Palms Up: How Vulnerability, Anxiety, and Contemplation Transform Pastoral Leadership - w/ Pastor Jenny Smith

Voxology

Religion & Spirituality, Society & Culture, Philosophy

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2020

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How can pastors lead with openness, authenticity, and courage—especially in the face of anxiety, societal pressure, and denominational tension? In this powerful episode, Bonnie Lewis and Tim Stafford introduce Jenny Smith, a United Methodist pastor from Washington, who shares her deeply personal and transformational journey with anxiety, ministry, and discovering a contemplative rhythm called "Palms Up." Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, or seeker longing for a more integrated faith, this conversation offers wisdom, practical tools, and a compassionate invitation to lead and live with vulnerability and freedom.

Key Takeaways: • Palms Up Leadership – Learn Jenny Smith's four-step contemplative practice designed to cultivate presence, spiritual awareness, and trust in difficult moments: Show Up, Pay Attention, Cooperate with God, and Release the Outcome. • Courage in Vulnerability – Jenny shares a life-changing moment when she experienced a panic attack mid-sermon—and how her congregation's response transformed her leadership, ministry, and relationship with authenticity. • Mental Health in Ministry – Why addressing anxiety and high-functioning stress in church leadership is essential to protecting wellbeing, longevity, and spiritual integrity in ministry. • The Power of Going First – How sharing struggles as a leader creates space for others to access healing, dismantle stigma, and cultivate more honest spiritual communities. • Contemplative Practices and Conflict – How practicing "Palms Up" can equip us to engage difficult conversations—including political and theological disagreements—with grace, presence, and humility.

Guest Highlights: Jenny Smith – A United Methodist pastor, writer, and speaker who is passionate about spiritual formation, women in leadership, and creating safe, grace-filled spaces for transformation. Jenny is developing resources around Palms Up Leadership, including a forthcoming podcast.

Resources Mentioned: • Jenny Smith's Website – palmsup.co • Jenny Smith on Instagram – @jennysmithwrites • Elaine Heath's Work – [Link] • "Love Does" by Bob Goff – [Link] • EMDR Therapy Info – [Link to EMDR resources] • Rob Bell Communication Workshop – [Link to Rob Bell events]

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As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey everybody.
0:13.7	This is Tim Stafford real quick before we get to the meat and potatoes of today's episode.
0:20.0	I just wanted to pop in real quick and make sure that you guys have a reminder and some
0:25.5	details for the next heated conversation, which is actually coming up this Friday,
0:30.1	February 7th.
0:32.3	The event is titled, Will the 2020 Election Divide the Church?
0:37.0	Our very own Tim Gombus, who you guys are all familiar with, is coming into Orange County
0:42.0	to be there to talk about this topic with a moderator named Paul Martin.
0:46.9	And I think it's going to be a rad conversation.
0:49.7	Obviously, you guys have gotten some little tidbits, some little tasty morsels from Gombus in regards
0:54.8	to faith and politics in the past. This is an opportunity if you're in the Orange County area
1:00.4	to come and hear him go in a little bit more depth to ask questions. It is a, it's an event
1:06.9	where the audience members can interact and ask questions while they're there.
1:13.1	The event is free.
1:17.4	However, you need to register and get tickets because space is limited.
1:20.3	So if you haven't done so yet, do so quickly.
1:25.2	You can find Heated on Instagram at Heated Convo. H-E-A-T-E-A-T-E-D-C-O-N-V-O.
1:30.3	And from there, you can hit the link in their bio, and you can get, you can register for tickets.
1:37.8	So, you guys should all come out and hang out.
1:39.7	I'm going to fly down and be there.
1:41.1	I think I'm going to be playing music beforehand.
1:45.2	Warming up the crowd.
	...

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