by Meghan Claussen, Director of Communications at First UMC of San Diego
Bible Study Reimagined: “Perspectives Pastors Podcast”
Delivering a safe & approachable alternative for today’s spiritual seekers.
In a time when faith is being redefined by questions, not answers, one church is offering a podcast that makes space for both. The First United Methodist Church of San Diego pastoral team has deconstructed their weekly Pastor’s Bible Study and rebuilt it for a new kind of audience.
“We kept hearing from our congregants that they cherished the weekly in-person study,” says Rev. Trudy D. Robinson, Lead Pastor of First Church. “But our attendance numbers presented a different story. We’re what you would call a commuter church – our congregants live throughout the county. We experimented with online groups, but the format still wasn’t meeting people where they were. We knew we needed a solution that worked for every schedule and location.”
So, back in January 2024, they headed into the video studio to launch Perspectives Pastors Podcast — a bold, weekly digital Bible study hosted by the church’s three dynamic women clergy: Rev. Trudy D. Robinson, Rev. Dr. Hannah Ka, and Rev. Brittany J. Hanlin. And now their message is reaching an audience that’s larger than ever would have been achievable on the church campus – more than 700 unique individuals on YouTube in the last three months alone.
With more than 7,200 listens and 11,000 downloads since its launch, the podcast is reaching beyond pews and pulpits into headphones, cars, and living rooms around the world. While many listeners are from the local congregation, the team has heard from individuals throughout California, other US states, and even other countries, including New Zealand.
“Our conversations are resonating with practicing Christians as well as individuals who’ve walked away from the church due to conflicting theological viewpoints and non-inclusive teachings,” shares Rev. Trudy. “We’re so grateful to provide these individuals a new opportunity to grow deeper in their faith in a space that’s safe for them.”
When brainstorming the new format, they looked at secular podcasts to see what drew people in. The result is a quick-hitting and thought-provoking conversation that blends pastoral insight, theological depth, and relatable storytelling. Each episode is about 20-30 minutes and features two of the three clergy as they interrogate our ancient text (and each other!) to reconcile traditional Christian beliefs and practices with the needs of today’s society.
No topic is off limits – sexuality, politics, ableism, mental health, institutional racism, social justice – they’ve explored it all with academic rigor and lived experience.
“We’re not afraid to ask hard questions or name the proverbial elephant in the Sanctuary,” says Rev. Trudy. “This modern Bible study is helping spiritual seekers deconstruct and reconstruct their faith by presenting the deep knowledge we’ve accumulated through our theological education and careers. Not everyone has the luxury of going to seminary.”
“We’re also excited to witness an expanded thoughtfulness in our community discussions,” shares Rev. Dr. Hannah Ka, Pastor of Discipleship. “The structure of our podcast allows us to model purposeful conversations that help individuals uncover hidden spiritual truths. Our podcast discussion groups have embraced our conversation style and have experienced meaningful growth.”
Whether you’re deconstructing your faith, exploring spirituality for the first time, or seeking deeper meaning in your beliefs, you’re invited to tune in weekly for thoughtful reflection and community dialogue that supports your spiritual journey. Episodes are available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Listeners can also tune in via First Church of San Diego’s digital library at https://www.fumcsd.org/podcast, and are invited to join in conversation through the church’s in-person Convergence discussion group or online Patreon community (https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd).
About First United Methodist Church of San Diego
Since 1869, First United Methodist Church of San Diego has been witnessing to the love of God through programs, conversations, celebrations, and service. First Church welcomes people who identify as LGBTQIA, BIPOC, seekers and life-long Christians, newborns and centenarians. The people of First Church believe that through community, we can experience the love of God in ways that inspire us to make the world more whole and holy. We put our faith in action to do just that.
