Category: Compass Podcast

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We’re talking diversity, inclusion, integration, hope, the church and divine intervention with John Blake. John has some interesting stories to tell about family and relationships… including his relationship with the church.

John Blake is an award-winning journalist for CNN.com. His 2020 essay, “There’s One Epidemic We May Never Find a Cure For: Fear of Black Men in Public Spaces,” was recently selected by Bustle Digital Group as one of the 11 best essays on racism and police violence. He is a Baltimore native living in Atlanta… and his book that just hit the proverbial shelves is “More Than I Imagined” which prompted our conversation with John.

In this episode:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:39) Why John Blake is sharing his story now
(06:08) At what point did you “choose” church?
(07:54) What does real church diversity look like?
(09:47) Building a radically integrated church
(19:59) Hope for the future of the church
(22:44) Joy in relationships
(24:03) When the spirit intervenes
(29:20) “Imposter Christianity”
(32:21) Learning from Monster Culture!

The Compass podcast is a production of United Methodist Communications. For episode notes or more episodes of Compass, visit: www.umc.org/compass

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Special release.

On the morning of March 27, 2023, a gunman entered Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, and shot 6 people to death. This event was a catalyst in Nashville, leading to protests, political intrigue and division, and the organization of a wide base of religious leaders. In this episode of Compass, Michelle Maldonado and Ryan Dunn share their experiences in response to the shootings, the political climate and their first-hand participation in some of the demonstrations and protests that have happened since March 27–including the April 17, 2023, Moral Monday demonstration in Nashville.

This episode provides insight from leaders and participants in the local actions, including Rev. Dr. William Barber of the Poor Peoples’ Campaign and Repairers of the Breach, Rev. Ingrid McIntyre, and Rev. Stacey Harwell-Dye. They all share why these events have been a motivating factor in the mobilization of clergy and people of faith.

(00:00) Introduction
(00:35) Faith leaders take action
(02:26) March 27, 2023
(05:44) Demonstrations and the Tennessee Three
(08:45) Local leaders organize
(12:57) Rev. Dr. William Barber on organizing Moral Monday in Nashville
(22:07) Rev. Stacey Harwell-Dye and Rev. Ingrid McIntyre on why faith leaders take action
(29:16) What happened at Moral Monday Nashville
(31:40) Speaker clips: Angera Ferrell-Zabala, Bishop Anne Henning-Byfield and William Barber
(39:18) Inside the statehouse
(44:11) The cost of inaction
(49:31) What happens now?
(52:16) Final thoughts

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The Compass podcast is a production of United Methodist Communications and releases new episodes every other Wednesday. For more information, including episode notes, and other episodes, visit: www.umc.org/compass

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The April 2023 edition of the Rethink Church audiomagazine presented on the Compass podcast. In this edition, we present the latest stories and one classic read from the Rethink Church website. Throughout April 2023, our content focused on faithfulness.

We’ll hear:

• “The growing pains of faithfulness” by Madison Myers https://www.umc.org/en/content/the-growing-pains-of-faithfulness 
• “What happens when we make a faith a verb?” by Joseph Yoo https://www.umc.org/en/content/what-happens-when-we-make-faith-a-verb 
• “Why Christians care about the environment” by Ryan Dunn https://www.umc.org/en/content/why-christians-care-about-the-environment 
• And “Online Gospel: Jesus was there first” by Nathan Webb https://www.umc.org/en/content/online-gospel-jesus-was-there-first

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Restlessness is not comfortable. We’d rather not spend too much time dwelling on thoughts of missing out… or of doubt… or spend too much time dwelling on mundanity of life. That’s not a comfortable place to be.

So when someone like Casey Tygrett comes along suggesting that restlessness is a gift because it opens us up to the movements of God, that feels a little jarring.

Casey Tygrett is a speaker and the director of spiritual direction practice for Soul Care, which helps church and nonprofit leaders restore health to their souls. He is the author of The Gift of Restlessness and is the host of the Restlessness is a Gift podcast. Tygrett holds an MDiv and a DMin in spiritual formation from Lincoln Christian Seminary. He and his family live in south suburban Chicago.

Connect with Casey: www.caseytygrett.com
More episodes of the Compass podcast: www.umc.org/compass

In this episode:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:20) How goes it with your soul?
(02:57) Restlessness and exhaustion
(04:49) Restlessness and decision making
(10:05) Why write a book on restlessness?
(15:30) Restlessness reveals reality
(24:12) Spiritual journey inspires restlessness
(28:45) Restlessness and peace
(34:14) Belief and spiritual direction
(38:56) Catching up with Casey Tygrett

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Rev. Richenda Fairhurst shares about the relationship between our faith, spirituality and concern for our environment. This concern compels us to respond to climate change. Rev. Richenda shares several action steps for combating climate change–both personal actions and community action.

