Leading Theologically: Recent Episodes
Lee Hinson-Hasty
Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty gathers a diverse group of friends, mentors and colleagues for conversations around spirituality, leadership, theology, and much more. Topics are current and fresh, and the conversation is always engaging.
In this installment of Leading Theologically, Bill is joined by Beth McCaw, of University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, and Shelli Latham, of the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation, as they discuss the way leaders are formed for service in smaller congregations.
In this Season 8 premiere of Leading Theologically, Bill welcomes the Rev. Catherine Neelly Burton. Together, they lay the groundwork for exploring small church ministry throughout the upcoming episodes. As the Mission and Ministry Connector for the Presbytery of Southern Kansas, Catherine brings deep expertise to the conversation. Bill and Catherine examine how small churches serve as gifts to both leaders and members as they answer their call to be the church in the world.
Rev. Zoë Garry is joined by Rev. Bill Davis to explore the wisdom of this season's podcast guests and their thought-provoking reflections on discernment in their varying contexts.
In this episode Rev. Zoë Garry is joined by 1001 New Worshiping Communities' Associate for Recruitment and Assessment Michael Gehrling to explore one of the many resources in our denomination to help leaders in their discernment and the benefits of going through a formal process.
Rev. Ann-Henley Nicholson serves as Vice President of Enrollment Management and Vocational Outreach at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. Ann-Henley grew up worshipping in the pews at Second Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, Virginia. She didn’t imagine then that she’d later experience a call to ministry, yet God is always faithful and often full of surprises. After graduating from the University of Virginia, she pursued her passion for theatre in New York before heading to Princeton Seminary to follow her call to ministry. Upon graduating, she served First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta before returning to Princeton Seminary to become their Director of Alumni Relations. In her role at Columbia, she enjoys identifying the next generation of pastoral leaders and worshipping with communities like ours.
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In this episode Rev Zoë Garry is joined by the Rev. Daniel Heath, Davidson College's Associate Chaplain and Director of the Davidson Forum to talk about conversations on college campuses and reflecting on moments of discernment within their own journeys.Rev. Heath also serves as Chaplain for Major League Soccer's Charlotte FC. He earned degrees at Morehouse College, University of North Carolina School of Law, Winthrop University, and Princeton Theological Seminary. He recently celebrated 18 years of marriage to Katrina; they have two beautiful sons.
In this episode Rev Zoë Garry is joined by Community Church of Seattle's Youth Pastor Rev. Tim Yi to talk about what is means to create intentional conversations around discernment with the youth at his church and also the volunteers that help support the church's Christian education program.Tim is passionate in reaching the next generation through relationships, discipleship, and creativity. Tim also creates YouTube videos that help people grow in their faith with over 30,000 subscribers. He hopes his online ministry will reach the next generation and inspire them to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind. Some of his hobbies include playing volleyball, basketball, and watching superhero movies.
In this season 7 premier episode, the Rev. Zoë Garry is joined by Ukirk Executive Director the Rev. Dr. Virginia “Gini” Norris-Lane to talk about what is means to create intentional conversations around discernment. With over 25 years of experience working in faith communities around discernment, Gini shares stories of hope, excitement and ways to explore spaces and careers that “make you feel alive.”Rev. Dr. Virginia “Gini” Norris-Lane became the executive director of UKirk in July, 2019, after having previously served as campus minister at Schreiner University in Kerrville, TX from 2005-2019. She holds degrees from Temple Junior College (AA), Baylor University (BS in Education), Austin Theological Seminary (MDiv), and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry). She has been ordained in the PC(USA) since 1999. In addition to coordinating a grant for the PC(USA) from the Lilly Endowment prior to her career in campus ministry, she served congregations in San Antonio, TX, and Conyers, GA. From January 2021 to August 2023, she also served as the part-time stated supply pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Uvalde, Texas.
Join Bill as he recaps this season on reconciliation, reparations, and repairs with his guest the Rev. Dr. Bruce Grady. Bruce reflects on these themes, shares an example of repair work that happened in his community, and why these topics are important for congregations to continue engaging.
Join the Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson and host, Bill Davis, for this wide ranging conversation on reconciliation. They'll dive into the way stories to heal, the creative imagination it takes to dream a future full of hope, and the power of children laughing.
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Rodney Caruthers II, New Testament professor from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, as he explores some teachings from the Apostle Paul related to our theme of Reconciliation. What "R" words will Dr. Caruthers add to our alliterative list? Listen to find out!
Join Bill Davis and Justin Reed for a conversation on themes of reconciliation, repair, and reparations as they relate to several key narratives in the book of Genesis, including the stories of Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers. The Rev. Dr. Justin Reed is an associate professor of Old Testament at Louisville Seminary, where he teaches with a focus on African-American hermeneutics. He has degrees from Stanford, Harvard, and Princeton Theological Seminary, and his forthcoming book, "The Injustice of Noah's Curse," combines critical race theory, history, and literary approaches to offer new interpretations of a controversial biblical passages.
Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton from House United joins Bill for a conversation about political and personal reconciliation. They talk about algorithms and echo chambers, early church divisions and Jesus’ call for us all to be one. Join us for another important conversation in our reconciliation series.Show links:Built Together – Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundationhttps://omahapresbyterianseminaryfoundation.org/built-together/House United Movementhttps://www.houseunitedmovement.org/
Rev. Jermaine Ross-Allam joins Rev. Bill Davis to continue the conversation on reconciliation. In addition to sharing about Project 180 and the work of the Center for the Repair for Historic Harms of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Jermaine takes time to define some of the key concepts that are important for us to understand when we talk about reconciliation, reparations, and repair.
Today Bill is joined by the Rev. Dr. Laurie Lyter Bright, of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, for this wide ranging conversation at the intersection of peacemaking, reconciliation, the life of Jesus, and the way communities form us for peacemaking and reconciliation.
In this episode Bill is joined by the Soul Food Scholar, Adrian Miller, to talk about the places reconciliation happens in our lives and communities. A James Beard award winning author, Adrian has been actively involved in reconciliation work for over 30 years. Pull a chair up to the table for this tasty conversation as our reconciliation series continues.
Season 6 — with a focus on Reconciliation — kicks off with Rev. Paul Roberts Sr., who doesn't actually use that word. Why? He explains it well in this episode that will have you contemplating the meaning of the term, and how it interacts with the terms Repair and Reparations. Rev. Bill Davis leads the conversation with Roberts, who serves as President of Johnson C. Smith Seminary in Atlanta. Together, they explore the vital topics of repair, and reparations — examining their theological foundations and implications for faith communities today. How can the church actively participate in healing historical injustices? What role does theology play in the call for reparations? Join us for this powerful discussion on justice, faith, and transformative action.
Join Rev. Bill Davis for a conversation with Dr. William Yoo, Associate Professor of American Religious and Cultural History at Columbia Theological Seminary, as they discuss Dr. Yoo's newest book, "Reckoning with History: Settler Colonialism, Slavery, and the Making of American Christianity.""Reckoning with History" is available at https://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/0664265014/reckoning-with-history.aspx
In the season 5 finale, Bill and Zoë discuss highlights of the season and share their thoughts about the landscape of theological education and church leadership.
The Rev. Dr.’s Jose Irizarry and Victor Aloyo join host Bill Davis for a conversation about cultivating leadership in Hispanic Latino/a/e Presbyterian Communities, and the actions of GA226 in supporting these communities.
In this special episode we will be in conversation with two leaders from Montreat Conference Center. Richard DuBose, President, and Carol Steele, VP of Programs, join us from the conference center to share how they are leading faithfully following Hurricane Helene.You can contribute to the relief effort at https://montreat.org/helene
In this episode of Leading Theologically, Bill and Rev. Bethany Peerbolte talk about the use of social media as a medium for creating faith communities. Bethany shares about her experience as the founding pastor of Our Tapestry, a 1001 New Worshiping Community.
In this conversation with the Rev. Brady Radford, we talk about learnings from transitional ministry and BIPOC spaces at national events. Brady shares a metaphor he’s fond of about what’s useful for mission and ministry.
Join us for a conversation with David LaMotte, a songwriter, speaker, author and activist who has performed and spoken at many PC(USA) events. He has performed over 3500 concerts and released 13 full-length CDs of primarily original music, touring in all of the 50 states and on five of the seven continents. His second TEDx talk (2024), Why Heroes Don’t Change the World, was chosen as a TED Editor’s Pick. His earlier (2017) TEDx talk, Music Can Help Us Understand Peace and Conflict, is featured on TED.com.
In this season 5 premier episode of Leading Theologically, the Rev. Bill Davis, new podcast host and Senior Director for Theological Education Funds Development at the Presbyterian Foundation, sits down with the Rev. CeCe Armstrong and the Rev. Tony Larson, Co-Moderators of the 226th General Assembly of the PC(USA), to talk about their vision for the church and the work ahead of them.
Pastoral transitions come with a mixture of grief and joy. Family and colleagues are involved along with church leaders and members, presbytery, and more. How are they done in healthy ways? Come learn with the Rev. Shannon Kershner who recently moved from head of staff at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL to Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA.
Rev. Dr. David Loleng has a huge heart and a long record of commitment to congregational thriving. He currently directs Church Financial Literacy and Leadership efforts at the Presbyterian Foundation. This includes the Stewardship Navigator resource as well as the Church Financial Literacy and Leadership Coaching Program.He deeply believes in God who provides enough, a sufficiency rather than an abundance. He wonders often about what we allocate versus what we accumulate. Join us for this rich and fun conversation during the liminal time between the Reign of Christ Sunday and first Sunday of Advent in a new liturgical year.
Dr. Hanna Reichel’s new book, After Method: Queer Grace, Conceptual Design, and the Possibility of Theology, is called by some the “best book on theological method in a generation.” Reichel brings creativity, rigor, compassion, and creates needed space beyond absolutes. Conversant in Reformed, Lutheran, queer, and Latin American liberation theologies, Reichel breaks new ground. Don’t’ miss this rich theological conversation!
The Rev. Anthony Jermaine Ross-Allam bridges the academy, pulpit, and social ethics world with his work to repair historic harms. Ross-Allam credits his United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities professor who serves Liberty Community Church PC(USA) in north Minneapolis, the Rev. Dr. Alika Galloway's Womanist witness of just, creative, sacrificial, and faithful parish and community leadership as a way to face the brazen racist inequities the world is facing. Join us for this important and overdue conversation inviting us all to wake up for what God gave us.
Beloved preacher and writer Anna Carter Florence brings winsome insight to an array of characters and stories in the Bible—some celebrated and some overlooked. From courageous Abigail to Zelophehad’s daughters, and from an alabaster jar of ointment to Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree, Florence takes readers on an enchanting tour of the Old and New Testaments with reflections that reveal ancient wisdom and spark imagination anew.
The Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo was inaugurated as the 11th President of Columbia Seminary in November of 2022 following decades of service at Princeton Seminary. His inauguration theme as Forming Christian Leaders for an Endemic Era. What can we learn from the ways Columbia is navigating the mire of this endemic era to move closer toward where God is calling us next? How is God’s grace involved? Listen in to this conversation full of laughter and insight.
Mark Ramsay leads theologically in whatever he is doing from being a pastor, a board member, a resource to pastors and boards, a podcast host, a publisher of the Journal for Preachers and so much more. Mark shows up and listens deeply and then shares generously what he is learning and seeing. Join us for a fast-paced conversation about ministry today, which Mark still believes is a joyful calling.
After seven years serving as the Stated Clerk of the PC(USA), Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson is stepping down. Lee Hinson-Hasty and J. Herbert talk both the challenges and opportunities of serving as Stated Clerk and where God is calling the PCUSA – and J. Herbert - next. Our thanks to J. Herbert for his service to the Church – and beyond – in this important role. We are indebted to you!
This week, we have a special Leading Theologically episode! We’re turning the tables on Lee Hinson-Hasty, who has now interviewed 75 people who lead theologically. Teri Ott, Editor of the Presbyterian Outlook, will interview Lee about what he’s learned through these meaningful conversations with theological leaders. You don’t want to miss this episode!
Dr. Chris Burton teaches organizations that the Bible is full of examples that we can use to strengthen our community ties. He believes that division and hatred are grievous things that we must actively work against. His work centers the opportunity to live fully into the Lord’s prayer through prioritizing just community. He works with churches in order to help them do the important work of confession, undoing oppression, abolition, and community building. Join Lee for this lively conversation with Chris Burton, also known for his anti-racism consulting as Di Baddist Chaplain, an innovator you should know by the Presbyterian Outlook, as a CrossStreets podcast co-host, and TedX speaker.
