Disrupt Church: The Podcast

May 03 2024 3

Disrupt Church: The Podcast artwork

The models of church we’ve been using aren’t working. Churches are shrinking, people are disconnecting, our membership is aging, and there are serious questions about our relevance in the world. It’s time for us to rethink how we do everything. By stripping us down to our mission, to the WHY rather than the HOW, can we rebuild our churches into vibrant, covenanted communities that can think outside our traditional boxes? Join Rev. Peggy Clarke, Senior Minister, and Jil Novenski, Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth at the Community Church of New York for informal, unstructured, joyful, and radically honest conversations about what's working, what's not, and how we can embrace change in times of uncertainty.

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So, What Now?

May 03 2024 32 mins

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 build

From Consumers to Citizens

Jan 18 2024 20 mins

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 consum

The Things that Keep Us Stuck

Jan 05 2024 13 mins

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

Moving Beyond Boring with Darnell White

Dec 22 2023 27 mins

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

Plurality: The Face of the New World

Dec 15 2023 25 mins

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 Manhatt

Let's Just Try It

Dec 07 2023 20 mins

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

Done Being Polite

Nov 30 2023 23 mins

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,

How Did We Get Here? (Mini Episode)

Nov 22 2023 11 mins

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'

What Are We Doing Here?

Nov 21 2023 24 mins

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 Sen