Church and Main

Episode 108: The Chaplaincy Is Not Your Backup Plan with Jeremy Wilhelmi

One of my biggest regrets is not accepting a call to become the college chaplain at a Lutheran college in the Midwest. The college in Illinois was really interested in them, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted the position or not. After a while, the college went with someone else.Being a college chaplain has to be the coolest job ever, according to Paul Raushenbush. “I spent eight glorious years at Princeton University as associate dean of religious life and the chapel,” he writes in a 2015 essay for the Huffington Post. “I had the privilege of serving students, staff and faculty from every tradition and background. Our office was a magnet for people from every corner of the world with a huge range of beliefs, but all of whom were looking for a place on campus where they could hang out and be themselves.”Chaplains work in various settings, from colleges to hospitals to businesses and other places. Being a chaplain is a lot of things, but one thing it should not be is a backup plan, writes our guest Jeremy Wilhelmi. "I’m called to be a chaplain. I didn’t settle for this vocation. I am not a chaplain because I couldn’t cut it in the parish. I truly believe the Holy Spirit guided me here." That quote is from the June 2022 edition of Presbyterian Outlook under the headline. “This is not your backup plan – An open letter from a chaplain.” In the article, he tries to misspell the belief among some clergy that being a chaplain is a good place to land if congregational ministry doesn’t work out. “You should not be a chaplain just because you have had a difficult experience in a congregation or need a break from congregational ministry. You should be a chaplain because you are called to be one.”In this episode, we talk about the chaplaincy in general and about his position in particular. Jeremy is an ordained pastor in Presbyterian Church (USA) and he is the college chaplain at Ozarks University in Arkansas a position he’s held since 2016.churchandmain.org  Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 107: On the Mainline

In this episode (which feels like a really, really long trailer), Dennis talks about why this podcast exists and who gave him the inspiration for this podcast.Where Did the Mainline Go Wrong- by Walter Russell Meadchurchandmain.org Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 106: The Antifragile Church with Drew McIntryre

In this episode, Drew joins us again to talk about what it means to be an antifragile congregation in challenging times, especially in his own denomination, the United Methodist Church which is in the midst of a schism.Show NotesThe Church is Not Resilient: On Antifragility & Mitosis Antifragile Video with Nasim Teleb Like what you hear? Leave a tip.Join the mailing listchurchandmain.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 105: The Future of the Disciples of Christ with Geoff Mitchell

We bring back Geoff Mitchell pastor of Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis to talk about the future of his denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).Show Notes:Last year's interview with Geoff Dennis' recent solo episode on the future of the Disciples Lindenwood Christian Church website Covenant Project- A New denominational initiative to modernize the church Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 104: A Ukrainian Psalm with Fyodor Raychynets

Ukrainian pastor and theologian Fyodor Raychynets talks about living out your faith in God in the midst of the current war with Russia.  Show notes:Interview with Fyodor by Baptist News Global Podcast Episode with Miroslav Volf Interviewing Fyodor Like what you hear? Leave a tip.Join the mailing listchurchandmain.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: hello@enroutepodcast.org Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 103: What Really Happened to Sears (and Kmart) with Mark Cohen

Former Sears Canada CEO Mark Cohen talks about the downfall of Sears and Kmart from his vantage point inside the company.Show Notes:Who Killed Sears and Kmart Series by Dennis Sanders: Part One and Part Two Radio Canada Documentary About Sears with Mark Cohen Who Killed Sears and Kmart Episode The Hedge Fund that Ate Sears Episode  Like what you hear? Leave a tip.Join the mailing listchurchandmain.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: hello@enroutepodcast.org Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 102: Happy Pride!

Dennis shares the audio of a vespers video he made for his congregation about the theological and spiritual significance of LGBTQ pride and the imperative to share the good news with LGBTQ people that the God of the universes loves them as they are.A Christian’s Posture towards Pride Month and LGBTQ+ People Happy Pride! (video version)  Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

January 6 and Christian Nationalism with Jack Jenkins | Episode 101

As the public hearings of the January 6th Committee continue we talk to Jack Jenkins a reporter for Religion News Service about the connections between Christian Nationalism and the attack on the Capitol.How Christian Nationalism Paved the Way for January 6 by Jack Jenkins Jack's website Like what you hear? Leave a tip.Join the mailing listwebsite: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: hello@enroutepodcast.org Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 100: Best Kept Secret

Dennis marks the 100th episode of the podcast by announcing the final name change and opining on the vitality of the Disciples of Christ, the denomination that has been his church home for a quarter-century. Dennis feels the movement has gone off track and lacks focus. Can a mainline Protestant denomination get back on track?  Show Notes:Fatalism and the Disciples of Christ Disciples 3.0 Praying For Revival (I Think) Faith Among the Ruins Like what you hear? Leave a tip.Join the mailing listwebsite: churchandmain.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: hello@enroutepodcast.org Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 99: Letters to a New Pastor with Ben Gosden

"They didn't teach that in seminary." That's the phrase you will hear a pastor say sometimes as they encounter an unexpected situation. But the education of a minister doesn't end when they get their Masters of Divinity degree. Indeed, it is a lifelong education that can last decades.Methodist pastor Ben Gosden began writing a series of articles on his blog to new pastors, sharing some of the knowledge he's learned in over a decade of ministry. Ben is the Lead Pastor of Trinity United Methodist in Savannah, GA. We talk about what he’s learned in over a decade of being in the pulpit, as well as how to talk about racism and privilege. He even gives me some needed advice.Covered In the Master’s Dust- Ben’s WebsiteFaith Revisited PodcastLike what you hear? Leave a tip.Join the mailing listwebsite: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: hello@enroutepodcast.org Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe