Put away the trash talk! The mainline protestant church is full of strength and hope. I am full of optimism about the mainline church’s future, despite the premature obituaries currently being written.
I’m your host, Rev. Steven D. Martin, a pastor, communicator, filmmaker, and provocateur. I have a love/hate relationship with the church, even as I’ve given my life to it. I suspect I’m not alone.
On this podcast, I’ll talk with a cast of characters that include friends old and new who are passionate about finding ways through the wilderness the mainline church finds itself in. You’ll get inspiration, resources, ideas, and the assurance that you’re not alone. Join me each week for a conversation with the most interesting and innovative Christian leaders in the world today.
(Formerly the “Online Ministry Mastermind” podcast)
My guest is Rev. Allison Mark, senior pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Torrence, CA. Allison details her experiences in leadership, her struggles, and candidly shares her thoughts about the future of the denomination. https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/8nndqe/Allison_Mark6ccpb.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In his recent Religion News Service article, Jacob Lupfer writes about the divisions in the United Methodist Church, “In any ecclesial conflict there are non-combatants who don’t really understand what all the fighting is about. But in this case particularly, the muddling Methodist middle that has historically tempered the impulses of extremists is indifferent to…
This week Curtis Ramsey-Lucas published a provocative article in The Christian Citizen asking important questions about Facebook’s outreach to faith leaders. He begins: This summer, Elizabeth Dias, who covers faith and politics for the New York Times, wrote an article titled “Facebook’s Next Target: The Religious Experience.” Published July 25, it chronicled Facebook’s efforts to partner with…
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is quoted as saying, “…For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Interestingly, the Gospel of Luke tells the same story but omits this “ransom” business, indicating that from the very earliest days, what’s known…
Yes, my name is Steve Martin. I’ve been a fan of the comedian by the same name since I was thirteen, and I suddenly became popular in school because I shared his name. It’s been a long, funny ride. But it gets better. Recently I ran into another Steve Martin on social media, and the…
This podcast began when I stumbled across a simple Facebook post in a group. The majority of the conversation regarding online ministry has been on how to restore sanctuary worship while maintaining some of the advances achieved during the time our sanct…
The word, “pivot,” has perhaps been overused lately, but it has special meaning over the past year, especially for organizations that had few alternatives to in-person gatherings. It’s one thing to have church online, or to have in-person worship withou…
We clergy speak of the most significant event in history: the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Why is it so hard to “put ourselves out there” when we carry such an incredible message? Most of us are allergic to anything that feels like self-pro…
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