Finding Community in Digital Ministry Spaces with Rev. Kyle Delhagen

In today's fast-paced world, finding ways to connect spiritually while staying grounded in our daily lives is crucial. In this episode of Holy Shenanigans, host Tara Lamont Eastman and Pastor Kyle Delhagen have an impromptu conversation about the evolving landscape of digital ministry. They highlight the unexpected nature of ministry work and how the pandemic has reshaped their roles. Tara explains the inception of the Holy Shenanigans podcast, designed to make theology engaging and accessible through diverse forms of storytelling. They stress the importance of leveraging technology to foster community, combat loneliness, and amplify marginalized voices, providing spiritual connection in both digital and physical spaces. The conversation underscores the need for practical, relatable spiritual discussions.

Transcript

S5 E25 Finding Community in Digital Ministry Spaces with Rev. Kyle Delhagen

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman [00:00:00] Welcome to Holy Shenanigans. I'm your muse, Tara Lamont Eastman, a pastor, podcaster, and practitioner of Holy Shenanigans. My definition of Holy Shenanigans is the divine showing up in everyday life. especially in ways that change perspectives through experience of surprise and reorientation. Recent days have been full of holy shenanigans, as later this month I will begin a new pastoral call with First Presbyterian Church of Warren, Pennsylvania.

And another comes in just meeting Reverend Kyle Delahagen. He's pastor at Hamilton Union Presbyterian [00:01:00] Church in Gilderland, New York. He is currently in the DEMIN program at New Brunswick Theological Seminary for pastoral care and counseling. And through a holy shenanigan of a friend in common, I was connected with Pastor Kyle and he wanted to have a conversation with me about why digital ministry matters.

Kyle, welcome to the podcast. 

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: so excited to be here and did not expect to be entering this space today. I love the unexpectedness of ministry. It's fantastic.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman It's never the same day twice.

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Right. I just had somebody come into my study today who wanted to ask me a theological question about how the Ten Commandments, says do not commit adultery, but then you've got David and Solomon who had all of these wives and concubines, how does that work together?

And I just looked at him and I said, so it's gonna be that kind of [00:02:00] day. Here we go.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman So the tagline for Holy shenanigans is, that the conversations are always sacred, but they're never stuffy. So that is not a stuffy conversation to be had theological, but not stuffy. You have some questions for me today. Can you say a little bit more about that?

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Yeah. So I am currently in my second year of a doctor of Ministry program at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. I'm focusing on pastoral care and counseling but one of the electives that I need to take is media training for the 21st century.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman Hmm.

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: And it's focusing on all that digital ministry encompasses.

so over the past few weeks, we've been talking about platforms that people use for digital ministry, like Facebook and YouTube and TikTok, which I have never been on. My daughter has been on TikTok. I don't understand it, which makes me sound [00:03:00] like a boomer, but here I am trying to figure it out. one of the projects that we have to work on is talking with people who are engaged in digital ministry and about what that is like.

 I only just found Holy Shenanigans today. John Fong, who is all things digital networking for the Presbyterian church and is an amazing human being pointing me in your direction. And I said, why haven't I found this podcast before?

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Because this is fantastic. . I'm really loving the conversations that you have. First of all, thank you for having that space and for creating it. So I see that you started in 2020.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman Yes, I did.

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Was this a project that you've been dreaming of for a while? Or was it something that grew out of pandemic lockdown?

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman Originally, this idea of holy shenanigans was a topic I was writing about and had been a topic I'd been writing about these little anecdotes and these [00:04:00] stories about the Holy Spirit showing up in ways that surprise us and reorient our lives. But it was September from 2020. And I was just in the middle of doing a leadership.

cohort program in the midst of being in a new church in a new city. And I was like, man, the last thing in the world anybody needs is another thing to read. Blessings to all the folks that, had a bit of a pause during the pandemic, but my life sped up.

