Coffeepot Fellowship Podcast

Nicole Massie Martin received her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary where she received the Jones Prize in Music and the Swink Prize in Preaching. During her time in seminary, she served as Director of Evangelism at St. James AME Church in Newark, New Jersey, and spent a summer in ministry at Mandalay Baptist Church in Cape Town, South Africa. She earned a Doctor of Ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with an emphasis in African American Redemptive Leadership. Today Nicole serves as the Executive Minister at The Park Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was inducted into the prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Board of Preachers at Morehouse College. She is a published writer for The African American Lectionary and a monthly columnist for the Faith and Values section of The Charlotte Observer, which named her one of the “Top Seven to Watch in 2011.” In 2014 Dr. Martin was appointed to serve as the faith-based representative on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Coalition for Hou

I overheard Alex Moreschi [mor-es-kee] tell a great story to a room full of people and had to invite him to the show. He was helping host a webinar event with a live audience at eFormation, a technology conference at Virginia Theological Seminary. Back in Savannah, Georgia Alex does hospital and hospice chaplaincy and assists in parish ministry. Make sure you check out the show notes page at coffeepotfellowship.com.

Amelia Markham still wants to pastor congregations even though her coming out has delayed that calling. Amelia earned her bachelor of science at Columbia International University where majoring in intercultural studies and biblical theology. Today Amelia is the Atlanta Organizer for The Reformation Project, a Bible-based organization that works to promote inclusion of LGBT people by reforming church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity. Her energy and fun nature are infectious and I can nearly promise that you will love this episode.

Kenji Kuramitsu is an arsenal of light, which no one will argue with after this interview. Not long out of college, Kenji is attending McCormick Theological Seminary, sits on several ministries' boards and has a very full traveling and teaching schedule. His personality is entertaining and fun while his conversation topics range across the White House, Bill Nye, detainment camps, and the killings of Freddie Gray and journalist Kenji Goto. Introducing Kenji Kuramitsu, coming to a justice event near you.

Dr. Emilie Townes has been the Dean at Vanderbilt University Divinity School since 2013. She came directly from Yale Divinity School where she was the Professor of African-American religion and theology and associate dean of academic affairs. I'm looking forward to hearing Dr. Townes in person July 7th-10th at the Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs, NC where I am sure she will be on the main stage. If you can join us, this year or next, please do. Listeners of the Coffeepot Fellowship Podcast can take 25% off your tickets for 2016 using promo code "Goosecast2016"!

We interrupt with this breaking news, today's guest, Sarah Withrow King's latest book, Vegangelical is being published today.  Vegangelical: How Caring for Animals Can Shape Your Faith is her second book, after Animals Are Not Ours (No Really, They're Not): An Evangelical Animal Liberation Theology. Sarah is the Deputy Director of Evangelicals for Social Action. She lives in Philadelphia, PA and came to ESA from PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. If you like animals and have any curiosity about faith then this episode is for you. Enjoy.

T. Wes. Moore graduated with a Music Education degree from Tennessee Tech University in 2009. In 2011, he earned a Master of Sacred Music degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX and began working full-time as a church musician.  After four years of music ministry, he entered Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. Tune in because T. Wes. tells a story!

Kyndall Rae Rothaus is doing great, courageous work! She has a gift for simultaneously speaking with strength and gentleness. Kyndall is the Senior Pastor at Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco, TX. She is the author of Preacher Breath: Sermons and Essays by Kyndall Rae Rothaus. And I invited her this show because I read an article she wrote called “10 ways every church ought to combat sexual violence and domestic abuse" which has the most direct, practical, powerful advice I've ever read. Link to it in our show notes at coffeepotfellowship.com/kyndallrothaus.

On a Friday night in December of 2011 after all of us seminarians had finished our exams and turned our tired eyes toward our families and hometowns we received word that our friend and classmate, Marley Robertson, had been in a serious accident with an 18-wheeler in snowy weather near Roanoke, Virginia. The Earth stopped on its axis. Brain surgery, intensive care and a medically induced coma all came quickly as prayers and fear pierced us all. Where is she now? Hear here.

