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Called to Lead: Pastoral Leadership for Today’s Church

Flipping the Script on Family Ministry and Parish Change

Called to Lead: Pastoral Leadership for Today’s Church

In this episode of Called to Lead, Dr. John Rinaldo welcomes Denise Utter, M.A., a freelance consultant, author, ICF trained coach with Vibrant Faith, and the Coordinator of Family Faith Formation for the National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL). Drawing from her deep experience at both the parish and diocesan levels, Denise tackles the hard truth facing modern ministry: the transmission of faith to the next generation depends entirely on how we form and accompany adults, not just children. Together, they discuss how to "flip the script" on traditional religious education models. Denise shares concrete tools for coaching parents through doubt, managing the anxieties of parish staff transitions, and moving away from a program-first mentality to a people-first, accompaniment model that addresses the reality of the unchurched and disaffiliated.

Categories
Religion & Spirituality • Christianity

About Podcast

This podcast dives into the art and spirit of leadership in the Catholic Church. Through storytelling and dialogue with pastoral leaders, ministers, and scholars, the podcast bridges academic theology with practical ministry. These conversations invite listeners to better understand how today’s leaders answer God’s call and work to build just and inclusive communities.

Presented by the Markey Center in Santa Clara University’s Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries. (https://www.scu.edu/cas/graduate-program-in-pastoral-ministries/markey-center-for-leadership-and-ministry/)