Church-y Conversations with People Who Know Things

Carmen Lansdowne
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This podcast is for anyone who cares about the life of the church. Each episode I sit down with someone who has something worth bringing to the church: sometimes that's theology, sometimes it's science or justice work or storytelling — but always the plan is to offer something worth thinking about.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago ·  Video

    Episode 9: Lillian Daniel & Designing Church for the Person Who Isn’t Here Yet (Part 2)

    This week I continue my conversation with the Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, Conference Minister of the Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ and author of Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church. If you haven’t heard Part 1, you might want to start with Episode 8 (but you don't have to!). CW: Our conversation covers briefly the topic of childhood sexual abuse In this half of the conversation, we turned to the questions that decide whether anyone actually makes it through the church door. We talked about Defrocked’s chapter on locked doors, what it’s like to be shut out of church when you most need it, and why “everyone is welcome here” isn’t the same as “we designed this with you in mind.” Several themes came up, including: Preaching with conviction, surprising people, and why curiosity matters more than a degreeSharing resources ecumenically, from offices and Wi-Fi to clergyWhy the most important person in the church is the one who isn’t there yetHospitality, mission, and evangelism: finding language for invitation that doesn’t feel like a pamphlet on the doorstepSigns of hope, including intergenerational worship, accessible space, and welcoming people with different kinds of minds and bodiesWhy a church is either open to the public or a private social clubOne of the resources that comes up in this episode is Lillian’s book Defrocked. We also mention the intergenerational Mitten Project and work in the Michigan Conference to develop congregations that are WISE for Mental Health. Support the show Thanks for your interest in Church-y Conversations with People Who Know Things. If something in this episode stuck with you, hit subscribe and leave a rating or review! It genuinely helps others find these conversations. And if you know someone you think would benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Until next time: keep asking the church-y questions and having church-y conversations.

  2. Oct 29 ·  Video

    Episode 8: Lillian Daniel & Telling the Truth About Failure in the Church (Part 1)

    This week I'm releasing the first half of my talk with the Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, Conference Minister of the Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ and author of Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church (Vilicus Press, 2026). Lillian is a preacher, teacher, and writer, and she cares deeply about clergy and congregations. We talked about why Lillian wrote Defrocked as a failure story, and about why the church, even in our more open-minded and welcoming denominations, is so bad at talking about failure. We also swapped stories about the detours, rejections, and firings that turned out to point us toward ministry. Several themes came up, including: Why perfectionism may be the church’s chief heresyHow writing a hard story honestly, without resentment, an “I told you so,” or casting yourself as victim or villain, can change youHow church processes are written and enforced by human beings, and how processes meant to protect people can also cause harmThe partnership between the United Church of Christ and The United Church of Canada, and why cross-border conversations matter right nowTwo of the books that come up in this episode are Defrocked and Lillian’s earlier book, This Odd and Wondrous Calling, which is taught in many seminaries. We also mention Barbara Brown Taylor’s Leaving Church.  Our conversation was so great, next week stay tuned for Part 2! Support the show Thanks for your interest in Church-y Conversations with People Who Know Things. If something in this episode stuck with you, hit subscribe and leave a rating or review! It genuinely helps others find these conversations. And if you know someone you think would benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Until next time: keep asking the church-y questions and having church-y conversations.

  3. Oct 21 ·  Video

    Episode 7: Mitchell Anderson on Faithful Governance & Ministry

    My colleague and friend, the Rev. Mitchell Anderson, lead minister at St. Paul's United Church in Saskatoon, joined me to discuss the ways he holds governance, administration, leadership and ministry together. St. Paul's is one of the fastest growing congregations in the United Church. St. Paul's statement of welcome shares:  Who do we welcome at St. Paul's Our church strives to be a place where every person is welcomed, valued, and loved. We believe that all people are created in the image of God, and we joyfully embrace individuals of every age, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Whether you are exploring faith for the first time or have been part of church life for years, you are invited to bring your whole self into our community. Here, you will find a safe, affirming space to worship, grow, ask questions, and belong—just as you are. More than church growth, Mitchell shared some of his views on making faithful planning choices, and how he has married his executive skillset earned in his MBA and honed through leading boards of large institutions alongside his ministry. Mitchell is passionate about sharing the life-changing good news of Jesus Christ with new people and renewing the church through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is currently pursuing a doctorate of ministry in leadership at Tyndale University. In addition to this theological education, Mitchell holds an MBA and advises and serves on the boards of local, provincial, and national organizations, bringing together financial and strategic insight to advance social change. He enjoys fitness, great coffee, and experiencing the natural and human beauty of the Prairies and Saskatoon with his husband Jordan. Support the show Thanks for your interest in Church-y Conversations with People Who Know Things. If something in this episode stuck with you, hit subscribe and leave a rating or review! It genuinely helps others find these conversations. And if you know someone you think would benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Until next time: keep asking the church-y questions and having church-y conversations.

