Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity

Dale McConkey, Host

A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity! Church Potluck serves up thoughtful, friendly, informal conversation at the intersection of Christianity and contemporary culture. Just like a church potluck, we offer variety: a variety of topics, a variety of academic disciplines, and a variety of Christian traditions. Guests are friends and colleagues who are also experts in the fields of sociology, political science, theology, philosophy, divinity, and more.

  1. FEB 4

    What’s a Person? Humans, Animals, Aliens, AI, and Corporations

    Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to be a person, and who gets to decide? This episode dives headfirst into one of the most deceptively simple—and quietly explosive—questions in ethics, theology, and science. Is personhood limited to humans, or does it extend to animals, artificial intelligence, corporations, or even extraterrestrial life? Along the way, we wrestle with why defining personhood by intelligence or capability quickly collapses under pressure, how beginning-of-life and end-of-life questions complicate any clean boundary, and why our answers carry real moral weight—whether we’re talking about dolphins, embryos, or AI that can talk back. The conversation unfolds around the potluck table with a rich mix of voices. Physicist Todd Timberlake launches the discussion from his work teaching about extraterrestrial life and our moral obligations to the unknown. Biologist Caitlin Conn brings evolutionary clarity and caution, reminding us that life exists on a continuum that resists neat categories. Philosopher Michael Papazian adds historical and theological depth, showing how “person” and “human” have never been identical concepts. And former Pastor Dale tries to keep things moving—occasionally with humor, occasionally with a game-show twist—as we explore where Christian tradition helps, where it hesitates, and why this question refuses to stay theoretical. The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

    1h 14m
  2. JAN 30

    Protesting in God’s Name: Faith, Immigration, and Public Witness

    Send us Fan Mail This week’s Church Potluck is a powerful crossover episode with American Angst. Dale McConkey is joined by fellow United Methodist pastors Rev. Ash McEuen and Rev. Karen Kagiyama, along with political scientist Dr. Michael Bailey, for a wide-ranging conversation about immigration, protest, and what it means to follow Jesus in public life. The discussion begins with the real-world impact of current immigration policies. Ash McEuen, whose ministry is deeply rooted in immigrant and Latino communities, describes the daily fear many families face—detention uncertainty, deportation confusion, and the emotional toll of accompaniment. Karen Kagiyama offers theological grounding, framing clergy protest not as partisan politics but as Christian witness, solidarity, and lament, shaped by prayer and Jesus’ own challenge to injustice. Michael Bailey brings historical and political insight, exploring when protest actually works and why nonviolent movements have often driven lasting change. Dale McConkey guides the table through key faith questions, including Romans 13, Jesus turning over the tables, and the United Methodist baptismal vow to “resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.” Blending seriousness with warmth and humor, the conversation provides an honest, pastoral conversation that insists immigration is not abstract, protest is not simple, and Christian discipleship is inseparable from how we treat the most vulnerable among us. The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

    1h 11m
  3. JAN 20

    Chaplains: Ministering Unto Others Beyond the Church

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Church Potluck, Dale McConkey welcomes a bundle of chaplains for a thoughtful, funny, and deeply moving conversation about what chaplains do—and how their ministry differs from that of congregational pastors. Special guest Rev. James Henderson—a priest in the Anglican Church of North America who serves as both a hospital chaplain and an Air Force chaplain—joins returning guests Rev. Chris Barbieri (hospital chaplain) and Rev. Dr. Jonathan Huggins (college chaplain). Together with Dale (former college chaplain), they explore chaplaincy as ministry in pluralistic spaces where people may hold different beliefs, carry church wounds, or find themselves in moments of profound vulnerability. Through powerful stories from hospitals, college campuses, and the military, the conversation highlights the heart of chaplaincy: presence over preaching, compassion over correction, and trust over outcomes. The guests reflect on grief, doubt, interfaith care, confidentiality, staff support, and the challenge of offering hope without agenda—sometimes through words, and sometimes simply by standing with someone on the worst day of their life. If you’ve ever wondered how faith shows up when there is no pulpit, no congregation, and no easy answers, this episode offers an honest, moving, and deeply human glimpse into ministry beyond the church walls. The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

    1h 2m
5
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity! Church Potluck serves up thoughtful, friendly, informal conversation at the intersection of Christianity and contemporary culture. Just like a church potluck, we offer variety: a variety of topics, a variety of academic disciplines, and a variety of Christian traditions. Guests are friends and colleagues who are also experts in the fields of sociology, political science, theology, philosophy, divinity, and more.