The Contemplative Pastor podcast | Listen online for free

12 episodes

Rediscovering the Catechumenate: Part 1 (Featuring Dr. Gerald Sittser)
09/04/2026 | 48 mins.
How can our communities learn to follow Jesus in a way that is within, but not defined by, our surrounding culture?
In this episode, Dr. Gerald Sittser draws from the history of the early church to explore how the Jesus movement grew — slowly, relationally, and often in the margins. He reflects on the role of the catechumenate and the long, patient work of communities that learned how to follow Jesus in an opposing culture. This teaching offers a historical and deeply practical vision of formation, inviting us to consider what we are building and whether it can endure beyond the conditions that currently support it.
This session was held at the Practicing the Way Pastor Conference in Portland, Oregon, in 2023.
To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor.
This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources like this podcast at practicingtheway.org/give.
Resistance and Reimagination (Featuring Jay Kim and John Mark Comer)
02/04/2026 | 30 mins.
How can the digital age challenge and reshape our understanding of church?
In this episode, Jay Kim addresses the unique pressures influencing life and ministry in our digital landscape, followed by a Q&A period alongside John Mark Comer. This discussion invites us to envision a thoughtful reimagining of our churches, encouraging us to resist the allure of the easy, immediate, and consumable, while instead fostering a slower, deeper, and countercultural way of following Jesus together.
This session was held at the Practicing the Way Pastor Conference in Portland, Oregon, in 2024.
To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor.
This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources like this podcast at practicingtheway.org/give.
Relational Spirituality: Part 2 (Q&A with Dr. Todd Hall and John Mark Comer)
26/03/2026 | 38 mins.
Where can you go as a pastor to find the safe relationships you need to flourish?
In this episode, Dr. Todd Hall is joined by John Mark Comer to engage with questions from pastors about the tensions of leading relationally. They explore questions such as: How can we practice vulnerability while maintaining appropriate boundaries? How do we foster more relational safety within our staff teams? And where can pastors go to cultivate their own necessary, safe spaces?
This Q&A was held at the Practicing the Way Pastor Conference in Portland, Oregon, in 2024.
To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor.
This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources like this podcast at practicingtheway.org/give.
Relational Spirituality: Part 1 (Featuring Dr. Todd Hall)
19/03/2026 | 51 mins.
In what ways might your community be more spiritually impacted by their relational history than they realize?
In this episode, join Dr. Todd Hall, Bethany Allen, and Bryan Rouanzoin for part one of a conversation about how our relational history impacts our spiritual lives and the potential for the family of God to restore our relationships with one another and with God.
This teaching was held at the Practicing the Way Pastor Conference in Portland, Oregon, in 2024.
To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor.
This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources like this podcast at practicingtheway.org/give.
A Rule of Life (Featuring Gemma Ryan)
12/03/2026 | 55 mins.
How is the ancient practice of a Rule of Life desperately needed in the modern church?
In this episode, join Gemma Ryan, Bethany Allen, and Bryan Rouanzoin as they explore how quiet, everyday rhythms can root you in Christ and anchor you through the demands of ministry.
This teaching and panel conversation was held at the Practicing the Way Pastor Conference in Portland, Oregon, in 2024.
To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor.
This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources like this podcast at practicingtheway.org/give.

More Religion & Spirituality podcasts

Trending Religion & Spirituality podcasts

About The Contemplative Pastor

For the pastor who longs to embody a less hurried, less overwhelmed, less CEO-like form of leadership, and to recover the ancient path of pastoring in the way of Jesus.The Contemplative Pastor features insightful teachings from guides and sages on key topics within spiritual formation, along with practical conversations on those teachings between Bryan Rouanzoin and Bethany Allen, pastors from Canopy Church and Bridgetown Church, followed by guided prayers and reflections to help you sit with the rich wisdom of each episode. Our aim? To shape a new, yet ancient, kind of pastor—more unhurried, more prayerful, more peaceful—and to see the formational role of the local church flourish once again.Welcome to The Contemplative Pastor.---To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor.This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources like this podcast at practicingtheway.org/give.

Podcast website

Religion & Spirituality