Podcast E87: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Marta Pumroy-Cordero and Kris Schondelmeyer

Here is the trailer for Episode 87 of The Amalgamation Podcast — A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Marta Pumroy-Cordero and Kris Schondelmeyer

This episode is part of a four-part Amalgamation Podcast series profiling the teams standing for co-moderator of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). 

In each episode, we discuss the future of the church, faith leaders and direction action, Christian Nationalism, ICE and Immigration, Christian Zionism, Artificial Intelligence, the debates about marriage, and more. You will also learn about the nerdiest parts of their lives, what they are watching, reading, or listening to, and each gets a chance to ask me one big question.

All four candidate interview episodes, along with background info and links, drop on Saturday, June 27, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For immediate access to all four interviews and all future episodes, become a paid subscriber or take advantage of this 30-Day Trial Subscription.

In this episode, I sit down with Kris Schondelmeyer, a member of the Presbytery of East Iowa and the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Davenport, Iowa, and Marta Pumroy-Cordero, a Ruling Elder in the Tres Rios Presbytery and the Border Ministry Coordinator for the Tres Rios Border Foundation. 

Their partnership began with a dream Kris had on election night 2024, a phone call in January 2025, and a shared return to Revelation 22, "the leaves of the tree of life for the healing of the nations", months before they learned that exact passage would become the assembly's theme. From there, the conversation opens into a wide-ranging town hall covering the limits of the moderator's office, immigration, Christian nationalism, AI in ministry, and the church's conversations on marriage and covenant. Closing with reflections on joy as resistance and a belief that the Spirit is still moving.

Thanks for spending time with The Amalgamation, and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates: Kris Schondelmeyer and Marta Pumroy-Cordero.

Co-Moderator Candidacy Website: www.betheleaves.org

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The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses onsocial justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, with kindness and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good.

The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron.

Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team.

Thanks for listening!