Ministry Mondays with Meg

Margaret Marcuson helps clergy get lighter and less burdened by their ministry so they can have more influence with less stress. She has worked with leaders from over 20 denominations as teacher and coach over 25 years. She is the author of Leaders who Last (2009) and Money and Your Ministry (2014). An American Baptist minister, she served as pastor at First Baptist Church, Gardner, MA for 13 years. She lives in Portland, OR, where she sings in two choirs. Check out her new book, Sustainable Ministry: How to Lead (and When to Nap) available July 9th. Find out more about Margaret at margaretmarcuson.com 

Catch this episode with author, Melinda Mitchell about her second book, Fortunate Son. New book, same great author, new publisher. Get your copy of Fortunate Son today!

This week, Meg chats with Dr. Dan Cash about 35 years in ministry, the wisdom found in everyday faith, and the inspiration behind his three books. It’s a heartfelt conversation about calling, growth, and finding grace in the beautiful mess of ministry.You can find 8 Questions Jesus Asked and Changing Church at www.judsonpresss.com and his first solo project, Dakota Dreams & Hoosier Heartland, a historical fiction on Amazon. 

Rev. Alicia Dixon-Garrard is a dynamic American Baptist clergywoman whose life’s journey reflects a rich tapestry of faith, resilience, and transformation. Alicia's early experiences shaped her understanding of spirituality as both a personal and communal endeavor. Her passion for serving others and commitment to her spiritual journey inspire her to foster community and nurture the souls of those around her. As a beacon of hope within her congregations, Alicia’s authentic sermons often draw upon her personal journey of faith and perseverance, inviting her listeners to explore their own spiritual paths.Beyond her pastoral roles, Alicia is a passionate advocate for mental health, racial justice, and healing. She hosts the Graced Conversations podcast, engaging in meaningful dialogue with experts and community members on topics such as healing ethnic tensions, spiritual formation, and addressing family violence. Her diverse experiences include leadership in community outreach, discipleship, chaplaincy, and teaching. As she navigates the complexities of life and faith, Alicia remains a passionate advocate for love, understanding, and community connection, inviting others to join her in this sacred journey of spiritual growth and healing.Currently, Alicia is the enjoying her new role as Associate Executive Minister of Rochester/Genesee region of New York. Her and her husband of twenty-two years reside in Western New York where they enjoy drinking tea, catching action and sci-fi movies, and TV crime series together.Alicia's Podcast: www.anchorfm./gracedconversations(More Episodes coming this fall)The HEM Network for child loss support website:https://hemnetwork.org/

Join Meg, Anne, and special guest, Buster, for this fantastic episode!Rev. Anne Jernberg Scalfaro (she/her/hers), Senior PastorCalvary Baptist Church of DenverAnne has served on the pastoral staff at Calvary Baptist Church of Denver—a welcoming and affirming American Baptist Churches USA congregation (Evergreen Region)—for 17 years, and has been Senior Pastor since January 2013.She believes that faith is a journey best shared in community; this is why she loves the local church: “My calling is to pastor a congregation through discerning leadership and mentorship, meaningful preaching and creative worship, cultivating spaces of healing and belonging, and advocating for justice and transformation. Rooted in God’s faithfulness, empowered by Christ’s love, and sustained by the living Spirit, I understand the Christian church to be a mosaic of God’s imago dei and a co-creator of God’s beloved kin-dom of hope and justice in the local community and beyond.”In addition to her ministry at Calvary, as part of the mayor’s Mile High All In Initiative, Anne serves on the Good Neighbor Committee which supports the Tamarac Family Shelter—a neighbor to Calvary. She also serves on the Faith Leaders Advisory Council for Bright Stars of Bethlehem whose mission is to raise awareness and support for Dar al-Kalima University, the first and only university of arts, culture, and design in all of Palestine. Anne is also committed to and enriched by the ministry of relationship building and racial justice she and her colleague Rev. Dr. Eugene Downing, Jr. of New Hope Baptist Church share in with their New Baptist Covenant congregational partnership.Anne is a graduate of Austin College in Sherman, TX (B.A. Religion) and Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, MA (M.Div.) and was ordained to ministry in 2008 at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, TX following a two-year pastoral residency program. During her time at Harvard Div, she served as a Seminarian at the Memorial Church in Harvard Yard and as a CPE chaplain at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Anne is the co-author of Preaching the Word: HEBREWS, a preaching commentary (2020).Born and raised in Dallas, TX, Anne loves good Tex-Mex, afternoon thunderstorms, and the word “y’all.” An introvert at heart (Enneagram 4, INFJ), Anne enjoys learning, reading, poetry, game nights, puzzles, and good coffee conversations. Her main spiritual and physical practice is yoga, and she is renewed by spending time outdoors with her husband, Damon, their golden retriever, Deacon, and their stuffed monkey, Buster. They live in the Montclair area of Denver.Links:https://calvarydenver.org/https://www.youtube.com/@CalvaryBaptistChurchOfDenver