Richenda Fairhust was trained by the Climate Reality Project and Center for Earth Ethics Ministers’ Trainings, serving afterwards as a mentor and speaker. She served as a chaplain for Occupy Wall Street in NYC and journeyed to Standing Rock to participate in prayer and solidarity during the Call to Clergy in November 2016. She founded Faiths4Future in 2020, and serves as a co-organizer for Faiths4Future and the Climate Café Multifaith. Currently she serves as Steward of Creation at Circle Faith Future.

Check out Faiths4Future: https://faiths4future.org/

In this episode:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:32) Meet Rev. Richenda Fairhurst
(02:42) What is Faiths 4 Future?
(06:31) What pulled you into action against climate change?
(12:30) What were first personal steps against climate change?
(21:31) How do we know we’re making difference?
(26:43) On earth as it is in heaven…
(27:52) How are churches making a difference?
(33:31) Get more information

Find more episodes of the Compass podcast: www.umc.org/compass

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In this edition, we present the latest stories and one classic read from the Rethink Church website. Throughout March 2023, our content focused on Lent and the resilience it inspires. We’ll hear:

• “What is Palm Sunday?” by Ryan Dunn https://www.umc.org/en/content/what-is-palm-sunday
• “Lent, fasting and revelation” by Joseph Yoo https://www.umc.org/en/content/lent-fasting-hunger-and-revelation 
• “Resilient women in the Bible” by Madison Myers https://www.umc.org/en/content/resilient-women-in-the-bible 
• And  “What’s up with churches on Twtich?” by Nathan Webb https://www.umc.org/en/content/whats-up-with-churches-on-twitch 

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Christian Collins Winn joins the Compass Podcast to share how disruptive the teachings of Jesus really are–especially in regards to our social and political systems. Christian makes the claim that, though we don’t often talk about “Jubilee” and “apocalypse”, faith is all about what those terms represent and disrupting broken systems through actions like the forgiveness of debts and freedom for the oppressed and the enabling of human flourishing.

Christian Collins Winn is the author of “Jesus, Jubilee and the Politics of God’s Reign”. He is adjunct professor of religion at Augsburg University and teaching minister and theologian in residence at Meetinghouse Church in Minnesota.

In this episode:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:41) Meet Christian Collins Winn
(04:04) Definition of “God’s reign”
(04:49) What is “Jubilee”?
(06:52) What we mean by “apocalypse”
(10:21) Jubilee in action
(14:05) Our discomfort with the terms
(17:55) Why is the Jubilee principle so important?
(20:39) Jesus and Jubilee
(24:28) God’s politics
(27:44) An example at George Floyd Square

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Joseph Yoo uses the power of stories — both ancient and contemporary — to remind us how we are often unexpectedly intertwined with one another and with God.

Rev. Joseph Yoo. Joseph is the planter of Mosaic Episcopal Church located in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. And he has just released a book called “When the Saints Go Flying In” which shares some stories of celebrated people from Christian history, a few stories that we might recognize from other popular figures, and, ultimately, the ongoing story of God working in the lives of everyday people like us.

For more episodes of Compass: www.umc.org/compass

In this episode:

(00:00) Introduction
(04:00) Who is your favorite saint?
(06:30) Why write about saints?
(09:31) What makes a person a saint?
(11:22) Surprising saints?
(14:02) A forgotten saint
(21:56) Their stories enlighten our stories
(26:21) Planting a church
(28:45) Church trauma

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This is the February 2023 edition of the Rethink Church audiomagazine presented on the Compass podcast.

In this edition, we present the latest stories and one classic read from the Rethink Church website.

Throughout February 2023, our content focused on being deeply rooted. We’ll hear:

(00:00) Introduction
(00:50) “The Last of Us: Hive Mind vs The Body of Christ” by Nathan Webb
(06:35) “Are Traditions Like Marriage Becoming Too Old-Fashioned” by Madison Myers 
(11:49) “How and How Much Should I Pray” by Joseph Yoo
(16:38) “Church of the None and Done” by Kristin Joyner

 

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What is the season of Lent, where did it come from and why is it important? Do you know the most popular things to give up during Lent? You might be surprised by how some people practice this special season.

Compass co-hosts Ryan and Michelle share their Lenten experiences and some ideas about how we all can encounter deeper connection and spiritual meaning during this special time of year.

In this episode:
(00:00) What is Lent?
(03:08) A theatrical history of Lent
(10:05) Lent traditions from around the world
(17:49) Top things people give up for Lent, according to Twitter
(20:40) Personal practices for Lent
(28:58) Lenten blessing