The Genesis Podcast: Recent Episodes
Katie Nakamura Rengers
Katy Shedlock and Jonathan Myers, founders of West Central Abbey in Spokane, WA, join Bishop Gretchen Rehberg and Katie Nakamura Rengers for a conversation about nurturing innovation, church planting and the blessings of "scrappy church." This live panel was recorded after church on April 22, 2024.
We talk a lot about core teams - but how do you REALLY go from no one... to team? Mike Michie, founder of St. Andrew's, McKinney, Joseph Kovitch, redeveloper of St. Matthews, Columbus and Katie Nakamura Rengers, founder of The Abbey, Birmingham, share their stories. This audio was recorded during our October 3rd Thursday conversation.
To get the latest updates on 3rd Thursdays, discernment events, funding, etc., sign up for our newsletter here: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/new-episcopal-communities/
Our Presiding Bishop’s Church Planting and Redevelopment team gathered in Atlanta last week to set goals, plan 2023 events, and muse upon the current (and future) state of the Episcopal Church.
Rosie Veal Eby is the founder of Traveler's Altar, a faith community and chaplaincy with people experiencing homelessness in Huntsville, Alabama. We talk about moving from check-writing to developing real and mutual relationships with neighbors, the stories that make this work worthwhile, and the learning and wisdom that carries over to just about any Episcopal Church.
It's obvious that the Episcopal Church is in numerical decline, and some estimates are that there could be no one in worship by 2050. Fred Vergara, Missioner for Asiamerica Ministries, thinks differently. He envisions a "re-peopling" of the denomination, primarily with people of color, who more fully reflect the changing demographics of the U.S. It sounds like a Pentecost moment.
But, for this future to emerge, there are important decisions the church should make now... most importantly, a willingness to follow the Holy Spirit and accept that the Episcopal Church of the future will look very different than it does now.
Some of us have a stereotype of the kind of person who makes a good church planter. So you might be surprised to hear what Ann Steigerwald, our consultant for missional leadership discernment, has to say about the characteristics she's observed are helpful in new faith community leaders. Also, Steve Matthews joins us to talk about leadership traits to look for in congregational redevelopers.
The Way Station in Iowa offers a "third space" cafe, chapel, art room, and love and welcome to all their neighbors.
https://www.facebook.com/thewaystationspencer
https://thewaystationspencer.com/
How does God move through small, gathered communities - and what does "church without walls" really mean? In this episode, we visit Jill and Mark Haworth in the Diocese of Hawaii. Learn more about Halau Wa'a on their website:
https://www.halauwaaepiscopal.org/
How are we in Christian Community called to care for one another? And what happens when care gets in the way of, oh, those infamous goals and benchmarks we set? (or vice versa?). In this episode, we're talking with The Rev. Audra Abt, founder of Abundant Life Ministries in Greensboro, NC.
We'll follow this episode with a 3rd Thursday conversation on the same topic - November 18th at 1:00-2:00 Eastern.
"Saint Benedict said, that the people we are supposed to be paying the most attention to, and the people we are supposed to be caring for most deeply, are the poor and the pilgrim." Brother James Dowd talks about Benedictine Spirituality and life, and how his community is living into its' practices in the 21st century.
"You can really tell, I think, when the Gospel has penetrated into someone's heart, because they look at people differently." Katie and the Rev. Pam Long reflect on Pentecost Sunday at Todos Santos in Montgomery - a Latino congregation that shares space and clergy with one of the oldest Black Episcopal Churches in Alabama.
What can we learn about the value of diversity from an Indian American, inter-denominational church plant? A LOT! In this episode, we talk with The Rev. Sujanna Raj, The Rev. Clive Samson and Sherine Paul about Faith Christian Church of India, in the Diocese of Missouri.
"There comes a watershed moment, when you leave your traditional mindset behind." In this episode, Katie interviews David Perkins, a veteran church planter and one of our New Episcopal Community coaches. He talks about a variety of conversions he had to undergo - like giving up on worrying about the fate of people's eternal souls and becoming more concerned about their current well-being, and having to cast off his expectations of the way church "should be." David also addresses the tension between "attractional" and "relational" church, and the ways we measure success.
"We aren't afraid to talk about us as people making changes in our life, and what that might look like." This Spring, we're talking to a New Episcopal Community that meets outdoors - in all seasons! The UP Wild Church community gathers around love of God's creation, healing of the earth, and worship. Learn more about them at upwild.org
"We got our worst year out of the way first!" The Rev. Matt Ainsley and Jonathan McClintock tell us what it was like to launch a new Anglo Catholic Episcopal community - just four months before the start of the pandemic.
Creche is a New Episcopal Community that nurtures mixed-income, inter-generational co-housing in the Boston area. Katie talks with founder Isaac Everett, and resident and board member Rebecca Rodriguez about the awkwardness, spirituality, and absolute necessity of this modern expression of a very ancient Christian tradition.
Saint James in Pittsburgh was a church created during the era of white flight in Pittsburgh... now it's been restarted as a multi-cultural parish. We talk with Eric McIntosh, pastor of St. James and Canon for Beloved Community in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, about his experience of what this kind of work really takes.
A conversation with Bishop Gretchen Rehberg of Spokane about what it feels like to send ministry developers out into the mission field. This episode is part of our Virtual Genesis Gathering, and will be followed by a conversation with Bishop Rehberg on Thursday, October 22nd at 1:00-2:00 Eastern!
"Churches that plant churches grow." The Rev. Todd Thomas, Missioner for Revitalization and Young Adults in the Diocese of Washington, talks about the differences between New Episcopal Communities and the non-denomination and evangelical churches he's planted in. He'll give his opinion on some of the strengths of the Episcopal tradition of mission, and some areas where we might want to do a little work!
What would be possible if... we Episcopalians learned to love sharing our faith with others? If we could both respect the dignity and difference of others AND generously share stories of how we see God acting in our lives and in the world? Listen in on Katie's conversation with Jerusalem Greer, Episcopal Staff Office for Evangelism.
"I would say look at your ministry, and if you don't have some part of your ministry that might break your heart, you need to push a little further." In this episode, The Rev. Peggy Bryan and her ministry partner, Jackie Fanning, talk about Stepping Stones - a New Episcopal Community with men within, and re-entering from, the prison system.
"There's something about bringing together people who have been on the margin... that leading together and being together just feels a little different." The Gathering, a community based in LA, brings together a group that has been historically underrepresented in the Episcopal Church - Asian Americans. In this episode of The Genesis Podcast, Peter Huang and Sharon Crandall talk identity, belonging, and what it means to see the image of God in ourselves.
Episcopalians often pride themselves on the beauty of their sacred spaces. But most of us haven't been able to gather in those spaces since the COVID-19 pandemic began. What can we learn from a community that hasn't had a sacred space to call their own... in 12 years? Katie talks with The Rev. Kevin Johnson and Gloria Bender about their experience at St. Alban's in Arlington, and why they've "learned more about being church... by not being in A church."