’We should do this’
It all started on Substack. Loren Richmond Jr. interviewed Fr. Cathie Caimano for his podcast. The conversation continued after - we were both invested in the Cage Free way of being in ministry, and we had both been finding our own paths.
But it was hard. And lonely.
’What if we tried to find a way to do this together? To support, partner, and collaborate as we create a roadmap for ministry that is 'unstuck’ - inside, outside, and alongside the institutional church?’
And what if we found others to join us?’
Not long after we started having serious conversations about this, we met Pastor Sierra Ward. Cathie found out she was starting a denomination and thought: ‘I just have to meet this person’.
When we say ‘meet’, we mean we pretty much only know each other through Substack (though Cathie and Sierra have now met in person…).
Which says something about how online relationships can be very real. And something about how we can create real faith community online, as well.
Pretty soon, Substack Seminary was born.
Here’s a little bit about us - the Substack Seminary Founding Partners - and the perspectives we bring on the Future of Church.
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Fr. Cathie Caimano
An Episcopal priest for over 25 years, and the Free Range Priest for the last 10. Cathie has served congregations large and small, from NYC to KS, and as an ‘in-house’ consultant to 60 (mostly small) congregations and their clergy.
Cathie is known for Cage Free Ministry, Trexo: a gym for your soul, serving with the small but mighty St. Paul's Salisbury, NC, and lots of photos of the sunrise.
Key quote:
The future of church is agile, networked, and technology-based, focusing on Christian practice and small worshiping communities.
Loren Richmond, Jr.
Pastor, chaplain, and podcaster writing at the intersection of faith, culture, and church renewal. A lowercase-e evangelical exploring theology, discipleship, and how historic faith speaks today—especially why the church still matters.
He is the author of ‘The Church as Community Hub’, leads The Future Christian podcast and The Church Nerd blog.
Key quote:
When I trust that I’m a part of God’s bigger story, I’m less focused on making my own way and more intent on finding my part and trusting God to show me the path.
Pastor Sierra Ward
Thinking about what God is like, how we can follow Him and how we might understand living in the Kingdom of Heaven. Church planting in the Black Hills of Western South Dakota, with my beautiful family and lovely little congregation.
Sierra is a writer and preacher, she started her own faith community, and her own denomination!
Key quote:
Are we listening for the ways of God? Do we hear the language that He speaks to us? Often we feel like He’s silent, but of course He’s always talking, we’re just no good at hearing.
Substack Seminary is a Newsletter that is part of
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During Quarters, you’ll get blogs thematic blogs:
Q1: Vision & Systematic Change
Q2: Structure & Business Model
Q3: Theology & Community
Q4: Technology & Collaboration
Paid FRP subscribers join Conversations live on Thursdays at 3:30 Eastern (during Quarters), and get the replay + chat invitation on Mondays.
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