Holy Roast Podcast

In this week’s episode, Rob and Rachel sit down with Rev. Dr. Perzavia Praylow. The Reverend Dr. Perzavia Praylow, PhD is an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament ordained in The Presbyterian Church (USA). She is currently the Director of Black Church Studies and Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Louisville Seminary where she teaches courses in Black Church Studies and Practical Theology. Dr. Praylow is a historian, practical theologian and teacher-scholar called to serve at the intersection of teaching, scholarship, and pastoral leadership. Her credentials include: Drew University, BA; The University of Illinois, MA in Education Policy Studies, MA in History, PhD in History; Columbia Theological Seminary, MDIV; Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, STM In this episode, Dr. Praylow talks about her call to ministry, the intersection of faith and education, key themes of the Black church, how pastors and church leaders can learn from those different than them, how churches can take a tangible step towards justice and reconciliation, and more! For more information about Louisville Seminary, check out www.LPTS.edu!

In this week’s episode, Rob and sits down with Dr. Marcia McFee to talk about creative worship planning! Dr. McFee is a professor, worship designer, author, preacher and ritual artist. Drawing on a first career in professional dance and musical theater and equipped with a Master's in Theology and a PhD in Liturgical Studies and Ethics, she understands the role of any worship artist in the church as that of creating extraordinary portals through which communities journey with the Spirit. In this episode, Dr. McFee talks about why she is passionate about worship planning and resourcing local churches, how preachers and worship leaders can maintain creativity throughout the year, how we can approach this Advent with fresh insight, energy, and excitement, and if she was planning worship in Advent this year, what she would focus on. This episode is full of great resources as well! Find out more about the Worship Design Studio and Dr. Marcia McFee at www.worshipdesignstudio.com Want to try a fully-scripted Advent/Christmas series? Check them out at use discount code **Donkey20 ****for $20 off. Watch this “Let’s Get Ready for Advent/Christmas” webinar for help with discerning content direction: https://youtu.be/cwsdvMCd1bI Want to sign up for a full year subscription? Use discount code Kentucky100 (through the end of 2024) for $100 off, making the full year $199 for access to ALL series! Download free “Do Unto Others” worship resources (works after the election as well): www.worshipdesignstudio.com/kindness Set up a free account in the Worship Design Studio interactive website at http://worship-design-studio.mn.co Get Dr. McFee’s book on worship design: www.thinklikeafilmmaker.com

In this week’s episode, Rob and Rachel sit down with Bishop David Graves. Bishop Graves serves as the Bishop for the Kentucky, Tennessee-Western Kentucky, and Central Appalachian Missionary Conferences. Bishop David Graves’ passion is sharing Jesus, seeing the overlooked, joining God in transforming lives, and changing the world one person at a time. His study of leadership permeates all his work as a pastor, district superintendent and bishop. He has been an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church for over 35 years. Bishop Graves is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, and graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, with a Master of Divinity. In this episode, Bishop Graves talks about his call to ministry, formative times as a pastor in the local church, his favorite part about being a bishop, his favorite things about the state of Kentucky, his priorities for clergy health, and what gives him hope for the future of the UMC.

Welcome to our Holy Roast Annual Conference Special! This recording is our special bonus episode, Live from Annual Conference, where Rachel and Rob sat down with Rev. Caleb Wheat. In this week’s episode, Rob and Rachel sit down with Rev. Caleb Wheat. Caleb is the Pastor at Antioch UMC, a new church start in Northern Kentucky. In this episode, Caleb will talk about his call to church planting, the story of Antioch UMC, some initiatives throughout the Kentucky Conference, and what every local church should be doing in this season.

In this week’s episode, Rob and Rachel sit down with Rev. Rachel Gilmore. Rachel is the Director of New and Vital Faith in the Desert Southwest Conference of the UMC. Rachel graduated magna cum laude from Duke Divinity School as a Distinguished Leader after serving for two years in the Peace Corps in Bulgaria. She is the author of Expanding the Expedition Reach with Missional Communities and a contributor to Launching a New Worship Community: a Practical Guide for the 2020s (Upper Room, 2021). Rachel is married to Rev. Brandon Gilmore, a pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Phoenix, Arizona where they are creating a new faith community while revitalizing the existing congregation. In this episode, Rachel talks about the common myths about church planting, how to measure the impact and effectiveness of churches including church plants, how all local churches need to be church innovators, how to overcome the challenges of fostering community in our current social context, best practices that churches can take to reach new people in their community, and some current trends in church planting that she finds promising.

In this week’s episode, Rob and Rachel sit down with Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst. Rev. Dr. Jean G. Hawxhurst serves as an Ecumenical Staff Officer for the United Methodist Council of Bishops. Her responsibilities include general ecumenical engagement with organizations and groups, grants and scholarships, and leadership development. She has served in this ministry position since 2015. Dr. Hawxhurst holds a BA degree in mathematics and education from the University of Richmond, an MDiv degree in theology from Lexington Theological Seminary, and a DMin degree from Louisville Seminary, with a focus on theological diversity. She also holds a certificate in ecumenical studies from the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute at Bossey. She is an ordained elder in the Kentucky Annual Conference, and prior to this appointment served three local congregations and as a District Superintendent. She is married to Rev. Dr. Jerry Cappel, a priest in The Episcopal Church USA. They have two adult children and four grandchildren. In this episode, Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst reflects upon her calling in her current role, how she has met two different Popes, how she navigates theological differences between various Christian traditions, the evolving role of pastors in an ecumenical future, challenges she has faced, and some helpful ways that local churches and pastors can embrace ecumenism and foster greater unity among Christians of different denominations.

In this week’s episode, Rob and Rachel sit down with Rev. Leigh Ann Maynard. Rev. Leigh Ann is the Associate Pastor for Bridge Ministries at Christ Church United Methodist in Louisville, KY. In this episode, Leigh Ann will reflect with Rachel and Rob on what it means to be a woman in ministry. Leigh Ann will discuss her call to ministry, ridiculous things said to female clergy, unique gifts that female leaders can offer the local church right now, and how local churches and leaders can empower female disciples. Are you sensing a call to ministry? We’d love to connect you to resources to help you discern that call! Email us at holyroast@kyumc.org. Holy Roast will be LIVE at Annual Conference this June! Join us Sunday, June 9, 5pm, at the Marriott Hotel in Northern Kentucky for a live recording of the Holy Roast Podcast. Be on the look out to reserve your seat! (Space is limited!)