What churches get wrong about business leadership and strategy with Louise Wernich
In this conversation, Graeme and Joey sit down with Rev. Louise Wernich to talk about business strategy and leadership helping churches. Pastors have become increasingly suspicious of business practices distorting the purpose of the church, but Louise addresses how we can go too far in the other direction.Rev. Louise Wernich is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of South Africa and has recently completed in MBA in New Zealand. She works at Laidlaw College within the post-graduate theology programmes. She has considerable experience leading churches of all size, and she has recently come to appreciate the importance of business leadership for the church.00:00 teaser / intro02:12 the tension between church / business leadership10:39 who is your church competing with?19:47 PESTEL and SWOT strategic framworks27:20 what to do when a ministry is dying31:27 the purpose of the church37:20 migrant churches navigating NZ culture48:12 migrant churches should do this ...56:12 why church strategy matters58:52 AI us causing pause / disruption within people01:01:02 Church staff aren't familyPodcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.
--------
1:09:52
--------
1:09:52
The Unexpected Christian Origins of The Treaty of Waitangi with Sam Carpenter
In this conversation, Joey sits down with Treaty of Waitangi expert and scholar, Dr. Sam Carpenter. They talk about the Treaty of Waitangi history and how early missionaries were pivotal in its construction, translation, and acceptance. They also discuss how the current discourse around the Treaty needs a biblical worldview to be interpreted correctly.Sam teaches into Laidlaw’s Church History courses with a specialist focus on New Zealand religious and political history. He leads Te Rongopai ki Aotearoa Project at Laidlaw that is exploring the multidimensional relationships of Christianity and Māori society. Sam’s research focusses on the intersections of Christianity and Māori society, and on New Zealand political and religious history more generally.CHECK OUT Sam's personal website for current scholarly-informed opinions on the Treaty of Waitangi and more https://nzhistorian.com/00:00 Intro01:38 Sam' work with the Waitangi Tribunal06:43 What was the Maori spiritual landscape like before Christianity?12:13 How did Christianity arrive in Aotearoa (New Zealand)?16:32 How did Christianity grow in Aotearoa (New Zealand)?19:18 Why did Maori overwhelmingly accept Christianity?26:33 Maori became early evangelists and missionaries to other Maori30:23 Why was the Treaty of Waitangi was written?36:21 How was the Treaty of Waitangi written and translated?39:43 What the Treaty actually says43:08 Why did every chief sign the Treaty?48:13 Why did Maori eventually reject Christianity?54:58 Bible in one hand Treaty in the other1:03:06 1934 Declaration of New Zealand Independence1:07:33 Is the Treaty misinterpreted in 2025?Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.
--------
1:14:26
--------
1:14:26
Solving Pentecostalism's PR Problem (you might change denominations) with Maja Whitaker
In this episode, Graeme and Joey interview Dr. Maja Whitaker about Pentecostalism—the good, great, and not so great. We look at what make Pentecostal churches tick, like their unique take on mission, their need to be culturally relevant, and their obsession with pragmatism and why they have a PR problem.Dr. Maja Whitaker is the Academic Dean at Laidlaw College; she oversees all programme development and delivery and contributes to the development and outworking of College strategy, with a focus on integrated programmes and a strong partner ecosystem. Maja is a lecturer in the School of Theology, and has served as Practical Theology Lead and with the School of Theology Leadership team. She teaches into courses on spiritual formation, reflective practice, leadership, and pastoral ministry.00:00 Intro01:28 What is Pentecostalism/Charismatic?08:40 Experiencing God11:50 Always looking to where the Spirit's at work — sacramentalism16:07 Why does Pentecostalism have a PR problem?21:38 How Maja dealt with the tension moments26:00 Pentecostal churches in NZ are different32:33 Maja's shifting relationship with God36:20 Maja's ideal Sunday morning41:55 What Graeme would add to church45:25 Why Pentecostal churches are growing47:40 Joey's theory about the Pentecostal movement51:38 Maja's no longer PentecostalThe music is by Josiah David Swim. You can find him on Spotify.Lunch on The Way is a podcast that deeply discusses Christianity, Church, Culture, and Jesus.Available on ALL podcast platforms https://lunchontheway.buzzsprout.com/sharePodcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.
--------
54:44
--------
54:44
Sarah Penwarden | Why your experience of God & life matters, overcoming your past, embracing stories
In this episode, Graeme and Joey sit down with Rev. Dr. Sarah Penwarden to discuss why our experience matters for theology and understanding God, why emotions matters, how to integrate experience and faith, how stories help us creating meaning, and why people receive counselling.Sarah Penwarden (Pākehā) has a doctorate in counselling, is a practicing counsellor, supervisor, and an Anglican priest. She teaches in the School of Theology (Laidlaw College) on a part-time basis. Her academic interests connect to practical theology and counselling, and how the realities of ordinary life can be held in tandem with the hope of the Gospel. She teaches papers about research methods and mental health.Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.
--------
58:32
--------
58:32
How will AI shape Churches, Christians, and Society
On this conversation, Graeme and Joey discuss 4 ways AI will change churches, Christians, and society. They don't predict the future as much as explain how the future might play out as AI in adopted by society and churches and people grapple with what it means to be human.Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.
Kia Ora Koutou, and welcome to Lunch on The Way! We're three guys doing theology over lunch, and sometimes we'll do that with others. We talk about church, culture, theology, philosophy, and more, always wanting to be as practical as possible. This is a thinking podcast more than a teaching podcast. We want to warn you, that what's said here is not yet complete, because, like any good conversation, you never want it to end.
New Zealand