For more than two decades the Rev. Joanne Rodríguez, a PC(USA) minister, has collaborated with scholars, students, and leaders in the church, academic, and non-profit world to cultivate a generation of Latine theological leaders. She knows what it takes to amplify diverse voices, work alongside in partnership, and imagine what God is doing next. Latinx students are one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in theological education today. Come and learn more and how to support them and what God is doing!
Even veterans of campus ministry and university chaplaincy have something to learn from the Rev. Gini Norris-Lane's wealth of nearly two decades in the field-- and even more so from the networks and relationships she has nourished. Why would you want to be involved, support, or grow a collegiate ministry and how might you do so? You won't want to miss this conversation!
The Rev. Dr. Jan Edmiston loves the church enough, she says, to transform it and she has a record of transformation as a pastor, mid-council leader, PC(USA) leader, blogger, and much more. A consummate partner in ministry, Jan served alongside Denise Anderson as the first co-moderators of the General Assembly in 2016, a model that has been adopted ever since. It's not just how Jan thinks, it is how she takes action that makes a mark. Join Lee and Jan for a well-rounded conversation about church leadership that matters.
As President for 14 years, the Rev. Paul Timothy Roberts, Sr. has helped the 156 year old historically black PC(USA) Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary redefine itself as an innovative institution with a robust social justice emphasis. A former pastor and sought after preacher, Paul brings to bear his Princeton University degree in Architecture and African American Studies alongside work in the business sector in New York City alongside his MDiv from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey in Celigny, Switzerland. Join us for a robust conversation that could include tennis, hot yoga, gardening, parenting, and lots of laughter!
What does our Christian faith have to say about the conflicts we experience in our lives and our world? Many of us grew up believing that conflict in our churches and communities was a sign of Things Gone Wrong. But what if there are other ways to consider — and respond to — conflict through the lens of faith? Join Lee and Associate Director of the Louisville Institute, the Rev. Dr. Aimee Moiso, for a conversation that is bound to be a learning experience for all involved!
William Yoo calls his 2022 history of slavery and anti-black racism in the Presbyterian Church, What Kind of Christianity. It is a great question and one that many Presbyterians know woefully little about. As Kwok Pui-Lan observes about the book, "In the global reckoning of Black Lives Matter [this book] is indispensable for understanding America's painful past." Come learn more about Dr. Yoo and this incredible book!
Did you know that prior to reunion, there were several all-Black governing bodies in the PC(USA)? Rev. Dr. Ed Newberry will be with us to discuss their legacy, including the history of Catawba Presbytery. A new video, a project of the Presbytery of Charlotte and the Presbyterian Foundation, tells the story of Catawba. Take this opportunity to listen in on a great conversation with Newberry, an unofficial historian for the PC(USA). Your questions and participation are encouraged and welcome!
A curator of sacred space, a writer, an artist, a strategist, a listener and a world adventurer": this is how the Rev. Jenny Warner describes herself. Sought after as a preacher and retreat leader, Jenny tends the sparks of new life to help communities dream, work, and birth new realities alongside God. Join Lee and Jenny for this conversation about Strategic Spiritual Leadership and how her congregation is living out its mission as “a Base Camp Building a More Loving World.
An innovative and collaborative leader, the Rev. Dr. Asa Lee was called as President of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary as it steps boldly toward nearly 230 years of service as an school. What does is take to lead a historic institution today? Courage and Curiosity. Join this conversation to learn more about Dr Lee, this style of leadership, and Pittsburgh Seminary!
What are the challenges and hope facing the evolving Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)? Join Lee for a conversation with the Rev. Dr. Frank Clark Spencer as he shares how the Board of Pension - where he serves as President - is uniquely positioned to offer the Church innovative and creative tools that support the well being of ministers amidst this change.
As co-moderators of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Shavon Starling-Louis and Ruth Santana-Grace are profoundly interested in who God is calling and to what purpose. They are excited about how seminaries hold vocation and discernment as central to their mission and formation process. They notice how seminaries are responding to the changing needs of the church. What needs and changes are they noticing and who and what are people of faith responding?
Do you know a seminarian who would be a good candidate for a pastoral residency? Maybe you are that seminarian? What are these residencies all about anyway? How long are they and what do they entail? What role do they play for all involved? Applications just opened for positions in 2023. Join the Rev. Lee Hinson-Hasty in learning more about pastoral residencies alongside the Rev. Chris Henry who is Head of staff with Lake Fellow Residency at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, IN, Rev. Savannah Demuynck who served at Myers Park Presbyterian in Charlotte, NC and now is an Associate Pastor at Lake Murray Pres in Chapin, SC, & Rev. Angela Ryo who served at First Presbyterian in Ann Arbor, MI and now is Transitional Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian in Muncie, IN.
What are the ways the Spirit is moving in theological education and the church? The Rev. Dr. Beth McCaw is passionate about bi-vocational ministry, and outside-of-the-box forms of being the church - and the two of those related. In fact, Beth is both on the faculty at the University of Dubuque and the Presbytery Leader for Glacier Presbytery where they are experimenting with creating a chapel relationship from a New Worshipping Community. They are raising up their own preachers along with looking to traditional seminary graduates along with creating an ecumenical multi-staff parish among five ELCA, UMC and PCUSA churches with lay and bi-vocational teaching elder leadership. As Beth puts it, “It is a very exciting time in the church if we can get past our nostalgia and fear. The world is as thirsty as it has ever been and so there is some urgency to this call as well.” Join Lee and Beth for this conversation!
What does ministry with young adults look like in a Covid-shaped world? What it probably doesn’t look like is a peer group that meets at the church. Join us for this conversation with Kenda Creasy Dean. We’ll explore some emerging data on young people and faith—how the past three years put these trends in overdrive, and where the Spirit might be leading us in these uncharted waters. We will focus on her new book Innovating for Love as well as her research where she is learning that congregations that do the best with young adults are those that score highest on innovation.
