Church and Main

Church and Main

At the Intersection of Religion and Public Life

Church and Main is a religion and public affairs podcast. We look at where religion intersects with 21st-century public life with a focus on the story of Mainline Protestantism, its problems, its strengths, and its future. Join Pastor Dennis Sanders on the journey.

When ICE Comes to Town with Quincy Worthington | Episode 257
Church and MainNovember 07, 2025
258
00:55:4144.63 MB

When ICE Comes to Town with Quincy Worthington | Episode 257

We talk about what’s going on in the Windy City when it comes to ICE, pastors, and immigration.

Non-Anxious Leadership in Anxious Times with Jack Shitama | Episode 256
Church and MainOctober 31, 2025
257
00:35:5928.85 MB

Non-Anxious Leadership in Anxious Times with Jack Shitama | Episode 256

Jack Shitama, an ordained United Methodist minister, talks about the concept of societal regression and its implications for leadership and community engagement. Shitama explains how societal regression mirrors emotional regression in families, characterized by polarization and a desire for quick fi...

A Good Word for Kumbaya with Anthony Robinson | Episode 255
Church and MainOctober 24, 2025
256
00:47:4538.26 MB

A Good Word for Kumbaya with Anthony Robinson | Episode 255

A pastor opines that maybe we need God to come by here.

Counter-intuititive Aruguments on Israel with Andrew Berg | Episode 254
Church and MainOctober 17, 2025
255
00:42:5334.37 MB

Counter-intuititive Aruguments on Israel with Andrew Berg | Episode 254

I chat with Andrew Berg, who authored “Counterintuitive Arguments for and Against U.S. Support for Israel.” Andrew challenges conventional political narratives and examines the moral implications of U.S. support from both conservative and progressive angles. Andrew emphasizes the need for empathy to...

Progressive Christianity's Barmen Mistake with Anthony Baker | Episode 253
Church and MainOctober 10, 2025
254
00:56:2345.19 MB

Progressive Christianity's Barmen Mistake with Anthony Baker | Episode 253

Professor Anthony Baker discusses the Barmen Declaration and its implications for American Christianity today. We analyze its historical context from the 1930s and why we are not currently experiencing a similar moment. Professor Baker emphasizes the declaration's intent to maintain the church's ind...

How the Big, Beautiful Bill Killed Compassionate Conservatism with John Fea | Episode 252
Church and MainOctober 03, 2025
253
00:58:1046.62 MB

How the Big, Beautiful Bill Killed Compassionate Conservatism with John Fea | Episode 252

Today we look at the compassionate conservatism and its relevance in today's political climate with historian John Fea. We examine the origins of this movement, rooted in social justice and faith-based initiatives, and its initial implementation during the George W. Bush administration, particularly...

The Mainline Churches and Gaza with Todd Stavrakos | Episode 251
Church and MainSeptember 26, 2025
252
00:48:3438.94 MB

The Mainline Churches and Gaza with Todd Stavrakos | Episode 251

Todd Stavrakos discusses the mission of Pathways for Peace, focusing on fostering dialogue between the Jewish and mainline Christian communities regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. He highlights the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the complexities of the situation, including the roles o...

Depriving Politics of Pathos with Jason Micheli | Episode 250
Church and MainSeptember 19, 2025
251
00:53:0542.55 MB

Depriving Politics of Pathos with Jason Micheli | Episode 250

I chat with Jason Micheli, a United Methodist pastor, on the pitfalls of pathos in politics, emphasizing its potential to overshadow core Christian tenets. Drawing on Jason's article "Deprive Them of Their Pathos," we reflect on Karl Barth’s theological insights, arguing against conflating faith wit...