The Naked Preacher Podcast Paul Burgess

At this point in my vocational journey, I'm pretty sure that any preacher who tells you she or he never gets anxious is either A) Lying, or B) Not doing their job right. Honestly, I just think anxiety comes with the human experience. And that's good news, because it means it's something common to us all, and even though it can sometimes seem overwhelming, we can learn to manage it.
Steve Cuss wants to help us do just that. Steve is a minister, himself, and he's also struggled with anxiety throughout his life. Instead of letting anxiety be a burden, though, Steve has made it a part of his spiritual journey, asking, "What does my anxiousness say about my faith?," and he's become somewhat of an expert in understanding anxiety and how we, as leaders and people in general, can manage it.
As someone who has struggled mightily with anxiety and its management, I was thrilled to sit down for this conversation with Steve. Our time together was a blessing for me, and unless you're a minister who's either A) Lying, or B) Not doing your job right, I bet you'll find it helpful, too.
Learn more about Steve on his website, www.stevecusswords.com, check out his book, Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs, and listen to his podcast here. Also, if you would like to participate in the online community Steve has cultivated to help ministers and other leaders manage anxiety, learn about it at capablelife.me.

Losing someone is painful. Often, the best route through that pain is to talk about it.
But what if you're a preacher? Is talking about the pain of grief ok? Is it "safe" to speak about the questions and frustrations of loss in front of those you serve--especially if you're the one who's supposed to be the "pillar of strength" who has all the answers?
In Dr. Tony Cartledge's case, the answer was, "Yes." Tony suffered a tragic loss decades ago when he and his daughter, Bethany, were hit by a drunk driver; sadly, Bethany didn't survive. A pastor at the time, Tony had to navigate his grief while serving a congregation. His story is one of love, patience, and grace, and in many ways it demonstrates how pastors and their congregations can work through dark and painful situations together.
In addition to pastoring churches, Tony has written several books and currently serves as a Professor of Old Testament at Campbell University Divinity School in Buies Creek, NC, and writes articles and curriculum for Good Faith Media (formerly Nurturing Faith).

I don't know where I'd be if God didn't call women to ministry. My life has been immeasurably impacted by women God has equipped to be pastors; their shepherding has helped guide me to the fulfillment and faith I enjoy today.
Not everybody has had an experience like mine, however; some women, in fact, have been taught that it is against God's nature to call them for this sacred work, and that can make their journey into ministry uniquely difficult.
Thankfully, however, God's call is fierce, and I'm blessed to have women friends who have pursued it no matter what others might think. Three of those friends--Rev. Leah Anderson Reed, Rev. Emily Hull McGee, and Rev. Amy McClure--join me today to talk about their experience as women in ministry. Hopefully their stories will give insight for those of us who've never had to fight battles in defending our calls, as well as inspiration to any women who might listen who are wrestling with a call, themselves.
Learn more about Emily and Amy here, and learn more about Leah here.

Despite what many may think, ministry can be a physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing gig. If those who have dedicated their lives to caring for others aren't careful, they can forget the importance of caring for themselves, and something that used to give them life can quickly drain it.
That's not a problem for Rev. Mike Womble, a good friend with whom I am blessed to serve at Winter Park Baptist Church in Wilmington, NC. I've been in awe of Mike since I first met him and learned that he runs ultra marathons.
But Mike's not necessarily the type of guy you envision when you think "ultra-marathoner"--he's not guzzling protein shakes, bragging about mile times, or listening to the Rocky theme on loop. Simply put, Mike just runs.
Recently, Mike completed a race that is unimaginable to me--a 100K (62.1 miles). Today, he joins me to talk about that experience, as well as what led him to start running and how it has affected his overall health as a minister.
Give it a listen, and be inspired to go out and take care of yourself, too (whether that means pounding the pavement, yourself, or just eating one less bag of Doritos each week).
Learn more about Mike here.

Sadly, traumatic events--such as abuse--are common in our society. And even more sadly, we rarely create spaces where victims of such trauma feel safe and welcome to share their experiences without shame. The result is that many walk around carrying burdens they didn't ask for and don't deserve, but they hold them and hide them because they're terrified of what might happen if they let the world see.
These people are everywhere--even in our churches. And they're not just in the pews; sometimes, victims of trauma are standing right behind the pulpit.
So what would happen if one such preacher dared to share their story of abuse so that others might feel safe and empowered to open up about their own? That's a question Rev. Jakob Topper (North Haven Church; Norman, Oklahoma) can help us answer. Jakob, himself a trauma survivor, has been open about his experience in front of his church, and he's joining the show today to share what it was like to assume that posture, and what happened because he did.
Hopefully, our discussion can not only encourage trauma victims to know they aren't alone, but also challenge those in positions of power to create safe spaces where survivors do feel permission to come forward and speak about their own pain.
Jakob is a proud ally of those who have endured abuse, and he invites anyone who has, and who needs someone to talk to, to contact him via email at jakob@northhavenchurch.net.

Like any other group of people, it's unfair to paint preachers with a broad brush. Truth be told, we run the gamut from good to bad, helpful to hurtful, wise to flat-out weird, and we can sometimes seem stranger than fiction.
Well, almost.
That's where Clyde Edgerton comes in. Clyde is an acclaimed author, the writer of 10 novels and two autobiographical books. He's had his work adapted for other mediums such as film and stage, and he's been honored with a barrage of awards and recognitions that have helped distinguish him as one of the most successful and entertaining authors active today.
A product of the south and plenty of Sundays spent in church, Clyde often finds preachers creeping into his stories, and in this episode he sits down with me to talk about what makes them such interesting characters to write. It's one of the most fun conversations I've had in a while. Give it a listen, and who knows? You might just find that someone from Clyde's gallery of preachers sounds a lot like you...
Learn more about Clyde here, and definitely be sure to check out some of his books. Your sermons, and your funny bone, with thank you.