The Forum Podcast
The Forum Podcast
Podcast Description
We stand at the intersection of faith, culture and Scripture.
We serve the church by inviting those who wrestle with the enduring and timeless questions of mercy, justice, faith, and formation to join us.
Calvin Theological Seminary has cultivated resources and instruction that meet the needs of the church. While focusing on the authority of Scripture, the centrality of Christ in the world’s story, and the world’s desperate need for God’s grace, we serve the church by inviting those who wrestle with the enduring and timeless questions of mercy, justice, faith, and formation to join us as they pursue their call.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Explores themes of faith, justice, mercy, and church leadership, with specific episodes delving into Latino theological education through conversations with prominent theologians like Justo Gonzalez, the historical interactions between Puritans and Native Americans in discussions with Matthew Tuininga, and insights into church leadership and pastoral challenges in episodes with Jul Medenblik and Susan LaClear.
We stand at the intersection of faith, culture and Scripture.
We serve the church by inviting those who wrestle with the enduring and timeless questions of mercy, justice, faith, and formation to join us.
Calvin Theological Seminary has cultivated resources and instruction that meet the needs of the church. While focusing on the authority of Scripture, the centrality of Christ in the world’s story, and the world’s desperate need for God’s grace, we serve the church by inviting those who wrestle with the enduring and timeless questions of mercy, justice, faith, and formation to join us as they pursue their call.
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.
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