Disrupt Church: The Podcast

In this season finale episode, Rev. Peggy Clarke and Jil Novenski are joined by Rev. Jude Geiger and Br. Zachary Stevens-Walter to discuss how to breathe new life into congregations and Unitarian Universalism. They explore the stuck places that churches can find themselves in and how to get unstuck by embracing change, flexibility, and stepping outside the walls of the church building.The group dives into creating a sense of communal vitality, moving beyond an individualistic, consumerist model of church toward practices of mutual aid and sharing the joys and struggles of being human together. They examine the challenges of having courageous conversations about change, and the importance of finding new models of religious community suited for the world we want to live in, rather than replicating systems that aren't serving us well.Peggy, Jil, Jude, Zachary, and producer Starling offer practical ideas for disruptive actions both within and outside existing congregations - from starting one-on-one values conversations, to doing acts of care and support, to making literal soup to share with others as an invitation into beloved community. Throughout, they raise the call for Unitarian Universalists to get activated as a positive force for change in the rising tides of alienation, loneliness, and difficult realities we face as a society.

In an era where many of us feel the fabric of community fraying, Rev. Peggy Clarke and DRE Jil Novenski engage in a rich discussion on reimagining our engagement in religious and societal structures. This episode is not just a conversation; it's a call to rediscover our roles within collective spaces and enact meaningful change. The dialogue delves into the transition from a consumer model defined by individualism to engaged, interdependent citizen models that can promote both accountability and community within our churches.Rev. Peggy and Jil dissect the existing paradigms—subject, consumer, and citizen—revealing the intricacies of each and the urgent need for change. They imagine churches as havens for the practice of genuine, collaborative humanity in a world teetering on the brink of authoritarianism. Part of the mission of disrupting church is to remake our church communities as a tapestry of relationships built on need, reciprocity, and a beacon of communities woven together through love and resilience. And this is where we start.You can find out more about the Disrupt Church idea and watch the workshop that launched this conversation here. To join the conversation on Facebook, click here. You can find the podcast on many other platforms, and we encourage you to do so - every subscription, download, rating, and review really helps us get the word out and reach new people who might be interested in these conversations.If you found this episode valuable, insightful, or just entertaining, we hope you will consider sending it to a friend or fellow congregant wherever you call your spiritual home.

Happy New Year! On today's (short) episode, Rev. Peggy and DRE Jil rattle off a list of factors that keep churches stuck in old patterns that may not be serving their best interests. And we are not focusing on Community Church here - we will hear stories from several different communities that shed light on some of the behaviors, attitudes, and traditions that make it difficult to move forward and change with the world. Peggy and Jil highlight the importance of examining and challenging existing systems, being open to new ideas and technologies, and addressing issues such as ego, attachment, entitlement, and fear. They also emphasize the need for honesty, collaboration, and setting boundaries to create a welcoming and inclusive church community.You can find out more about the Disrupt Church idea and watch the workshop that launched this conversation here. To join the conversation on Facebook, click here. You can find the podcast on many other platforms, and we encourage you to do so - every subscription, download, rating, and review really helps us get the word out and reach new people who might be interested in these conversations.If you found this episode valuable, insightful, or just entertaining, we hope you will consider sending it to a friend or fellow congregant wherever you call your spiritual home.

