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What does it mean to be a person, and who gets to decide? This episode dives headfirst into one of the most deceptively simple—and quietly explosive—questions in ethics, theology, and science. Is personhood limited to humans, or does it extend to animals, artificial intelligence, corporations, or even extraterrestrial life? Along the way, we wrestle with why defining personhood by intelligence or capability quickly collapses under pressure, how beginning-of-life and end-of-life questions complicate any clean boundary, and why our answers carry real moral weight—whether we’re talking about dolphins, embryos, or AI that can talk back.

The conversation unfolds around the potluck table with a rich mix of voices. Physicist Todd Timberlake launches the discussion from his work teaching about extraterrestrial life and our moral obligations to the unknown. Biologist Caitlin Conn brings evolutionary clarity and caution, reminding us that life exists on a continuum that resists neat categories. Philosopher Michael Papazian adds historical and theological depth, showing how “person” and “human” have never been identical concepts. And former Pastor Dale tries to keep things moving—occasionally with humor, occasionally with a game-show twist—as we explore where Christian tradition helps, where it hesitates, and why this question refuses to stay theoretical.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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This week’s Church Potluck is a powerful crossover episode with American Angst. Dale McConkey is joined by fellow United Methodist pastors Rev. Ash McEuen and Rev. Karen Kagiyama, along with political scientist Dr. Michael Bailey, for a wide-ranging conversation about immigration, protest, and what it means to follow Jesus in public life.

The discussion begins with the real-world impact of current immigration policies. Ash McEuen, whose ministry is deeply rooted in immigrant and Latino communities, describes the daily fear many families face—detention uncertainty, deportation confusion, and the emotional toll of accompaniment. Karen Kagiyama offers theological grounding, framing clergy protest not as partisan politics but as Christian witness, solidarity, and lament, shaped by prayer and Jesus’ own challenge to injustice.

Michael Bailey brings historical and political insight, exploring when protest actually works and why nonviolent movements have often driven lasting change. Dale McConkey guides the table through key faith questions, including Romans 13, Jesus turning over the tables, and the United Methodist baptismal vow to “resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.”

Blending seriousness with warmth and humor, the conversation provides an honest, pastoral conversation that insists immigration is not abstract, protest is not simple, and Christian discipleship is inseparable from how we treat the most vulnerable among us.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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This week’s Church Potluck looks a little different than usual. With guests postponed and a winter storm rolling across the country, Dale flies solo—no roundtable conversation, no lively banter, just a thoughtful monologue shaped like a Bible study.

The focus, however, could not be more timely. Few topics divide Christians today more deeply than the question of power—Christian nationalism, political power, national identity, moral authority, and how Christian faith should shape public life. Drawing from Scripture and history, Dale explores three broad Christian approaches to power: sovereignty, stewardship, and servanthood. Along the way, he reflects on Israel’s demand for a king, the Bible’s growing caution toward human authority, Jesus’ repeated rejection of domination, and Paul’s vision of Christ’s self-emptying love in Philippians 2. The episode does not pretend that all viewpoints are equally convincing—but it seeks to approach disagreement with humility, theological clarity, and genuine grace toward those who see these questions differently.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.