How are faith leaders and congregations engaging the communities around them? How can values like love, justice, and democratic decision-making become part of a multi-faith civically-engaged ministry? Join Lee as he talks with Dr. Keisha E. McKenzie (she/they), a strategist who interprets communication, religion, spirituality, and politics as social change technologies and serves as Senior Vice President for Programs at Auburn Theological Seminary. Raised Seventh-day Adventist and educated in the UK, Jamaica, and West Texas, Keisha believes that all people have inherent worth and dignity, we were made for a world where every soul can flourish, and people of faith have a key role in making that world real for us all.
There may be no one that knows more about Presbyterian world mission than the Rev. Dr Hunter Farrell. He has been a professor in the Democratic Republic of Congo, coordinator of the PC(USA)’s mission work in East and West Africa, network coordinator addressing issues of poverty and justice in Peru, director of World Mission for the PC(USA), and since 2017 the Director of the World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. During our next episode of Leading Theologically, Hunter will be with us to talk about decolonizing congregational mission and his 2022 book Freeing Congregational Mission: A Practical Vision for Companionship, Cultural Humility and Co-Development. If you care about mission in 2022 and beyond, you will not want to miss this!
José Irizarry began service as the 10th president of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary on August 22, 2022, less than three months after being named by the APTS Board. Bring your curiosities about transitioning out and into new ministries and contexts for this conversation with José!
Prior to his role at APTS, José was serving as the Vice President for Education at the Board of Pensions of the PC(USA) and has been a leader in theological education as well as a pastor for decades. José is a bilingual practical theologian, a husband, a father, an artist, and an intercultural relations specialist. Church leaders simply do not want to miss this conversation.
For many churches, the 18-30 demographic is a coveted group. Rachel Penmore has spent all of her ordained ministry working with young adults in some capacity and has found that churches are constantly trying to get more young adults in their church because they think it will save them, or help them survive. And what she has learned is that all of that is a fallacy and is, in fact, keeping young adults out of the church. Join the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty for this conversation with SFTS alum the Rev. Rachel Penmore, the Director of UKirk Knoxville, TN. Penmore also serves on the national board for the PC(USA) UKirk Collegiate Ministries.
David LaMotte's forthcoming book, You Are Changing the World Whether You Like It Or Not, wrestles with how we tell the story of large-scale societal change versus how it actually happens, and the implications of marinating in a narrative that is not true. Don’t’ miss this conversation with this author, artist, non-profit founder, singer-songwriter, speaker, and social activist.
If God is sovereign over all our life, how might people of faith invest responsibly?
Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) was created in recognition of the church’s unique opportunity to advance its mission faithfully and creatively through the financial resources entrusted it. MRTI implements the General Assembly’s policies on socially responsible investing (also called faith-based investing) by engaging corporations in which the church owns stock.
Join us for this conversation on responsible investing with one of the wisest, most practical, and effective ruling elders the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty knows, Rob Fohr, the Director of Faith-Based Investing and Corporate Engagement.
The current ship of “ministry” we’re captaining is in need of turning, of painting, maybe docking, and possibly being rebuilt. And, this just might be critical to do with younger people in the church and the world. Join Gina Yeager-Buckley in this important conversation about where the ship of "ministry" should be going!
What is the spotlight of public ministry? Who is our neighbor when we're online? How can you have integrity when you have to lead worship but don't feel like it? Join us for an exploration of these questions and more including why church members put leaders on a pedestal and what it means to be authentic in ministry with Sarah Bereza.
Sarah Bereza, who has served a number of congregations, holds a PhD and a Certificate the Feminist Theory from Duke University and has focused her research on American Christianity and what people think about music.
Jenny McDevitt began sharing @writing.lightly as she calls it on Instagram, “writing faithfully, not perfectly” as one of her spiritual practices and disciplines in December 2021. What friends, colleagues, and congregations that know her was shared more broadly, that her words, wisdom, liturgy and poetry are captivating and deeply meaningful. Join Lee Hinson-Hasty for this episode of Leading Theologically as a Holy Week pause to breathe in the Spirit in preparation for the final days of Lent.
Formerly senior pastor at Madison Avenue PC(USA) in NY, NY and on staff at Village PC(USA) of Kansas City, Jenny McDevitt, a creative writing major and field hockey player at Kenyon College in OH and Union Presbyterian Seminary grad, says writing is more about practice and grace than it is about inspiration. McDevitt’s preaching, prose, pastoral leadership, creativity and collegiality is inspiring whether in a Benedictory in the Presbyterian Outlook, preaching from pulpits across the country including at Shandon Presbyterian in Columbia, SC where she has served since May 2020.
Best-selling author, profound teacher, and highly sought preacher and Episcopal priest, Barbara Brown Taylor talks about “COVID (as) essentially turn(ing) us into a nation of shut-ins. I've had a lot of time to reflect on what happens to identity (especially, perhaps, ministerial identity) during such a long period of social isolation, disembodied meetings (including worship), limited travel, diminished physical activity, and the unavoidable nearness of death. It's like we've all gotten some practice in old age no matter what age we are, bringing up parallels with retirement and Sabbath practice for me. The connection to the farm is about how I have grounded myself during this time--literally--by giving my attention more fully to the rhythms and realities of the created world. My center of gravity has shifted very noticeably.” Join me for this plain yet quotable and gracious conversation with a preachers-preacher, Barbara Brown Taylor.
In this special Leading Theologically broadcast, we'll explore the religious dimensions to the crisis and war in Ukraine with the Rev. Dr. John Burgess from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
As political, military, diplomatic and human rights leaders struggle to bring peace back to Ukraine, religious leaders are concerned as well. What you may not know are the religious dimensions to this crisis and war in Ukraine. The Rev. Dr. John Burgess, the Snowden Professor of Systematic Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, has been a residential Fulbright scholar twice (2011 & 2018-19) in Russia, a Luce Fellow (2011-2012), and a Fellow of the Center for Theological Inquiry (2014-15) where he wrote Holy Rus’: The Rebirth of Orthodoxy in the new Russia. A Presbyterian minister and mentor, Burgess has been and continues to follow the situation in Russia and the Ukraine closely. Don’t miss this special edition of Leading Theologically.
