Lead Time
Lead Time is a podcast of the Unite Leadership Collective, hosted by Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg. The ULC envisions a future in which all congregations fully equip the priesthood of all believers through world-class leadership development at the local level. Lead Time taps into biblical wisdom for practical solutions to today's burning issues. Each podcast confronts real-time struggles facing the local church in a post-Christian culture. Step into the action with the ULC. This is Lead Time
Episodes
A special episode of Lead Time responding to a recent decision from LCMS leadership denying our request to host a booth at the upcoming LCMS Convention.
Want to stay up to date on LCMS Happenings? Sign up here:
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
We share the full context behind the decision, read the official response, and unpack what this moment reveals about conversation, trust, and unity within...
Today, We sit down with presidential nominee Dr. Joel Biermann to talk about the current state—and future—of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS).
What are the real strengths of the LCMS? Where are we struggling?
And what must change if we want to see a thriving, unified church for the next generation?
We dive into:
- The growing divisions within the LCMS
- The debate around “Lutheran identit...
In this episode of Lead Time, we respond to the “Giving Crescendo” conversation and break down what’s really happening beneath the surface: an aging church body, a historic wealth transfer, and a short window of opportunity that could either fuel mission—or accelerate decline.
Here’s the reality: money won’t save the church. In fact, it may expose just how unprepared we are.
In this episode, we respond to a recent seminary podcast discussing residential training and pastoral formation.
WATCH THE PODCAST HERE
While we deeply respect our seminaries and their leaders, we ask the hard questions many pastors and church leaders are already thinking:
Why are pulpits still empty?
Why are churches closing?
And are we training pastors in a way that actually meets today’s missi...
In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Texas District President Jon Braunersreuther to discuss:
• The growing pastor shortage in the LCMS
• The debate surrounding SMP pastoral formation
• Why the size of the harvest should change how we think about leadership
• How First Article Gifts (reason, leadership, strategy) can be faithfully used in the church
• Leadership lessons ...
The latest LCMS nomination results may reveal far more than just who might become the next president.
Stay up to date by Joining the LCMS Current!
(LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg break down what the vote totals could mean for the future trajectory of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Looking beyon...
What is the “American Interim” — and is the Church compromising its identity?
In this episode of LEAD TIME, Pastor Tim Ahlman sits down with Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Kloha (Dean for the Center for Missional & Pastoral Leadership) to thoughtfully respond to Rev. Karl Hess's presentation, “Pastoring Under the American Interim.”
See the video here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0IizshrQn9E
Together they ex...
What is God’s mission? Sounds like a simple question.
In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim and Jack sit down with veteran missiologist, Rev. Dr. Bob Scudieri to unpack the theology, history, and controversy surrounding mission in the LCMS.
From the early church to Walther and Grabau, from Constantine to today’s debates about the priesthood of all believers, this conversation goes deep.
Is the mission of Go...
Are we unintentionally losing relational leadership in the LCMS?
In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim sits down with DCE Jonathan Zellar to unpack the ideas behind Rare Leadership by Jim Wilder — and why joy, emotional intelligence, and relational connection may be the missing ingredients in many of our leadership conversations.
Concerned about what is happening in the wider LCMS?
Check this out: http://amazon.c...
Please excuse the internet issues experienced during today's episode.
Is Concordia Seminary embracing “Seminex 2.0”?
Does modern linguistic theory make Scripture meaningless?
Can Christians interpret the Bible “objectively”?
In this episode of LEAD TIME, Pastor Tim sits down with Jim Voelz, longtime professor at Concordia Seminary, to respond directly to recent critiques surrounding his books:
What happens when churches stop listening to their people—and what becomes possible when they do?
In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman sits down with Ryan Ermeling, founder of Parent Pulse and the newly launched Church Voice, to explore why feedback often feels threatening in church leadership—and why avoiding it can quietly erode trust, unity, and mission.
👉 Learn more about Church Voice at https://www.churc...
Tim's Book - Confessing Jesus' Mission is finally out! Find it here:
http://amazon.com/Confessing-Jesus-Mission-Pastors-Prayer-ebook/dp/B0FZW7MSTV
This is a very special episode of LEAD Time.
On launch day of Confessing Jesus’ Mission, Tim Ahlman joins the podcast for a different kind of conversation—not to defend a book, but to ask a deeper question facing the church today:
Have we lost a s...
Want to take part in the private Zoom Call with Pastor Tim??
ONLY 14 Spots remain! Your Purchase is your ticket to the event!
https://pci.jotform.com/cglc/confessing-jesus-mission-order-form
Is there really a spiritual openness emerging among Gen Z—and if so, how should the church respond?
In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg are joined by Mike Jessop, Director of Christian Education...
Want to take part in the private Zoom Call with Pastor Tim??
40 Spots remain! Your Purchase is your ticket to the event!
https://pci.jotform.com/cglc/confessing-jesus-mission-order-form
What does faithful mission look like in today’s fractured, post-Christian culture?
In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman is joined by Pastor Brandon Boos, missions pastor at Faith Lutheran Church (Oakville, MO) and one o...
Stay up to date on what is happening in the LCMS!
(bi-weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics from Pastor Tim)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor Scott Kirchoff to explore one of the most defining — and often misunderstood — aspects of Lutheran identity: the centrality of the Sacraments.
Drawing from decade...
Stay up to date on what is happening in the LCMS!
(bi-weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics from Pastor Tim)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
Many churches feel tired, conflicted, or stuck—but can’t quite explain why.
In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Kurt Senske, longtime LCMS leader and governance expert, to talk about something most churche...
Stay up to date on what is happening in the LCMS!
(weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!):
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman sits down with theologian and PhD candidate Will Fredstrom to explore AI through the lens of Christian theology, vocation, and embodied life.
This is not a fear-based conversation — it’s a thoughtful, hopeful, and deep...
Join the LCMS Current to receive the final edition of 2025!
(weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!):
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
What does faithfulness look like when the culture around the Church changes?
In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with ATK Ministry founder Josh Atkinson, whose Christ-centered hip hop ministry on the north side of Mi...
What happens when faithful Christians disagree—and refuse to caricature one another?
In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor David Bukes for an honest, brotherly conversation about some of the most sensitive and debated issues in the Lutheran Church—without turning it into a fight.
This is not a debate episode.
It’s a listening episode.
Together, they explore:<...
Learn More about the Songwriter Initiative:
https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/christcollege/center-for-worship-leadership/songwriter
Music from the Songwriter Initiative
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd3R1O9BFY1fGEI6aoZfNFfB8eEYxp2-F&si=0a8D71hlAmDZCFFg
In today’s episode, Tim and Jack sit down with Kip Fox, director of the Songwriter Initiative at Concordia University Irvine. Kip’s research in...
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