Igniting Imagination

Wesleyan Impact Partners
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Igniting Imagination

Every movement for change starts with a generative conversation. The Igniting Imagination podcast features rich conversations with leaders across the church landscape that invite you into new possibilities for yourself, your church, and your community. Each episode offers inspiring ideas to spark the Spirit within you as a leader and inspire courage and innovation to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

  1. قبل يومين

    Why Are We Talking About Church Property? with Bob Smietana

    This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon are taking over the Igniting Imagination podcast! They’re joined by Bob Smietana, National Reporter for Religion News Service and author, to dive into this season’s theme: “Properties with New Purpose.” As we've been partnering with churches across the country, many questions have come up. This week’s episode centers on one of the big ones: “What brought us here?” Bob points out that churches hold essential skills, like moral guidance and community-building, which are increasingly valuable in today’s world. Together, Shannon, Mark, and Bob encourage congregations to reimagine their spaces and embrace creativity and collaboration to shape their future impact on the community. Co-Hosts Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking.  Mark Elsdon is the Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization. Guest Bob Smietana is a national reporter for Religion News Service based near Chicago, covering evangelicals, weird religion, and the changing religious landscape. He is the author of Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters. Smietana is an award-winning religion reporter and editor who has spent two decades producing breaking news, data journalism, investigative reporting, profiles, and features for magazines, newspapers, trade publications, and websites. Most notably, he has served as a senior writer for Facts & Trends, a senior editor of Christianity Today, a religion writer at The Tennessean, a correspondent for RNS, and a contributor to OnFaith, USA Today, and The Washington Post. Episode Highlights   Church property is being reimagined to better serve communities in innovative ways.Declines in church attendance require congregations to adapt and find new purposes.Many churches are collaborating with local organizations to provide essential community services.The shift from traditional church models to multi-use spaces is gaining...

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  2. ١١ جمادى الأولى

    Church Property: Imagining Good Futures with Shannon Hopkins

    Welcome to season 13 of the Igniting Imagination podcast! This season, we invite you into a story of hope and possibility, where church properties are reimagined as vibrant hubs for community flourishing.  Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Shannon Hopkins, co-founder of Rooted Good, explore the evolving role of churches as valuable community assets. With church properties transforming across the U.S., the ways congregations gather and engage with their neighbors are shifting, inspiring churches to redefine their purpose for the 21st century by focusing outward. Listen as Lisa and Shannon discuss how churches are prioritizing community service and connection, moving beyond preservation to become forces for good. Guest Shannon Hopkins is co-founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking.  Episode Highlights   Understanding community needs during church property transitions.Economic models for churches are shifting, necessitating new approaches to funding and support.The church must claim its voice and role in community transformation, not just growth.Facing reality about financial challenges is crucial for effective church leadership and planning.Churches can leverage their properties for affordable housing and community health initiatives.A successful example is a church that transformed its parking lot into a community park. Timestamps (00:00) Welcome to Igniting Imagination! (00:22) Introducing Shannon Hopkins (02:56) Understanding Church Property Transition (05:28) Why Church Property Transition Matters (07:37) Opportunities for Churches Today (13:02) Navigating Economic Challenges (18:20) Facing Reality in Leadership (28:46) The Vision for the Future of the Church (30:15) Innovative Church Property Uses Links Visit our podcast website at www.ignitingimagination.org. To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube. To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

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  3. ١٣ ربيع الآخر

    What’s a Critical Theme for the Future Church That We Missed?

