In a world full of so much pain, what is the hope of joy? How do we hold God's goodness and the brokenness of our world in a faithful tension? What kind of future does joy want? In our final episode of the season, Scot and Claire bring these profound and poignant questions to the Rev. Dr. Justin Crisp, Priest in Charge of Saint Barnabas Episcopal C…

How do we trust and stay with a process when our destination is unclear? Today we explore the daunting and delightful space in between — be that between certainty and trust, control and acceptance, or us and God — with ELCA pastor and spiritual leader the Rev. Beth Horsch. As the newest member of the Vital+Thriving Congregations Leadership Team, Re…

We are thrilled to welcome to the show yet another Episcopal Bishop, this time from our home state of California! The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook is a national leader in evangelism, church growth, and church planting currently serving as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of San Diego. After serving established congregations early in her ordained m…

In our latest episode, Scot and Claire are joined by the Rev. Dr. Sam Wells, Vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, former Dean of Duke University Chapel, and the author of forty-six books on Christian ethics, mission, and more. This deep and wide-ranging conversation invites us to rethink almost everything we know about being church. What if…

Our first episode of 2024 invites us to move deeper into the daunting and delightful wisdom of Luke 10, the text within which our congregations have been dwelling for many months now. Joining us on the way is Dr. Scott Hagley, associate professor of world evangelism and missiology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and author of the book, Eat What …

Our new season kicks off with an honest and courageous conversation with the Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, ninth bishop of the Diocese of Washington (D.C.). The author of several books, among them the 2023 release How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, Bishop Mariann occupies a unique role in our church as a spiritual leader in our…

In our final episode of the season, we're thrilled to welcome organizer and environmentalist Rob Hopkins, co-founder of Transition Town Totnes and author of several books, including From What Is to What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want. In this broad ranging conversation, we explore the power of imagination, the …

In our tenth episode, we explore dismantling racism not simply as political or social action but as something central to our spiritual formation as followers of Jesus, who was radical and disruptive in his life and teaching. Guiding us into this compelling perspective is Dr. Catherine Meeks, a prophetic voice in our Church currently serving as the …

We're delighted to welcome yet another transformational leader to the Vital + Thriving Podcast, someone who has not only helped her congregation grow but also to grow more diverse, more dynamic, and younger. The Rev. Lina Thompson is Pastor of Lake Burien Presbyterian Church just outside Seattle, a community of faith "willing to take risks, engagin…

The daughter and granddaughter of evangelical pastors, Christianity has been the starting point, the destination, and the path in between for this episode's guest, Debie Thomas, though she has traversed a lot of ground to find her way to the Episcopal tradition. In our first episode of 2023, we talk with the celebrated author and Minister of Lifelo…

In our seventh episode, we welcome two guests for the first time, co-authors of the newly released Vital Christian Community: Twelve Characteristics of Healthy Congregations. Sharing out of their experiences as parish leaders and trainers in The College for Congregational Development, the Revs. Phil and Alissa offer wisdom and insight from their ma…

Before moving to the Bay Area to lead First Church Berkeley, which she lovingly describes as a "motley pew," UCC pastor the Rev. Molly Baskette served as senior minister of First Church Somerville in Massachusetts. The author of six books, Rev. Molly tells the story of First Church Somerville's dramatic transformation in Real Good Church: How Our C…

Our fall season of the Vital+Thriving podcast kicks off with a thrilling conversation with the Rev. Rachel Stout, who serves not only as a clergy coach for leaders in Vital+Thriving Congregations but also as a reflective practitioner at the Center for Church Innovation and a Lutheran pastor in Minnesota. As a parish leader who has guided congregati…

In the final episode of our first season, Scot and Claire speak with one of the Episcopal Church’s leading thinkers around 21st-century ministry and mission, the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers. The author of several books, including most recently The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community, Canon Stephanie speaks…

Scot and Claire speak with Catholic Sister, former seminary professor, and author Dr. Elizabeth Liebert about discernment and the spiritual practices that help us to listen deeply for God's call in and for our lives. Sister Beth reflects on both individual and collective discernment, pointing us toward forms of prayer and disciplines of life that c…

Up next, Scot and Claire speak with their Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Marc Handley Andrus, about the vitality practices that make building - or repairing - Beloved Community in each of our particular contexts possible: invitation, community embeddedness, diversity, collaboration, and sustainability. This inspiring conversation moves organically in man…

In our first episode, Scot and Claire introduce Vital and Thriving in conversation with the Rev. Dr. Patrick Keifert. Together, they discuss everything from what it means to be Church in a "missional era" to the unique challenges posed by the pandemic to the joys of eating hotdish. Don't miss this imminently hopeful invitation to notice what God is…