In this episode, host Elizabeth Pittman sits down with Tim Kurth to discuss his new book, Principles for Good Order: Creating Organizational Harmony Through Effective Governance, which adapts John Carver’s Policy Governance model for Lutheran congregations, schools, and ministry organizations. Drawing on decades of service as a Lutheran school teacher, DCE, and leader at the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Tim explains why well-meaning board members so often stumble, how executive limitations can actually free pastors to lead, and how confession and absolution can shape the way boards and pastors work together — and he shares why he sees great hope in the next generation of Lutheran leaders.

Get your copy of Principles for Good Order at cph.org/goodorder.

Episode Timestamps

0:00 — Introduction & Welcoming Tim Kurth

2:00 — Why Good Order Matters for Lutheran Organizations

4:00 — Why Good People Struggle in the Boardroom

6:00 — The Sunday School Space Expert: A Lesson in Board Boundaries

7:45 — The Pastor, the Food Pantry, and the Power of a Board

10:00 — The Board as Servant Leader of the Voters

13:00 — Why Policies Need to Be Written Down

14:00 — The Three Lanes: Voters, Board, and Pastor

17:30 — Right-Hand and Left-Hand Kingdom Responsibilities

19:30 — Executive Limitations: Why “Shall Not” Can Be Freeing

22:00 — When Limitations Go Too Far

24:30 — Supporting Pastors Who Feel Ill-Equipped to Lead

29:00 — The Supplement to the Diploma of Vocation as a Monitoring Tool

32:00 — How Principles Based Governance Fits Lutheran Confessions and Polity

34:30 — Confession, Repentance, and Absolution in the Boardroom

39:30 — Hope for the Next Generation of Lutheran Leaders

42:45 — Where to Connect with Tim

44:00 — Closing

About the Guest

Tim Kurth retired from his role as Vice President of Ministry Solutions at the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) in 2026. Previously, he was a Lutheran school teacher as well as a Director of Christian Education (DCE) for congregations in the Chicago area. Throughout his years of service, Tim helped to start a Lutheran high school and develop international nonprofit ministries. He enjoys participating in short-term missions, which has taken him to a total of six countries. Tim is a father to two and grandfather to three and currently lives in the Indianapolis area.

Resources Mentioned

Principles for Good Order: Creating Organizational Harmony Through Effective Governance by Tim Kurth — cph.org

Tim’s website: principlesbasedgovernance.com

Concordia Publishing House

Bringing you God’s enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org

Follow CPH on social: @concordiapub

LCMS Foundation

Helping congregations grow long-term funding to support ministries 👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast

In this episode, host Elizabeth Pitman sits down with Dr. Jenna Londgren to discuss her new women's Bible study, Strong in the Lord: A Women's Bible Study on Faith and Mental Health. A college professor, licensed marriage and family therapist, and mom of four, Jenna explores the connection between faith and emotional health — from recognizing when you're weary and overwhelmed to guarding your heart, building self-awareness, and modeling emotional intelligence for your kids. She shares practical, Scripture-rooted practices for finding rest and strength in Christ, even in life's most exhausting seasons.

Get Jenna’s new book at cph.org/strong.

Episode Timestamps

0:00 — Introduction & Welcoming Jenna Londgren

2:00 — Meet Dr. Jenna Londgren: Professor, Therapist, and Mom of Four

4:00 — Why Strong in the Lord Was Designed to Feel Like a Gift

6:00 — The Power of Doing the Study in Community

10:00 — What to Do When You Reach Your Breaking Point

13:00 — Finding the Peace That Surpasses Understanding

15:00 — Building Self-Awareness and Naming Your Needs

17:00 — Guarding Your Heart by Inviting In What's Good

20:00 — Choosing Joy Without Guilt

22:00 — Why We Can't Just Ignore Our Emotions

24:00 — Teaching Kids Emotional Intelligence

27:00 — Letting Loved Ones Sit With Hard Feelings

31:00 — The “I Feel Llama” Icebreaker and Naming Emotions

34:00 — A Caution for Finding Mental Health Resources Online

37:00 — Hope for a Woman in a Dark Season

39:00 — A Journal Prompt to Try This Week

About the Guest

Dr. Jennifer K. Londgren is the coordinator of the alcohol and drug studies program and an associate professor of health science at Minnesota State University. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, nationally certified counselor, and board-certified telemental health provider with clinical expertise in addiction, anxiety disorders, and women's issues. She presents at local and national levels on self-care, well-being, stress and burnout, and innovative teaching techniques.

Resources Mentioned

Strong in the Lord: A Women's Bible Study on Faith and Mental Health by Jennifer K. Londgren — cph.org

Concordia Publishing House

Bringing you God's enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org

Follow CPH on social: @concordiapub

LCMS Foundation

Helping congregations grow long-term funding to support ministries 👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast

In this episode, host Elizabeth Pitman sits down with Andrew R. Jones to discuss his new book, Ten Treasures of Learning to Pray, the third and final installment in his trilogy built around Martin Luther's framework of oratio, meditatio, and tentatio. Andy walks through several of the treasures God deposits into our lives through prayer — from persistence and solitude to forgiveness — and shares the biblical prayer guides, like Hannah and Hagar, who have shaped his own life of faith.

Episode Timestamps
0:00 — Introduction & Welcoming Andy Jones Back

1:15 — Andy's Feelings as the Trilogy Comes to a Close

2:00 — Understanding Luther's Oratio, Meditatio, and Tentatio

5:00 — What Sets Ten Treasures of Learning to Pray Apart

7:00 — Why Prayer Is a Treasure

9:00 — The Story of Andy's Grandfather and His Baseball Cards

11:00 — The Treasure of Persistence

14:00 — Solitude and Community as Paired Treasures

17:00 — Forgiveness: A Treasure to Be Hoarded and Shared

19:00 — Why We Can't Forgive Ourselves

22:00 — Andy's Favorite Prayer Guides: Hannah and Hagar

24:00 — How to Pray Using the Collect Format

27:00 — A Prayer Practice to Try This Week

29:00 — Closing

About the Guest
Andrew R. Jones lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he enjoys running, hiking, and adventuring with his wife, Stephanie. He has served the church in a variety of roles and locations, utilizing the gifts of speaking, teaching, and writing. As a curious author and parish pastor, he is known for conveying deep spiritual concepts in ways everyone can understand. You can find his weekly writings on his Substack, Bible Curious.

Resources Mentioned
Ten Treasures of Learning to Pray by Andrew R. Jones — cph.org
Ten Lies Satan Loves to Tell by Andrew R. Jones - cph.org
Ten Questions to Ask Every Time You Read the Bible - cph.org

Concordia Publishing House
Bringing you God's enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org
Follow CPH on social: @concordiapub

LCMS Foundation
Helping congregations grow long-term funding to support ministries 👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast