MISSION

The Front Porch is an innovative, dialogue based church in Austin, Texas. Utilizing a public-house-church approach, we seek to find and build compassionate community through over 50 dialogue focused events a year. These “pub church” gatherings— Q & A’s, concerts, lecture series, town halls, panels, book signings, movie screenings, outreach calls, mashups of all of the above, and more—all come together to create a uniquely Front Porch take on practical spirituality, based in celebration of cultural difference, adaptability, art, service, and provisional authority toward the Other.

Mother Falcon plays for our Unplugged on The Front Porch concert series. 2014.

Topics on The Front Porch have included human trafficking, live music in Austin, wrongful imprisonment and forgiveness, compassion, sustainable food practices, gardening, Texas politics, the confederate flag, Black Lives Matter and the modern civil rights movement, Austin politics, prayer, Austin homelessness, love, marriage and relationships, gentrification, autism, artificial intelligence, sports and God, the emerging church, our Jungian shadows, Oscar-winning films, theologies, personal testimonies, and many more.

Speakers/ Performers on The Front Porch over the last three years have included: Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Texas Senator Kirk Watson, Asleep at the Wheel leader Ray Benson, Peter Rollins, Michael Morton, Becca Stevens, Former Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, NPR’s Krista Tippett, NPR’s John Burnett, Rabbi Neil Blumofe, Turk Pipkin, Pittman McGehee, Sr., Meredith Walker, Jennifer Houlihan, Jesse Griffiths, Austin City Councilwoman Ora Houston, Tish Hinojosa, Ted Gioia, Alan Graham, Walter Moreau, Israel Nash, Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves, Mother Falcon, Micky ScottBey Jones, Carrie Elkin, Danny Schmidt, William Inboden, Sam Baker, Brant Pope, Jimmy LaFave, and more.

STAFF

Reverend Doctor Stephen Kinney is the founder and Executive Director of The Front Porch. After serving communities in Houston, New York City, and Fredericksburg, he returned to Austin for his PhD in Educational Psychology. He spends much of his time negotiating the tension that arises from his eclectic and postmodern interests.

Riley Webb joined our staff in 2014, and serves now as the Program Coordinator for The Front Porch. He earned his B.A. in English from Southwestern University, where he fostered his continuing affinity for storytelling and passionate conversation. When he’s not reading or writing, Riley can often be found making offhand jokes and eating hamburgers.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Pub Church audience members pass around the microphone at most Front Porch gatherings.

The Rev. Mike Adams

John Burnett

Lucy Nazro

Tim Klatt

David Saenz

Julia Howry

Michelle Carlson

Molly Sharpe

The Rev. Billy Tweedie

Cindie Brooks

Will Coates

Judy Myers

Read on to find out what we’re doing…