneman’s blog post, “The Front Porch, the Living…
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talks with the Rev. Dr. Carol Lynn Patterson (First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, NJ) about committing ourselves to things that give us joy, and finding faith formation within community, and the importance of Sabbath rest.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Laura Murray about ministry in the digital space, hospitality without attachments, and rethinking the centrality of the pulpit in faith formation.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Melanie Marsh Baum (Covenant Presbyterian, Jacksonville, FL) about her background in the arts, the abundant resources of faith’s raw materials, and the life-giving power of diversity.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Ryan Bonfiglio, Jennifer Watley Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon) talk about developing the muscles for depth, the danger of familiarity, and why formation needs community.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Dr. William Watley (Saint Philip AME Church) and our own the Rev. Jennifer Watley Maxell (The Breakthrough Fellowship) about how the true sense of calling can fall prey to distractions, how vocation requires discovering what energizes, and…
Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with the Rev. Dr. Jim Truesdell (Frontier Fellowship) about holy discontentment, transitioning out of institutional church ministry, and God’s abiding presence in the midst of our hardships.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Kathy Escobar (The Refuge, Broomfield, CO) about holding space for faith deconstruction, her passion for cultivating community, and navigating vocational discernment within existing systems.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey and Content Curator Adam Mixon speak with the Rev. Marthame Sanders (AIJCast, Mudeif Productions) about improv, adversity, and the fraudulent line between sacred and secular.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Watley Maxell, Ryan Bonfiglio, Mark Ramsey, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon) talk about remaining curious, the recurring nature of call, and the false dichotomy of “stay or go”.
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talks with the Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin (Soulfire Ministries, American Bible Society) about the commodification of the pastor, the added scrutiny of online ministry, and what we can learn from the global church.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Paul Roberts, Sr. (Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary) about the seminary’s transformation from an institution that was slowly withering to one that is nimble and flourishing.
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell talks with the Rev. Dr. Sammie Dow (Pleasant Grove Baptist, Marietta, Georgia) about his book, managing our minds and emotions, why transparency matters, and the importance of “woosah” time.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Mixon, Mark Ramsey, Ryan Bonfiglio, Jennifer Maxell, and Adam Borneman) talk about outdated benchmarks, faithful tending, and the care of souls.
Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with the Rev. Dr. Tyshawn Gardner (Plum Grove Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Stillman College) about where we go from here, seeing Jesus as an agent of redemptive disruption, and trusting in the promise of God.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Rob Dyer (First United Presbyterian, Belleville, Illinois; Ministry Architects) about the Christian equivalent of viral, the narratives we tell ourselves, and why people are not coming back. Rob’s blog post was originally published here.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Carrie Graham (The Church Lab) about the growing sentiment against dialogue, her work with people who don’t like church, and the emerging post-COVID yearning for something beyond ourselves.
Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio shares his reflections on Philippians, Howard Thurman, and resilience. This writing originally appeared on our blog in December.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Ryan Bonfiglio, Adam Mixon, and Adam Borneman) kick off the year talking about the nature and purpose of the church, the shape of our calling, and how quickly ministry can devolve into constituent services.
Program Director Adam Borneman and Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell speak with the Rev. Brady Radford (Trinity Presbyterian, Decatur; Lovewell Collective) about resilience, resets, and the strengthening power of community.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Jennifer Pharr Davis (Blue Ridge Hiking Company) about resilience, her record breaking hikes, ecological stewardship, and the importance of recovering on the move.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Maxell, Ryan Bonfiglio, Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, and Mark Ramsey) talks about vulnerability, redundancy, and how the faithful community models what resilience looks like.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Ben Johnston-Krase (Farm Church) about moving past superficial gratitude, disentangling it from material abundance, and its revolutionary character.
In this season of gratitude, the Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Borneman, Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss the importance of lament, the difference between gratitude and gratification, and the greed that undermines our ability to be grateful.
In part two of this conversation, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Revs. Amy Starr Redwine (First Presbyterian, Richmond, VA), Susan Rogers (The Well at Springfield, Jacksonville, FL), and Kjell Ferris (Peace Lutheran, Plymouth, MN) about their recent sprint cohort experience; truth telling and…
In part one of this conversation, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Revs. Amy Starr Redwine (First Presbyterian, Richmond, VA), Susan Rogers (The Well at Springfield, Jacksonville, FL), and Kjell Ferris (Peace Lutheran, Plymouth, MN) about their recent sprint cohort experience, truth telling, whiteness,…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with Dr. Donyelle McCray (Yale Divinity School) and the Rev. Dr. Tom Long (Candler School of Theology) about their new book of Advent Devotions, the “disappointing Jesus”, and what’s required of us.
