Author: Compass Podcast

85: Do UFOs and extraterrestrials have anything to do with faith and theology?

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Deep in the media vaults of the United Methodist denomination are old radio shows all about UFOs and extraterrestrial life. It would seem odd that a religious organization would be so invested in that topic. Meanwhile, NASA has funded theological projects and several faith leaders have invested in the astro-sciences.

What is going on? Do UFOs and extraterrestrials have anything to with faith and theology?

Let’s dive into the relationship…

This episode features excerpts from “Night Call”–a radio production from the late 1960’s. The show was produced by a predecessor of United Methodist Communications and discussed cultural issues of the day, including racial justice, Vietnam, the sexual revolution… and UFOs.

Also appearing on this episode (from the modern day) are Drs. Lucas Mix and David Wilkinson. Rev. Dr. Lucas Mix is a writer, Episcopalian priest, consultant for NASA, project coordinator at Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS), and the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation. Dr. Mix hosts the Space on the Page podcast for the Library of Congress. Reverend Professor David Wilkinson is a professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University and has PhDs in astrophysics and systematic theology.

The need to be a well-informed church with Tim Tanton

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People of faith cannot be effective and relevant in the world today if they are not well informed, says Tim Tanton, who oversees UM News. On today’s episode of “Get Your Spirit in Shape,” Tim shares details about the news agency of The United Methodist Church and shares why UM News is an important ministry in the church, one that can be trusted as a reliable source of information.

Relisten: Forging peace through reconciliation with Brian Tillman

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This episode is a re-presentation of one of our first Compass podcast episodes and it’s about our personal roles in the proliferation of racism and racial reconciliation. Despite the fact that the material presented in this episode by Rev. Brian Tillman is several years old, it’s still right on point and still really needed.

Connected: Rethink Church audiomagazine May 2022

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Throughout May of 2022, our content focused on connection. And we have some great posts about how we are connected in community and how we can build stronger connections–both internally and externally. In this edition of the audiomag, we’ll hear:

“The Way of Righteousness and grace in the Star Wars universe” by Ryan Dunn: https://www.umc.org/en/content/righteousness-and-star-wars

“Community is a contact sport” by Joseph Yoo: https://www.umc.org/en/content/community-is-a-contact-sport

“Five video games to enrich your faith” by Nathan Webb: https://www.umc.org/en/content/5-video-games-for-faith

And “Do you reject evil?” by Mandy McDow: https://www.umc.org/en/content/do-you-reject-evil

Silent no more: One pastor shares mental health struggles with Vance Lowe

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For more than 38 years, the Rev. Vance Lowe was a successful United Methodist minister, with churches growing and thriving under his leadership. What his congregations and those closest to him did not know was that Vance daily struggled with mental illness, which led to addiction and eventual hospitalization in a psychiatric ward.

Listen as Vance candidly tells his story, sharing hope to those who, like him, live with mental health struggles, as well as suggesting ways United Methodists can combat stigma and offer help.

83: Integrating the physical and the spiritual with Lisa Colon DeLay

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We’re talking with Lisa Colon DeLay in this episode about her journey of physical and spiritual integration. It’s a journey where she discovered that we are dualistic beings who are part spiritual and part material. We’re both/and. And recognizing that opens us up to utilizing spiritual practices that impact our physical states as well as physical practices that impact our spiritual health.

Lisa Colon DeLay is an author specializing in teaching spiritual growth, healing, and transformation as weekly broadcaster on the Spark My Muse podcast. Lisa also provides spiritual companionship. Her most recent book is “The Wild Land Within”.

Season 3 review of Pastoring in the Digital Parish

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Our television viewing habits have changed a lot over the past few decades, and so have our needs and models for ministry. This session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish shares some A-ha moments from this past season and begins to cast a picture of the future of ministry in the digital parish.

Leading a church’s vision in digital ministry

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Rev Nicole Reilley shares her experience in being a lead pastor and leader in the church’s digital ministry.

In many larger churches, online ministry is a delegated responsibility. So church leadership chooses and individual or team of individuals to lead an online ministry while senior leadership primarily focuses in different areas.

Not all of us have such an opportunity, though, do we? It may be the case that we don’t have someone to which we can delegate. OR, it might be that we are both the senior leader AND the person who is carrying the passion to see the church extend its ministry into a digital space. 

Rev. Nicole Reilley is going to provide us with ideas and stories from her own experience in being a senior pastor at a traditionally-based church and the chief cheerleader or ringleader for pastoring a digital parish.

Rev. Nicole Reilley has 30 years experience in full-time ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church (UMC). In 2012 she planted a series of house churches training laity and clergy. Nicole brings with her a passion for new ways of doing and being church to her work as a clergy coach, specializing in social media and clergy wellness. She’s been coaching since 2015 and recently wrote “Expanding the Expedition through Digital Ministry”.

EarthKeepers: Loving Creation across the Generations with Cary and Caleb James

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No plastic for 30 days! That’s the challenge the Rev. Cary James Jr. and his 16-year-old son, Caleb, recently undertook in support of their roles as EarthKeepers, trained by the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, to address topics such as environmental justice, green technology and waste reduction in their communities.

Hear about the outcome of the “no plastic for a month” endeavor along with why the James family is passionate about environmental stewardship.

Holistic evangelism and salvation with Mark Teasdale

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Ready to tackle a couple tough ideas? In this episode of Compass, Rev. Dr. Mark Teasdale helps us adopt a healthy understand of the Christian ideas of evangelism and salvation.

Mark Teasdale is E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He is ordained in the United Methodist Church, and is the author of Evangelism for Non-Evangelists, Methodist Evangelism, American Salvation AND, most recently, Participating in Abundant Life which was the prompt for our conversation here on the Compass podcast…