    Welcome to the season 12 finale of the Igniting Imagination podcast! This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane speak with Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson. Lisa, Kathi, and Blair reflect on conversations with various esteemed guests throughout the season, revealing how joy, hope, and building community hold new significance in contemporary contexts. They share personal stories and experiences that illuminate these themes, providing fresh perspectives that inspire action and engagement within communities.  Listen as they share insights and anecdotes from their experiences; they invite listeners to consider how to embody these themes in their own lives and communities. Guests Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson is the chief learning and innovation officer for TMF and creator and producer of Learning and Innovation's Igniting Imagination® Podcast. Blair is a facilitator, speaker, writer, and preacher. She facilitates conversations with leaders from across the Wesleyan ecosystem, especially in the areas of expanding imagination, discerning purpose, and exercising the Five Muscles. Blair is the Program Director of TMF's two Lilly-funded initiatives: Courageous Congregations Collaborative (C3) and Courageous Leadership Imperative (CLI). Blair is an ordained Elder in the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church and joined TMF in 2020 after a decade in pastoral ministry. She completed her dissertation on pilgrimage in the development of clergy leadership for her Doctor of Ministry degree at Perkins School of Theology in 2018. Episode Highlights   The importance of being present and attentive in our relationships cannot be overstated.Fresh perspectives can offer new insights, in the face of familiar themes like power and hospitality.Joy can be accessed amidst chaos by welcoming our real emotions and experiences.The church's future may involve smaller, more localized expressions of faith and community.A focus on spiritual formation is crucial for effective leadership in local congregations.Engaging with themes like surrender and clarity can help us navigate uncertainty. Timestamps (00:00) Intro (00:19) Meet the Hosts: Lisa, Kathi, and Blair (01:17) Reflecting on Season Themes: Hospitality, Power, Place, and Joy (01:36) Questioning the Newness of Familiar Themes (06:27) Experiencing Community at Conferences (07:47) Insights from Flourishing Neighborhoods Event (14:28) Deep Dives into Personal Reactions to Joy and Power (34:36) Looking Ahead: The Future of the Mainline Church (40:27) Exploring Small Boats: Examples of Hope and Innovation Links Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org. To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube. Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the...

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  4. ٦ ربيع الآخر

    Opting into Joy with Rev. Tyler Sit and Rev. Rich Havard

    Joy is not just a fleeting emotion but a deep, sustaining force that connects us through authenticity and community.  This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane are joined by Rev. Tyler Sit, a pastor, community organizer, and social entrepreneur, and Rev. Rich Havard, Senior Program Officer for Wayfarer Foundation, to explore the transformative power of joy in faith and community. They discuss the distinction between happiness and joy, the impact of authentic friendships, and how joy acts as resistance against despair and injustice.  Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Tyler, and Rich share how joy can exist amid suffering and how leaders can cultivate this defiant joy in their community. Guests Rev. Tyler Sit is a pastor, community organizer, and social entrepreneur. Tyler is the Founder of New City Church and Co-Founder of Intersect Planting Network. New City Church reflects the vision from Revelation of a new city where all tribes are welcomed, there is no violence, and the earth is renewed. Tyler’s congregation, led by BIPOC leaders, is realizing this vision by focusing on centering marginalized voices, community organizing, and eco-justice. He is a 2023 Locke Innovative Leader. Rev. Rich Havard is a Senior Program Officer for Wayfarer Foundation, a Bahá’í-inspired grant-making organization that partners with spiritually rooted and justice-oriented nonprofits to co-create peace and unity in the world. Prior to Wayfarer, Rich spent 6 years starting and leading the Inclusive Collective, a diverse spiritual community for college-aged young adults in Chicago.   Quotes “Part of the reason why communities of faith are so powerful, part of the reason why spiritual friendships are so powerful is that it gives co-journeyers who invite you to joy and remind you of the discipline of joyous. If we just base our happiness off of whether or not there's good news in the world, whether or not when you open up your favorite news page, it's good headlines or not, you're going to be increasingly less joyful." -Rev. Tyler Sit [15:38] “American culture, writ large, seems to be a little tired of the overwhelming negativity and wanting to choose joy instead. I'm excited about that because I think we're often not rewarded for moments. It can be sort of seen as superfluous or not necessary. What does it look like when we start to not just play the individual sort of blame game, but create the condition culturally, where joy is not something seen as an additive, but as seen as central to the human experience? That's what I want.” -Rev. Rich Havard [36:59] Episode Highlights   Joy and Authenticity: Joy arises from welcoming all emotions and navigating through difficult ones, finding resurrection on the other side.Friendship and Joy: Deep, authentic friendships like those between Tyler and Rich cultivate joy by creating spaces where people feel seen and heard.Joy in Social Justice: Joy functions as a form of rebellion and a necessary counterbalance to the inherent challenges in social justice work.Cultivating Joy: Joy can be cultivated through practices like the welcoming prayer, staying present to emotions, and...

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  5. ٢٩ ربيع الأول

    Small Boats are the Big Wave for the Church with Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean and Rev. Dr. Michael Beck