It was not a pause for me. So. It became a podcast because I was like, wouldn't it be great just to sit down with a friend. And have a theological or spiritual conversation about the things that really matter. it loosely follows the lectionary.

There's usually some element of creative writing, poetry, or prose, and sometimes music, sometimes mine, sometimes other people's work. But really just trying to share what's on my heart at that [00:05:00] particular moment in the lectionary calendar and regular calendar. And how those things connect with other people.

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: When a lot of people were having a pause, you felt like in your life were much more hectic. This maybe offered a space where you could pause and slow down and invite people to do the same.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman Yes. To process those things I was thinking about and feeling some might think it to be interesting to do that in a public forum, but it was 2020. What other forum was there?

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: So what was it about the podcast format that drew you to it?

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman When my spouse and I were dreaming about working on this podcast, we're like, okay, it needs to have a pattern. It needs to be sustainable. It needs to be doable. So our big goal was maybe 10 minute [00:06:00] episodes. To be like that coffee break kind of thing, or commute to the grocery store to say, you know, even in the midst of all this, God is with us.

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Thinking back to four years ago. even though we were all kind of quote unquote forced to take a break and stop, none of us really stopped because we were all moving in our own circles, really. could count on like three fingers the number of panic attacks I had had in my life up until 2020.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman Wow.

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: then it just cycled. Because, I'm worried about my congregation. I'm worried about the people in my church. I'm worried about my family and being outside. getting, the worship service together and recording it and editing and getting it out there. And am I calling enough people?

And am I visiting enough people, you know, digitally? Oh, we got to throw in a zoom prayer service and

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman You and I should have sat down. How do we know each other

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: right.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman and, and zoom [00:07:00] together then, but here we are today. Here we are. So,

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: The spirit shows up when the spirit shows up. And that's, the important thing. You strike me as somebody who has a tremendously creative spirit. And it seems to me in my admittedly brief review that Holy Shenanigans is a space that celebrates the creative through a spiritual lens.

And I wonder if you could maybe tell me a little bit more about that.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman I have always loved making things ever since I was little. I was sculpting something over here and I had my drawing books over there and , listening to this music but it was in that making of things and engaging with the arts as best as I could in the rural place that I really found a sense of life and joy. But I've always been making things. My sister and I thought we would start making pom pom creatures that replicated the Muppets when we were like on our school bus. [00:08:00] Cause we thought it was going to be this, fortune finding thing. We spent way more money making the pom pom creatures. 

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: I love it.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman But I guess I've been a bit of a, , innovator entrepreneur

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Yeah. Yeah.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman since I was on the school bus.

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: the act of creating something that's the part that is the most exciting. To put it through a, theological lens, it echoes that act of God creating in the beginning and, we are able to be partners in that creative process, whatever it is we're making.

 And, if that piece of art never sees. Another set of eyes. It's still worth making. and it's really cool. So in the trailer for the podcast you used the phrase sacred but never stuffy. Where did that originate and why is that so important for you to make that distinction?

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman I was [00:09:00] talking to a gentleman who was helping me with tech during 2020. I was like, Oh, this is what I'm hoping for. This is what I think would be a, great approach. And I said, yeah, it's always sacred, never stuffy. He's like full stop, write it down.

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Oh, man. Isn't that the spirit? Oh my goodness. That's fantastic. I love that. 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman I am a very practical theologian.

These are incredibly mysterious things that we attempt to learn about God and the divine and attempt to live into that are well beyond our understanding. And yet, Christ came as an infant into the world.

Didn't arrive in a system of, wealth. He came in a stable and his audience was shepherds. So I think that, sacred and not stuffy is a reflection of that practical [00:10:00] theology. And also my own experience, I grew up in a rural community. Making things as best as I could always, fascinated by beauty and the divine.

But I always say to my parishioners to, if this doesn't make sense to you Monday through Saturday, then why are we talking about it on Sunday?