  4. Oct 14 ·  Video

    Episode 6: Elisabeth Jones & Midrashic Imagination

    This week, Carmen talks with Elisabeth Jones about her new book Midrashic Imagination: Texts and Textures for Pulpit and Pew (available from Fortress Press or your favourite local bookseller in the US, and from Chapters or by special order from your favourite local bookstore in Canada). Jones argues for an approach to preaching that facilitates holy inspiration, transformational discipleship, and faithful public witness. What she demonstrates in this book is a tested method of midrashic biblical imagination that enables preachers and their communities of faith to explore the polyvalence of the biblical text. In Midrashic Imagination, Jones draws on ancient and contemporary interpretive practices that privilege curiosity, open-ended questioning, and faithful imagination. Jones's midrashic biblical imagination enables the preacher and congregation, or people in other communal settings, to unlock the various interpretive possibilities of any biblical text or genre. Midrashic Imagination provides an approach to Scripture that delays judgment, works across confessional and theological differences, and invites inquiry and curiosity centered on the biblical text. Midrashic Imagination is designed for working preachers who are called to preach biblically while searching for a solid, adaptable method to take the Bible imaginatively too. This book is a good fit for preachers focused on the sacred connection between the lively word of God in Scripture and today's cultural landscape, spiritual longings, hopes, and fears.   Elisabeth Jones is a theologian, preacher, author, pastor, community builder, and lover of gardening, grandparenting, sourdough baking, and wor(l)d turning.  Holding degrees from York University, UK, Vancouver School of Theology M.Div., Th.M.), and Luther Seminary (D.Min.), and ordained in the United Church of Canada in 1998, Elisabeth has served as theological educator at the Vancouver School of Theology, and at the United Theological College (Montreal), and as Lead Minister at Cedar Park United, in Pointe Claire, Quebec. Elisabeth is the author of  Midrashic Imagination: Texts and Textures for Pulpit and Pew (Fortress, 2026), and now devotes much of her professional time to sharing this deeply faithful, imaginative and transformative way of reading sacred texts in community. The rest of the time, she can be found in her garden trying to coexist with rabbits, groundhogs and various insects who like her veggie patch as much as she does. Or travelling or pickleball playing with her husband. Or getting into mischief with her grandchildren.  Or…. Support the show Thanks for your interest in Church-y Conversations with People Who Know Things. If something in this episode stuck with you, hit subscribe and leave a rating or review! It genuinely helps others find these conversations. And if you know someone you think would benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Until next time: keep asking the church-y questions and having church-y conversations.

  5. Oct 7 ·  Video

    Episode 5: Simon LeSieur on the power of prayer

    This week, Carmen talks with Simon LeSieur about prayer: what it is, why it is so hard to explain, and how to start when it feels awkward or unfamiliar. Simon tells the story of how a desperate "Hail Mary" prayer as an angry teenager set the course of his faith. He describes what his doctoral work on the Holy Spirit taught him, and how weaving prayer into the life of West Vancouver United Church has changed the community. Carmen and Simon also look at the Holy Spirit in United Church theology, from the Basis of Union to the New Creed to A Song of Faith. They close with three practical ways to begin praying, and with a prayer for the current Moderator.  Simon LeSieur  joined the staff team at West Vancouver United Church in March 2010. He helps oversee the vitality of the church, focusing on teaching the way of Jesus in an honest, vulnerable, and joyful way. He brings to his own faith a deep curiosity, a passion for prayer, and a relentless pursuit of God's good and holy Spirit. This longing to learn led him to Stellenbosch, South Africa, where he completed his Master of Divinity, and to Pasadena, California, where he completed a doctorate on the Holy Spirit. Simon loves coffee, people, going to the gym, and kitchen dance parties with his wife Meghan and their two children.  Support the show Thanks for your interest in Church-y Conversations with People Who Know Things. If something in this episode stuck with you, hit subscribe and leave a rating or review! It genuinely helps others find these conversations. And if you know someone you think would benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Until next time: keep asking the church-y questions and having church-y conversations.