    This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane speak with Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean and Rev. Dr. Michael Beck to explore the concept of "small boats," or small experiments that are giving us vision and hope for the church as we look to the future. Traditional leadership models are transitioning to leadership that empowers others in the community, fostering gifts and spiritual growth. Kenda and Michael discuss various themes integral to the evolving church, highlighting the significant role of trust-building and patient, deliberate leadership in fostering genuine community connections.  Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Kenda, and Michael explore how small, nimble efforts within faith communities can achieve extraordinary impacts.  Guests Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean is an ordained pastor, professor, and author. She is Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. Her work has focused on building meaningful connections among youth, culture, and the church. She is the author of Innovating for Love. Kenda was named the 2024 Distinguished Locke Innovative Leader. Rev. Dr. Michael Beck is a pastor, professor, coach, consultant, and author. Michael is the Director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church, Director of Fresh Expressions Florida, and Director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church. He serves as the co-pastor of Wildwood UMC, St. Marks UMC, and Compassion UMC with his wife, Jill.   Quotes “You can't do the vision God has given you without winning the trust of the people God has given you. That is something that's a slow walk of patience in a lot of cases. There are some risks that you take for sure, but you do a lot of really normal stuff, like just walking with people while they struggle." -Kenda Creasy Dean [26:16] “We're teaching what we think is the heart of the faith, which is union with Jesus. That is the goal here. It's not that you become a member of something or, you know, that you do all the religious service stuff, but that you experience deep union with Jesus. From doing that, you will change and you'll be a more compassionate kind of person.” -Michael Beck [45:55] Episode Highlights   Small Boats: The concept emphasizes the substantial impact of numerous small, adaptable initiatives within the church.Trust and Patience: Building trust within communities and going at a pace that allows for real connection...

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  6. ٢٢ ربيع الأول

    Place Matters with Rev. Bill Lamar IV and Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount

    This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane continue exploring themes that will be essential to the future church – and they are happening right now. Rev. Bill Lamar IV, Pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount, Associate Professor of Formation, Leadership, and Culture at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, join Lisa and Kathi to discuss the power of place. This idea of ‘going local’ or the power of place in local, contextual ministry is a means of grace now and for the future flourishing of people, congregations, and communities. Listen as they talk about the need for leaders to embrace the local stories and narratives of their communities while also advocating for the inclusion of younger generations in leading transformative change within the church. Guests Rev. William H. Lamar IV is the pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of "Can These Bones," a faith and leadership podcast. Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount serves on the faculty of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary as Associate Professor of Formation, Leadership, and Culture and teaches in the area of Christian Education, Congregational Leadership, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry. He is the Program Director of the Garrett Young Adult Initiative and serves as an advisor for the Doctor of Ministry in Strategic Leadership in Black Congregations. Reggie is Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Oikos Institute, helping congregations harness the power of their assets to be a catalyst for communal transformation and economic renewal.   Quotes “Not only do human beings have personhood, but objects, too. Objects are to be respected, and objects are to be learned from and to be revered. And the church itself, I mean, there is an energy to the place that teaches the one who would listen. And so what I share with people who come is that architecture is a form of rhetoric. Any sign, symbol or language that communicates is rhetorical." -Rev. William H. Lamar IV [20:35] “Humanity can learn what it means to be human. Every culture offers that from within its own particularity. So if we take that theological principle and understand that God is particularly, radically, offensively involved in the local, in the particular and the infinitesimal of human granular life, then we realize the church exists symbiotically with what surrounds what I think about this.” -Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount [31:36] Episode Highlights   The Role of Place in Formation: Both guests underscore how deeply the places we inhabit inform our spiritual and communal lives.AME Tradition and Community: The African Methodist Episcopal Church’s emphasis on community engagement offers profound lessons in living out faith in local contexts.Innovative Local Ministry: Successful ministry innovation is deeply rooted in understanding and engaging the local community, fostering both spiritual and physical...