The Future is Womanist
In July 2019, Rev. Melanie C. Jones joined the Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership at Union Presbyterian Seminary as its newest director and next visionary leader. Jones maintains, “Building on an enduring legacy of womanism in theological education with Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon as its leading trailblazer and foremother, The Future is Womanist. The compounding moral assaults facing Black women and marginalized populations in a contemporary world require a wisdom-bearing platform that cultivates freedom and flourishing and a justice-seeking program that enlivens the liberating reign of God in word and deed. This is the future of the Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership, the premier center for womanist theory and practice in the nation.” Jones teaches Ethics, Theology and Culture at Union Presbyterian Seminary in addition to directing the Center. She is a womanist ethicist, millennial preacher, and intellectual activist.
Could you catch a vision of a future where all our urban youth are equipped to reach post-secondary success, our public schools serve all children excellently, our city is flourishing in all its neighborhoods, and our workforce is widely diverse and highly skilled to advance a region that is good and just for all? Pittsburgh Promise does and has since 1985. Founded in 1985 by University of Dubuque Theological Seminary graduate and Presbyterian Minister Saleem Ghubril, the impact is tremendous and regularly evaluated. Come learn with me about how education is a key to economic mobility.
John Cleghorn raises important questions in his first book, Resurrecting Church: Can churches survive, even be resurrected, at the intersections of race, sexuality, class, and faith background? Can congregations be liberated by rebuilding around those on the margins who have been wounded by church?
As more US cities become majority-minority, the "mainline" church remains stubbornly white and homogeneous. Church leaders and thinkers are seeking ways to build more racial diversity and radical welcome. This book provides hope and practical examples of how this can happen. With stories, people profiles, and insights from their leaders and members, his book breaks new ground with practical learning and lessons drawn from original research and the lived experience of intersectional churches across the US.
Join us for a conversation about the remarkable turnaround story of Caldwell Presbyterian Church, Cleghorn’s own story of his own growth and liberation from the myopia of privilege.
Anna Carter Florence is the Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and a beloved preaching mentor and preacher to many!
We can study scripture, listen to sermons, and even read what others say about it but in the end, says Anna Carter Florence, Scripture needs to be rehearsed and encountered in community. This cunning and compelling invitation to recover the oral, contextual, communal and dramatic faith practice helps us all experience Scripture anew and unearth truths together. Join Florence and Lee Hinson-Hasty for a conversation about Rehearsing Scripture and look forward to energizing study of the Bible personally and for others.
In Defense of Kindness book author Bruce Reyes-Chow will be sharing on his breakthrough case of the virus in August 2021.
A GenXer, Bruce was ordained to ministry of Word and Sacrament in 1995 in Stockton, CA. In 2008, the General Assembly of the PC(USA) elected him Moderator of the General Assembly at the youthful age of 39. An author, blogger, YouTuber, consultant, coach, podcaster, and sought after preacher and speaker, Bruce returned to pastoral ministry full time in 2019 as pastor of First Presbyterian in Palo Alto, CA. In 2021, his book, “In Defense of Kindness” was published by Chalice Press and, although fully-vaccinated and extremely careful, Bruce contracted a breakthrough case of the virus in August 2021. After months of recovery, Bruce will share about how he is processing what happened and how it shapes him as a person, spouse, father, pastor, friend, and leader.
In a time of political turmoil, how should we pray? What is the role of prayer in resisting politics that are based on hatred and division? Shannon Craigo-Snell’s 2020 book, Disciplined Hope, claims prayer as a way to choose hope over fear and has been called “a love note to people who long for justice as a faithful Christian response (and a) powerful testimony of prayer as action, as intention, as community.”
Join us for a conversation on Disciplined Hope with author and the Rev. Dr. Shannon Craigo-Snell, Professor of Theology at Louisville Seminary. She is the author of multiple books, including No Innocent Bystanders: Becoming an Ally in the Struggle for Justice, co-authored with Christopher Doucot (2017).
The Rev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes, theologian, liturgist, preacher, and artist, a native Brazilian, is Associate Professor of Worship at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, serving since 2007. He has taught at McCormick Theological Seminary, Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. A much sought-after speaker, writer, performer, and consultant, Carvalhaes has published widely and has given academic presentations, performances, and delivered sermons at over 40 conferences and academic societies around the world. Come learn about his new book, Praying with Every Heart, a theoretical work on his 2020 publication Liturgies from Below: Praying with People at the End of the World. He went to 4 continents and worked with more than 100 people on these liturgies. Both books offer a certain methodology for theological education as well as spiritual practices that are so needed for our times.
Are you seeking to dream of a different world beyond COVID-19? Join us for a conversation with leading ecumenist, a constructive Reformed theologian, Presbyterian minister, and beloved professor at McCormick Theological Seminary, the Rev. Dr. Anna Case-Winters. Be introduced to Case-Winters’ soon-to-be-released book, God Will Be All in All: Theology through the Lens of Incarnation, and learn from responses to questions like “In what sense is God really ‘with us’?”
Have you quoted or heard someone quote Ted Lasso? In its second season on Apple TV, this show by the same name concludes on October 8th. Lasso is even showing up in the Christian media as well as sermons often. When asked about how often he quoted Lasso, the Rev. Dr. Joe Clifford, pastor and head of staff of Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, responded, “I hope I’m not talking about it in EVERY sermon, but I’ve mentioned it a couple of times. The Christmas episode was so chocked-full of great theological material. And I loved the episode around self—'You are who you are because of who you are.'” Clifford is quick to point out the show, though rich theologically, may appeal to white folks more than others. Join Joe and Lee for a conversation about all of the above and more. Bring your favorite quotes to share!
The Rev. Dr. Katharine Rhodes Henderson is president of Auburn Seminary, a leadership development and research institute that equips and convenes leaders across the multifaith movement for justice. Rev. Henderson was raised in Louisville, Kentucky during the civil rights movement where she accompanied her parents on civil rights marches and prayed and sang with people of many faith traditions who came together out of moral conviction—all united for justice. In other words, she has been showing up for religious reasons her entire life. As she intentionally steps down this year for over a decade successfully leading Auburn Seminary, where are some places she believes God is calling religious people to show up? Join us for this live conversation with an internationally known speaker who has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, MSNBC, NPR, and more. She was named co-recipient of the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize for her lifelong passion to create spaces for authentic interfaith engagement. She joined esteemed past winners including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
Much of the contemporary discussion of the religiously unaffiliated has focused on declining religious affiliation among college-educated persons. Very little attention has been given however to low levels of religious affiliation among more socially marginalized populations. The Rev. Dr. Drew Smith will explore these dynamics in the light of pertinent data and scholarship in this live interview with the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty.
How can we reframe U.S. secular holidays In the church? In this episode of Leading Theologically, we are in conversation with the Reverend Dr. James Calvin Davis, author of the 2021 released book American Liturgy: Finding Meaning in the Holy Days of US Culture. Davis, a Christian ethicist and Presbyterian minister, serves as Professor of liberal arts and religion at Middlebury College in Vermont. Learn more about him at jamescalvindavis.com.
The Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty in conversation with the Rev. Brian Ellison. Ellison is executive director of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, a national organization engaging, educating and equipping congregations and councils toward an equity not yet fully realized for LGBTQIA+ people in church and society. He is also stated clerk of the Synod of Mid-America and of Heartland Presbytery. Additionally, he is host/contributor at KCUR, NPR in Kansas City, where he hosts talk shows, moderates community forums, and anchors election night and breaking news coverage. Brian was previously pastor of a congregation for 13 years and lives in Kansas City with his partner, Troy, and their two dogs.
Production Note: Due to streaming quality problems, several gaps were introduced into Rev. Ellison's comments. These gaps have been deleted with the attempt to retain the original intent and focus of the conversation.
Join us for this conversation between the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty and Dr. Grace Kao, Professor of Christian Ethics at Claremont School of Theology. Kao co-edited the 2015 book, Asian American Christian Ethics, and is currently writing an introduction to Asian American Christian Ethics.
You won't want to miss this timely conversation, considering the escalated violence against Asian Americans in the U.S. even as we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Kao, a graduate of Stanford and Harvard is a visiting professor at Loyola Marymount University this academic year.
Join the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty in a conversation with the Rev. Dr. Patrick Reyes about his recently released book The Purpose Gap: Empowering Communities of Color to Find Meaning and Thrive. Learn more about the Rev. Dr. Patrick Reyes: https://fteleaders.org/about/team
Purchase his new book at https://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/0664266703/the-purpose-gap.aspx
Join the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty for a conversation with the Rev. Laura Mariko Cheifetz about her recently released co-edited book Race in America. Quoted often by others, Rev. Cheifetz wrote for both the Washington Post and CNN in late March 2021 in the wake of the racist mass murders of Asian women near Atlanta, GA
Ellison is a modern-day mystic who invites people of faith to push past systemic problems and access their unique gifts to make a difference in the world and the Church. Ellison’s daily spiritual practice includes seeing, no matter how hidden, and hearing the stories, no matter what they are, of those within three feet of him daily. This beautiful spiritual practice is based on wisdom from a beloved aunt. It is his way of changing the world and invite others to do the same. Now an award-winning pastoral care and counseling faculty member at Emory’s Candler School of Theology, Ellison is also the founder of Fearless Dialogues and author or editor of Cut Dead But Still Alive: Caring for African American Young Men; Fearless Dialogue: A New Movement for Justice and most recently Anchored in the Current: Discovering Howard Thurman as Educator, Activist, Guide, and Prophet
The Rev. Dr. Teri McDowell Ott has been an ordained Presbyterian minister for over twenty years and serves as Dean of the Chapel at Monmouth College.
She and the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty talk about "Risks Privileged People Should Take" in the latest episode of Leading Theologically.
Rev. Dr. Christine Hong will be chatting about her forthcoming book Decolonizing Learning: Intercultural and Interreligious Intelligence. A keynote speaker for the NEXT Church national gathering, Dr. Hong is sought after as a speaker, writer, preacher, interfaith leader, and friend. Hong directs the Doctor of Educational Ministry program at Columbia Theological Seminary where she is an Assistant Professor of Educational Ministry. Dr. Hong’s research interest includes Asian American studies, child and adolescent behavior and development and immigrant communities, church history, post-colonial studies, and systematic theology.
Jim Reese has been ordained for over 70 years as a Presbyterian minister and Christian educator and national staff person. Christian education is at the center of his call and practice in ministry. “How do you get things done in the church?” His answer is, “You work as a team to teach others.” You won't want to miss this episode of Leading Theologically with a legend in the Presbyterian Church USA.
“History does not offer quick-and-easy solutions,” says Heath Carter, PhD. “But whether it is racial injustice or economic inequality, or any number of issues beyond, the challenges we face today are not new. Their roots stretch deep into the past. And if we don’t understand how we got here, we’ll struggle to find a faithful way forward.” Join me for a live conversation with Dr. Carter who teaches a class on Slavery at Princeton since 1865 and much more. His research agenda is focused on the intersection of Christianity and public life. The book he is working on now. On Earth As It Is In Heaven: Social Christians and the Fight to End American Inequality will offer a new history of American social Christianity from the Civil War through the civil rights movement. “It follows the stories of believers who saw the fight against structural inequality as a really important part of what it meant to be a faithful Christian in the modern world,” Carter says. Their activism reverberated far beyond the walls of the church.
The shift of congregations, church councils, and almost every other organization to digital communication over the last year taught us again how important visual communication is in ministry and leadership. Join me for a conversation with author, musician, photographer, videographer, producer, parent, partner, pastor and prolific creator Landon Whitsitt about the ways he thinks about memorable and helpful digital communication. Landon has served in campus ministry, new church development, interfaith ministry, mid-council leadership, pastor and much more. Podcaster, vlogger, and recording artist, Landon is the mastermind behind the popular TheoAcademy video resources. You will not want to miss this one!
Leading a congregation in any year is not for the faint of heart, and 2021 is all the more complicated. In this week's episode of Leading Theologically, Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty is joined by Rev. Jessica Vaughan Lower, associate pastor for community outreach & contemporary worship at San Marino Community Church and contributor to the Journal of Religious Leadership, to discuss how she continues to embrace change in creative and constructive ways.
Fatigue is not just physical and emotional.. it is also spiritual. Join this conversation with Bertram Johnson, an alum of Princeton Seminary and teaching elder who currently serves as a chaplain and peer chaplain supervisor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Johnson will be preaching at the 2021 NEXT Church national gathering where he also serves on the strategy team. His experiences at University Presbyterian in Seattle, Middle Collegiate Church in NYC, Riverside Church in NYC, and hospital chaplaincy, among others inform his approach needed possibly more than ever as we start 2021! An Enneagram 4, Johnson gets joy from traveling, exploring different cultures and cuisine. Come explore with us soon!
Are you feeling depleted and not sure how you will be able to continue to follow your call as we move into the hardest months of these pandemics yet? Join me for an unscripted conversation with the Rev. Dr. Roger Gench, the new interim editor for the Presbyterian Outlook. A seasoned pastor, community organizer, theological ethicist, and author, Roger has recently written A Cross Examen: A Spirituality for Activists and Organizers which introduces contemplative practices that are life restoring.
Women Reformed and Always Reforming with the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty Professor of Theology, Bellarmine University
2020 marked the centennial of Women’s suffrage with the passage of the 19th Amendment. What are the ways women have been called by God and continue to succeed reforming in the Church and the world? Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty is one of the producers and hosts of a video series initiative, Exploring the Narrative: Women and the Reformation, that gathered voices to celebrate and inspire in partnership with TheoAcademy and PCUSA Racial Equity and Women’s Intercultural Ministries. Come hear more about the project and a preview of some of the deeply moving stories unearthed.
A conversation with Rev. Jessica Tate, Director of NEXT Church, on what will it look like to lead in the Church and the world in 2021 and beyond? With post-Election uncertainty and progress on a COVID-19 vaccine, we need to ask, where is God Calling us next?
What does it mean for Presbyterian officers to live into the vow we all take to be “a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit”? October is pastor appreciation month and Jerrod Lowry is Lee’s pastor because he is the General Presbyter and Stated Clerk of my presbytery, Coastal Carolina. More than that, he is a longtime friend. Join them for a conversation about what it means to be a friend among colleagues and why that matters now more than ever!
Courtney Cowart leads theologically from the eye of the storms including St. Paul’s Chapel in NYC on 9/11 and New Orleans during Katrina. She wrote about those experiences in her book, American Awakenings. Join Lee Hinson-Hasty for a live conversation about how uses what she’s learned in 2020 as she helps cultivate wisdom among thought leaders for the massive adaptive challenges we face to secure the future of the faith. Dr. Cowart serves as Executive Director of the Society for the Increase of the Ministry (SIM), the Episcopal Church’s effort to identify and fund seminarians.
Jerry Cannon and Eustacia Moffett Marshall, partners in ministry first together at CN Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church in Charlotte NC and now serving separately, come together to discuss with Lee Hinson-Hasty what healthy mentoring in ministry looks like and why it is important now more than ever. Join us live for this conversation that is sure to be meaningful, entertaining, and preach-able!
Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen joined Lee Hinson-Hasty for a conversation about worship in a pandemic. Derrick is pastor of St. James Presbyterian Church in Harlem, N.Y., and the author of this year's liturgy for Theological Education Sunday.
Download the liturgy at https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Theological-Education-Sunday-Liturgy-for-Sept-20-2020.pdf
A Christian Womanist Ethics serving on the faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary since 1991, Dr. Marcia Y. Riggs recognizes that partisan polarization characterizes both political and religious life in the United States today. Throughout the 20th century, images of "the melting pot" and "the mosaic" have been used to guide our sociocultural, political conceptions of moral community. Many Protestant liberal and progressive Christian communities have interpreted these images through the theological image of Beloved Community originated by Josiah Royce and popularized by Martin Luther King, Jr. How can this theological concept work in repairing the breaches we have today? Join us in envisioning and practicing beloved community together.
Always an educator, the Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka taught junior high English and social sciences, coordinated youth and young adult ministries for the PC(USA), taught at Columbia Theological Seminary, and since 2016 as the senior associate and director of adult education ministries at Village Church, PC(USA) in Prairie Village, Kansas. Sought after as a preacher and teacher for decades, Rodger is beloved for the ways he weaves scripture, life, and the ways he sees God showing up in the lives of those who gather with him. Come join us for this conversation about how Christian formation happens in congregational life remotely. How can church leaders create experiences of the divine, nurture relationships, and incarnate the body of Christ?
Leadership seems to be the answer for everything that is wrong in our lives, communities and the world, but will any leadership do? What is leadership and what is the role of courage in the face of the pandemic, civil unrest and uncertainty within our communities? We'll explore answers to these two questions and why courageous leadership matters for those longing for a more hopeful future.
Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty sits down for a conversation with Rev. Dr. Frank M. Yamada, Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools. Yamada is an active biblical scholar who has authored and edited books and articles on cross-cultural and feminist hermeneutics. In 2017 he began as executive director of The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and oversees the work of both the Association and the Commission on Accrediting that accredits 200 + theological schools in the United States and Canada. Prior to ATS, Yamada was on faculty and then President of McCormick Theological Seminary. A graduate of Southern California College, Yamada earned his MDiv and PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has written and spoken on the future of the church and theological education. Lee and Frank had a conversation about the “once in a generation” June 2020 vote to change the standards of accrediting theological schools and what that means for change in the formation of religious and moral leaders today.
As a cultural historian of Latinx religions and cultures, the Rev. Dr. Edwin David Aponte explores faith, spirituality, and culture, especially the intersections of race, ethnicity, and religion, congregational studies, and religion and politics. His leadership at the Louisville Institute helps pastors and theological scholars ask the best questions and be open to the outcomes. Join us as Lee and Ed discuss ways to bridge the divide, perceived and real, between Church and academy. Stories of leaders who have received grants from the Institute will be woven into the conversation providing some best practice examples.
Join us for a conversation with recognized biblical scholar, Dr. Nancy C. Lee, Niebuhr Distinguished Professor at Elmhurst College in Chicago. A graduate of both Columbia Seminary and Union Presbyterian Seminary, she is author of a forthcoming biblical commentary on Lamentations and Song of Songs. She has lived and worked in global communities where genocide and social injustices have taken place, including Bosnia, South Africa, and the Cherokee community. Dr. Lee shares how expressing our many and various laments is of the utmost necessity during today's pandemic.
Many congregations have faced financial challenges in recent decades and some have even wondered if their church is still viable. David King was with us for a Facebook Live conversation on July 1 to discuss the financial challenges churches are facing, and how churches can plan for the future. David serves as the Karen Lake Buttrey Director of Lake Institute on Faith & Giving and assistant professor of philanthropic studies at Indiana University.
Elizabeth "Lib" Caldwell has a long legacy of educating in the PC(USA). She served on faculty at McCormick Theological Seminary for 30 years, teaching generations of pastors and theological leaders how education can shape lives and communities. During her Facebook Live discussion with Lee Hinson-Hasty, she discussed how to handle tough question from children and discussed her life in ministry. She was joined at the end of the Facebook Live with well-wishers who congratulated her on receiving the Excellence in Theological Education Award, which was set to be presented to her at General Assembly 224. GA 224 (in 2020) was set for Baltimore but was turned into a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elizabeth "Lib" Caldwell has a long legacy of educating in the PC(USA). She served on faculty at McCormick Theological Seminary for 30 years, teaching generations of pastors and theological leaders how education can shape lives and communities. During her Facebook Live discussion with Lee Hinson-Hasty, she discussed how to handle tough question from children and discussed her life in ministry. She was joined at the end of the Facebook Live with well-wishers who congratulated her on receiving the Excellence in Theological Education Award, which was set to be presented to her at General Assembly 224. GA 224 (in 2020) was set for Baltimore but was turned into a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is part two of the Facebook Live; this portion provided an opportunity for Lib to talk to friends, former students and colleagues.
Rev. Dr. Darrell L. Guder is receiving the Excellence in Theological Education Award this year from the Committee on Theological Education. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, General Assembly is now a virtual event, and Rev. Dr. Guder will not have the opportunity to receive this award in person. We invited him to this Facebook Live to talk about missional theology and teaching, and to celebrate his legacy.
Rev. Dr. Darrell L. Guder is the Henry Winters Luce Professor of Missional and Ecumenical Theology Emeritus and one of the founders of the Center for Church Planting and Revitalization at Princeton Theological Seminary. He received the Excellence in Theological Education Award this year from the Committee on Theological Education. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, General Assembly is now a virtual event, and Rev. Dr. Guder will not have the opportunity to receive this award in person. We invited him to this Facebook Live to talk about missional theology and teaching, and to celebrate his legacy.
Our early June 2020 Facebook Live discussion was with Rodney S. Sadler, Jr. He discussed the push for racial justice that has become a major force in the U.S. Sadler uses the name “uprising” to describe the protests from the people participating. “It’s people finding a way up, finding their voice, trying to start a larger movement of justice for all people." George Floyd’s death, while “the straw the broke the camel’s back,” has also “given people the opportunity to move beyond fear, to say we need to claim back our police departments, our humanity and our human dignity.” “And it’s not just black people,” he said. “It’s black, white, Latinx, Asian, indigenous people, rich and poor, old and young saying ‘this is too much.’”
The Facebook Live discussion was hosted by Lee Hinson-Hasty of the Theological Education Fund. Sadler serves as Associate Professor of Bible and Director, Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte.
Rev. Dr. José Irizarry joined us for a Facebook Live discussion about virtual learning and education in the midst of a pandemic. He discussed his own perspective on virtual education and how it has changed over the years, and what he expects for the future. His discussion with Lee Hinson-Hasty covered both home life and education, and how the two have merged. "“As minister of household, we are institutional beings,” Irizarry said. “All the institutions we belong to have collapsed into one place we call home. Home is now church, workplace and school."
José is a well-respected Presbyterian educator who has served the church in multiple ways. He is the Board of Pension's Vice President for Education, and in that role, he is responsible for developing and implementing an educational strategy that is faithful to the Board's Theology of Benefits and responsive to the needs of the changing Church. He also is responsible for creating a consistent thematic vision for all Board University offerings, from conferences to seminars, e-learning to webinars. José has more than 20 years' experience in higher education as a professor and chief academic and executive administrator, in the United States and Puerto Rico. Before joining the Board of Pensions, he was Associate Professor of Theological and Religious Education at Villanova University, in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Ted Wardlaw and Eric Wall from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary joined Lee Hinson-Hasty for a discussion on worship and community.
What do the most innovative organizations have in common today? Superior solutions with lower risks and cost of change and high participant buy-in are being found in multiple sectors using the process and questions that Design Thinking raises. How can ministry incorporate what Stanford and Harvard innovators have found works for non-profit, NGO’s, Educational institutions and more?
Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty invited Rev. Emily McGinley to discuss Design Thinking in Ministry on Facebook Live on May 13, 2020. Rev. Emily McGinley serves as the executive pastor Urban Village Church, Chicago, with a visual design and theological education as well as a pastoral study project grant from the Louisville Institute on this theme.
Rev. Dr. Trace Haythorn, Executive Director of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, shared his thoughts on grief during this pandemic time. Lee Hinson-Hasty guided the conversation. Trace discussed the nature of grief and how it may be hitting people differently during this pandemic. He also gave recommendations on how to live a more present and appreciative life in a beautiful charge and benediction. “In ways that you can savor Nature,” he said, “in ways that you can be grateful for these bodies that we have,” and “in ways you can find one another in a loving spirit that crosses all these boundaries and divides that just seem ridiculous in the face of a virus that doesn’t care about any of these things, may we be to one another the kind of gracious loving presence that the Universe has always longed for, and that we’re just far too good at mucking up.” This conversation is part of a weekly Facebook Live series with church leaders on current topics.
Lee Hinson-Hasty and Jeff Bullock, President of the University of Dubuque, had a lively and engaging discussion on Leadership in a Pandemic.
Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and Rev. Cindy Kohlmann, co-moderators of the 223rd General Assembly, discussed spirituality in a pandemic with host Lee Hinson-Hasty.
Brian Blount, President of Union Presbyterian Seminary, joined Lee Hinson-Hasty for a powerful discussion of scripture in a pandemic.
Rev. Beth Merrill Neel and Rev. Gregg Neel of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon, kicked off our Facebook Live 2020 series with a discussion on pastoring in a pandemic. They are offering virtual worship with the help of their 14-year-old daughter, who is serving as their technology consultant. Members of the congregation are videoed reading parts of the liturgy to allow members to see each other and not just the ministers. They also shared that members of their congregation have stepped up in ways that are '"stunning" and incredibly helpful. When it comes to meeting other pastoral needs, deacons and those with Stephen Ministers are calling church members using the church directory as a guide.