Meet my friend and colleague, Jennifer Schneider!Jennifer Schneider serves as the Associate Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of the Central Region. In this role, she is dedicated to supporting congregations across the region, with a particular passion for developing young leaders and helping churches create space for youth and emerging adults to grow in faith and leadership.Jennifer earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas and her Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Jennifer lives in Olathe, Kansas, with her husband, John. They share their home with two golden retrievers and have three grown children. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys reading, walking, and traveling—finding renewal and inspiration in both new places and quiet moments.Link to MPYC youth conference website:  https://www.mpyc-abc.org/

Matt and Tim chat with Meg about their book, From Distrust to Trust

How do you feel about your Ministry Hustle? Got Courage? Don't Miss this conversation!The Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. An ordained Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush is a longtime leader in the interfaith movement. At Interfaith Alliance he works with affiliates, networks and leaders in Washington, D.C. and across the country to forge powerful alliances among people of diverse faiths and beliefs to build a resilient, inclusive democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all.Rev. Raushenbush also hosts the weekly podcast and radio show “The State of Belief” with the tagline Where Religion and Democracy Meet, distributed by Religion News Service. Recent guests include Timothy Snyder, Katherine Stewart, Skye Perryman, Bishop William Barber, Rabbi Sharon Brous, Najeeba Sayeed, Simran Jeet Singh, E.J. Dionne, Rob Reiner, and Tim Alberta.Prior to coming to Interfaith Alliance, Rev. Raushenbush served as senior vice president of the Auburn Seminary, the founding and executive editor of HuffPost Religion, which under his leadership was the most visited religion website, while also winning a Webby. Raushenbush was associate dean of religious life and the chapel at Princeton University, a founding editor of Beliefnet.com, and most recently, the senior advisor for public affairs and innovation at Interfaith America.Rev. Raushenbush has spoken about religious diversity and the importance of inclusive religious liberty at colleges, churches and institutes around the country including The Chautauqua Institute, the Center for American Progress, Council on Foreign Relations, the New America Foundation and the Aspen Institute. He is regularly invited to offer commentary on issues of religion and civil rights in national outlets including CSPAN, CNN, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, NPR, New York Times, Washington Post, Al Jazeera, BBC, The Hill, Vice, the Guardian, and Religion News Service. He has published two books and contributed essays to several volumes on faith in public life.Paul is married to the author Brad Gooch and lives in New York City where they are raising their two children.

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet my former seminary advisor from Anderson University School of Theology (Anderson, IN), Rev. Dr. Kimberly Majeski. She is now the Executive Director of Christian Women Connection. https://christianwomenconnection.org/

Dr. Mario Joseph, a devoted Christian author, and a community pillar, embodies a life committed to faith, family, and service. Born into the Catholic faith, Mario's spiritual journey would lead him on a remarkable path of devotion and purpose.In 1993, fate introduced Dr. Mario to Rolaine, who would later become his beloved wife for three decades and the nurturing mother of their five sons. This union was not just a love story but a catalyst for Dr. Mario's profound transformation. In 1994, under Rolaine's guidance, Dr. Mario made the life-altering decision to accept Jesus Christ as his savior. He symbolized this newfound faith through baptism shortly after that, marking his formal entry into the Bethel Baptist Church as an esteemed member.Throughout the years, Dr. Mario's dedication to his church knew no bounds. He wholeheartedly embraced numerous roles, from leading the Music Department to serving as President of Administration and Chair of the Board of Trustees. His versatile talents extended to project management, media production, and sound engineering. Moreover, he inspired and guided the church youth as the Epic Youth Coordinator and founder of BHBC Epic Youth Nations.Dr. Mario's academic achievements are equally impressive, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning. He holds bachelor’s degrees in organizational leadership and business administration and master’s degrees in organizational leadership and the pursuit of biblical studies. His pursuit of knowledge culminated in a Doctor of Business Administration focused on Information Technology Management. Furthermore, he honed his skills with a Mini-MBA in Digital Marketing, certifications in project management, applying for grants, managing, and grants writing.Beyond his academic and ecclesiastical accomplishments, Bethel licenses Dr. Mario to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and puts Dr, Mario on the path for pastoral ordination. His life's journey is a testament to unwavering faith, family values, and an unyielding commitment to serving his community and Creator.

What happens when a guest leaves Meg speechless- Find out! Meet Rev. Dr. Robert Wallace, author of A Prism of Song: Seeing the Old Testament through the Psalms. This is life-changing reading! Rev. Dr. Wallace's first love is teaching, and he is currently the pastor of McLean Baptist Church in Virginia. He is also a self-proclaimed sci-fi nerd. You can purchase A Prism of Song: Seeing the Old Testament through the Psalms at https://amzn.to/3XN9qmd

This episode could also be called " Two Midwesterners talk about life." Join Meg and her guest, Melanie Hauser, as they discuss Melanie's dream job as Chaplain at Buena Vista University in Iowa, pitch-in dinners, and her life with Reepicheep the cat. Can a cat break down barriers? Listen and find out!You can follow Reepicheep on Instagram @Reepicheepthecat The etsy page where you can buy Reepicheep’s calendar and coloring book is here: https://revdrmel.etsy.comThere is a bonfire account set up with t-shirts and tote bag merch here that supports our local animal rescue: https://www.bonfire.com/store/help-reepicheeps-peeps/Here is the university website with information about spiritual life on campus: https://www.bvu.edu/spiritual-lifeHere is a standard recipe for scotcheroos (not tested by me but looks pretty average): https://dancearoundthekitchen.com/best-ever-scotcheroos/

Meg is joined by Revs Mary Hamel, Seth David Clark, Mindi Welton-Mitchell, and Michael Friday to talk about their recent trip to The Border Church in Tijuana, Mexico.  

Meet Pet Pastor, Julie Webb. What if you could communicate with all God's creation? Find out more in this episode. You can learn more about Julie at www.petpastor.org

Meet Rev. Kadin Williams, Military Chaplain. 

From Pastor to film director! Advocate for social justice. Tamara talks about her premiere film about autoimmune disorders.  

 Rev. Anna Gheen is an ordained minister in the PC(USA) and pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Richmond, VA. She holds an A.A. in Business Marketing and Management with a focus on Entrepreneurship from Eastern Idaho Technical College and a B.S. in Business Marketing Management from Western Governors University. She earned her Master of Divinity, an M.A. in Christian Education and Formation, and a Certificate in Christian/Jewish Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary. She also holds a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Oasis Ministries, a Graduate Certificate in Ministry and Disability from Western Theological Seminary, and a Certificate in Conflict Management from Cornell. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. through NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community.She has held a number of career positions ranging from retail sales clerk to head buyer, Staff Assistant to a U.S. Senator (holding elected office, herself, for two terms) and is a Nationally Registered EMT. She is ten year veteran of youth ministry, served as Educational Assistant for Share the Son Ministries, was a writer for Wycliffe Bible Translators, and is a founder of the Association of Disabled Seminarians and Allies.A. C. is also an associate member of the Evangelical Press Association.  Her freelance work has appeared in On Mission, Discipleship Journal, The Upper Room, Group, The Journal of Student Ministries, Devozine, and Breakaway. When not writing, A. C. enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and artistic pursuits including blacksmithing, glass working, and stone carving. She also enjoys designing and constructing Protestant/Anglican prayer beads which are available for sale at Cleric Crafts. 

An educator, practical theologian, grassroots organizer, multi-platinum record producer and columnist for magazines like Ebony, Essence, and Life Magazine, Dr. Christopher Michael Jones currently serves as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Hillside in Hillside, NJ. Dr. Jones strives to remain committed to sharing a prophetic message of love, social uplift, self-empowerment and economic justice. A true hybrid of Hip-Hop and the Christian Church, Dr. Jones leans into a communication methodology which reaches multiple generations by lovingly keeping it real and making the truth plain through powerful preaching, insightful teaching, lecturing, and creative writing.A native of Queens, NY, Dr. Jones currently serves as Faculty Mentor of the inaugural “Building and Bridging: Transformational Approaches to Pastoral Leadership, Prophetic Preaching, and Spiritual Formation” Doctor of Ministry Degree Program at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. Dr. Jones has also served as the Visiting Professor of Preaching and Worship at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. While serving at NBTS, Dr. Jones served as Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Administration and Co-Mentor to the Doctor of Ministry Degree Program in Pastoral Care and Counseling.Dr. Jones has also served as Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Leadership at Pillar College and as Guest Lecturer at Long Island University-Brooklyn focusing on Faith and Public Policy. Dr. Jones was ongoing contributor to The African American Pulpit and The African American Lectionary offering sermons and theological commentary on sacred texts from a creative African American perspective. Firmly rooted in his commitment to the work of the church, empowering the local community, and teaching in the academy, Dr. Jones maintains a strong commitment to retooling and encouraging pastors, seminarians, organizational leaders and volunteers in parish ministry as well as the public marketplace.A graduate of Forest Hills High School, Dr. Jones graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rutgers University, earned his Master of Divinity Degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, and also earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Memphis Theological Seminary with a concentration in Preaching as Pastoral Care in the African American tradition. Dr. Jones has studied at many other institutions of higher learning including the University of Oxford as a Graduate Fellow of Theology.Most recently, Dr. Jones was appointed Chaplain of the Hillside Police and Fire Department in Hillside, NJ. He is the first African American to be appointed to serve as Chaplain to both departments in Hillside’s 104-year history.Dr. Jones is married to the former Nikki Michelle Etheridge and they share three children together: Jordan, Taylor, and Imani.