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This episode tackles the topic of being "othered" by those in church leadership, an important conversation for anyone in ministry leadership who wants to understand how to create an environment of embrace, of love, of belonging—and of being a healthy team.

Jenai Auman, the author of Othered, discusses her personal experiences of being othered by church leaders, the impact it had on her, and how leaders can cultivate communities marked by shalom and hesed.


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Jenai Auman shares her struggles with toxic issues and resistance at a church where she was on staff.
• Advocacy for personal boundaries led to Jenai being labeled as the problem and asked to leave the church.
• Individuals often remain in unhealthy environments due to a shallow understanding of love and belonging, influenced by past trauma.
• Jenai Auman identifies with domestic violence survivors in her determination to fix the system from within.
• Through her painful experience, Jenai Auman gained transformative wisdom and spiritual growth.
• Emphasizing the importance of healing, Jenai Auman aims to avoid bitterness and repeating the harm done to her.
• The hesed of God demonstrates loving kindness and compassion, aiming for wholeness in a fractured world.
• The zero-sum game misconception causes competition for comfort and peace, but God's shalom advocates for abundance.
• By adopting an open-handed posture towards others, we mirror God's nature, fostering inclusivity and belonging.
• Jenai Auman advises those feeling othered to recognize their inherent belovedness without seeking external validation.
• Church leaders should focus on self-reflection and compassion, avoiding defensive othering.
• Jenai Auman discusses the concept of shalom as a state of peace involving love, wisdom, and understanding personal stories.
• Naming experiences of othering is crucial for healing, enabling reconciliation and peace.
• Jenai Auman reflects on how her experiences with othering have shaped her understanding of mutuality and divine love.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Jenai Auman:
  • Website
  • Substack
  • Email
• Books mentioned:
  • Othered, by Jenai Auman
• Related episodes:
  • 82: Narcissism and Spiritual Leadership, with Chuck DeGroat
  • 92. Against a Culture of Abuse, with Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer
  • 163. You Can’t Be Found if You’re Never Lost, with Steve Carter

Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

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Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson reflect on how fear influences our congregations and the importance of addressing it directly. They discuss the role of technical expertise in building trust and how leaders can compassionately accompany people through their fears, especially in times of change and perceived loss. Tod shares strategies for normalizing fear, creating communities of empathy, and tackling resistance by engaging with those who are most fearful.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from David Quel in Ep 236, Supporting Families with Autism in Your Church:

“People have a tendency to be fearful of what they don't understand and what they don't know.”


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

1. Tod Bolsinger emphasizes the importance of accompanying people through their fears in leadership.
2. Leaders need to acknowledge and normalize fear to help people navigate their anxieties.
3. Churches should invite experts to build technical competence and trust.
4. Addressing resistance directly helps calm fears and fosters gradual progress.
5. Creating a community of empathy ensures that no one faces loss or fear alone.

Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!

In this episode, we’re taking a deep-dive into the complex and, at times, nerve-wracking experience of deconstruction. Leaders often worry about its impact on their roles, their authority, and on the harmony or unity of their church communities. But what if deconstruction is less about tearing down faith and more about stripping away what's non-essential, centering instead on Jesus?

In this epidsode, Scot McKnight, author of Invisible Jesus, sheds light on how deconstruction can be a path to a more Christ-focused faith, emphasizing the importance of creating supportive spaces for exploring and asking questions. This conversation is crucial for ministry leaders navigating their own or their congregants' journeys of faith reformation.


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Markus Watson addresses the nervousness leaders feel about deconstruction and its potential impacts on their beliefs.
• Scot McKnight highlights that leaders fear deconstruction because it threatens their job security, authority, and influence.
• People undergoing deconstruction can disrupt church communities, creating anxiety about church teachings.
• Markus Watson emphasizes the need for leaders to find safe spaces outside their church community for discussing deconstruction.
• Scot McKnight suggests that churches should support and provide safe exploration spaces instead of trying to control questioning individuals.
• Pastors face pressure to have all the answers, and questioning can trigger their insecurities about their role and authority.
• Markus Watson discusses how churches need to shift their culture to become open to questioning and changes.
• Scot McKnight reflects on his book "Invisible Jesus," addressing how deconstruction is not about abandoning faith but refocusing on Christ by removing non-essential elements.
• A study cited by Scot McKnight shows that 86% of people who undergo deconstruction remain in the church, although they may change congregations.
• Deconstruction resembles a personal Protestant Reformation where individuals reassess and personalize their faith journey.
• Scot McKnight draws parallels between deconstruction and historical movements aimed at shedding unnecessary church practices or beliefs, focusing on continual reform.
• Scot McKnight states that Jesus acted as a deconstructor, challenging the law within Judaism similar to the prophets.
• The church's role should involve listening to deconstructors rather than fearing or dismissing them, promoting an adaptive leadership approach.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Scot McKnight:
  • Substack
• Books mentioned:
  • Invisible Jesus, by Scot McKnight and Tommy Phillips
  • A Church Called Tov, by Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer
  • Revelation for the Rest of Us, by Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett
• Related episodes:
  • 171. Leading Your Ministry as a Dissident Disciple, with Scot McKnight
  • 98. Deconstruction and Reconstruction, with A.J. Swoboda
  • 92. Against a Culture of Abuse, with Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer

Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.