Church and Main

Episode 81: Faith, Hope and the Republican Party

Last month in Washington, there was a gathering of mostly NeverTrump Conservatives called Principles First. People came from across the nation to discuss the current state of conservatism and how to beat back Trumpism. Among the many speakers was Reed Howard. Reed is the Director of Communications at the Institute of Politics and Public Policy at Georgetown University. He served as minister at Central United Methodist in Atlanta and received his Masters of Divinity at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. He has been a long-time activist within the NeverTrump movement, representing a generation that wants to see a better conservatism. In this episode, we talk about the role of faith in politics and what’s next for the Never Trump movement.Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1 Join the mailing list: https://dennissanders.substack.com/Show Notes:Reed’s BioReed’s May 2021 Podcast InterviewPrinciples First website website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTube Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Epsiode 80: Vladimir Putin’s Holy War

This special episode of En Route looks at the religious roots of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Vladimir Putin working with leaders in the Russian Orthodox Church to use the Christian faith in the service of Russian nationalism.Help to support relief efforts in Poland to help Ukrainian refugees.Matthew 25 MinistriesWorldVisionEpiscopal Relief and DevelopmentLutheran World ReliefUnited Methodist Committee on ReliefCatholic Relief ServicesChurch World ServiceInternational Ministries-American Baptist ChurchesWeek of Compassion-Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)Ukrainian Orthodox Church-USA Humanitarian ReliefSources Used for this Podcast  Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 79: Silence and Scream in Ukraine

Dan Buttry is an American Baptist minister that has worked in peacemaking efforts for several decades. In 2020 he retired from his role as the Global Consultant for Peace and Justice for International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches. I talk to Dan about his experiences in Ukraine, what he's learned and how that relates to the current Russian invasion of Ukraine.Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1Show Notes:Dan’s visit to Dnipro, UkraineButtry Center for Peace and Nonviolence at Central Seminary- Shawnee, KS(named after Dan and his wife Sharon)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 78: Finding God in the Mundane with Corey Nathan

I know you’re going to enjoy today’s episode with Corey Nathan. We had a wide ranging conversation on theology and culture and life in general. It’s a little different than recent interviews that has a specific focus on an issue. Instead it’s more of a conversation about faith, civility, respect and gratitude.Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1Show Notes:Corey’s 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 77: How the War in Ukraine Changes Everything

Today, we are talking about the war between Ukraine and Russia and how it is changing everything. Joining me is Andrew Donaldson, the host of the Heard Tell Podcast. We talk about how this war ends the post Cold War order, about the new order that replaces it, about how leadership will change, how Russia will shape this new order with or without Vladamir Putin and the role of the United States in this new world.Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTubeShow Notes:Hello Cold War II! By Dennis SandersA Prayer for Volodymyr Zelensky by Franklin FoerHeard Tell Podcast Andrew’s Podcast Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 76: From Russia With Loathing with Brian Kaylor

In a few hours or a few days, we might see Russia invade its neighbor to the South, Ukraine. President Biden said intelligence indicates Russian President Vladimir Putin has made up his mind to invade Ukraine and he’s set the capital Kyiv in his sights.In 2016, Putin passed a law that basically made all religions and Christian sects illegal unless they were registered by the government. The Russian Orthodox Church was exempt from this law. In this episode we talk about the state of religious liberty in Russia and Ukraine with Brian Kaylor, the editor of Word and Way magazine.Leave a tip: https://www.tipsmack.com/artist/tipjar/qzuq1website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTubeShow Notes:The Russian Orthodox Church and Ukraine Wall Street JournalFrom Russia with No Love Word and WayDangerous Dogma Podcast (Brian’s Podcast)Brian Kaylor BioForum 18 Website Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 75: A Year of Living Dangerously

In this solo episode, Dennis talks about the reason China is hosting the Winter Olympics in spite of its horrible human rights record, the frustrations of leading a church at this time and why 1983 was the year the world almost ended and why God isn't coming to save us from the horrors of this world.website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTubeShow Notes:God Will Not Protect You Why China Is Hosting the Winter Olympics (Video) Wanted: Serious Republicans to Run for Congress Support the Show! https://pod.fan/en-route-journeys-in-faith-and-modern-life Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 74: COVID Isn’t Done With You

We are coming up to the 2 year mark since COVID became a daily part of our lives. With little fanfare, America passed 900,000 lives lost to the virus. After two very long years, everyone is tired. We are tried of wearing masks, we are tired of events canceled, we are tired of the culture war- we are just tired. Journalist Barri Weiss recently proclaimed she was “done with COVID.” But is Weiss right? No, says Methodist Pastor Drew McIntrye. McIntyre is the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC and is also the spouse of a doctor. He took to the internet to write a blog post reflecting on COVID and his physician wife. Looking at the pandemic through his wife’s experiences gave him a real-time view of the virus and that view is not pretty. We talk about the problem of ignorance passing as knowledge, selfishness as freedom and what it means to be a person of faith in a time of a pandemic.website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTubeShow Notes:Married to Medicine in a Pandemic by Drew McIntryeScandal of Jesus and Black Lives Matter Episode with Drew McIntyreGod & Whiskey Podcast Drew’s PodcastThe Problem with COVID Contrarianism by Cathy YoungRise of Omicron Episode with Michael SiegelOn the Coronavirus Episode with Michael SiegelSupport the Show! https://pod.fan/en-route-journeys-in-faith-and-modern-life Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 73: Where Two or Three Are Gathered

If you’re like me, the pastor of a small, declining congregation or a member in such a congregation, no doubt you’ve heard this phrase or some form of it from a member leaving the congregation or a denominational official. Your congregation doesn’t have enough people to survive, so its best that you end the visible ministry of the congregation. But is that the whole story? Is viability based on how many butts are in the pews? How many people do you need to to have a church, anyway. Tracy Barnowe says the answer is two. Two people. Tracey is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and she has made it her mission to help congregations grow, not by using some secretive patented process, but by the age old process of welcoming people when they visit and inviting family and friends to worship with you. If you are in a declining Mainline Protestant congregation, this episode is for you. Tracy will also tell you why you just need two people to be church. Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 72: Make Republicans Govern Again

In this episode, I welcome back Ariel Hill-Davis, the Policy Director for Republican Women for Progress. With populist candidates like JD Vance, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Madison Cawthorn, you have to wonder, can the GOP ever be a serious governing party again. Ariel thinks there’s still a chance and is working to support candidates who have a chance to defeat incumbents like Greene. With Democrats on track to lose the House of Representatives in November, the hope is to have Representatives in the GOP interested in policy and not owning the libs. Is there still hope for the GOP?website: enroutepodcast.orgLeave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmainEmail: reverendpodcast@gmail.comFacebookTwitterYouTubeShow Notes:The GOP might retake Congress in the midterms. Then what? By Grayson QuayNot All Georgia Republicans Want More Marjorie Taylor Greene by Liz SkalkaRepublican Women for Progress HomepagePrevious Episode with Ariel Hill-DavisSupport the Show! https://pod.fan/en-route-journeys-in-faith-and-modern-life Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe