Practice Makes Perfect

Adam Phillips is a faith leader and political activist. A church he planted, Christ Church, was kicked out of the covenant denomination and found a home with the Disciples of Christ where they provided a community for people exiting Evangelical Christianity. Now that Christ Church has concluded, Adam is working on the intersection of faith and politics at www.faith2020.org. We recently connected and I asked him about the closing of Christ Church not long ago.

Ron Werner is a Lutheran pastor-organizer in Portland and throughout Oregon. He is participates in the immigration work of IMIrJ, has helped start a number of youth group collectives, teaches at a University, and is the founder of ’Together Lab'. His work takes him all over the state of Oregon as he connects different faith communities passionate about immigrant justice and the people who suffer at the hands of ICE and private prisons. We spoke over Zoom about theology, the professional landscape, and the movements he sees in the mainline Church.

Julia Nielsen is co-pastor, along with Andy Goebel, of Portsmouth Union Church. In the course of being a pastor, with a background in social work, Julia has become a lead housing developer among faith communities, helping marshal over $3 million for an affordable housing project on her church’s property.. Her work, the work of Portsmouth Union Church, and others in Portland will potentially reshape the affordable housing landscape.

On this episode we sit down with Guiseppe Amato. Guiseppe has a fascinating journey as an evangelical pastor, call center supervisor, and now an ordained pastor in the mainline Disciples of Christ. He has been the associate pastor of Cedar Hills UCC and has just become the Senior pastor of Lynchwood Christian Church in East Portland. Guiseppe lives with his partner and toddler.

On this episode we talk with Melissa Reed over Zoom while under Oregon's stay at home order. Until recently, Melissa was the pastor of Salt & Light Lutheran Church, a Lutheran Church based in contemplative organizing practices. She is currently serving as the Bishop’s Associate for Vital Leadership and Sacramental Organizing.

On this episode we sit down with Andy Goebel. Andy planted and pastored St. John’s Covenant Church in Portland before they journeyed to become a part of Portsmouth Union Church, a joint United Methodist and Disciples of Christ church in North Portland. When Andy is not co-pastoring, he is running a houseless shelter and doing the important work of partner and parent. We sat down shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic.

On this episode, we get together with Dr. Sara Rosenau. Sara is the Sr. Pastor of Waverly Heighths Congregational Church. Before that, she was on staff at First Congregational Church in downtown Portland. Her doctoral dissertation is on ecclesiology and Queer theory. Sara is raising three children in addition to consulting, teaching at University, and pastoring a church. We sat down for a conversation at First United Methodist Church.

A conversation with Michael Ellick at the Peace House, a community of prayer and service in NE Portland where he lives with his family. Michael has served as a pastor at Judson Memorial Church in NYC and First Congregational Church in Portland Oregon. Michael currently works as the director of public engagement at Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.

This is Practice Makes Perfect: Exposing clergy stories of faith in action. On this episode we sit down with Courtney McHill. Courtney was one of the first ‘out’ Elders in the United Methodist Church. She pastored churches in McMinnville and Portland before dedicating a year to develop a housless ministry in SE Portland. She now lives in Berlin