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: We're in a time in our world, and maybe I'm, reflecting my own generational experience that people are seeking ways to access the spiritual, 

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: but The way church has been for a lot of people has felt really stuffy and people want to break free of that because, spirit, God, Jesus, whatever that manifestation is, is so much bigger than that, and is going to be [00:11:00] exciting and unpredictable and moving.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman Dawn Trautman was sharing about loneliness being a health issue. That has impacts on people's physical health, their emotional health, their relationships. But if we can find creative ways. To help build connections that help support folks. So they aren't feeling as lonely or isolated.

Technology can be a tool. some can use it for ill, right. But it can also be a tool for good. And I think that if, church and faith communities and spiritual communities are wise. They will say, okay, what is the way that it makes sense for our community to reach out with this tool?

Right?

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Digital spaces are the new frontier of church life and ministry. So, do you see these spaces as enhancing the [00:12:00] quote unquote, and I couldn't think of a better term for this, the traditional slash physical spaces, replacing them or some kind of combination?

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman I don't think it's one size fits all. For some folks being together in the same geographic space is their community for other folks, hybrid of some kind works. And then for some folks whatever reason it may be, they may rely upon a digital connection for that community.

There may be mobility issues or accessibility issues. Right. It's not one size fits all. I think it's depends on the individual, the context, the community and the need of the time.

So many times when we are attempting something new or creative there's our own internal dialogue that can discourage us. Then when we're trying something new in community, it can launch and people are trying to deconstruct it before it's even had a chance to get a chance.

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Yeah. 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman For folks [00:13:00] that are listening around to this idea of digital ministry. You know, I'm not saying that everybody has to have a tick tock, right? But if you are inspired to try something that is going to help people feel more connected and loved, like the church should be doing that, but find the thing, find the thing that fits your community and your content. 

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Are there ways in which digital ministry can be helpful in amplifying traditionally marginalized voices.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman definitely. When I am thinking about guests or people approach me about being on a podcast I am thoughtful about who those folks are. I'm thoughtful about. Lifting up other people's voices that might not have the same platform that I do as a white woman, right? Andy Warhol said, 15 minutes of fame. Right. But I think that that egalitarian kind of flat [00:14:00] system can be an opportunity,

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Where my brain goes with that quote is, know, we've only got one life. What are we going to do with it that is going to leave this world better than we found it? 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman And if you can use your 15 minutes to make the world a better place, use them. 

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: Absolutely. Digital media can really be. A powerful place to help bring to life a world of justice and love by amplifying those voices by Being a space where people can be human, can share in questions and dialogue and such. So that's really beautiful.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman This podcast, has brought me the gift of so many wonderful people. Like the privilege of being able to speak with, , over 150 people, , authors and theologians and students like yourself, you know, and pastors and colleagues and to also then be able [00:15:00] to take those resources and share them with. The people that I'm serving in community, right? It's a wonderful opportunity to build up people's spiritual lives. 

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: It's an incredible ministry. So I only have one, More question. And it, only comes about because I am a fan of a certain mystery comedy series on a certain streaming platform. Have you ever dreamed about solving a murder through your podcast?

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman Only something in a building.

Rev. Kyle Delhagen: And if you ever do, give me a call. I would love to help you out. 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman Thanks to Rev. Kyle for reaching out with his questions. about why digital ministry matters. Thanks also to Ian [00:16:00] Eastman for audio editing here at this podcast. Also, thank you to you listeners who listen, share, and support the work that is Holy Shenanigans podcast. A special shout out to new listeners from Warren, Pennsylvania, and a thank you to Reverend Trish Bazy from Harrisburg, South Dakota, for joining us.

Who has contributed to the cost of this podcast since 2020. If you would like to financially support Holy shenanigans podcast, visit our buy me a coffee contribution page at buy me a coffee. com backslash Tara L Eastman. Until next time, dear hearts, may you be well, may you be at peace and know that you are always beloved. [00:17:00]