John Armstrong-The Initiative

Today Nathan is joined by Callan Slipper, he is a theologian and writer. He is Ecumenical Facilitator for Hertfordshire in the south of England and is a member of several national and international ecumenical bodies. Callan discussed his ministry, writings and the importance of spiritual attunement in the work of Christian unity. He also shares on his own spiritual journey and the role ecumenism and the Focolare have played in this along with his experiences serving as the National Ecumenical Officer for the Church of England.

Today Nathan is joined by Bishop David Talley, from the Diocese of Memphis, he shares with us his experience working for Christian Unity, the ups and downs he has encountered, and how his experience with the Focolare Ideal has helped him live for Ecumenism.

Today’s guests are Thomas and Amy Cogdell an incredible couple that lives Christian Unity, he is evangelical and Amy is catholic, they founded Christ the Reconciler, an intentional community that tries to live and desire Christian Unity as much as Jesus does.

In this episode Nathan speaks with two guests, each with a unique mission to young adults and the wider world of Christian unity. Michael Havercamp is a Catholic who works as Young Life's National Liaison to the Catholic Church. He trains Young Life staff and volunteers to minister to Catholic teens in ways that respect and renew their Catholic faith in Jesus. Scott Brill is a Protestant who is a Regional Ministry Coordinator for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship with a special focus on Catholic colleges and universities. Scott is also the Executive Director of The Initiative, an ecumenical community with members across the United States.

Today’s guest is Peter Casarella, Dr. Casarella’s primary field of study is systematic theology followed by world religions and world church. He is currently serving a second five-year term on the International Roman Catholic-Baptist World Alliance Ecumenical Dialogue and served also on the Roman Catholic-World Communion of Reformed Churches Dialogue.

Today’s guest is John Armstrong, Founder of The Initiative. John’s work for unity in the Chicago area and beyond has been rooted in friendships and articulated in videos as well as numerous books, including Costly Love (New City Press).

In our third episode, Nathan is joined by Fr. Aaron Wessman, Vicar General of the missionary order Glenmary Home Missions and author of The Church's Mission in a Polarized World. Nathan and Aaron discuss polarization in Western society, and how The church may lean into its missionary calling by "crossing over" to engage rather than fear those who hold different beliefs and convictions. An inspiring and thoughtful interview, and a different take on the polarization that we experience in the Christian community and the wider culture.

In today's episode Nathan and Rev. Dr Karen Petersen Finch discuss her experiences on ecumenism at the grassroots level, and how she got the inspiration for her book.Rev. Dr. Karen Petersen Finch is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and an ecumenical theologian specializing in the Reformed and Roman Catholic traditions, author of Grassroots Ecumenism, the book that inspired this series.https://www.focolaremedia.com/bookstore/grassroots-ecumenism

This series begins today with an interview with Rev. Dr. Casely Baiden Essamuah. Ordained in the Methodist Church in Ghana, Nathan and Casely discussed his job as the Secretary of the Global Christian Forum and how they're working for Ecumenism all over the world.https://globalchristianforum.org/