The Forum Podcast

Why Knowledge Isn’t Enough: Spiritual Formation for Ministry | Jeff Sajdak

Why does Christian formation matter as much as knowledge and skill?
In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Jeff Sajdak, Dean of Students, joins Phillip Palacios to reflect on spiritual formation, community, and what it means to be shaped in Christ for ministry at Calvin Theological Seminary.
Drawing on years of pastoral experience and student formation work, Jeff explores the difference between formation and malformation, the dangers of ill-formed leadership, and why Christlike character is essential for faithful ministry. The conversation highlights how formation happens not only through academics and vocational training, but through shared practices of worship, prayer, Scripture, and life together in community.
Recorded during Calvin Theological Seminary’s 150th anniversary, this episode connects formation to the church’s confession, especially the communion of saints, and to the Reformed conviction that all of life belongs to God. Listeners are invited to consider how theological education forms leaders whose lives bear the fruit of the Spirit.
The Forum Podcast is a production of Calvin Theological Seminary.

A Gospel Shaped Life Found in the Creeds | Cory Willson

What does it mean to confess “We believe” if our lives are not being shaped by Christ?
In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Cory Willson, Professor of Missiology, World Christianity, and Public Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary, joins Phillip Palacios for a conversation on the Nicene Creed, Christian mission, and the relationship between doctrine and lived faith.
Recorded during Calvin Theological Seminary’s 150th anniversary, the discussion explores how the Nicene Creed arose from the church’s real-life struggles to live faithfully in the world, and why its theological clarity still matters today. Cory reflects on the danger of “dead orthodoxy,” the call to a dialogue of love with culture, and how Reformed theology equips the church for faithful witness in diverse global contexts.
This episode invites listeners to consider how ancient confession becomes present-day discipleship, and why theology must always bear fruit in the life of the church.
The Forum Podcast is a production of Calvin Theological Seminary.

Why the Nicene Creed Still Matters: Calvin, Creeds & the Church Today | Sam Ha

Why does the Nicene Creed still matter 1,700 years later?
In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Sam Ha, Theological Librarian and Curator of the Meeter Center for Calvin Studies, joins Phillip Palacios to reflect on the enduring significance of the Nicene Creed and its place in the life of the church today.
Recorded in the context of Calvin Theological Seminary’s 150th anniversary, the conversation explores how ancient creeds and Reformed confessions continue to shape Christian belief, worship, and practice. Sam draws connections between the Nicene Creed, the Heidelberg Catechism, and John Calvin’s conviction that theology must be lived, pastoral, and responsive to the needs of the world.
Touching on themes of suffering, unity, pilgrimage, and hope, this episode invites listeners to see the creed not as a relic of the past, but as a living confession—one that anchors faith, fosters unity across cultures, and calls the church to faithful witness today.
The Forum Podcast is a production of Calvin Theological Seminary.

Seeing Christ in Hebrews | Madison Pierce

In this insightful episode of the Forum Podcast from Calvin Theological Seminary, current ThM student Leah Jolly talks with Dr. Madison Pierce, Associate Professor of New Testament at Western Theological Seminary, whose scholarship centers on Hebrews, the Catholic Epistles, and Scripture’s use of Scripture. Dr. Pierce shares how her early love for teaching and Scripture led her from small group Bible studies to advanced research on divine speech and the Trinity in Hebrews.
Along with Leah and Dr. Pierce, you'll explore how careful reading of Scripture—especially the “muted voices” of the New Testament—can deepen your faith and address common assumptions about law, grace, and the nature of God’s ongoing revelation.
Join them for a conversation that blends personal story, theological insight, and a passion for helping the church read the Bible more faithfully.
In this episode:
How Dr. Pierce’s vocation as a teacher began in her teens
What drew her to the Book of Hebrews—and why we shouldn’t be afraid of it
The beauty of Scripture as a conversation among the Father, Son, and Spirit
Why lifelong learning matters for pastors and teachers
Insights from her books Muted Voices of the New Testament and Reading the Later New Testament as Christian Scripture

Why Have a Peer Reviewed Journal? | Karin Maag and the Calvin Theological Journal

In this episode of the Forum Podcast from Calvin Theological Seminary, current ThM student Leah Jolly sits down with Dr. Karin Maag, longtime editor of the Calvin Theological Journal (CTJ), to discuss the journal’s 60-year legacy of advancing Reformed scholarship and mentoring new voices in theology.
Founded in 1966, CTJ continues to offer a unique blend of biblical, theological, and historical research—serving scholars, pastors, and students around the world. Dr. Maag shares insights into her decade as editor, her vision for the journal’s future, and why thoughtful, charitable scholarship still matters in an increasingly digital and fast-paced world.
In this conversation:
-The story behind the Calvin Theological Journal and its enduring mission -How CTJ bridges scholarship and the church through sermons and research -Why Calvin Seminary continues to publish a print journal in a digital age -Encouragement for emerging writers and theologians -A behind-the-scenes look at editing, mentoring, and shaping academic writing

Christ and Becoming Human | Shawn England

In this powerful episode of the Forum Podcast from Calvin Theological Seminary, current ThM student Leah Jolly sits down with Shawn England, a current MTS student and graduate of the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI).
Once serving a 35-year prison sentence, Shawn encountered Christ behind bars—and through the Calvin Prison Initiative, he discovered not only an education but a calling. Today, he’s studying theology at Calvin Seminary and working to extend the same life-changing opportunities to others in Michigan’s prison system.
Join this inspiring conversation as Shawn shares:
-How God’s providence opened the door for the Calvin Prison Initiative -His personal transformation from incarceration to ministry -The role of education in true rehabilitation and human formation -Why the Church’s presence in prisons matters now more than ever -His hopes for the next generation of CPI students and theological educators

Forgotten Overseas Workers | Charles Oh

In this inspiring episode of the Forum Podcast from Calvin Theological Seminary, we sit down with Dr. Charles Oh, 2025 Doctor of Ministry graduate, whose groundbreaking research explores the spiritual vitality of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) living and working in religiously restrictive countries.
Drawing from years of missionary experience in the Philippines and interviews conducted in the Middle East, Dr. Oh shares moving stories of faith, perseverance, and community among Filipino workers who worship quietly yet powerfully in places where religious expression is limited.
Join hosts Rev. Jeff Sajdak and Dr. Geoff Vandermolen as they discuss:
-What inspired Dr. Oh’s research on “forgotten” overseas workers -The surprising realities of faith life in restrictive nations -How churches can remember and support those they send -The deeper spiritual lessons of resilience, prayer, and calling

Coaching as Spiritual Formation: Cultivating Leadership That Listens | Tom Clegg

In this Lifelong Learning episode, Dr. Aaron Einfeld, Director of Lifelong Learning at Calvin Theological Seminary, speaks with leadership coach and church consultant Tom Clegg, Clegg Consulting Group, about the transformative role of coaching in Christian ministry.
Together, they explore how coaching — unlike traditional mentoring or teaching — equips leaders to grow through intentional reflection, deep listening, and Spirit-led discovery.
Tom shares wisdom from decades of experience walking alongside pastors and organizational leaders, illustrating how coaching uncovers barriers, reframes identity, and cultivates sustainable leadership.
This conversation is a practical and theological invitation to slow down, listen well, and lead with authenticity.
🔹 Learn more about Calvin Seminary's coaching-based Empower program🔹 Discover how coaching fosters resilience in anxious ministry environments🔹 Hear stories of real leaders transformed through gospel-centered coaching

Facing Death with Hope: A Christian Theology of Grief and Resurrection | Mary Vanden Berg

Dr. Mary Vanden Berg, Emerita of Systematic Theology, talks with Dr. Aaron Einfeld, Director of Lifelong Learning at Calvin Theological Seminary, about the often-avoided realities of death, suffering, and grief—and why Christian formation must include them. From lament psalms to funeral liturgies, from the daily prayer of “into your hands I commit my spirit” to the spiritual weight of complicated grief, they explore how honest engagement with mortality can deepen hope in Christ and reshape how we live. A sobering yet hopeful episode for pastors, students, and anyone facing the painful edges of life.
Topics include:
Medicalized suffering
The role of lament
Spiritual formation
How the church can better walk with people in pain
Whether you’re a pastor, caregiver, or curious listener, this conversation invites you into a richer theology of life, death, and what it means to hope in Christ.

Healing from Ministry Burnout: Reconstructing Faith | Con Campbell

In this stirring episode, Dr. Constantine R. Campbell—New Testament scholar, jazz musician, and author—returns to the Forum Podcast with Dr. Aaron Einfeld, Director of Lifelong Learning at Calvin Theological Seminary, to explore how personal crisis, ministry burnout, and spiritual deconstruction can become doorways to deeper grace and renewed faith.
Drawing from his own story of vocational collapse, emotional healing, and the long road back to the pulpit, Dr. Campbell offers a vulnerable and wise reflection on the state of the American church. Along the way, he considers:
Why the church must embrace humility or face collapse
What it means to be spiritually reconstructed after burnout
How jazz offers a surprising model for freedom within formation
Why churches must become safe places for doubt and honesty
What early church history teaches us about empire and renewal
A moving, timely conversation for anyone disillusioned, burned out, or yearning for a faith that still breathes.