Rev. Dr. Paula Stone William's life is rich with successes, in every area of life - with family, in the church, in education, and in business. In her words, "Everything I touched turned to gold." While she is still turning things to gold it has become more challenging as she has transitioned outwardly to who she has always been inside: female and transgender.

Our guest today is Dave Csinos. Dave is founder and executive director of Faith Forward, an ecumenical organization for progressive and creative leaders in ministry with children and youth. He is completing a PhD from the Toronto School of Theology and is an assistant professor at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dave has written, co-written, or co-edited four books related to children's and youth ministry, including Children's Ministry in the Way of Jesus and Faith Forward, volumes 1 and 2.

Many of the days of my adulthood I've felt called to a life of ministry that looks more like Justin Joplin's than my own, especially when focusing on his long hair, banjo and hockey skates. Justin moved from a pastorate here in Richmond, Virginia to Mississauga, Ontario in Canada in 2014. Enjoy this time with Rev. Justin Joplin.

While being a dedicated servant of God's, faithful educator, and fun interviewee Jocelyn Blount is also a friend of mine. We were fellow Ambassadors at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. We went to conferences together wearing our blue polo shirts. We have talked with prospective seminarians, trustees, seminarians at sister institutions, and Baptist icons in our Cooperative Baptist Fellowship worlds. Please enjoy any time that you get to spend with Jocelyn for the gift that it is.

Romal Tune is an award winning author, consultant and strategist. While Romal was in his hometown in California for our cross country interview, he is currently in Cape Town, South Africa. You can catch follow him on Periscope and see some of his work live around the world. You might also catch pictures of his recent breakfast with Bishop Desmond Tutu. You will also hear how you can get a comprehensive look at United Faith Leaders at an upcoming live webinar event.

Jason Callahan serves as a Chaplain at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Allied Health Professions. At the time of the interview he was also the President and Moderator of the Black Alumni Association of Union Presbyterian Seminary. This episode also made an invitation on behalf of United Faith Leaders to register for an upcoming live webinar via www.unitedfaithleaders.com/webinars.

Rev. Kerra B. English is the pastor at Ashland Presbyterian Church and a certified spiritual director on the faculty at Richmond Hill. Listen to this episode and see where Kerra's journey may have similarities to your own. Hear some guidance and confessions as we talk about theodicy, the gifts of imperfection and opportunities that come from seeming failures.

I knew we had a real story when David Williams reply to my prompt for his greatest trial was, "My last church." Yikes. That church doesn't even exist anymore. Did he kill it? Could he have saved it? And what kind of church would hire him next? Usually when pastors have a story like this, and many do, we keep it secret for many reasons. Thanks to pastor and author Rev. Dr. David Williams for this story and his others.

Shane Claiborne's accomplishments have led to appearances in Esquire, SPIN, Christianity Today, and The Wall Street Journal, and he has been on everything from Fox News and Al Jazeera to CNN and NPR. He’s given academic lectures at Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Liberty, Duke, and Notre Dame. Shane speaks regularly at denominational gatherings, festivals, and conferences around the globe.He is a co-founder of The Simple Way community in Philadelphia and RedLetterChristian.org. Shane writes and travels extensively speaking about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus. His books include Jesus for President, Red Letter Revolution, Common Prayer, Follow Me to Freedom, Jesus, Bombs and Ice Cream, Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers – and his classic The Irresistible Revolution. With all of that I am sure you are wondering, "How does Shane Claiborne like his coffee?" Hit play to find out.

Laura McDaniel came to her faith and ordination far into adulthood while a Washington DC corporate attorney. She has been the Network Catalyst (pretty cool title, right?) for the Spence Network since 2013. She was the Executive Director of the Women's Missionary Union of Virginia for five years prior. You might also find it interesting to hear her tell the story of when God repeatedly asked her "What color am I?" (No, it isn't white.) For the full explanation you can listen to the short interview hosted by Kendall Ratliffe. 

Rabbi Ben Romer was a friend, paid member and board member with United Faith Leaders. He was also my first interview guest ever in October of 2014. May this replay serve as a tribute and memoir if you are grieving as I am.