Along the Road: A Podcast for PC(USA) Leaders
Be inspired, hear the stories of others, and practice the tools of faith and leadership through conversations that nourish, enrich, and aid in the formation of leaders in the church. Mid Council leaders will integrate foundational values with the practice of faith and ministry. Congregational leaders, particularly ruling elders and deacons, will experience practices to connect faith to everyday life. Nourish: Short episodes for ruling elders and deacons. Encounter: Longer episodes for church and mid council leaders.
Episodes
71 episodes
Encounter: Presbyterian Identity - This is Where I Belong
“This denomination actually wants to hear from me?” That was the pivotal moment when, as a youth advisory delegate in 1995 that guest Kevin Veldhuisen knew he was a PCUSA Presbyterian. "This I where I belong, this is a good place." A...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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38:07
Nourish: Who Are These Laypersons?
Deacons, ruling elders, and teaching elders are companions in ministry and are responding to call by fulfilling particular functions in Christ’s church. The language we use about them is important and sends messages about what we believe. Ch...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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19:07
Encounter: Navigating the life path of the Presbyterian Identity
Hello Church People! In this episode, our guest Rodger Nishioka shares how he discovered he was a Presbyterian! We discuss the spiritual developmental process from youth to adulthood and how Presbyterian identity is reflected during diff...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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39:39
Nourish: Outward Signs of Ordered Ministries
Who wears a collar? How about a robe? Christian Boyd, pastor and presbytery stated clerk, explores the history and symbolism of these outward signs of ministry and the direct connection to our Presbyterian beliefs about the ordered ministries o...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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19:56
Encounter: Tell Me You Are Presbyterian by Telling Me When You Realized You Were Truly Presbyterian!
What is Presbyterian identity? When did you know, at your core, that you were a PCUSA Presbyterian? In this episode Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) shares how the interplay of the theol...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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27:42
Nourish: Reflecting, Remembering, and Radiating Gratitude
The hosts of the Encounter and Nourish episodes join together to think back on all of the gifts that the second season brought to the listeners – and the hosts. Contribute your own feedback and reflections by emailing them at alongtheroad@pcusa...
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Season 2
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Episode 35
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20:17
Encounter: Maintaining the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace; Being Faithful in Times of Disagreement
In this episode referencing the document, Seeking to be Faithful Together: Guidelines for Presbyterian...
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Season 2
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Episode 34
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25:27
Nourish: Reflection on Call
Mark Koenig provides a reflection on call with a capital “C” and call with a lowercase “c”, and the way that our calls connect us to community. More on these aspects of ministry as presented by Jack Stotts, are available
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Season 2
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Episode 33
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14:10
Encounter: Equity Primes and Choice Points for Equitable and Inclusive Decision-Making
The 225th General Assembly (2022) introduced and the 226th General Assembly will continue to use equity primes, prompts, and questions to lessen bias and ensure that multiple and diverse perspectives and invited and considered in order that we ...
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Season 2
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Episode 32
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44:58
Nourish: Polity Nugget - What is a Commissioner?
The work of a commissioner isn't just to one meeting and then they are done? While this may be a surprise to some, Jihyun Oh helps us understand a little more about the service of PC(USA) commissioners and how the rest of us can support them.&n...
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Season 2
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Episode 31
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13:04
Encounter: The Mid Councils' role in training commissioners to the General Assembly: Ideas, Experiences and Reflections
Hello Church People! As Mid Council Leaders with years of valuable experience, and also as former Commissioners to the General Assembly and advisory delegates, Fran Lane Lawrence, Forrest Classen, and Eliana Maxim share wit...
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Season 2
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Episode 30
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51:18
Nourish: Connecting Gifts and Leadership
Deacon and college student, Axel Obed Nieves Torres, shares his story of call to church leadership and how he connected to the ministries through his God-given gifts, giving all of us a chance to reflect on our own gifts and call.
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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16:05
Encounter: The Motions of an Overture on the way to GA
Hello Church people! Director for General Assembly Planning, Kate Trigger Duffert, and Manager for General Assembly Business, Ken Tolley, share the ins and outs of this year's processes for Overtures, PC-Biz, and some great pointe...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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29:22
Nourish: Polity Nugget - Voting Your Conscience
Joyce Lieberman helps navigate the call we have to vote – in our churches and assemblies but also in our general elections – and how our faith can, and should, connect as we consider our choices.
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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14:19
Encounter: The Power of Complexifying Our Narratives and Deepening Our Understanding of the Impact of Stories Told
Our histories, our stories are a vital part of who we are and more and more we include storytelling as part of our conferences, workshops, meetings, and ministries. Complexifying, countering, re-examining the stories we tell, and the narr...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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40:23
Nourish: Spiritual Practice of Caring through Cards
Sometimes hobbies can connect us to God and to each other and become a deeply meaningful spiritual practice. Priscilla Andre-Colton tells us all about her ministry of praying for others and demonstrating care through her ministry of making and ...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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17:39
Encounter: The Legacy of Reformed Christian Witness
Rev. Brian Heron shares with us his experience creating conversations and actions with pastoral ministries that envision the legacy of the communities and congregations that are working on transforming their ministerial purpose. As a former Exe...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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36:59
Nourish: Justice Calling
As Christians, we are called to seek justice for all of God’s children. Lee Catoe helps us unpack what justice means, ways we can be active in ministries of justice in our contexts, and resources for the journey.
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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15:40
Nourish: Let Us Begin with Prayer
As leaders in the church we attend many meetings, but we also may be responsible for leading these groups. Marissa Galván-Valle shares her perspective on meeting preparation and how she uses R...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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17:10
Encounter: The Care and Nurture of the Congregation - Church Safety and Emotional Well-Being
In this episode that accompanies the Jan. 3, 2024 Encounter episode on Church Safety and Security, guests Kathy Riley and Jim Kirk explore the importance of a comprehensive approach and attentiveness to both physical safety and emotional well-b...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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45:07
Nourish: From Idea to Overture
In this PC(USA) General Assembly year, become introduced to process of overture creation through the experiences shared by Susan DeGeorge and Gregory Simpson of Hudson River Presbytery.
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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19:01
Encounter - Questioning, reimagining and transforming the structures we have built: A conversation on new ways of doing "leadership"
Hello church people! In our effort to highlight new things Presbyteries are thinking and acting in their ministries, we have as our guests Annika Lister Stroope, Administrative Executive and Stated Clerk; Amgad Beblawi, Ministry and Mission Exe...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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38:43
Nourish: Respect Through Relationship
Jake Jacobs, Executive Director of Camp Henry in Newaygo, MI, shares the story of a path away from cultural appropriation to forming relationships, challenging us to look at our own ministries and continue to take steps toward diversity, equity...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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19:34
Encounter: The Care and Nurture of the Congregation - Church Safety and Security
Our churches serve as places of community, warmth, and spiritual nourishment. Yet in the world in which we live, work, and worship, the importance of physical safety and security cannot be overlooked. Mike Kirk, General Counsel, PCUSA, A Corp, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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48:48