  6. Sep 30 ·  Video

    Episode 4: National Day for TRC (Canada) and National Day of Remembrance (USA)

    On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada and National Day of Remembrance for Boarding Schools in the United States, Carmen Lansdowne (Heiltsuk) is joined by two dear friends, Chris Hoklotubbe (Choctaw) and Vance Blackfox (Cherokee) of the Indigenous Theological Circle (ITC).  Together they talk about the emerging community of Indigenous scholars in biblical studies and theology, and about what it means for Indigenous Peoples and churches to name the harm done through missionary systems and to co-determine a path forward.  In the show, we talk about how Indigenous organizations receive less than 1% of all philanthropic funding in Canada and the United States, and that their organization currently has a matching grant from the Lilly Endowment. For every $1 you donate, Lilly will match $3. So your $1 gift turns into a $4 gift (or $100 to $400, $10,000 to $40,000 etc).  You can donate to ITC here: https://www.indigenoustheologicalcircle.org/donate Chris Hoklotubbe (Choctaw) is Director of the Indigenous Theological Circle. Chris holds a doctorate in New Testament and early Christianity and an MDiv from Harvard Divinity School, and is coordinator of graduate studies for the Native American Indian and Indigenous Theological Society. Chris wrote Civilized Piety: The Rhetoric of Pietas in the Pastoral Epistles and the Roman Empire and co-authored Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation with Danny Zacharias, one of the first books on Native American interpretations of the Bible. Chris lives in Iowa with family and attends Sanctuary Community Church, though Chris considers themself a Presbyterian at heart. Vance Blackfox is an Indigenous theologian and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and Director of Ecumenical and Tribal Relations at the Indigenous Theological Circle. Vance previously served the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as Director of Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations, and was national president of the Lutheran Youth Organization while at Texas Lutheran University. Vance is also an alumnus of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Support the show Thanks for your interest in Church-y Conversations with People Who Know Things. If something in this episode stuck with you, hit subscribe and leave a rating or review! It genuinely helps others find these conversations. And if you know someone you think would benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Until next time: keep asking the church-y questions and having church-y conversations.

  7. Sep 23 ·  Video

    Episode 3: Andrew Richardson & Cooperative Ministry

    This week I talk with the Rev. Dr. Andrew Richardson, Director Emerging Ministry Leadership and co-leader of the Office of Vocation of the The United Church of Canada. On his last sabbatical, Andrew spent some dedicated time looking at models of collaborative and cooperative ministry.  We talked about the Shared Way, Shared Witness conference organized in partnership with Montreal Dio and the Anglican Church of Canada early 2026. Plans are underway to plan a follow up conference in 2027.  For those interested in talking about collaborative and cooperative ministry, you can reach out to Andrew through The United Church of Canada's Staff Directory (current as of September 2026). Support the show Thanks for your interest in Church-y Conversations with People Who Know Things. If something in this episode stuck with you, hit subscribe and leave a rating or review! It genuinely helps others find these conversations. And if you know someone you think would benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Until next time: keep asking the church-y questions and having church-y conversations.

  8. Sep 16 ·  Video

    Episode 2: Natalie Wigg-Stevenson & Design for Congregational Learning

    I talk with my colleague Emmanuel College, the Rev. Dr. Natalie Wigg-Stevenson, Associate Professor of Contextual Education about learning design. Design for learning is a passion of Natalie's and she has created resources for the church, including the website Transgressive Devotional (free) as well as a paid resource for asynchronous learning: Learning Design for Discipleship ($79 CAD).  We talked about how to create transformative learning experiences in a congregational setting by designing for learning and ministry outcomes, not just content Natalie's passion for learning and teaching is clear. What a gift to learn and teach alongside this incredible, intentional, and gifted professor.  Several themes came up, including:  universal and inclusive design for learningless can often be moredesigning with your people in mindOne of the resources that comes up this episode is a great book by author Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. Support the show Thanks for your interest in Church-y Conversations with People Who Know Things. If something in this episode stuck with you, hit subscribe and leave a rating or review! It genuinely helps others find these conversations. And if you know someone you think would benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Until next time: keep asking the church-y questions and having church-y conversations.

  9. Sep 9 ·  Video

    Episode 1: Everyone Needs a Bestie

    In June 2026, I wrote a Substack post in Church-y Conversations "Everyone Needs a Bestie: On collegiality, friends at work, and filling your cup." Because I had zero idea about all the technical pieces of creating a podcast, I asked my two best friends to be my first guests. We talked about church, ministry, our friendship, and all kids of other stuff. Thank you to Ingrid and Graham for being my best friends and my guinea pigs for this project! Support the show Thanks for your interest in Church-y Conversations with People Who Know Things. If something in this episode stuck with you, hit subscribe and leave a rating or review! It genuinely helps others find these conversations. And if you know someone you think would benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Until next time: keep asking the church-y questions and having church-y conversations.

  • 9 Episodes

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This podcast is for anyone who cares about the life of the church. Each episode I sit down with someone who has something worth bringing to the church: sometimes that's theology, sometimes it's science or justice work or storytelling — but always the plan is to offer something worth thinking about.

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