Church and Main

Episode 91: Abortion: What Does the Lord Require with Frederick Schmidt

In 1973 the Supreme Court voted 7-2 in favor of abortion rights nationwide. This began a nearly 50-year battle on the issue of abortion rights. Last week, a someone leak a draft opinion written in February that appeared to overturn Roe v. Wade. This would send the issue of abortion to the states where a number of states are already crafting legislation that would either radically expand abortion rights, or dramatically restrict abortion.Where does the church stand in the midst of this? In part two of my conversation with Episcopal Priest and writer Frederick Schmidt, we chat about how the church shouldn’t rely solely on the law, moving from what’s legal to what’s moral when it comes to women and the unborn.Schmidt is currently the Vice-Rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Nashville. He is an Episcopal Priest, spiritual director, retreat facilitator, conference leader, writer, and academic. This is the second part of a two part interview with Schmidt.  A Dude Talks About Abortion (my take on abortion)If Roe Is Overturned, Where Should the Pro-Life Movement Go Next?Like what you hear? Leave a tip. Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTube Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 90: The ”Opposite Problem” in Mainline Protestantism with Frederick Schmidt

The General Convention of the Episcopal Church will consider an important proposal this summer. The measure proposed by the Diocese of Northern California would repeal canon law that requires those who receive communion must be baptized. “We believe that all the people are God’s people, so it’s not just the gifts of God for just baptized people,” said Martin Heatlie, speaking in favor of the resolution.Hospitality and inclusion are the values that are pushing the resolution. Those are two important values, but is that enough? Baptism and communion have been tied together since the early church. Does it matter if they become decoupled? Would the nature of communion and baptism change if they are split apart?Today, I welcome back Frederick Schmidt to the podcast. Schmidt is currently the Vice-Rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Nashville. He is an Episcopal Priest, spiritual director, retreat facilitator, conference leader, writer, and academic. In this interview we talk about the theology behind baptism and communion as well as Mainline Protestantism's obsession with countering fundamentalism.This is part one of a two-part episode. In the second part, I talk with Fred about abortion in light of the leak of a draft opinion from the Supreme Court that could overturn Roe v. Wade.General Convention to consider proposal to end Episcopal Church’s baptism requirement for CommunionBaptism and Communion (2012 debate on the issue)Frederick Schmidt’s BlogConfronting the Progressive Obsession with FundamentalismLeave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTube Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 89: Is There Hope for Liberal Christianity with Geoff Mitchell (Rewind)

This interview originally aired in July 2021.In the 1950s, Mainline Protestants were the largest group of Protestants in the United States. Since then, the churches have seen a decline and their footprint in American culture has shrunk. Some people think this tradition is doomed and will die in a few decades.We talked to Geoff Mitchell, Senior Pastor of Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis, TN and ask, is that really the story? Is the Mainline tradition worth saving? What caused the decline and what could bring about a renaissance?Lindenwood Christian Church websiteWhat I need is Jesus.Confronting the Progressive Obsession with FundamentalismGrumpy Old MenPreaching As Truth TellingLeave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTube Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 88: A Dude Talks About Abortion

In this unplanned solo episode, Dennis talks about the recent leak of a draft of an opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, the Supreme Court case that could overturn Roe v. Wade, the ruling that allowed for abortion rights nationwide. Dennis, acknowledging he is a man, shares his criticisms of pro-choice and pro-life Christians and how we as a society should have a balanced views on the woman and the unborn child. Dennis then talks about a proposal to be taken up at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church this summer that would allow people to have communion without being baptized.Show Notes: Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion showsSBC calls for ‘immediate abolition of abortion without exception or compromise’ Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions on Abortion  The Systemic Realities Created by Legal Abortion For red-state clergy who back abortion rights, losing Roe is a call to action This Is and Isn’t the Moment Pro-Life Evangelicals Have Waited For General Convention to consider proposal to end Episcopal Church’s baptism requirement for Communion Like the episode? Leave a tip! Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTube Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 87: What Is Pietism with Christopher Gehrz

What comes to mind when I use the word piety or pious? I’m guessing you are thinking of a person who is outwardly religious and believes they are better than anyone else around them. For people of a certain age it might be Dana Carvey’s Church Lady. But instead of thinking of a smirking and prim guy wearing a dress and a wig, you might want to think of John Wesley, the founder of what became Methodism and had an experience at a church in London where his heart was strangely warmed.Today, I talk to Chris Gehrz, a professor at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul. Chris grew up in the Evangelical Covenant Church, an evangelical denomination founded by Swedish pietists. In this episode we talk about pietism beyond the stereotypes and figure out how this practice can help the modern church. Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 86: Preaching in a Post-Trust Age with Brian Christopher Coulter

Methodist Bishop and writer, Will Willomon has this to say about preaching. “Preaching is an attack - it is an invasion from Jesus into an unbelieving world.”Willomon is right that preaching is about an invading Jesus into an unbelieving world, but how do you do that in an age where people don’t trust institutions like the church?For Pastor Brian Christopher Coulter, preaching means restoring trust.Brian is the pastor of First Presbyterian in Ft. Worth. He’s a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) where he has been a congregational consultant for the Presbyterian Mission Agency. He is a regular contributor to Presbyterian Outlook Magazine and the author of the book Be Holy. In this episode, we talk about the craft of preaching and what it means to preach in these very, interesting times.Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/Show Notes:The preaching task of this age: rebuilding trust (Brian’s article)Brian’s webpagewebsite: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTube Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 85: (Rewind) The Art of Faith with Steve Thomason

This is a re-broadcast of an episode from January 2022.Today we are chatting with Lutheran pastor Steve Thomason, who also happens to be an artist. Steve loves to draw and paint and it has been his passion since he was a child. He is the author and artist behind the cartoonist guide to the Bible. Steve is on a mission to use his art to tell the story of faith. “It is my mission to use art to create resources that help people grow deeper in God's love,” he says on his website. In the episode, we talk about how he became an artist, how he became a pastor and how the two passions intersect.Like the episode? Leave a tip! website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainYouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteytShow Notes:A Cartoonist’s Guide to the Bible websiteSteve’s website Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 84: Just War Theory with H. David Baer

The war in Ukraine has made people think again about Christians and war. When is it possible for a Christian to take up arms? Are all wars okay, or are there wars that are totally unjust?Is it time for a revival of the just war movement? Today,I talk with H. David Baer is a professor at Texas Lutheran University where he teaches theology, philosophy, and ethics. He is also the author of the book Recovering Christian Realism: Just War Theory as a Political Ethic. He writes frequently about just war theory and how “the work of peacemaking depends upon the responsible exercise of power.”Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/Show Notes:David Baer’s websiteBaer Talk Podcastwebsite: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTube Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 83: Mainline Church Planting with Paul Moore

On Easter Sunday a congregation in south Minneapolis will hold its last worship service after 105 years. This closing has a lot of meaning for me because it was the church that I interned at when I was in seminary.Mainline Protestant churches seem to be closing at a faster clip than their evangelical counterparts. Can more progressive faith traditions still plant churches?Today I talk to Paul Moore, the pastor of Chain of Lakes Presbyterian Church in Blaine, Minnesota. Working through the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, he helped to plant this new church in the Northern Twin Cities suburbs over 10 years ago and the church is finally building its own church building. We talked about the challenges of planting new churches these days and the future of church planting within Mainline Protestant churches.Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/Show Notes:Chain of Lakes Presbyterian Churchwebsite: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTubeGet full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

En Route Excursions: Martin Luther on the Second Cold War

In this EnRoute Excursions episode, Dennis reads an article he wrote on the advent of the Second Cold War and the fear of nuclear war. He ends sharing his husband's thoughts about planting a tree in this uncertain time.Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/Show Notes:Ukraine and the Second Cold War-by Dennis Sanders website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTube Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe