Category: Compass Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Faith, science and life calling! In this episode, we have the pleasure of talking with Rev. Kara Slade, an engineer turned priest whose journey from the world of mechanical engineering to the pulpit is an interesting blend of spirituality and professional transformation. 

Rev. Canon Dr. Kara Slade holds a PhD in Christian theology and ethics from Duke University.  She also earned a PhD in mechanical engineering and materials science and then joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as a research engineer and test manager for a variety of civilian and military projects. Kara’s career took a turn towards ministry (as we’ll hear), and today she serves as associate rector at Trinity Church in Princeton, New Jersey. Along the way, she’s written many enlightening articles and a book entitled “The Fullness of Time”.

In this episode:
(00:00) Podcast episode featuring engineer turned priest’s journey.
(03:33) Career changes.
(06:53) Struggled with faith, left church, worked for NASA.
(11:28) Struggles with faith and government work post-9/11.
(13:19) Christian life involves repentance, brings whole self.
(17:07) Evolution theories shape human social and political beliefs.
(23:06) Assuming bias impacts technology, particularly for people of color.
(26:39) Scripture is primary, but don’t over-construct.
(28:47) Priest emphasizes humility and reason in faith.
(32:41) Exploring spiritual forces, justice, and cultural conflicts.
(38:03) Reflect on science, religion, share your thoughts.

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications.

Find show notes and more episodes of Compass: www.umc.org/compass

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

We’re talking with Rev. Heather Jallad about the creative, fun and innovative ways that church is coming together and meeting the world. It’s an invitation to Rethink Church.

This episode of Compass dives into new expressions of church like Dinner Church and Messy Church. It’s all inspiring… and it gets us thinking about how we, individually might both connect with spiritual community and how we might become involved in leading the church into new areas of witness.

Rev. Heather Jallad serves as the Associate Director of Training for Fresh Expressions NA, Community Engagement Pastor at Cannon UMC in Snellville, Georgia, and as a Specialist for the North Georgia Annual Conference. She pioneered the Common Ground Network, a network of fresh church expressions and The Douglasville Dinner Church in Douglasville, GA and a collaborative Dinner Church in Grayson, GA.

In this episode:
(00:00) Reverend Heather Jallad’s inspiring work on church.
(04:24) Introduced to dinner church, partnered with school.
(08:19) Fresh expression emphasizes mutuality and shared meals.
(11:21) Adapting church to fit modern schedules and lifestyles.
(14:56) Church planters stumbled onto non-traditional methods.
(24:34) Pandemic of loneliness, longing for community meals.
(30:29) Traditional roles expanded to engage new members.
(32:39) Promoting house churches for effective discipleship.
(35:37) Recognition of Pioneers in the church community.
(45:18) Geeky church models dive complete.

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications.

Find show notes and more episodes of Compass: www.umc.org/compass

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

In this episode, we sit down with Abigail Browka, the curator of the Everyday Sanctuary app, and we get into the importance of real-life experiences and faith journeys. 

Pastor Abigail shares profound insights into tapping into creative spirituality, from the necessity of supporting one another in our spiritual paths to the role of brief, accessible spiritual practices in our daily lives. Together we’re going to explore the significance of daily spiritual practices, silent retreats, and the emergence of new spiritual practices and faith communities. This episode promises to inspire a deeper understanding of spirituality and encourage you to embrace it in your everyday life.

Abigail Browka is the founder and curator of the Everyday Sanctuary mobile app, which was launched in 2021 during the pandemic. With the intent to bring sacred practices into everyday life, Abigail created the app to provide a satisfying spiritual practice in less than 5 minutes, no matter where you are. Her goal is to make it easy for people to connect with God, whether they are at the doctor’s office, in the carpool line, or at a friend’s house. She also hosts a podcast as another way to help people find their spiritual connection. If you’ve followed our related Rethink Church social media accounts, you’ve seen Abigail as we feature a spiritual practice from her on those channels every Thursday.

In this episode
[00:00] Compass podcast promotes spiritual awareness and gratitude.
[04:58] Busy individuals finding God in everyday life.
[10:22] Creating accessible, 5-minute spiritual connections through app.
[14:02] Affirming daily spiritual practice and benefits of silence.
[15:09] Quiet space allows for reflection and appreciation.
[19:11] Emerging ministries adapting to changing world.
[21:53] Harvard study shows importance of healthy relationships.
[26:22] Community participation in events creates connections.
[30:14] Frequent contact, but infrequent meaningful conversations.
[33:18] Explore spiritual practices, share your experiences, and inspire.

For show notes and more episodes of Compass, visit www.umc.org/compass

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ryan Dunn addresses the struggle to find peace during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Offering contemplative practices for a more peaceful Christmas, Ryan explores ways to connect with God’s loving and peaceful spirit during this special time of year.

From leveraging inconveniences as moments of reflection to turning preparations into prayers, listeners are guided through five contemplative practices to infuse the holiday season with spiritual significance. Join us as we delve into the significance of Christmas and uncover ways to find inner peace amidst the chaos.

In this episode:
(00:00) the importance of peace and Christmas
(01:27) Intro to contemplative practices
(02:22) Using inconveniences as reminders
(03:20) Preparation as prayer
(03:30) Practicing fasting
(04:27) Reading Luke 1 and 2
(04:56) Engaging with Christmas imagery
(06:21) Closing and additional resources

More from the Compass podcast: www.umc.org/compass

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Niceness in church communities can sometimes conceal deeper issues of injustice. It’s important to disrupt the status quo and engage in conversations about patriarchy, inequality, and systems of oppression.

In this episode, you probably want to listen for the ways in niceness, though well-meaning, can be a hindrance to equality and justice. Also listen for the word “complementarianism” and how its practical application can limit everybody.

Liz Cooledge Jenkins is a writer, preacher, and former college campus minister with degrees from Stanford University (BS Symbolic Systems) and Fuller Theological Seminary (MDiv). v). She believes that people, faith communities, and religious traditions are at their best when they’re always forming and re-forming – open to change, learning, growth, and transformation. She wants to live out a feminist, antiracist, inclusive, community-oriented, earth-healing kind of Christian faith.

In this episode:
(00:00) Let’s meet Liz Jenkins
(03:54 Hierarchy, church patriarchy, feminism in media.
(08:41) A first stand against biases
(11:54) Niceness can hide injustice and hinder change.
(17:22) Understanding Paul’s writings in modern context.
(18:41) That time when the Hebrew midwives defy pharaoh to save boys.
(21:51) Hopes to help church and community.
(25:10) Words of wisdom and gratitude for conversation.

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications. Find notes and other episodes at www.umc.org/compass

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

We’ll explore questions like: Does God need our worship? Are some sins worse than others? How does spirituality affect mental health? Can science and religion coexist? Where do we see evidence of God? And why would a good God allow for evil?

We’ll provide perspectives and insights on these questions, emphasizing that our answers are not meant to be definitive, but rather to encourage thoughtful consideration and invite the presence of the Holy Spirit as we seek understanding through grace and faith.

In this episode:
(00:00) Asking tough questions about Christianity
(03:28) Does God need our worship?
(07:27) Are some sins worse than others?
(10:04) How does spirituality affect my mental health?
(13:09) Can science and religion co-exist?
(16:20) Where do you see evidence of God?
(19:24) Why is there evil?
(23:20) More about Compass

Interested in the whole video series from Rethink Church? https://www.umc.org/en/rethink-church/topics/questioning/questions-on-faith-video-series

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

The Compass Podcast looks into a topic that has been making headlines and stirring heated debates: the Israel and Gaza conflict. Specifically, we will address a perplexing phenomenon: the religiously driven blind support of Israeli militarism by some Christians. What theological perspectives drive such a fascination with this conflict and where did those ideas come from? Let’s take a quick look at the historical roots of the conflict, unraveling the layers of religious beliefs, and examining the concept of eschatology and its influence on these perspectives.

In this episode:
[00:00] Could this be sign of the End Times?
[01:12] Christians support and how violence hampers peace.
[03:49] Holocaust fuels Zionism, UN plans partition.
[10:41] Hamas attacks Israel, Israel responds forcefully.
[13:06] Eschatology, Israel war, end times, dispensationalism, premillennialism
[16:13] Israel, church, prophecy, temple, second coming.
[18:52] Faithful taken away, tribulations, Armageddon, millennial kingdom.
[23:53] Witness of mercy, peace shows God’s movement.
[25:28] More about Compass

For more spiritual practices and inspiration for your spiritual journey: www.umc.org/compass

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Join us as we explore the intersection of faith, culture, and personal experiences with Rev. Mark Feldmeir. Mark’s faith journey led him to question the nature of God’s power, especially in the face of suffering and evil. He emphasized that God’s power is not coercive or unilateral, but rather persuasive. Mark also reflected on the significance of personal experiences with God, often recognized only in hindsight. He highlighted the importance of paying attention to the small, ordinary, and imperfect moments of life, as these often serve as avenues through which we can hear the voice of God.

In light of the episode’s themes, we encourage you to reflect on the evidence of God’s presence in your life. Are there specific habits or spiritual practices that you employ regularly to cultivate this awareness?

Mark Feldmeir is the author of five books, including his latest work, Life after God: Finding Fath When You Can’t Believe Anymore. He has served on the Adjunct Faculty at Claremont School of Theology, where he has taught homiletics, and has spoken at various conferences throughout the country on topics ranging from preaching, politics, and pop culture. He currently serves as Lead Pastor at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

In this episode:
(00:00) Let’s reflect theologically on the movement of God
(00:43) Mark’s academic journey challenges beliefs about God.
(03:48) Perception of God shifted by today’s circumstances.
(09:11) Never doubted presence of God, but struggled with theological concepts.
(11:04) Reflecting on God’s power when bad things happen.
(14:29) God sightings lead to purpose in life.
(19:21) Discerning gifts for ministry, meeting deep needs.
(21:20) Book aims for deconstruction and reconstruction, resonates.
(24:38) Discovery, uncertainty, faith seeking understanding, pilgrimage.
(27:39) Diverse practices connect me with the divine.
(32:26) Join us for meaningful episodes of Compass.

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications. Find notes and other episodes at www.umc.org/compass

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Hosts Ryan Dunn and Michelle Maldonado, alongside guest Ashley Boggan, take us on a journey to uncover the distinctiveness of the Methodist faith. Initially produced as part of the United Methodist Podcast-a-thon, this episode offers insightful perspectives from Dr. Ashley Boggan, the general secretary of the United Methodist Church’s General Commission on Archives and History.

Ever wonder where the name “Methodist” came from? Why is Welch’s grape juice often used in United Methodist communion? What’s different about how United Methodists interact with the world? Dr. Boggan provides some historical context around what makes the United Methodist unique and peculiar amidst today’s many Christian denominations.

In this episode:
(00:00) Compass podcast explores the uniqueness of United Methodism.
(03:03) Early risers study, pray, hold each accountable. Seek mission beyond Oxford, helping the poor. Methodism: faith in action through love.
(08:34) Methodist women pushed boundaries for equality.
(11:22) Personal holiness requires relational connection with others.
(14:09) Wesley valued personal experiences in interpreting scripture.
(21:52) Methodist legacy: evolving church for community service.
(26:34) Welch’s juice and the UMC
(30:48) Interactive Methodist resource with podcast and courses.

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications and is produced by Ryan Dunn and Michelle Maldonado. See episode notes and more episodes at www.umc.org/compass

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Are you ready to explore the intersections of artificial intelligence and spirituality? Join us on the latest episode of Compass as we dive into the impact of AI on the Christian spiritual journey.

We navigate the potential benefits and pitfalls of integrating AI into our everyday spirituality, play around with AI Jesus entities, and hear how Jay Cooper and the congregation of Violet Crown City Church have utilized artificial intelligence as part of their community life.

Here are a few key takeaways from this episode:
– AI can serve as a powerful tool for exploration and learning.
– It’s essential to remain skeptical of the limitations and potential biases AI may carry.
– The Christian spiritual journey is a beautiful, messy, and deeply personal endeavor. It is not about finding easy answers or relying on technological shortcuts.

In this episode:
(00:00) Exploring our use of artificial intelligence
(02:35) AI can inform Christian practice; limitations explored.
(06:52) AI Jesus on Twitch answers theological questions with patience and humor.
(09:14) Texting with AI Jesus
(11:55) Meeting with Jay Cooper and AI in Violet Crown City Church
(19:49) What happens in AI-generated worship
(26:36) AI and messy spirituality
(32:39) Artificial intelligence replacing pastors?
(43:47) New technology has always faced skepticism. AI can be helpful in certain areas, like communication and SEO.
(47:14) AI and prevenient grace

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications and is produced by Ryan Dunn and Michelle Maldonado.
See episode notes and more episodes at www.umc.org/compass