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell shares her reflections on Saul, managing multiple pandemics, and Tina Turner. This writing originally appeared on our blog in February.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. David Swanson (New Community Covenant Church) about his book, working on the South Side of Chicago, and the importance of from moving from cheap diversity to true discipleship.
Content Curator Adam Mixon shares his reflections on Ezra 3:11-13. This writing originally appeared on our blog in September.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Dr. Dwight J. Zscheile (Luther Seminary) about church agility, faithful innovation, and how the massive shifts around institutional identity are affecting congregations.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Dominique DuBois Gilliard (Evangelical Covenant Church) about his newest book and scripture’s call to leverage privilege.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Bec Cranford (Gateway Center) about her tales of messy faith, complicated community, and stories of effing amazing grace.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Mark Elsdon about his new book, the wealth of churches, reparations, and how we might align our mission with our money.
In the wrap up to our series on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative’s Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, and Ryan Bonfiglio discuss the difference between diversity and belonging, seminaries as conduits instead of gate keepers, and the possibilities that collaboration brings to the…
In our fifth conversation on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative’s Jennifer Maxell and Ryan Bonfiglio welcome the Rev. Dr. Willie Jennings (Yale Divinity School) to talk about his new book, the importance of belonging, and why theological education needs to find its…
In our fourth conversation on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative’s Jennifer Maxell and Ryan Bonfiglio welcome Dr. Kwok Pui-Lan (Candler School of Theology) and Dr. Patrick Reyes (Forum for Theological Exploration) to talk about de-colonization, embracing global and local diversity, and how…
In our third conversation on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative’s Jennifer Maxell and Ryan Bonfiglio welcome Dr. Leah Gunning Francis (Christian Theological Seminary) and Dr. Ted Smith (Candler School of Theology) to talk about identity formation, the changing partnerships of theological education,…
In our second conversation on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative’s Jennifer Maxell and Ryan Bonfiglio welcome the Rev. Porsha Williams Gates (Porshanality Media) the Rev. Dr. Denise Thorpe (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) to talk about the importance of a deep learning community, reimagining…
In our first conversation on the future of theological education, The Ministry Collaborative’s Jennifer Maxell and Ryan Bonfiglio welcome the Rev. Dr. Kelly Farrow (Circle of Sacred Fire) and Rev. Laura Cheifetz (Vanderbilt Divinity School) to talk about how our rapidly changing world is transforming…
In a conversation recorded back in February, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Borneman, Mark Ramsey, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss thriving, finding the beauty in the moment, and learning not to celebrate leaky roofs.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Dr. Guy Sayles (From the Intersection, Center for Healthy Churches) about what ministries can be archived, the importance of understanding how larger systems work, and the power of Romans 8.
In a conversation recorded back in February, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss technical vs. adaptive leadership, imaginative space, and whether we truly believe God’s plans are better than ours.
In a conversation recorded back in February, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Borneman, Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss the danger of complicity, the lure of co-dependency, and the critical importance of relationships.
In a conversation recorded back in January, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon) discuss the power of curiosity, the importance of facing reality, and how we can derive hope from younger generations.
Content Curator Adam Mixon returns to speak with the Rev. Dr. Joe Scrivner (Stillman College, Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church) about critical race theory, American Christianity’s historic complicity in perpetuating racism, and how charity is used as a substitute for justice.
In a conversation recorded back in January, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Mixon, and Adam Borneman) discuss hope, our death-denying culture, and the critical role that grief can – and should – play in our post-pandemic ministry.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Heather Jallad (Lead Cultivator, North Georgia Annual Conference of Fresh Expressions) about the blended ecology of church, better questions that lead to deeper joy, and how prevenient grace should send us to discover where God is already at…
In a round table conversation recorded back in January, the Ministry Collaborative Program Staff (Adam Borneman, Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss massive cultural change, imagining life on the other side of a pandemic, and why the boat is an appropriate…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Dr. Kimberly Wagner (Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago) about the subjective nature of trauma, its disorienting capacity, and what it means to preach faithfully into the moment.
Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with the Rev. Dr. Joe Scrivner (Stillman College, Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church) about the pervasiveness of sin, the persistence of prophetic critique, and the problematic nature of theological abstraction.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Wil McCall (President, Dallas Leadership Foundation) on the importance of relevance, seeing the city as our parish, and how every part of society is the Lord’s.
We celebrate the first anniversary of our podcast with highlights from conversations with Tod Bolsinger, LaKesha Womack, Sara Hayden, Erica St. Bernard, and J. Kameron Carter. Listen to the original episodes: Tod Bolsinger LaKesha Womack Sara Hayden Erica St. Bernard J. Kameron Carter
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Dr. Albert Russell (Grace Community Presbyterian, Millbrook, AL; Tuskegee University) about his books, his music, and his participation in the recent eight week cohort for pastors of color in predominantly white congregations.
Program Curator Jennifer Maxell speaks with the Rev. Dr. Denise Thorpe (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) about re-souling ourselves, carrying our piece of the dream of God, and the difference between joy and happiness.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Tim Soerens (The Parish Collective) about his new book, the requirement of paying attention, and the beautiful mess of the North American Church.
In the context of rising violence against Asian-Americans, Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers (Church Planting, The Episcopal Church) about model minorities, whether the Church is big enough, and how White Supremacy divides minority communities from one another.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Rev. Dr. Chaz Howard (University of Pennsylvania Chaplain and Vice President for Social Equity and Community) about the beauty and ugliness of the church, the hope his daughters give him, and his new book, The Bottom: A Theopoetic of…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Revs. Arthur Christie and Peter Neilson from the Church of Scotland about Celtic wisdom, the blessing of soul friends, and the gift of closing a centuries-old church building.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Ryan Bonfiglio, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, and Mark Ramsey) discuss the importance of de-centering pastors, the increasing professionalization of faith, and the problem with wisdom gate keepers. Links mentioned in the podcast: Ryan Bonfiglio’s Christian Century article AIJCast…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Pat Bacon (pastor, Calvary Presbyterian, Asheville, NC) on the changes she has seen in her thirty-one years of ministry, how COVID has made us more real, and what she – a Black Presbyterian – would say to…
Content Curator Adam Mixon and Program Director Adam Borneman speak with the Rev. Dr. Dave Barnhart (St. Junia, Birmingham) about his new book Church Comes Home and what the house church movement can teach the broader Body of Christ about faithful ministry in the margins.
Program Curator Jennifer Maxell speaks with minister and therapist the Rev. Erica St. Bernard (Your Life’s Well) about the difference between coping and healing, the importance of providing community spaces around mental health resources, and The Ministry Collaborative’s Breathing Room opportunities for ministry leaders.
In a conversation recorded back in December, Executive Director Mark Ramsey spoke with the Rev. Amy Miracle (Pastor of Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Columbus, OH) about vitality, hope, and the pandemic’s complicated decision matrix.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with pastor and author Lamar Hardwick about his new book, Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss the importance of experimentation, failure, and taking up your cross.
In a conversation recorded back in November, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Kevin Haah (Lead Pastor, New City Church of Los Angeles) about multicultural ministry, working for systemic justice, and how God’s love is much greater than our biggest messes.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss how following Jesus should reshape us: our politics, our priorities, and our lives.
Content Curator Adam Mixon shares his reflection on greatness and truth-telling as he and Executive Director Mark Ramsey discuss the inseparable relationship of truth and love.
In a conversation recorded back in December, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. J.C. Austin (Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, PA) about antiracism work, the possibilities of the current moment, and how tradition can act as a springboard for innovation.
The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Borneman, and Ryan Bonfiglio) discuss the important role of pastoral ministry at this particular moment in history, especially in the wake of the events that took place at the U.S. Capitol on January…
Ministry Collaborative staff Adam Mixon and Adam Borneman speak with LaKesha Womack (author, business consultant, ordained Deacon in the AME Zion Church) about The Great Commission, Digital Discipleship, and the intimate relationship of justice to the works and teachings of Christ.
In a round table conversation recorded back in January, the Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon) discuss the importance – and challenge – of feeding opportunities and starving problems.
In a conversation recorded back in May, Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Katie Hays (Lead Evangelist at Galileo Church in Fort Worth, TX, and author of We Were Spiritual Refugees) about alternative places of belonging, Sunday as a pivot point, and how aesthetics can be…
In a round table conversation recorded back in January, the Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon) discuss the competitive misery of busy-ness – even in the church – and why we should meet it with grace and kindness.
Executive Director speaks with the Rev. Sara Hayden (1001 New Worshiping Communities; host of the New Way podcast) about emerging faith communities, the creator economy, and laminating croissants.
In a round table conversation recorded back in January, Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon) discuss safety, innovation, and the false dichotomy of stability and crisis.
In a conversation recorded back in May, Executive Director Mark Ramsey spoke with Amy Starr Redwine (pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Richmond, VA) about collaborative leadership, avoiding echo chambers, and how 2020 has revealed our societal broken places.
Program Curator Jennifer Maxell speaks with authors Dr. Monica A. Coleman (Professor of Africana Studies, University of Delaware) and Rev. David Finnegan-Hosey (College Chaplain, Barton College) about longing for honesty, destigmatizing mental health conversations, and addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate the stigma.
In a conversation recorded back in February, the Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Mixon, Adam Borneman, Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey) talk about the difference between “why” and “how”, the importance of seeing ourselves as we are, and the pitfalls of looking for the “right” answer.
In a conversation recorded back in May, Executive Director Mark Ramsey spoke with Derek Starr Redwine (Interim Pastor, Grace Covenant Presbyterian) about questioning the centrality of corporate worship, how uncertainty is invigorating, and the pointlessness of omphaloskepsis (the contemplation of one’s navel).
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Ben Garrett (The Hatchery, Emory University) and Kiva Nice-Webb (Chaplain, Westminster College) about ministry in their non-traditional contexts and how Generation Z craves depth and creativity.
In a round table discussion recorded in early 2020, Ministry Collaborative staff Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Maxell, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon discuss the importance of uncertainty and creativity, and how diversity builds capacity.
In a conversation recorded in early 2020, Ministry Collaborative staff Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Jennifer Maxell, and Adam Borneman discuss how the long-term trend of declining attendance offers an opportunity for churches to engage faithfully in holistic, fuller, Spirit-led living.
In a conversation recorded back in early March, Program Curator, Jennifer Maxell spoke with the Rev. Susan Rogers (The Well at Springfield, Jacksonville) about old ways giving birth to the new, the importance of belonging, and being a church without a building before COVID.
In a conversation recorded back in April, Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with Thomas Daniel (pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas) about Biblical formation, being a “Love Letter to the City of Austin”, and how the church should be an airport, not the destination.
In the final installment of our four part series on Wholehearted Leadership, Immersion Experience Curator Ryan Bonfiglio joins Jennifer Maxell and Adam Borneman in a conversation about how the pandemic and civil unrest are forcing us to recognize and adapt to the shifting paradigms in…
In the third installment of our four part series on Wholehearted Leadership, Ministry Collaborative staff Jennifer Watley Maxell, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon discuss the importance of justice as the embodiment of Christian love in the public sphere.
In the second installment of our four part series on Wholehearted Leadership, Jennifer Watley Maxell and Adam Mixon are joined by Immersion Experience Curator Ryan Bonfiglio in a conversation about how Sabbath practice is revolutionary.
In the first installment of our four part series on Wholehearted Leadership, Ministry Collaborative staff Jennifer Watley Maxell, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon discuss the importance of recovering our identities in our vocation and calling.
In a conversation recorded back in March, Program Curator Adam Borneman speaks with the Rev. Leon Stevenson (pastor, Mack Avenue Community Church; interim director, MACC Development) about multi-cultural church planting in Detroit, the comprehensive ministry of community development, and the critical connection between community proximity and Christian…
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with writer/scholar Dr. J. Kameron Carter (Professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University-Bloomington) on what the Underground Railroad and Dietrich Bonhoeffer can teach us about faithfully confronting the challenges of 2020.
In a round table conversation recorded prior to COVID-19 shutdowns, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Maxell, Mark Ramsey, Adam Borneman, and Adam Mixon) discuss how cultivating joy is an act of faithful resistance against materialism, anger, loneliness, and violence.
Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with Rev. Eva Melton (activist, founding pastor of Firm Foundation Church, and the author of the forthcoming book Breadcrumbs to Purpose) about the importance of centering and elevating the voices of Black women.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Dr. Joe Scrivner (Dean of Chapel and Professor of Religion and Theology at Stillman College; and Pastor of Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church) about how confronting the sin of systemic racism requires us to rethink our theological approaches to public policies around…
Program Curator Jennifer Watley Maxell speaks with Dr. Nichole Phillips, professor at Candler School of Theology and author of Patriotism Black And White: The Color of American Exceptionalism, about the forces – both inside and outside the church – that shape our life experiences.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with the Rev. Jemonde Taylor, Rector of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Raleigh, NC, about how the historically Black congregation history of relocating multiple times continues to inform and shape their agility and witness.
In a round table conversation recorded back in January, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Jennifer Maxell, and Adam Borneman) discuss the important and difficult work of telling the truth in ministry.
In a conversation recorded back in April, Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with Emily McGinley, Executive Pastor of Urban Village Church’s Hyde Park location and Facilitator of the Chicago Cohort, about the importance of anti-racism work in shaping church plants with integrity.
In a conversation recorded back in March, Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with Katie Nakamura Rengers, Vicar/Founder of The Abbey and Officer for Church Planting Infrastructure in the Episcopal Church, about growing up Japanese-American in the predominantly white Episcopal Church, ministering with those experiencing homelessness in a…
In a conversation recorded on May 8, Program Curator Jennifer Maxell talks with Dean Neichelle Guidry of Spelman College’s Sisters Chapel about the importance of democratized theology, engaging in the work of justice, and the importance of rest.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with Ben Johnston-Krase, co-planter of Farm Church, about whether COVID-19 really has “changed everything”, or if it’s just revealing things we have had the privilege to ignore until now.
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with pastor/artist Amina McIntyre about the importance of playfulness and imagination in ministry at all times.
Content Curator Adam Mixon speaks with Tyshawn Gardner, Pastor of Plum Grove Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, about what the Black Church can teach the rest of the world about faithfulness, adaptability, and persistence in the face of a global epidemic.
Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with Fuller Seminary’s Tod Bolsinger about his new book Leadership in a Time of Pandemic and his forthcoming book Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change.
In a round table conversation recorded prior to COVID-19 shutdowns, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Jennifer Maxell, and Adam Borneman) discuss the pitfalls of making assumptions about ministry.
In a round table conversation recorded prior to COVID-19 shutdowns, The Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Jennifer Maxell, and Adam Borneman) imagine how churches might engage in more effective ministry by doing less and going deeper.
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I was the Facilitator for the first New York City cohort, and at the time, I was working in theological education on Christian leadership formation, so it seemed like a natural fit. What I discovered, though, was something quite different from my “day job.” While the content and topics of the curriculum was a crucial part of our gatherings, it was the community of mutual care and support that made the content relevant, not the other way around. And second, having three years of strong bonding created an extraordinarily resilient community that, in turn, was able to build up resilience in our leaders. I think every member of my cohort went through significant seasons of both joy and heartache, professionally and vocationally, during our time. And the cohort, in turn, lived out the exhortation of Romans 12:15, “rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep,” with a depth and integrity that I have rarely experienced, and often doing both in the same gathering. It was a privilege and a blessing to me and my own faith and ministry to be their facilitator, and I am eternally grateful to the Ministry Collaborative for calling me to that work!”
“It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It was unique to my particular situation. It was needed, appreciated and healing. It was affirming. Most valuable was the unspoken understanding of what we all were facing in our ministry context. There was a sense that we could finish each other’s sentences. Solidarity and empathy.”
Graduation Date:
May 23, 2021
“It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It was unique to my particular situation. It was needed, appreciated and healing. It was affirming. Most valuable was the unspoken understanding of what we all were facing in our ministry context. There was a sense that we could finish each other’s sentences. Solidarity and empathy.”
Graduation Date:
May 23, 2021
“I truly looked forward to this every week. The discussion topics, activities, and small group conversations were all very rich and meaningful. This experience gave me space to reflect on what’s happening right now in my congregation and community. It helped me to think about what might be next in my own ministry. It offered some very concrete ways I might work on equipping leaders in my congregation. I really enjoyed meeting colleagues from different places, denominations, and contexts–and learning from their experiences and reflections. I also appreciated hearing further conversation and reinforcement in the podcasts.”
Graduation Date:
July 14, 2021
“The experience was, in one word, enriching. It was timely as well. I was at a critical point in my own ministry and this literally breathed life back into me. The time went by so fast that I didn’t even realize two months had passed. To be able to share that type of camaraderie with other preachers, and realize that my struggles are not isolated, was liberating.”
Graduation Date:
March 18, 2021
“It was great to find confirmation and affirmation of my ministry through the voices of other pastors. I particularly enjoyed the focused time on talking about each of us as individuals and pastors, and not so much on what our churches look like.”
Graduation Date:
January 31st, 2020