The Faith Trends Podcast

Helping Churches Talk About Money

Helping Churches Talk about MoneyLori Guenther Reesor says her superpower is helping churches talk about money. And who couldn't use some good advice about how to do that?In this episode, we talk with Lori about what she's learned about money and generosity, and why its so important that we talk about money.https://lgreesor.com/Lori can be reached through https://lgreesor.com/contactHere is the book we discussed.Guenther Reesor, Lori. Growing a Generous Church: A Year in the Life of Peach Blossom Church. Lori Guenther Reesor, 2021. https://lgreesor.com/shop/p/stanton-recipes-ed-1-bkw2k.Here is were you can find some of the research behind the book.Guenther Reesor, Lori Ann. “Theology and Fundraising: How Does Current Canadian Mennonite Praxis Compare to Paul’s Collection for Jerusalem? By.” University of Waterloo, 2007. https://dspacemainprd01.lib.uwaterloo.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/5b09b5c9-2ac6-49ec-af1e-2e07df40fef5/content. Guenther Reesor, Lori Ann. “Using Donor Research to Influence Stewardship Praxis in Mennonite Foundation of Canada’s Constituency.” D.Min., Tyndale University, 2014. https://digitalcollections.tyndale.ca/bitstream/handle/20.500.12730/2248/Reesor_Lori_Ann_Guenther_D_Min_2014.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

"Religion" as a polluted word - Ep 28

What does it mean for words like "religion" to become "polluted"? How does it happen, and can they be cleaned up and made usable again?Watts, Galen, and Sam Reimer. “Symbolic Pollution and Religious Change: The Religious Imaginary of Anglo-Canadian Spiritual but Not Religious Millennials.” Sociology of Religion, June 9, 2024, srae012. https://doi.org/10.1093/socrel/srae012.https://academic.oup.com/socrel/advance-article/doi/10.1093/socrel/srae012/7690204

Audiences and Congregations - Ep 30

Church is not theatre, and yet there are things we can learn from theatre, and those who study it. Dr. Scott Mealey, who has also been a pastor, talks to us about his research on audience experience, and what it can teach us about how newcomers experience church.Scott's Dissertation: https://utoronto.scholaris.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/09d0765e-8ab7-4a2c-a687-92d4326ae014/contentFind out more about the CIECR: https://www.wycliffecollege.ca/canadian-institute-empirical-church-researchFind out more about Scott and how to get in touch with him: https://www.wycliffecollege.ca/users/scott-mealey

How are churches being planted in Canada today? - Ep 29

In this episode, Dr. James Watson talks with Faith Trends about his new ethnographic study of church plants in the Waterloo region. If God has been speaking to you about planting a church you won't want to miss this podcast which is full of ideas and insights.Watson, James. “New Congregations in the Canadian Kaleidoscope: An Autoethnographic Analysis of Thirty New Congregations in the Waterloo Region.” Canadian Institute for Empirical Church Research, December 2024. https://ciecr.wycliffecollege.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/New-Congregations-in-the-Canadian-Kaleidoscope-Dec24-James-Watson-v1.0digital.pdf.To learn more about Dr. Watson's research or the Canadian Institute for Empirical Church Research visit ciecr.wycliffe@utoronto.ca or email wycliffe.ciecr@utoronto.ca.

Blessed are the Undone - Ep 27

Why do people leave the church? In this episode, Lindsay discusses the findings of a new book that analyzes the testimonies of the "undone," a term that nuances the varied levels of deconstruction from evangelical faith. The authors share challenging stories about church hurt and disillusionment, but offer hopeful insights for the future.More information about the book and its authors can be found here: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/blessedundone