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  7. ١٥ ربيع الأول

    The Power of Togetherness with Vipin Thekk and Rabbi Elan Babchuck

    What is the role of power in the new spiritual landscape emerging today? This season, we are exploring the themes we believe are glimpses of what will be critical guideposts for the future church. This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane speak with Vipin Thekk and Rabbi Elan Babchuck. Vipin Thekk, Founder of the Changemaker Communities initiative, is an experienced facilitator, coach, design consultant, public speaker, and serial entrepreneur. Rabbi Elan Babchuck is co-author of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire and serves as the Founding Executive Director of Glean Network and Executive Vice President at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Vipin, and Elan explore how relational power can emerge from trust-based collaboration, slowing down, and togetherness practices while transforming leadership and faith communities. Guests Vipin Thekk is an experienced facilitator, coach, design consultant, public speaker, and serial entrepreneur. He is the founder of the Changemaker Communities initiative, which weaves together influential institutions in cities to support the next generation of changemakers. He is constantly creating new programs that help people connect and bring their whole selves to their work and discover their power to become changemakers. His most recent, incredible contribution to the world is the Togetherness Practice. Rabbi Elan Babchuck is the co-author of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire. He is committed to leaving behind a world that is more compassionate and connected than the one he found. In pursuit of that commitment, he serves as the Executive Vice President at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and the Founding Executive Director of Glean Network, an incubator and network for entrepreneurs who are building new models of faith in action.  Quotes “The more that we speak about the aspirational model of shared power publicly, honestly, vulnerably, and using terms like this is how I aspire to lead in the world, the better that our community, those who we hold in power and love, can invite us to live into those values, to live into that vision." -Vipin Thekk [17:23] “I was asking people essentially, to trade in the things, the engagements they already had in their lives for something that was really about my project in the world, which was the institution of the church. When we as leaders of the church, need to question that. How can the church help people do things with a different character as a person of faith, becoming a compassion-driven change maker like Jesus?” -Rev. Kathi McShane [24:33] Episode Highlights   Relational Power: Power is found and formed between individuals, manifesting through relationships, trust, and collaboration rather than hierarchical structures.Shared Leadership: Emerging spiritual landscapes are moving away from lone leadership towards collaborative and shared leadership models.Formation and Practice: Leadership in the future church involves deep personal and spiritual formation, often cultivated through practices like Vipin’s Togetherness Practice.Vulnerability and Trust: Effective leadership and power dynamics depend heavily on vulnerability, trust, and authenticity within relationships.Cultural Observations: Examples from popular culture, such as...

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  8. ٨ ربيع الأول

    Hospitality When It’s Uncomfortable with Rev. Alicia Forde and Tamice Spencer-Helms

    What are we seeing right around the corner from where the church is today? Around the corner is closer than we think. The Spirit is up to something and the invitation is to get close to what is happening right now, to pay attention, to notice, and to wonder.  This week hosts Lisa Greenwood and Kathi McShane speak with Rev. Alicia Forde, a pastor, poet, and organizer, and Tamice Spencer-Helms, a published author, speaker, and theologian. They explore the role of hospitality in what is emerging in the spiritual landscape today, not just as a friendly gesture but as a profound spiritual and proactive action that aligns with the justice and love of God. Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Alicia, and Tamice explore how we can expand our conventional understanding of hospitality, cultivating intentionality, letting go of control, and allowing space for authentic human connection. Guests Rev. Alicia Forde is the newest member of the Learning and Innovation Team at Wesleyan Impact Partners, serving as our Director of Formation…we could not be more thrilled to welcome Alicia this fall and we are sure this is the first of what will be more podcast conversations with Alicia. Alicia is a pastor, poet, and organizer and most recently served for the UUA, as the International Office Director. Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and theologian based in Richmond, Virginia. After 16 years of full-time ministry, she founded Sub: Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students. Her book released in 2023 is Faith Unleavened: The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin & George Floyd.   Quotes “I think about, like the hospitality industry. I think about the food industry. People come to these establishments with an amount of vulnerability already because they're coming to rest, they're coming to enjoy a meal. I think there is something really powerful about crafting and curating a space and being entrusted with a space that would enable someone to rest or enjoy their family or mourn the loss of a loved one or celebrate some sort of milestone." -Tamice Spencer-Helms [16:11] “A congregation is more than just a building. It's more than just those four walls. It becomes about being attuned to the world outside your doors and who you’re in relationship with, and solidarity with those folks, because they too are part of God's kingdom and the community that you serve. It takes missional clarity to understand that your world is bigger than this beautiful space that you inhabit, and it flows out, and that the call is to be in relationship with the most marginal, vulnerable who exist right outside the door.” -Rev. Alicia Forde [27:40] Episode Highlights   Proactive Hospitality: True hospitality is proactive, involves aesthetics, authenticity, and attunement, and goes beyond simple friendliness.Justice and Love: Effective hospitality integrates justice, attuned to the needs and stories of the marginalized, embodying God's love.Vulnerability and Belonging: Spaces of hospitality must prioritize vulnerability and authenticity to foster a sense of belonging.Attunement to Community: Congregational hospitality involves being attuned to the broader community, not just those within church walls.Contemplative Practice: Slowing down and practicing contemplation can enhance the ability of spiritual communities to offer genuine hospitality. Timestamps (00:40) What is Around the Corner for the Church (03:16) Mosaic Leadership and...

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Every movement for change starts with a generative conversation. The Igniting Imagination podcast features rich conversations with leaders across the church landscape that invite you into new possibilities for yourself, your church, and your community. Each episode offers inspiring ideas to spark the Spirit within you as a leader and inspire courage and innovation to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

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    Wesleyan Impact Partners
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    Igniting Imagination

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