Stop Pretending to Be God: The Freedom of Vulnerable Leadership | Mandy Smith

What does it mean to lead from a place of weakness? In this episode of the Forum Podcast, Calvin Theological Seminary President Jul Medenblik sits down with author and pastor Dr. Mandy Smith to explore what it truly means to be a vulnerable, human leader in ministry. Drawing from her book The Vulnerable Pastor: How Human Limitations Empower Our Ministry, Smith reflects on the leadership crisis that reshaped her understanding of calling and opened up a deeper vision of dependence on God. Together, they discuss the difference between good and bad vulnerability, the temptation for pastors to become idols rather than models of dependence, and the practical wisdom needed to discern what to share, with whom, and when. They also reflect on how human limitations can become places of freedom, and why those on the margins may have the most to teach the church about strength in weakness. Whether you are a seminary student, a seasoned pastor, or someone wrestling with what faithful leadership looks like, this conversation offers a challenging and hope-filled vision of ministry shaped not by self-sufficiency, but by grace.