Darnell White, Musician in Residence at the Community Church of New York, joins Rev. Peggy Clarke and Jil Novenski in a discussion about the transformative power of music in spaces of worship and togetherness. They explore how music can both move people on an individual level and create a sense of community. They also discuss how the Community Church has leaned into a new approach to music to create more inclusive and engaging worship. Darnell shares his journey from a Baptist background that at times felt exclusionary to finding a safe and welcoming space in the Unitarian Universalist church. The conversation highlights the importance of collaboration, trust, and vulnerability in creating meaningful religious rituals and authentic communities.Born in Harlem, Darnell White is a graduate of LaGuardia High School for Music and Art and The Julliard School. A noted staple in New York City’s music scene, Darnell has developed a pristine reputation as a performer, composer, and musical director. He’s collaborated with noted artists and graced the stages of New York’s major venues including Birdland, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Smokey Joe’s cafe. Both as a vocalist & instrumentalist, Darnell is well versed in many genres as he believes music should always be approached first from a place of pure expression. It is indeed the desire to share his expressions through the gift of music that have left no style or genre outside his reach, including jazz, opera, contemporary gospel, classical, and musical theatre. Darnell joined the Community Church of New York team as Musician in Residence in 2022.You can find out more about the Disrupt Church idea and watch the workshop that launched this conversation here. To join the conversation on Facebook, click here. You can find the podcast on many other platforms, and we encourage you to do so - every subscription, download, rating, and review really helps us get the word out and reach new people who might be interested in these conversations.If you found this episode valuable, insightful, or just entertaining, we hope you will consider sending it to a friend or fellow congregant wherever you call your spiritual home.

In this episode, Rev. Peggy is joined on the stoop by Brother Zachary Stevens-Walter, a Catholic priest and Franciscan brother who also serves as a chaplain at Community Church of New York.Rev. Peggy and Br. Zachary discuss the importance of authenticity in ministry, as well as the unique challenges and opportunities of serving a multicultural spiritual community in midtown Manhattan. They explore the concept of church as a place of comfort and learning, and the need to break open traditional models of church to build a new world. They also touch on the role of suffering in the church and the importance of affirmation versus mere acceptance."Acceptance is necessary for us to live together. Affirmation is spiritual healing." - Brother ZacharyYou can find out more about the Disrupt Church idea and watch the workshop that launched this conversation here. To join the conversation on Facebook, click here. You can find the podcast on many other platforms, and we encourage you to do so - every subscription, download, rating, and review really helps us get the word out and reach new people who might be interested in these conversations. If you found this episode valuable, insightful, or just entertaining, we hope you will consider sending it to a friend or fellow congregant wherever you call your spiritual home.

In this episode, Rev. Peggy and Jil take a macro look at how we structure our denomination and think through what it might look like to change the Unitarian Universalist approach to polity. That would mean rethinking the way individual churches relate to one another and to a central organizing body. Would it be easy? Well, no. But... maybe we can just try it. You can find out more about the Disrupt Church idea and watch the workshop that launched this conversation here. To join the conversation on Facebook, click here. We also invite you to subscribe to the Disrupt Church Substack to receive written reflections and podcast episodes directly to your inbox (it's free!).

This week, Rev. Peggy and Jil reflect on a recent major change in the Community Church liturgy, and discuss the challenges and promises of boldly embracing big transitions. Plus, we learn why Rev. Peggy is simply done being polite...  You can find out more about the Disrupt Church idea and watch the workshop that launched this conversation here. To join the conversation on Facebook, click here. We also invite you to subscribe to the Disrupt Church Substack to receive written reflections and podcast episodes directly to your inbox (it's free!).

This is a completely optional bonus mini episode about the past few years here at the Community Church, intended to provide some context about our current situation (hint: we don't actually have a church building at the moment), how we got there (some of you may remember the events of 2020, for instance), and how we are moving forward (with radical love, courage and trust). If you're unfamiliar with Community Church, or if you find yourself wondering where this whole Disrupt Church conversation is coming from, this is a great place to start!hbprJjvQU9YghkYm9YWn 

Welcome to the Disrupt Church Podcast! We're launching straight in to the conversation. In this episode, Rev. Peggy reflects on the moment that inspired her to change a liturgy that has been in use for over 200 years. We start out on the stoop of the Community Church offices in midtown Manhattan, inviting you to listen in on a conversation between two friends, colleagues (one a Senior Minister and one a Director of Religious Education), and collaborators, to hear about how we are thinking about and approaching big questions about our mission and model, and to think about how this might apply to you and your congregation. Thanks for listening! You can find out more about the Disrupt Church idea and watch the workshop that launched this conversation here. To join the conversation on Facebook, click here. We also invite you to subscribe to the Disrupt Church Substack to receive written reflections and podcast episodes directly to your inbox (it's free!).