The Church Podcast

Christopher Wesley
The Church Podcast

The Church Podcast is for church leaders who are tired of business as usual and are looking for clear and practical strategies to build healthier parishes.

  1. Episode 014 The Importance of Forming Pastoral Ministry Leaders w/ Charlotte McCorquodale

    JUL 2

    Episode 014 The Importance of Forming Pastoral Ministry Leaders w/ Charlotte McCorquodale

    SummaryCharlotte McCorquodale, co-founder of Ministry Training Source, discusses the challenges and joys of pastoral leaders serving young Catholics. She highlights the need for pastors and ministry leaders to be on the same page regarding expectations and measuring success. McCorquodale emphasizes the importance of listening to the community's needs and sharing the stories of young people to inspire and recruit others. She also mentions strategies such as weekly video podcast messages and utilizing technology to engage and impact the community. The conversation explores the importance of building relationships with young people and the shift towards smaller, more intimate youth ministry models. It also highlights the need for support and formation for pastoral ministry leaders. The guest shares her insights on the future direction of youth and young adult ministry, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and sustainable models. The conversation concludes with advice for new ecclesial ministry leaders and a message of hope for the Church.Takeaways* Pastoral leaders face challenges in justifying their role and dealing with an expectations gap.* Listening to the needs of the community is crucial for effective ministry.* Sharing the stories of young people can inspire and recruit others.* Strategies such as weekly video podcast messages and utilizing technology can engage and impact the community. Building relationships with young people is crucial in youth ministry* There is a shift towards smaller, more intimate youth ministry models* Pastoral ministry leaders need support and formation* There is hope for the Church through the dedication and love of pastoral leadersSound Bites:"Pastoral leaders of youth and young adult ministries are a conundrum of joy-filled ministers serving in a bleak post-COVID mission field.""The decline of youth ministry and youth ministry leaders may lead to a decline in ministry leaders in general.""Getting people on the same page about measuring success is critical."Charlotte Recommends:Wired to Series by Britt Andreatta (https://amzn.to/3L5w4PQ)Follow Charlotte: Ministry Training Source (https://www.ministrytrainingsource.org/)Enhance Your Listening with The Church Podcast + Subscription.Dive deeper into your ministry journey with our premium subscriptions. Enjoy episodes your way,

    55 min
  2. Episode 013 Lay Professional Turned Entrepreneurx w/ Scott Williams

    JUN 25

    Episode 013 Lay Professional Turned Entrepreneurx w/ Scott Williams

    SummaryScott Williams, the owner of Catholic Concepts, discusses his journey from ministry to entrepreneurship and the development of his flagship brand, Sock Religious (https://sockreligious.com/churchpod). He shares how his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for ministry influenced his decision to start his own business. Scott also discusses the challenges he faced and his intentional approach to developing new products. He emphasizes the importance of living out his Catholic faith in his business and how Catholic social teaching guides its operations. Catholic Concepts aims to start conversations about the Catholic faith through joyful products. They want to be a spark that develops conversations and empowers people to share their faith. The company has impacted the founder's faith and helped him live out his faith more authentically. It engages the Catholic community by partnering with organizations and providing merchandise for events. Its vision is to make ministry and evangelization easier and become a dream place for people to work and make a difference in the Church. It also wants to help parishes by developing products and services that serve the Church in a unique way.Takeaways* Scott Williams transitioned from ministry to entrepreneurship and started Catholic Concepts, which owns Sock Religious, a Catholic sock company.* The entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to serve the Church influenced Scott's decision to start his own business.* Scott emphasizes the importance of living out his Catholic faith in his business and using Catholic social teaching as a guide.* Product development at Catholic Concepts involves intentionality, brainstorming sessions, and incorporating customer requests.* Christmas is the busiest season for Catholic Concepts, followed by Easter, Father's Day, Mother's Day, and sacramental seasons. Catholic Concepts aims to start conversations about the Catholic faith through joyful products.* The company has impacted the founder's personal faith and helped him live out his faith more authentically.* They engage the Catholic community by partnering with organizations and providing merchandise for events.* Their vision is to make ministry and evangelization easier and become a dream place for people to work and make a difference in the Church.* They also want to help parishes by developing products and services that serve the Church in a unique way.Sound Bites* "We like to start conversations through joyful products."Scott Recommends:

    54 min
  3. Episode 012 Faith, Therapy, and Mental Health in Ecclesial Ministry w/ Regina Boyd

    JUN 18

    Episode 012 Faith, Therapy, and Mental Health in Ecclesial Ministry w/ Regina Boyd

    SummaryRegina Boyd, a therapist, and founder of Boyd Counseling Services, shares her journey into counseling and the inspiration behind her book 'Leaving Lonely Behind.' The conversation delves into the importance of vulnerability, mental health challenges in ministry, and the role of the church in addressing mental health issues. We also explore the intersection of faith, therapy, and mental health within the context of ecclesial ministry. It delves into the importance of finding therapists who hold a similar worldview, the bright spots in addressing mental health issues within the church, and the significance of setting boundaries in ministry. The conversation also touches on the impact of social media and the hope it brings for evangelization in the church.Takeaways* The importance of vulnerability in building strong relationships and addressing loneliness.* The need for mental health awareness and support in ministry settings.* The role of the church in normalizing conversations about mental health and providing resources for mental health challenges. The importance of finding therapists who hold a similar worldview to provide effective therapy within the context of faith and church teachings.* The significance of setting boundaries in ministry to prevent burnout and maintain enthusiasm for the work.* The hope and potential of social media for evangelization and creating dialogues within the church community.Sound Bites"You can't give what you don't have, right? You have to have that full cup to pour into people.”Follow Regina: https://www.reginaboyd.com/ (https://www.reginaboyd.com/) Enhance Your Listening with The Church Podcast + Subscription.Dive deeper into your ministry journey with our premium subscriptions. Enjoy episodes your way, with added benefits to enrich your experience.The Church Podcast + | $6/month* Ad-free episodes* Early access* Subscription to MYM Premium (https://marathonyouthministry.com/mym-premium) * Producer credits on video episodes* 10% off next custom t-shirt order from 4 Marks PrintingSubscribe TodayElevate your podcast experience and support our mission to do church better. Visit

    45 min
  4. Episode 011: Investing in the Leadership Development of Young Women with Cynthia Psencik

    JUN 11

    Episode 011: Investing in the Leadership Development of Young Women with Cynthia Psencik

    Summary:Cynthia Psencik, the Mentoring Program and Alumni Director at the Given Institute, joins us to discuss the organization's mission to activate the gifts of young adult women for the Church and the world. The Given Institute offers leadership training, faith formation, and a year-long mentoring program for young women.Cynthia emphasizes the importance of equipping and empowering women in all areas of the Church, not just in ministry roles. She encourages young women starting out in ministry to explore different areas, find a support network, set boundaries, and prioritize self-care.Cynthia also shares the challenges she faced as a leader in ministry and the importance of finding support and setting expectations. She expresses gratitude for her time in the Archdiocese of New York and the opportunities it provided for her growth as a leader. She highlights the need for dioceses and parishes to support and sponsor women to attend the Given conference. Cynthia's hope for the Church is that more women will listen to the voice of God and respond to His invitation to use their gifts for the transformation of the Church.Takeaways* The Given Institute activates the gifts of young adult women for the Church and the world through leadership training, faith formation, and mentoring.* Women in the Church have unique perspectives and gifts to offer, and it is important to provide them with platforms and support to share their ideas and contribute to the Church.* Young women starting out in ministry should explore different areas, find a support network, set boundaries, and prioritize self-care.* Diocesan leaders and lay leaders in the Church would benefit from more formation and training, especially in areas like staff management and HR.* Creating a balance between ministry and personal life is crucial to avoid burnout and maintain overall well-being. Leaders in ministry need support and guidance to effectively lead their staff and hold them accountable.* It is important to set realistic expectations for yourself and your staff and to seek support when needed.* Gratitude should be expressed for the opportunities and challenges that have shaped one's leadership journey.* Investing in the leadership development of young women is crucial for the future of the Church.* Dioceses and parishes should sponsor women to attend leadership conferences and provide ongoing support and mentorship.Sound Bites"Maybe I've gotten as far in this ministry as I needed to... Sometimes we can stay beyond because we're comfortable."Cynthia Recommends: Bible in a Year  (https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/ascension-podcasts/bibleinayear/)The House of Pines (https://amzn.to/3Kxhbph)Follow Cynthia: https://giveninstitute.com/Enhance Your Listening with The Church Podcast + Subscription.

    54 min
5
out of 5
18 Ratings

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The Church Podcast is for church leaders who are tired of business as usual and are looking for clear and practical strategies to build healthier parishes.

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