If you serve or cater to both men and women, it makes sense that you represent those people with both men and women in leadership. But, this is a very modern development. Event in many business sectors the lack of women in top positions of leadership continues to be a problem.
Reflecting a true image of humanity back to those we lead or serve in ministry shouldn’t be such a strange concept either, but it’s often rare and controversial in religious spheres.
Today my guests are Kathy Escobar and Karl Wheeler, Co-Pastors for more than ten years of the Refuge, a mission center and Christian community near Denver, Colorado.
• They also have a new podcast called Faith Circus where they record their “big tent, high-wire conversations of faith, church, and life (and the occasional elephant in the room)”.
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SHOWNOTES
MIN 1
Where I (Lisa) went to Evangelical Seminary in Myerstown, PA. Tony Blair is the President, a professor and the co-pastor of a church called Hosanna! A Fellowship of Christians in Lititz, Pennsylvania with female pastor Jo Ann Kunz.
MIN 4:00
Was there pushback when you began as equal partners in church leadership ten years ago at the Refuge?
6:20
Understanding co-pastoring. A team-planted the Refuge.
8:10
Equality in Christ.
People assume they must be married because they are co-pastors.
10:30
Having a restored image of God.
Men sometimes find women easier to share private things with.
12:00
Circumcision is an old covenant (males only).
Baptism is a new covenant (open to both males and females).
13:30
Faith Circus – The podcast
Makes space for talking about difficult things.
14:40
Unity not uniformity
15:30
Covering the topic of abortion
17:00
Creating connection
18:00
real conversations
20:30
A culture of honesty.
“Diversity is a reflection of God’s Kingdom”
22:00
The Gay Marriage issue that unfolded in their church
26:00
“What’s your position?” is a tricky question–a litmus test.
32:00
The Refuge writes doctrine in pencil so they can be reexamined.
“What we believe so far…”
37:00 Next topics coming on Faith Circus
39:00
Violence and guns?
Non violent communication
42:00
Taking winning off the table. Use empathy and understanding.
43:00
We stop listening and we need to slow down to start thinking again.
Thank you for listening today! I hope you subscribe and tune in again soon. Spark My Muse comes out TWICE a week.
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