Content that connects with Jim Keat

Rev. Jim Keat shares his best practices for creating digital campfires–pieces of content that get noticed and invite people to engage.

Rev. Jim Keat is the Director of Online Innovation at Convergence. Jim is a divergent thinker, an ideation specialist, and an aspiring minimalist. He is the Associate Minister of Digital Strategy & Online Engagement at The Riverside Church in New York City as well as the creator of online projects and platforms like Thirty Seconds or Less, That’ll Preach, and more.

Digital discipleship: Being a presence of grace with Ryan Dunn

Recently, many of us have grown increasingly comfortable in digital spaces. We may have worshiped on Facebook, connected with family on Zoom, had a meaningful conversation over Twitter, or joined a prayer group on Twitch. All of which raises questions about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ online.

The Rev. Ryan Dunn, Minister of Online Engagement with RethinkChurch, joins for a conversation about digital discipleship. How can you and I be a pleasant presence of grace when we’re online?

Welch’s Grape Juice and Methodism

In Part 1 of this episode, Ashley quizzes Rev. Jeremy Smith and Tara Barnes on their knowledge of Welch’s Grape Juice and its connection with the Methodist Church.

In Part 2, Ashley discusses The Poisoned Chalice with Dr. Jennifer Woodruff Tait who literally wrote the book on Grape juice and Methodism.

GUESTS:

Tara Barnes is the editor for response magazine, the official magazine of United Methodist Women. United Methodist Women is the largest faith-based denominational organization for women in the United States focused on ensuring women and children can live thriving lives around the world.

Rev. Jeremy Smith is an ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church, Jeremy joined First Church Seattle as Pastor in July 2017. Originally from Oklahoma, Jeremy graduated from Oklahoma City University with a BA in Religion, and Boston University School of Theology with a Masters of Divinity. Along with being a pastor, Jeremy is best known for social media advocacy and his technology and faith blog Hacking Christianity.

Dr. Jennifer Woodruff Tait is the managing editor of Christian History magazine, the author of The Poisoned Chalice: Eucharistic Grape Juice and Common-Sense Realism in Victorian Methodism, and a priest in the Episcopal Church.

HOST:

Dr. Ashley Boggan Dreff, General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church. Dreff earned her PhD from Drew Theological School’s Graduate Division of Religion, specializing in both Methodist/Wesleyan Studies and Women’s/Gender Studies. She earned an M.A. from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School, specializing in American Religious History. She has previously worked as staff at the General Commission on Archives and History (2012-2014) and the Connectional Table of The United Methodist Church (2014-2016). She was the Director of United Methodist Studies and Assistant Professor Christian History at Hood Theological Seminary (Salisbury, NC), an AME Zion Seminary, from 2017-2019 and was the Director of Women’s and Gender Studies and Assistant Professor of Religion at High Point University (High Point, NC) from 2019-2020. Dreff is a lay member of the Arkansas Annual Conference and the daughter of two ordained United Methodist ministers. She is the author of Nevertheless: American Methodists and Women’s Rights (2020) and Entangled: A History of American Methodism, Politics, and Sexuality (2018).

Starting a digital movement with Shannon Karafanda

Shannon Karafanda shares the story behind #holymischief–a digital movement of spiritual disruption. In exploring this story, we see how we can utilize digital connections to empower others to share their stories, how we get people to engage with our digital entities, and how we connect people to one another.

Check out more regarding #holymischief by searching the hashtag, or by visiting holymishief.net.

Remembering Steve Austin

Steve is one of the few people we’ve talked with multiple times on the Compass Podcast. He just had so many great things to say. Steve also contributed to our Rethink Church blog, offering an important voice at the intersection of mental health, self care and spirituality.

We were shocked to learn of Steve’s passing. If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, please talk with someone. One of the places Steve recommended was National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 800.273.TALK

Those of us who care for Steve don’t want the nature of his death to be what he’s remembered for. He needs to be remembered for all the good he did, for all the help and laughter he brought. So we’re going to let Steve have the last word on this.

Becoming a microfamous minister with Matt Johnson

Matt Johnson teaches us how to use digital messaging to become famously influential with the right people in order to grow our ministries. In this session, Matt applies marketing principles to help us reach new people online, bring people into our audiences, build real influence with them and nurture them in discipleship.

Matt Johnson is the author of Microfamous and has taught scores of clients how to grow their reach and influence through his coaching business. Check out more from Matt at getmicrofamous.com.

Building an authentic personal brand with Sarah Heath

You have a personal brand. Rev. Sarah Heath shares how we can cultivate that for the benefit of our digital ministries. And cultivating a brand does not have to come at the cost of our authenticity. Rev. Sarah also offers a compelling witness of why personal branding matters for ministry leaders.

Rev. Sarah Heath is an ordained United Methodist elder, a podcaster, an author, speaker and designer. Learn more about her roles at revsarahheath.com.

 

What is digital-first ministry with James Kang

We explore the scope of a digital-first ministry. What does a digital-first ministry look like? How do we express presence to one another in a digital way? What is the future of digital ministry?

James Kang is our adjunct professor for this session. James is the Head of Guidance and co-founder of Pastoria.co–a ministry innovation consultancy. He served many years as a communicator for the United Methodist denomination.

The WHY of continuing in digital ministry with Wil Ranney

We explore the “why” of digital ministry.  Rev. Wil Ranney provides a glimpse at the history of digital ministry, then shares ideas for extending invitation through digital presence. And we answer the questions of “How do we start a process of digital discipleship?” as well as “What are we supposed to do with digital ministry now that we’re opening up?”

Wil Ranney is a founder of Aboundant ministries–a digital ministry consulting group. He was an early adopter of taking ministry into digital spaces. He also teaches classes on digital ministry at Whartburg College. Connect with him at wilranney.me.

Your first step into digital ministry

In this first session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we’re taking our first steps into the practice of digital ministry. Our host, Rev. Ryan Dunn, shares the practices that yield results in his efforts to meet people in digital spaces, like social media, and invite them into relationships with churches and faith communities. Get ready to get brand-ed!