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  • Kamal Carter of A Long Talk on Constructive Conversations and the CPR Method — Episode 100

    Kamal Carter of A Long Talk on Constructive Conversations and the CPR Method — Episode 100
    2026/09/01
    Episode 100: From Furious to Curious with Kamal Carter of A Long TalkOne hundred episodes ago, The Town Square Podcast began with a simple conviction: people who see the world differently should still be able to sit together, ask honest questions and search for understanding. We call it “unity, not uniformity.” For our 100th episode, we found a guest whose life’s work feels almost tailor-made for that mission.Kamal Carter is the president and co-creator of A Long Talk About the Uncomfortable Truth, an organization that helps people interrupt ignorance and bigotry in real time. Its work reaches locker rooms, boardrooms, schools, churches and other places where people with different histories and perspectives must learn to function as a team.That made Carter more than a fitting guest for this milestone. It made him the perfect one.Two Dads Who Wanted Something BetterA Long Talk did not begin as a polished national initiative. It began during the pandemic with Carter and his business partner, Kyle Williams—two former educators and two fathers who wanted a safer, more humane world for their children.Carter traces his instinct for service even further back. One of his grandfathers was a Tuskegee Airman who modeled excellence, discipline and responsibility while also carrying the pain of being treated as less than after serving his country. That family history taught Carter that achievement should be joined to service and that each of us can choose to leave the world better than we found it.The immediate spark for A Long Talk came after one of Williams’ sons attended a protest in Washington, D.C. An accusatory exchange with a college basketball teammate escalated through text messages and FaceTime. Williams contacted the coach, expecting to talk the next day. Instead, the coach called that night—and listened.That conversation changed the temperature. The coach asked for resources, began taking action on his campus and helped prove that a difficult exchange did not have to end in injury or estrangement. Within six weeks, Carter and Williams were helping convene a conversation with 107 college basketball coaches. What started with one father, one coach and one hurting student began spreading across athletics, education and corporate life.Information + Empathy = ActionCarter describes the A Long Talk formula plainly: “information plus empathy equals action.” The goal is not to drag everyone to the same opinion. It is to create an environment where people can speak honestly, listen carefully and respond to harmful statements without either freezing or exploding.That distinction matters. A conversation leaves room for questions, reflection and boundaries. A confrontation becomes a contest to win. Carter argues that people retain the right to their beliefs, but organizations also have the right—and responsibility—to establish what conduct belongs in their locker room, workplace, church or civic space.The work begins with grace and what Carter calls “progress over perfection.” If people fear that one awkward phrase will get them banished, honest conversation becomes nearly impossible. But grace is not passivity. A Long Talk trains people to step in when language is harmful and to replace an instinctive blast of anger with disciplined curiosity.Go From Furious to CuriousWhen an inflammatory statement lands, most people do one of two things: freeze or react at full force. Carter offers another option—go from furious to curious. That does not require pretending the statement was harmless. It means regulating the first reaction long enough to understand what was said, why it was said and whether the speaker has ever seriously examined it.Curiosity can also change who carries the burden of responding. If a sexist comment is made in a room where only one woman holds leadership, why should everyone look to her to challenge it? A colleague can intervene. A teammate can ask the question. A bystander can become an active participant in protecting the culture.Carter calls critical thinking “kryptonite to ignorance.” It forces a careless generalization into the light, where the person who made it must explain, reconsider or openly own it.CPR for a Difficult ConversationThe practical tool A Long Talk teaches is CPR: clarify, probe and redirect.Clarify begins with a deceptively simple question: “What do you mean when you say…?” The key is to repeat the person’s actual words and then remain quiet. Rather than supplying the accusation and the verdict, the listener gives the speaker room—and responsibility—to explain.Probe moves deeper. A question such as “How do you think that would make your mother, sister or teammate feel?” invites the person to consider impact, not merely intent. Redirect then asks what language or action would support the people affected and the values the group claims to share.Like any skill, CPR requires practice. Carter tells participants to expect mistakes, ...
