Public Theology

When it comes to "the church" women are often kept silent or left behind. We think that's rubbish. So we're gonna talk about what was happening with and around Jesus when it came to women - and we're going to be joined by some very special guests. #WomenOfTheWorldTakeOver

“Fred Davie is Executive Vice President at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. An ordained Presbyterian minister, Fred has lived out his vocation in the public square through a myriad of ways, including serving in faith based and community efforts with President Barack Obama and Mayor Bill DeBlasio. We sat down in his office at Union Seminary and talked about our work together with Union for Affirming Christians, as well as what resilience looks like amidst the resistance.”

“This one is about truth and t—shirts — well at least the one George Mekhail showed up wearing this week. George Mekhail is co-founder and Executive Director of Church Clarity, a crowdsourced database that scores churches in order to create a new standard for clearly communicated LGBTQ and Women in leadership policies. He’s one of the best guys I know and I think you’ll dig this convo.”

Families separated at the border. A raging debate about about what the Bible says about authorities and immigrants. Jesus said “suffer the children” but these days it feels like we are causing more suffering to children. What does the Bible say about God’s passion for immigrants and what is going on with US policy? Adam jumps right in here in Public Theology.

The Bible is NOT the Word of God* - so how might we read this inspired, ancient library of books? How might we carry these stories, poems, songs, histories, and reports? It's a tricky business in the 21st century, but we're here for it

A conversation about maintaining momentum in our activism with Adam and Gregory McKelvey of Portland's Resistance. Come share a beverage with us at 6 pm and join in the conversation.

Advent is about engaged waiting, the possibility for change, and real world stuff. Adam explores the peculiar season of waiting and ponders what it mine mean amidst the Herod's of our own time. Spoiler alert: it's about faith and action, tax bills and #metoo

As advent beings and the first freezing nights in Portland's winter arrive we talk about homelessness and those living outside, the housing crisis in Portland and how we can serve and advocate for our neighbors.This month Julia Nielsen and Andy Goebel from Portsmouth Union Church joined us to share their story of churching alongside houseless neighbors, starting a warming shelter and the long path they are on to build affordable housing on their church property.Special guest Gus Kroll also joined us from Home PDX, to share about their work but also to join in this incredibly important conversation.

Paula Stone Williams visited Portland in October and sat down with Adam to talk about her story coming out as a transgender woman inside of evangelical culutre as well as the future of the church.

Adam shares some thoughts referencing Walter Wink's work on violence and spirituality and we hear from Amie Wexler from Moms Demand Action.

"It's all gonna burn anyways." Raise your hand if you've heard this from someone in or near church before. The thing is, it actually is burning and this is not God's original dream for our earth. We each are called to "serve and protect" God's beautiful earth. Join us for our monthly Bible study in a bar - we'll be in the upper room at Century. Grab a pint or a ginger ale and some nachos and lean in with us as we look at integrated, holistic opportunities to care for creation and love our neighbors.

Jules Bailey joins Adam for the second Public Theology. Adam starts by walking through some thoughts on intentional citizenship and America's post, present and possible futures followed by a chat with Jules about his background in politics and desires to take part in our collective civic experience. Here are a few links to things that were mentioned during the evening: Myths America Lives By: Richard Hughes: Trade Paperback: 9780252072208: Powell's Books ‘What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?’ by Frederick Douglass | The Nation T.J. Miller Says Leaving 'Silicon Valley' "Felt Like a Breakup" | Hollywood Reporter Jefferson Bible - Wikipedia What Is the Doctrine of Discovery? Why Should It Be Repudiated? (factsheet) | New York Yearly Meeting New Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness: Michelle Alexander: Hardcover: 9781595581037: Powell's Books Sojourners | Faith in Action for Social Justice Bread for the World Serving the Vulnerable Across the World | World Relief Home - ONE | ONEJoin the fight against extreme poverty Equal Justice Initiative | Bryan Stevenson: We need to talk about an injustice | TED Talk | TED.com Repairers of the Breach Brothers Karamazov A Novel in Four Parts with Epilogue: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Pevear, Larissa Volokhonsky: Trade Paperback: 9780374528379: Powell's Books Amadeus (1984) - IMDb

We had 50 people show up for our first Public Theology event, which is basically a Bible study in a bar with vegan nachos. We talked about God, love, sexuality and the Bible & how to relate the best we can with our angry uncles who watch too much of that one cable news network.Adam Phillips starts off by walking us through the six verses everyone who's thought about how LGBTQ folks relate to the church have wrestled with - you can follow along with him in this blog post.Matthew Berryessa joins in to talk about his story finding a church home with his husband and son, as well as sharing their home to build community for people that desperately needed it.