Center for Congregations Podcast

Your congregation is important. And we know that leading and serving in congregations is hard work. Join Shellie Riggs Jordan, McKenzie Scott Lewis, Ben Tapper, Matt Burke and other Center for Congregations consultants as they interview thought leaders and experts to encourage, inspire and help you find the right information and resources to address your congregation's needs. Center for Congregations staff will share what they're learning through work with congregations. Speakers, authors and congregational practitioners will share their stories and best practices to help your congregation thrive.

Religion & Spirituality
1
S5 E10: Telephone Poles Passing by the Window
Rev. Greg Pimlott discusses self-care for leaders.
53 min
2
S5 E9: Hybrid Congregations: You Can Be in Two ...
Jason Moore spends time with McKenzie and Matt to discuss hybrid congregational experiences.
54 min
3
S5 E8: Laughing Our Way to Perfect Humanity
Dr. Jason Deuman discusses comedy and congregational life.
49 min
4
S5 E7: The Weight of Grief and Loss
Patrick Riecke shares from his experience as a clergy leader and chaplain on how we can support the grieving in congregations.
44 min
5
S5 E6: Ministering to the Whole Person
Dr. Jessica Brown joins Shellie and Matt to discuss mental health in congregational life.
54 min
6
S5 E5: Bringing Good Things to Digital Spaces
Digital Marketing Strategist and all-around great guy Tim Campbell-Smith discusses social media and congregations.
56 min
7
S5 E4: You Are Welcome Here
Shellie and Matt talk with Dr. Winterbourne Harrison-Jones about the intersection of the arts and congregational space.
55 min
8
S5 E3: Am I Allowed to Come In?
Marketer and Millennial Kaeli Sweigard discusses her path into congregational life.
44 min
9
S5 E2: What Do YOU Mean by Community Ministry?
Aimee Laramore joins the Center for Congregations podcast to talk about community ministry.
44 min
10
S5 E1: Conversations about Race are Hard
In this crossover episode, Ben and Matt have a candid conversation with the Shades of Hope podcast hosts Pastor Jeff Krajewski and Rev. Dr. Clarence Moore.
52 min
11
S4 E23: Ghosts of Congregations Past, Present a...
Center staff discuss what issues arose for congregations in 2022 and discuss what the future may hold.
38 min
12
S4 E22: Building Relationships: What We Can Lea...
Ben and Matt talk with Pastor Emmanuel Musinga about the experiences of Congolese Christians.
53 min
13
S4 E21: The Next Faithful Step: Discernment in ...
54 min
14
S4 E20: Cultivating the Edges: Belonging and Ra...
Listening to Those on the Margins
48 min
15
S4 E19: Keeping it Beta: Innovation and Congreg...
Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes discusses how to maintain innovation in your congregation.
52 min
16
S4 E18: Clergy Are People Too: No, Really.
Marty Sawyers and John Opalewski talk with Matt and Ben about the pressures of clergy leadership.
42 min
17
S4 E17: Be the Bridge: Spanning Cultural Gaps
55 min
18
S4 E16: Invisible People: Multiculturalism in Y...
50 min
19
S4 E15: Suffering in Silence: Addressing Mental...
Apostle Ken Hilliard talks about the importance of addressing mental health in your congregation.
50 min
20
S4 E14: Are You Seeing What I'm Seeing?
Wilisha Scaife sits down with Ben and Matt to discuss how we can listen to, learn from and love others well.
54 min
21
S4 E13: More Than a Classroom: Reimagining Fait...
John Roberto joins Ben and Matt to discuss how communities can develop better ways of shaping faith in your congregation.
53 min
22
S4 Mid-Season Break: A Look Back and A Look Ahead
Recapping Season 4 so far and pre-viewing what's to come.
11 min
23
S4 E12: Stories > Stances
Ben and Matt talk with three different members of the LGBTQ+ community.
71 min
24
S4 E11: Beyond Feisty and Divisive: Caring for ...
Mark Oestreicher joins Ben and Matt to talk about how to care for LGBTQ youth and their families.
56 min
25
S4 E10: Possibility-Lessons from Jazz
What Jazz has to teach us about beauty, creativity and liberation with Dr. Kirk Byron Jones.
51 min