Live from the Siburt Institute
Vibrant conversations between ministers, church leaders, and scholars, brought to you by the staff of the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry at Abilene Christian University. The Siburt Institute’s mission is to equip church leaders and help churches thrive. Topics include contemporary issues facing churches and church leaders, as well as ways that scholarship can inform church leadership.
Episodes

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Myles Werntz talks with Katie Frugé and Irene Gallegos about their work in public advocacy and in helping churches find ways to express a "social witness" through involvement with moral issues in the world, especially hunger and poverty. Both Dr. Frugé and Dr. Gallegos are members of the Christian Life Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Tune in to this timely discussion with Josh Ross about his new book, Coreology: Six Principles for Navigating an Election Season without Losing Your Witness. As we know, it can take hours, weeks, months, maybe even years for people to trust the witness of a Jesus-follower. And yet, we can lose that witness in a moment: with one social media post, a negative encounter, or an insensitive comment. Dozens of voices in our culture are fighting for our attention, affection, and allegiance, and for us Kingdom people, any form of drifting from our core confession of Jesus Christ’s kingship can lead to destruction. If we neglect our core, we lose our center, we lose our balance, and we can hurt our witness. We’ll talk about how to live with passion yet be driven by principles that keep us properly rooted.

Wednesday Oct 02, 2024
Wednesday Oct 02, 2024
Our discussion with Dr. Stephen Bullivant continues as we pivot from the broader religious landscape into Churches of Christ. We will begin with Dr. Bullivant's perspective and intrigue on Churches of Christ and their pioneering of restoration. Then move into how the rise of the "nones" is playing out within Churches of Christ. Since Churches of Christ are not unaffected by the rise of the nones and secularization, how have churches in our context responded to this reality?
This podcast is a recording of our Intersection Teleconference from September 2024. You can watch the conference on our website at www.siburtinstitute.org/intersection.

Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
Myles Werntz and Helen Paynter discuss her new book on the Bible and violence, and what it means for ministers to lead people well into a violent world. The Reverend Dr. Paynter is Director of Theological Education, Tutor in Biblical Studies, and Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence at Bristol Baptist College in the United Kingdom.

Tuesday Sep 17, 2024
Tuesday Sep 17, 2024
David Kneip and Anna Carter Florence talk about her work as a preacher and professor of homiletics and her upcoming visit to ACU's Summit gathering. Topics include the shared love of Scripture among the Churches of Christ and the Presbyterian churches, the importance and opportunities found in reading Scripture in community, connections that the theatre has with preaching, and her newest book A is for Alabaster: 52 Reflections on the Stories of Scripture.

Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
David Kneip and Travis Akins discuss aspects of planting a congregation and building a new church building. The conversation grows out of Travis's current experience as the minister of a new church in Oklahoma. Topics include the process of planting a church and then building a building, obstacles and unexpected blessings along the way, and spiritual resources that helped support the minister and the church.

Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
David Kneip and Candace Nicolds talk about the opportunities and challenges that have come from individuals joining congregations through the live-streaming of worship services. They discuss Candace's work at the Brookline Church of Christ (Boston, MA), conversations among leadership, and theological implications of pastoral care for online congregants.

Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Jennifer Schroeder talks with Henry Zonio about why it is so important that our children's ministry resources reflect the diversity of God's kingdom and the impact on our children when they don't. Henry, a leading scholar in this area, pairs sociology with Christian education to help churches and faith based organizations think more intentionally about the work they are doing. This is the second of a two-part conversation. Listen to our next podcast for the entire session!

Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Jennifer Schroeder talks with Henry Zonio about why it is so important that our children's ministry resources reflect the diversity of God's kingdom and the impact on our children when they don't. Henry, a leading scholar in this area, pairs sociology with Christian education to help churches and faith based organizations think more intentionally about the work they are doing. This is the first of a two-part conversation. Listen to our next podcast for the entire session!

Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
David Kneip and Rivers Rich discuss ministry searches from the perspective of a minister who was just hired on staff at a church. Rivers talks about his experience of searching for a minister position after he graduated from ACU. He gives a unique point of view for both those who are on a search committee and those looking for a position.