Lead Time

If you care about the future of the LCMS, you won’t want to miss this one. Your perspective matters, let's have discussion that honors Christ!  New LCMS data reveals a stunning reality: nearly three-quarters of congregations worship fewer than 100 people each week. Tim and Jack unpack what this means for the future of our pastors, our mission, and our very identity as a church body. Are we facing an “emerging emergency” in staffing, sustainability, and representation? From micro-church struggles to the influence of large congregations, this candid conversation doesn’t shy away from the hard truths — and the hopeful opportunities. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/200797/support] Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes) https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter [https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter] Visit uniteleadership.org [https://www.uniteleadership.org/]

If you care about the future of the LCMS, you won’t want to miss this one. 🔔 Save Lead Time to your library for real talk about leading in the LCMS today. Your perspective matters, let's have discussion that honors Christ!  As the LCMS heads into another round of district and national conventions, big questions loom: Who actually holds influence in shaping our Synod’s future? Pastor Tim Ahlman sits down with Emily Pacyga and Josh Salzberg for a behind-the-scenes look at overtures, resolutions, and the politics of convention floor committees. From lay delegate engagement to the missing voices of commissioned ministers, from “omnibus” rejections to open hearings, this candid conversation wrestles with participation, representation, and whether the LCMS truly welcomes diverse perspectives. Whether you’re a seasoned delegate, a curious layperson, or someone who’s never heard the word “overture” before, this episode pulls back the curtain on how decisions are made—and how YOU can have a seat at the table. 📌 Topics include: Why many LCMS members don’t understand (or use) their full voting power How overtures get killed in “omnibus” before ever being discussed The politics of floor committees and representation Ideas for giving commissioned ministers a real voice Building coalitions for meaningful change in the LCMS Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/200797/support] Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes) https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter [https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter] Visit uniteleadership.org [https://www.uniteleadership.org/]

Subscribe to Lead Time for real talk about leading in the LCMS today. Why are so many LCMS churches stuck in cycles of insecurity, burnout, and unhealthy culture? In this episode, Dr. Kirk Triplett joins Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg to expose the deeper issues plaguing leadership culture in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. From toxic feedback loops to forgotten celebration, from unclear mission to constant comparison—this conversation digs deep into what’s quietly killing joy and mission in our churches. We explore: - How the LCMS avoids clarity by hiding behind “love God, love people” - The difference between behavioral values and organizational values - Why too many pastors are driven by insecurity and the 2% who complain - What the church can learn from Starbucks, big toes, and baby baptisms It’s time to rest, rejoice, and relax—without losing momentum. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/200797/support] Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes) https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter [https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter] Visit uniteleadership.org [https://www.uniteleadership.org/]

Whether you're a traditionalist, a missional reformer, or somewhere in between, this episode will challenge your assumptions and stir your heart for unity, clarity, and bold gospel witness. Rod Zwonitzer—a second-career pastor with a background in corporate marketing—joins Lead Time to drop some hard truth: the LCMS is great at feeding the sheep but terrible at fishing for the lost. In this rich, candid conversation, Rod explores the tension between doctrinal purity and outreach, confessional liturgy and contemporary music, and why the term “church growth” sends some Lutherans into panic mode. From defending contemporary worship (with his Stratocaster in hand) to later questioning whether pop culture fits in the sanctuary, Rod shares his journey through marketing, ministry, and the Book of Proverbs—all while urging the church to stop fighting and start fishing. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/200797/support] Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes) https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter [https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter] Visit uniteleadership.org [https://www.uniteleadership.org/]

Are 10,000+ commissioned ministers in the LCMS being overlooked at the highest levels of church leadership? In this eye-opening episode, Tim Ahlman sits down with Bob McKinney, Dr. Jonathan Laabs, and Audrey Duensing-Werner to confront the decades-long tension around voting rights and representation for commissioned ministers in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Why, after 16 attempts across multiple conventions, is the Synod still resisting change? What's really holding us back: polity, fear, or a misunderstanding of power and ministry? This conversation isn’t about titles. It’s about team, honor, and advancing the gospel in a post-Christian age. Whether you're a pastor, lay leader, DCE, teacher, or simply love your local church — this is a conversation the entire Synod needs to hear. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/200797/support] Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes) https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter [https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter] Visit uniteleadership.org [https://www.uniteleadership.org/]