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    56 分
  • Pastor Justin Adams of NEW LIFE Praise Center | Faith & Community—Episode 99

    Pastor Justin Adams of NEW LIFE Praise Center | Faith & Community—Episode 99
    2026/08/25
    A church can add square footage without building community. It can fill seats without helping people feel seen. And it can say “everyone’s welcome” without ever proving it at the door.Pastor Justin Adams believes the proof comes in what happens after people arrive.In Episode 99 of the Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall welcome Adams back for a candid conversation about the growth of NEW LIFE Praise Center, his own recovery story, the church’s non-denominational identity and a ministry philosophy rooted in a simple promise: “Everyone’s welcome—and we mean it.”A Foyer Built for More Than Foot TrafficWhen Adams sums up the past few years at NEW LIFE, he uses one word: growth. The church began the year with “expansion” as a theme, then watched it become something tangible. A new 3,200-square-foot, glass-walled foyer—built with help from local contractors who donated time and materials—gave the congregation a place to gather before and after services.The addition matters to Adams because the life of a church is not confined to the service itself. He describes families lingering, conversations continuing and a room full of noise and laughter. In church language, it is fellowship. In everyday language, it is people who genuinely want to be together.The Testimony Behind the WelcomeAdams has lived in Covington for nearly 30 years, but his path to ministry was not tidy. He speaks openly about addiction in his late teens and twenties, a marriage in danger of falling apart and attempts at jail, rehabilitation, therapy and counseling that did not produce lasting change. Then, nearly 20 years ago, he accepted an invitation to church.He says one encounter with Jesus changed the direction of his life. He has remained sober since, and that experience shapes the way he talks to people who wonder whether their own story is too broken to be redeemed: “If he’d done it for me, he can do it for you.”That transparency is not a side note to Adams’s ministry. It is central to it. His testimony gives him a common language with people facing addiction, anger, depression, family strain or shame. The point is not to compare wounds. It is to show that grace is not an abstract doctrine—it can meet a person in real life.Rooted in Scripture, Open About the QuestionsNEW LIFE Praise Center is non-denominational, which Adams explains plainly: the church is not affiliated with a larger denominational organization. Its teaching centers on Scripture, Jesus Christ, salvation by grace through faith and a strong belief in the work of the Holy Spirit.That commitment shows up in the pace of the church’s teaching. The congregation spent two years studying the Gospel of John verse by verse. At the time of the conversation, Adams was nine weeks into the first chapter of Revelation—an intentionally careful approach to a book often reduced to confident timelines and conspiracy theories.Adams is willing to tell people where he lands, but he also presents interpretations held by different scholars and theologians. His non-negotiable is the center of the book itself: the revelation of Jesus Christ, written to encourage believers facing persecution.What “Everyone’s Welcome” Looks LikeAt NEW LIFE, the welcome is meant to be literal. Adams says people may walk through the doors whether they are atheists, longtime Christians or somewhere in between—regardless of culture, class, race, creed or sexuality. They can sit, listen, sing and expect someone to greet them with kindness.That does not mean the church avoids convictions or difficult conversations. It means belonging in the room is not reserved for people who already have everything together. Adams connects that culture directly to his own story: he was once the person who arrived at church carrying the visible aftermath of addiction, and someone welcomed him anyway.The church also does not use formal membership. Instead, it offers Next Steps classes for people who want to understand its history, beliefs and practices, along with Faith Grounded classes for newer believers. Small groups, age-based Life Teams and serving teams create paths for relationships and discipleship across generations.Preparing People to Go Back OutFor Adams, church is not the finish line. It is where people are prepared to serve beyond the building.He says NEW LIFE partners with several public schools in a typical year. The church has helped stock clothing, hygiene supplies and food at Porterdale Elementary School; supported teacher-attendance incentives; and, by invitation, Adams has led voluntary Bible studies for teachers at Cousins Middle School before the school day begins. The congregation also supports recovery ministries, collects food for local pantries and sends groups to help with community outreach.Its reach has expanded beyond Newton County as well. Adams describes a developing missions partnership in Honduras, with church-supported volunteers serving ...
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    1 時間 6 分
  • Pastor Chris Haymore on Wesley Methodist Church and Global Methodism — Episode 98

    Pastor Chris Haymore on Wesley Methodist Church and Global Methodism — Episode 98
    2026/08/18
    A Newton County Life Takes a New TurnChris Haymore has spent most of his life in Newton County. His father returned here to teach and coach when Chris was six months old, and Chris later built his own career in local education: teaching and coaching at Rutledge Academy and Eastside, serving as an administrator at Alcovy, and finishing as principal at Mansfield Elementary.Now the longtime educator is taking on a different kind of leadership assignment. As pastor of Wesley Methodist Church of Covington, Haymore is helping plant a congregation, guide its worship and discipleship, and prepare for a permanent home of its own.The transition is not as unrelated as it may look. Haymore says both roles begin with people: listening, treating others with respect, managing competing expectations, and accepting that leadership sometimes means disappointing someone. The schoolhouse and the sanctuary require different skills, but both call for patience, preparation, and genuine care.A Walk-On’s Lesson in PreparationBefore the administrative offices and the pulpit, there was Sanford Stadium. Haymore walked on at the University of Georgia and practiced for two years under Vince Dooley. He is quick to downplay the resume line, but he still ran between the hedges in silver britches and shared the field with names such as Tim Worley, Keith Anderson, Rodney Hampton, and Bill Goldberg.The lasting lesson came from scout-team work. Haymore watched how practices were organized, how drills were timed, and how coaches made limited time count. “It’s not about quantity. It’s about quality,” he says. That same instinct for preparation followed him into coaching, education, and now ministry.What Makes Global Methodism Distinct?Wesley Methodist is part of the Global Methodist Church, a newer denomination rooted in the historic Methodist tradition. Haymore describes it as holding a more conservative, traditional understanding of Scripture while retaining familiar Methodist doctrine and worship. The conversation is careful not to caricature the United Methodist Church or other Christian traditions; the goal is to explain what Wesley Methodist believes and how those convictions are practiced locally.At the center is the Wesleyan understanding of grace. Haymore discusses prevenient grace - God at work before a person recognizes it - along with convincing, sanctifying, and glorifying grace. He also explains John Wesley’s emphasis on Christian perfection, not as flawless performance, but as a life being made perfect in love through the work of the Holy Spirit.That emphasis moves faith beyond a single decision. Methodist discipleship historically involves formation, accountability, Scripture, prayer, and service. Haymore points to the small groups and “bands” associated with the Wesleyan tradition. At Wesley Methodist, that takes practical form through Disciple Bible Study, a Tuesday group that studied the Global Methodist catechism and planned to move into Acts, and a developing men’s Bible study centered simply on the Gospel of John.Sacraments, Scripture, and the Shape of WorshipWesley Methodist recognizes two sacraments: baptism and Holy Communion. The congregation baptizes infants as well as older believers, connecting the practice to covenant, the household baptisms described in Scripture, and the belief that God’s grace is already at work. Communion is ordinarily celebrated monthly, even though Haymore notes that John Wesley encouraged Christians to receive it frequently.Sunday worship follows a recognizable Methodist rhythm: a call to worship, prayer, hymns, the Apostles’ Creed, pastoral prayer, Scripture, preaching, offering, and a closing hymn. The music is blended, with traditional Methodist hymns joined by soloists, an ensemble, piano, and guitar. Haymore often begins with the lectionary, which places Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel readings before the church across a three-year cycle. He does not follow it mechanically, but appreciates that it “forces you to do the hard ones” instead of allowing a preacher to remain only with favorite passages.A Sweet Spirit in a School GymFor now, the congregation worships in the gym at Peachtree Academy. Sunday school begins at 9:45 a.m., and worship begins at 11. Visitors are met at the door, people gather and talk, chairs fill the gym floor, and a loyal “peanut gallery” claims the bleachers in back.Haymore describes the atmosphere with a phrase the congregation uses often: “There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place.” That warmth is more important than a dress code. Some worshipers wear coats and ties; others come in shorts. Haymore’s priority is straightforward: “I just want to get them in there.”Children’s and youth ministry are also part of the church’s developing life. In the episode, Haymore discusses bringing Champ Young - an Eastside High School assistant principal and athletic director - into youth leadership, joining two ...
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    51 分
  • Marshall McCart of The Piedmont Chronicles: Politics, Privacy, and Local Music — Episode 97

    Marshall McCart of The Piedmont Chronicles: Politics, Privacy, and Local Music — Episode 97
    2026/08/11
    Politically Homeless, Still HopefulMarshall McCart returns to The Town Square Podcast for a candid trip through political burnout, public surveillance, permanent standard time, Covington music history, and the stubborn hope that keeps him from hanging up his boots for good.Marshall McCart has spent roughly 25 years kicking at political anthills.Sometimes the ants bite back.On Episode 97 of The Town Square Podcast, the writer and local-history enthusiast behind The Piedmont Chronicles returns nearly a year after his first appearance. The self-described “semi-professional anthill kicker” arrives with fewer political sparks flying than usual—but not because he has stopped paying attention.He is tired.After years of party politics, grassroots advocacy, citizen journalism, and public argument, Marshall has pulled back to ask a difficult question: after all that banging against the proverbial brick wall, what is there to show for it?That question opens a wide-ranging conversation about public trust, political identity, technology, music, family, local memory, and the possibility that the sensible center is larger than the loudest voices make it appear.When political engagement becomes political exhaustionMarshall traces his civic involvement through the Libertarian Party, the GOP, independent efforts, grassroots groups, and his work with The Piedmont Chronicles. He has not stopped caring about local issues, but he has deliberately unplugged from some of the daily political combat.Part of that fatigue, he says, comes from feeling politically homeless. He does not recognize himself in the loudest parts of the MAGA movement, and he has no interest in the socialist wing of the Democratic Party. If those are the only choices being offered, he argues, a great many people are being left without a political home.That is where the Town Square idea of the “messy middle” comes in.Marshall’s sharpest political observation may also be the episode’s most hopeful: the opposing fringes can dominate attention without representing most people. “The messy middle is the majority,” he says. The challenge is getting that majority to stop treating exhaustion as surrender—and to start building relationships broad enough to matter.Flock cameras and the price of securityThe conversation turns local when Trey and Marshall discuss automated license plate readers, including the Flock camera systems now familiar along roads, near schools, and across multiple jurisdictions.Both acknowledge the strongest argument for the technology: it can help law enforcement locate wanted vehicles, develop leads, protect campuses, and solve serious crimes. Marshall does not wave those benefits away. His concern is what happens when a powerful tool built for a legitimate purpose becomes part of a much larger surveillance network.The question is not whether the cameras can be useful. It is whether usefulness alone should settle the debate.Marshall argues that privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns deserve more than a shrug—especially when ordinary people who are suspected of no crime have their vehicle movements captured and made searchable. Trey wrestles with the same tradeoff from the perspective of school safety: a little more warning can matter enormously, but that does not erase the civil-liberties question.Their practical conclusion is refreshingly unglamorous. If residents object, the answer is not vandalism. It is coalition-building, public comment, and votes before city councils and county commissions when contracts come up for approval or renewal.A surprisingly serious argument about the clockMarshall has another long-running civic cause: ending the twice-yearly time change.But he is not campaigning for permanent daylight saving time. He wants permanent standard time—what he calls natural time.His case begins with winter mornings. In the western portion of a time zone, permanent daylight saving time can push sunrise uncomfortably late. He also points to the disruption people experience when clocks spring forward and fall back. His preferred answer is not to keep rearranging the clock, but to return to standard time year-round.Trey gives him room to make the full argument, and Marshall brings the enthusiasm of a man who has apparently been waiting 15 years for somebody to ask.Rock and roll is not deadThen the episode changes key.Marshall is a lifelong musician whose musical Mount Rushmore begins with Led Zeppelin and Steely Dan. He and Trey trade favorite records, marvel at John Bonham’s impossible-sounding right foot, and swap stories about the strange studio tricks producers use to capture the right tone.The conversation becomes a piece of Covington and Newton County music history. Marshall remembers a spring 1996 show at the Wiley farm in North Oxford, where his band Southern Freight shared the bill with Trey’s Rocketboy. There was a homemade stage, a natural amphitheater, hundreds of people, and—if memory ...
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    1 時間 6 分
  • Larry Cox Explains Data Centers, School Funding & the Future of Rockdale County — Episode 96

    Larry Cox Explains Data Centers, School Funding & the Future of Rockdale County — Episode 96
    2026/08/04
    Data Centers, School Budgets & Speaking Your Mind with Larry CoxOne of the greatest challenges facing local communities today isn't a lack of information—it's determining which information to trust.That theme surfaced repeatedly during Episode 96 of The Town Square Podcast as Rockdale County Board of Education member Larry Cox joined Trey Bailey and guest co-host Dr. Gregory Brown for a wide-ranging discussion about public education, school funding, and one of Georgia's hottest local government topics: data centers.Known throughout Rockdale County for his "Speak Your Mind" podcast, Cox has built a reputation for saying exactly what he thinks. Whether listeners agree with him or not, one thing is certain—he rarely leaves anyone wondering where he stands.But this conversation wasn't simply about opinions.It was about understanding how decisions are made and why good public policy requires more than headlines and social media posts.From Construction to Community LeadershipBefore entering public office, Larry Cox spent more than three decades in the construction industry, serving as Vice President of the highway division for one of the Southeast's leading concrete cutting companies.His work has taken him across airports, military installations, and major interstate projects throughout the Southeast. That background shaped the way he approaches government.Rather than viewing public service through an ideological lens, Cox says he tends to approach problems the same way he approaches construction projects: identify the issue, gather the facts, and solve the problem.That practical mindset eventually led him to seek public office after years of community involvement.A Different Kind of CampaignWhen Larry Cox first ran for the Rockdale County Board of Education, he wasn't well known.His second campaign was very different.Rather than avoiding controversial issues, Cox openly campaigned on changing district leadership, reducing spending, restoring classroom discipline, increasing transparency, and pursuing additional tax relief for senior citizens.According to Cox, voters weren't looking for vague promises.They were looking for someone willing to explain exactly what he intended to do.Now, roughly halfway through his first term, he believes much of that campaign agenda has already begun taking shape.School Boards: What They Actually DoOne of the most helpful portions of the conversation focused on a question many citizens misunderstand:What does a school board actually do?Cox explained that while many residents expect school board members to solve day-to-day operational issues, Georgia law assigns boards three primary responsibilities:Hiring and evaluating the superintendentFiscal oversight of the districtEstablishing board policyEverything else is largely delegated to district administration.That distinction matters because many of the complaints school board members receive are actually operational concerns rather than governance issues.Understanding that difference helps citizens better direct their questions and expectations.School Budgets Are More Than NumbersThe conversation then shifted toward one of Trey Bailey's favorite themes—viewing a school budget as a moral document.Every budget reflects priorities.Every dollar spent communicates what a district values.But budgets also represent something else: the burden placed on taxpayers who fund those priorities.Larry Cox argued that districts must consider not only what happens inside the classroom but also the financial realities families face outside school.He challenged listeners to think about the "whole child" differently.While educators often define the whole child through academic, emotional, and social support, Cox suggested another perspective.Children spend far more time outside school than inside it.If excessive taxes make it harder for grandparents to buy medicine or families to afford housing, those financial pressures ultimately affect students as well.For Cox, stewardship means balancing educational investment with community affordability.Why School Funding Is So ComplicatedThe discussion naturally moved into Georgia's school funding formula.School districts receive much of their funding through the state's Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula, but local property taxes remain a critical piece of the equation.That creates challenges.Enrollment shifts.Healthcare mandates increase costs.Retirement obligations grow.Meanwhile, districts often have little control over many of those expenses.Cox described how Rockdale County reduced its operating budget while simultaneously absorbing state-mandated cost increases—a reminder that reducing spending on paper often requires significantly larger internal cuts.The conversation also explored the long-term sustainability of relying so heavily on property taxes to fund public education.Both hosts agreed that conversations at the Georgia Capitol will likely continue for years as lawmakers search for ...
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    1 時間 4 分
  • Fayth Park on Data Centers, Affordability and GA-13 | Candidate Conversations — Episode 95

    Fayth Park on Data Centers, Affordability and GA-13 | Candidate Conversations — Episode 95
    2026/07/23
    Candidate Conversations — Episode 95 of The Town Square PodcastGeorgia’s 13th Congressional District is holding a political sprint. After the death of longtime Congressman David Scott, the state scheduled a July 28 special election to fill the remainder of his term. There is no party primary: Democrats and Republicans appear together on what Fayth Park calls a “jungle-style ballot,” and a runoff follows if no candidate wins a majority.It is a compressed job interview for a seat representing communities across Clayton, DeKalb, Henry, Gwinnett, Rockdale and Newton counties. In Episode 95, Park joins Trey Bailey—Gabriel Stovall was away following a death in his family—to explain why she entered the race and what she would try to accomplish during the short term.A blue-collar childhood and a wrestler’s path to GeorgiaPark grew up as the youngest of four in a blended, blue-collar California family. Her father worked as a mechanic before also teaching, and her mother stayed home. One of Park’s strongest childhood memories is the family dinner table: “We didn’t have everything … but we always had each other growing up.”Athletics became her route to higher education. Park wrestled on scholarship at an Oregon community college and later at Emmanuel University in Georgia. She earned a business degree, completed a master’s degree in positive psychology and worked as a graduate assistant for women’s wrestling at Life University. She also discusses her experience wrestling boys and explains why she strongly supports protecting separate opportunities for girls and women in sports while treating every person with dignity.Georgia became home through school, church, her husband and eventually a house in Clayton County—purchased on the same day she graduated with her master’s degree. Now 29 and the mother of a young son, Park frames the race as a call to service, not the next rung in a political career.“People … want someone who’s going to show up”The decision came quickly, but not, Park says, as a sudden bolt of inspiration. After Scott’s death, she researched how a special election worked, discussed the possibility with her husband, family, church and friends, and decided she could not remain on the sidelines. She points to previous advocacy against child trafficking and exploitation as part of a longer pattern of civic involvement.During the campaign, Park says she attended more than 50 events across all six counties. The lesson she heard repeatedly was less ideological than practical: “People at the heart of it just want someone who’s going to show up and listen to them after the election.”Park describes herself as a conservative and a political outsider running a grassroots campaign without PAC or party funding. Her Christian faith is central to her identity, but she says her goal is to compete for every vote and work across party lines on problems that directly affect the district.Data centers: growth, resources and the need to slow downData centers become the episode’s most detailed policy discussion. Park says residents across the district are worried about developments approved near homes, schools, hospitals and farmland, particularly when local input appears to arrive after major decisions are already in motion.She does not argue that data centers or artificial intelligence should disappear. Instead, she calls for a pause on new development in sensitive areas until impact studies examine energy, water, infrastructure, noise and quality of life. She also raises questions about consumer privacy, who can access the enormous amount of information stored by these facilities, and whether highly specialized buildings can be repurposed if technology moves elsewhere.“I’m not against the data centers. I’m not against the growth or technology or economic revenue for a neighborhood or a county,” Park says, “but not at the expense of the character of our communities and our resources as well.”For long-term economic development, she wants the district to look beyond what she calls a short-term money grab. She identifies healthcare, aviation, logistics, skilled trades and apprenticeships as industries that could create durable local career paths—especially if young people can train, work and build their lives in the communities where they grew up.Healthcare access that became personalPark makes healthcare tangible through her own family. While pregnant and covered by a state plan, she says her available hospital choices were roughly 45 minutes from her home in the Ellenwood–Rex area. Her family later learned that moving to her husband’s employer plan would cost them about $700 per month while the employer contributed another $2,300.Her answer is more competition, more choices and better value for what families and businesses already pay. She also wants a system that rewards preventive care instead of becoming financially engaged only after a person is sick. ...
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    55 分
  • Fr. Justin Clemente on Anglicanism, Daily Prayer, and Planting Lamb of God Church — Episode 94

    Fr. Justin Clemente on Anglicanism, Daily Prayer, and Planting Lamb of God Church — Episode 94
    2026/07/21
    Ancient Faith, Daily Prayer, and a New Anglican Church in CovingtonFor many Christians, words like liturgy, Anglicanism, the Daily Office, and the Book of Common Prayer can sound like they belong in a church-history classroom—or at least somewhere with stained glass, incense, and a vocabulary quiz waiting at the door.But for Father Justin Clemente, these aren’t museum pieces.They are living tools: ways Christians have worshiped, prayed, learned, and followed Jesus together for centuries. And now, Fr. Clemente is bringing that tradition to Covington through a new congregation called Lamb of God Anglican Church.In Episode 94 of The Town Square Podcast, Fr. Justin joins Trey Bailey and guest co-host Dr. Gregory Brown for a wide-ranging conversation about Anglican history, embodied worship, structured prayer, church leadership, and what Fr. Clemente describes as a “quiet revival” among young men searching for a deeper and more rooted expression of Christian faith.It’s part theology lesson, part church-history tour, and part introduction to a new local congregation.And, somehow, it remains a conversation ordinary people can follow.“The Most Important Title I Have”The conversation begins with a question that many people outside Anglican circles may wonder about: Why call a priest “Father”?Fr. Clemente explains that, within the parish, the title is intended as a term of spiritual trust and endearment—a picture of someone called to offer fatherly care in Christ. But before any ministerial title, Fr. Clemente describes himself more simply.His most important identity, he says, is “redeemed child of God.”Then comes husband, father, Anglican priest, writer, editor, and—because, as he jokes, he is apparently “a glutton for punishment”—church planter once again.Fr. Clemente previously spent a decade planting a church in western Maryland, where his family lived for 18 years. After moving to Georgia, he served at Holy Cross Cathedral in Loganville. He also writes and edits for Anglican Compass, a national resource designed to explain Anglican belief, worship, and practice with clarity.His most recent book, At the Cross: Reflections on the Stations of the Cross, explores the 14 biblical Stations of the Cross as a devotional journey through Christ’s passion.Fr. Clemente describes meditating on the cross as being like trying to hold the ocean in your hands. You cannot contain the whole thing—but you may be able to receive a drop and understand its depth a little more.That image sets the tone for much of the episode.This isn’t about knowing everything at once.It’s about slowing down long enough to see more.What Is Liturgy?One of the episode’s most helpful sections begins with a basic question: What does liturgy actually mean?Fr. Clemente describes liturgy as the work of the people—the shape and substance of what Christians do together in worship in response to God’s grace. Anglican worship also emphasizes that God is the primary actor: Christians gather not only to offer worship but to receive God’s gifts.And every church has a liturgy.Some churches write theirs down. Others follow an unwritten pattern that members understand instinctively. There may be opening music, announcements, prayer, preaching, an invitation, and a closing song. Change that order too dramatically and people quickly realize that even an “informal” church has expectations about how worship should proceed.The real question, then, isn’t whether a church has a liturgy.It’s what that liturgy teaches—and what kind of people it forms.Worship You Can See, Hear, Smell, Taste, and TouchAnglican worship is deliberately physical.Scripture is read aloud. Congregants stand, kneel, speak, pray, exchange the peace, receive consecrated bread and wine, and sometimes experience the scent of incense moving through the sanctuary.Those practices are not meant to be empty ceremony. Fr. Clemente explains them as ways of involving the whole person in worship.Incense, for example, recalls biblical images of prayer ascending before God. It marks important moments: the gathering of the congregation, the reading of the Gospel, Communion, and the church’s movement back into the world. By the time worshipers leave, the aroma may literally remain on their clothing—a physical reminder of their calling to carry the “aroma of Christ” into the coming week.The Gospel reading may be carried into the congregation rather than delivered only from a distant platform. The table remains visually central. White robes, or albs, are intended not to draw attention to the person wearing them, but to point toward baptism, purity in Christ, and the worship of heaven depicted in Scripture.For Dr. Brown, the educator at the table, the multisensory nature of the service raises an interesting point: people learn in different ways. When worship involves hearing, seeing, tasting, touching, and even smelling, theological truth can ...
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    1 時間 3 分
  • The Next Chapter: New Voices, Big Ideas & What’s Ahead | Episode 93

    The Next Chapter: New Voices, Big Ideas & What’s Ahead | Episode 93
    2026/06/30
    The Next Chapter: New Voices, Big Ideas & What’s AheadSometimes the best conversations happen when there’s no guest sitting across the table.After several weeks of candidate interviews and election coverage, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall return for a wide-ranging conversation about life, community, travel, family, and the future of The Town Square Podcast.The episode begins with reflection on the recent Candidate Conversation series, which gave local voters an opportunity to hear directly from individuals seeking public office. Rather than debates or rapid-fire questions, the goal was simple: create space for honest conversation and help listeners better understand the people behind the campaigns.For Trey and Gabriel, that approach perfectly reflects the mission of the podcast—creating unity without demanding uniformity.Life Beyond the PodcastA lot has happened during the brief break between episodes.Trey shares the excitement of watching his twin daughters graduate from Eastside High School and begin the next chapter at the University of Georgia. Orientation brought excitement, information overload, and the realization that college arrives much faster than parents expect.Gabriel talks about preparing for a much-needed vacation after balancing journalism, ministry, and community leadership. For the first time in more than two decades, he’ll be able to completely unplug from both professions simultaneously—a rare opportunity that he’s determined to embrace.The conversation also pauses to acknowledge the passing of longtime Richmond County Board of Education member Walter Eubanks, serving as a reminder that life is both precious and unpredictable.Why Travel Changes PerspectiveOne of the highlights of the episode is Trey’s reflection on a family trip through England and Scotland.Instead of focusing on major tourist attractions, the family intentionally spent time in small fishing villages, rural countryside, and the Scottish Highlands. From driving narrow roads lined with towering hedges to exploring tiny island communities known for producing world-famous Scotch whisky, the experience offered something deeper than sightseeing.It offered perspective.As beautiful as the United Kingdom was, Trey admits that returning home reminded him how much he appreciates living in America.The conversation isn’t about comparing nations or claiming one is better than another. Instead, it’s about recognizing that travel often deepens appreciation for home while broadening appreciation for other cultures.Gabriel echoes that sentiment through his own international experiences, noting that seeing the world often strengthens gratitude for the place we call home.America Through Someone Else’s EyesThe discussion naturally shifts to the FIFA World Cup currently being hosted across North America.One of the unexpected joys has been watching international visitors experience American culture for the first time.Social media has been filled with visitors discovering everything from Buc-ee’s to Atlanta lemon pepper wings—and, perhaps most importantly, ranch dressing.It’s a lighthearted reminder that every culture has something unique to offer, and sometimes the simplest experiences become the most memorable.Those moments also reinforce one of the recurring themes of The Town Square Podcast: genuine relationships begin with curiosity rather than assumptions.The Future of The Town Square PodcastPerhaps the biggest announcement of the episode is where the podcast is headed next.After more than ninety episodes, Trey and Gabriel believe it’s time to expand—not by changing who they are, but by growing what they do.One exciting addition will feature young people taking over the microphones.Inspired by conversations with students through the TaylorMade Foundation and other community partnerships, the hosts plan to dedicate future episodes to student voices, allowing the next generation to lead conversations that matter to them.It’s an opportunity to showcase future journalists, communicators, civic leaders, and storytellers while giving listeners a fresh perspective on community issues.The hosts are equally excited about another new format: bringing together guests who approach important topics from different viewpoints.Not debates.Not arguments.Simply conversations.The goal is to model respectful dialogue between people who may disagree while helping listeners understand the humanity behind different perspectives.As Trey says, people often discover they agree on far more than they initially assumed.Expanding Beyond Newton CountyThe Town Square has always been rooted in Newton County, but the conversation is beginning to grow.Future episodes may feature leaders from neighboring communities including Jasper, Rockdale, Walton, Morgan, and Henry counties.Each community faces unique opportunities and challenges, yet many are navigating similar questions about growth, education, development, public safety, and ...
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