Springfield’s Brentwood Christian Church will host a live interview with its lead pastor, Phil Snider, on Thursday, Sept. 17. The event is part of the Daily Citizen’s “Poké Around: Live!” series, hosted by longtime columnist Steve Pokin, who plans to retire at the end of 2026 after five decades in journalism.
Event details
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. in the BarrelHouse at Mother’s Brewing, located at 215 S. Grant Ave. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through Eventbrite. Attendees will enjoy refreshments, a cash bar with Mother’s beer, and a chance to support the Daily Citizen, Springfield’s nonprofit community news outlet.
About Phil Snider
Phil Snider, 52, has served as lead pastor at Brentwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since 2003. The congregation, situated at 1900 E. Barataria St., is known for its progressive stance in a traditionally conservative region. Snider and assistant pastor Emily Bowen Marler have been vocal advocates for the unsheltered and for gay and transgender individuals, drawing both praise and criticism from local faith communities.
Born and raised in Springfield, Snider attended South Haven Baptist Church as a child and graduated from Kickapoo High School in 1992, where he played baseball as a pitcher. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Missouri State University, where he now teaches religious‑studies courses, and a master’s degree from Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa. While in seminary he worked as a sports writer for the Examiner‑Enterprise in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, before feeling called to ministry.
Career highlights
Snider holds a doctorate from Chicago Theological Seminary and has authored several books on preaching and church life, including the award‑winning “Toward a Hopeful Future: Why the Emergent Church is Good News for Mainline Congregations.” In 2012 he gained national attention after a video of his testimony before the Springfield City Council went viral. In that appearance he argued for keeping sexual orientation and gender identity on the city’s anti‑discrimination list, later noting that his arguments were drawn from mid‑20th‑century white preachers who supported racial segregation, a point that sparked debate among both conservative and progressive Christians.
Why the interview matters
The “Poké Around: Live!” series gives Springfield residents a chance to hear directly from local leaders on faith, public life, and community service. Previous guests have included the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club, a local comedian, a senior federal judge, a university professor, and a civil‑rights activist. This interview will provide insight into how a pastor balances progressive advocacy with traditional Christian teachings, a topic of particular relevance to families and faith‑based readers.
Supporting local journalism
All proceeds from the event support the Daily Citizen, which relies on community donations to maintain independent, nonprofit reporting for Springfield. The organization emphasizes transparent, fact‑based coverage of local issues, aligning with the values of faith, family, and individual liberty.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Eventbrite page linked on the Daily Citizen’s website.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
