The Honest Theology Podcast

For the Season 3 finale, I'm joined by my Presbytery's - The Alpine Presbytery - Executive Officer, Rev. Martin Stewart. Martin has been in ordained ministry for over 35 years and spends most of his time now serving and tending to the many needs of the Presbyterian (and cooperating ventures with a Presbyterian element) churches that exist in the greater part of the South Island of New Zealand. In this episode we talk about how the church needs to embrace creativity and imagination more and be less concerned and less anxious about holding onto things or operating certain ways just because that's how its' always been. We talk about what the church today is being called into, and what the future of our church (and THE Church in general) might look like. Please feel free to post any comments or questions on our facebook page www.facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast or email me jonathan@lauc.org.nz You can also visit my church Linwood Avenue Union Church on Facebook (facebook.com/LAUCNZ) or @ lauc.org.nz

Cathy is a pastor of an innovative church - maybe calling it a fellowship of Jesus followers would be more appropriate? - and a co-host of the Changes Ahead Podcast. Join me and listen as we talk about some of the changes ahead she's already seeing and being involved with, some challenges for the church moving forward in our current climate, and how she's seeing God at work in her church. Find out more: https://baptist.nz/series/the-changes-ahead-podcast/ Listen here (or whatever other platform you prefer) - https://open.spotify.com/show/096gD72Iy2pkHYESZhIFPW

This is part two of a conversation I had with Scott Schneiderman, who is the Pastor of Ministry Development at New Beginnings Church, Harrisonburg, VA. We talk about the modern forms of church, particularly the way his church works, and how to manage and see through the work of a church to ensure we bring glory to God. Scott has his own podcast called Re:quip. You can find it wherever you stream podcasts. He as also recently started playing around with uploading sessions on YouTube. (search for Scott Schneiderman). You can also look up Re-quip.org if you're interested in more, or hit up Scott on the socials to talk to him directly or ask any follow up questions. and as always, feel free to post any thoughts, comments or questions on facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast

*NOTE this is part 1 of a 2 part episode. Listen in to a conversation I have with an old friend who helps pastor a church in a VERY different context to me, as we talk about models of church, emphases of ministry, glorifying God and how to do that in and manage a large church community, among other things. Because we "do" church a little differently, we talked a bit more than usual, so I broke this up over two parts. Scott is a Pastor at New Beginnings Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He also hosts a podcast of his own called Re:Quip Ministries and can be found wherever you stream podcasts.

Dr. Zurlo is the Co-Director of the at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (South Hamilton, MA) as well as Visiting Research Fellow at Boston University's Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs, founded by sociologist Peter Berger. She's a is a scholar of the history of mission and of world Christianity. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Dr. Zurlo about the nature of the Church Universal; the differences, the commonalities, things that are hindrances, and things to celebrate. Find more about Dr. Zurlo: ginazurlo.com globalchristianity.org https://www.facebook.com/centerforglobalchristianity Books: World Christian Encyclopedia, Global Christianity: A Guide to the World's Largest Religion from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, Portraits of Global Christianity, and Women in World Christianity: Building and Sustaining a Global Movement facebookcom.thehonesttheologypodcast

I've been keeping tabs on Andy's work for long time and when I was deciding on the theme for this season, he was the FIRST person I thought of to have on the show! Andrew (Andy) is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He's written a plethora of books regarding ministry (youth and all around) in the current climate, post-modernity and post-Christendom and we talk a lot about what it means that churches are "in decline" and what the mission of The Church is. https://www.andrewroot.org (for bio, books, and other information) his podcast (When the Church Stops Working) - https://www.andrewroot.org/podcast or search When the Church Stops Working wherever you stream podcasts Join our Facebook community to share thoughts on our content or ask further questions. We like to keep the conversations going, so feel free to do that. It's a safe place to explore these things further. facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast visit me at my church if you're ever keen or find out what we're up to @ lauc.org.nz or facebook.com/LAUCNZ

This is part 2 of a korero with James and Amy from The River Ōpāwaho in Ōtautahi Christchurch where we explore the particular ministry and mission of their church and some of the challenges facing the wider church today (as well as their own). www.theriveropawaho.org.nz Amy's organisation: Arrow Leadership arrow.org.nz James' podcast - Ngā Here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tvwAw1E4ECNlLpl1Oxfz3?si=aee57a867b9c4564 @ngaherethemanyconnections on Instagram facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast

This conversation with James and Amy was going so well, I just couldn't rush it or cut it short, so I've broken it up into two parts. They are both pastors of a church plant in the Cashmere area of Christchurch called The River Ōpāwaho. After years of church ministry, they felt a strong calling to "do church" in a different way to what they had been doing. The share some of that story and vision with me (and with you!). Join me for part 1 and part 2 will follow.

Kicking off season 3 is Aaron (AJ) Hendry! AJ is a Christian writer, poet, youth worker, activist, advocate, and much more. Listen as we have a chat about the point and purpose of being a Christian from his perspective, based on his ministry and the world in which he's a part of. Check out AJ's work on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aejayhendry his blogsite, When Lambs Are Silent - wlas.substack.com and feel free to follow-up our conversation with any comments or questions you have on our facebook page - facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast

Get hyped for season 3, coming out soon!

This is part 2 of the season 2 finale where I sit down with Bruce Fraser from Thinking Matters to finish our little conversation about conspiracy theories and how to love each other and hold the church together when they try to polarize and divide. https://www.facebook.com/thinkingmatters https://www.facebook.com/groups/theforgechristchurch search for the Thinking Matters Podcast wherever you stream podcasts facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast

In this, the final episode of season 2, I sit down with Bruce from Thinking Matters Christchurch to talk about conspiracy theories and the impact they have on the church; the divisive nature of them, how to respond to member of church communities and families wrapped in them, where they come from and how they grow, why they can be found quite prominent in certain church circles, and a whole lot more.

In part 2 of this discussion with Alan Thomson, we turn our attention more to some of the sticking points and diversity of opinion on Hell that exists in different traditions of the Christian Church; how one's theology of hell and end times (eschatology) has influence and consequences in the here and now, and how many in the church (not to mention outside the church) struggle to understand, reconcile, and/or, believe and teach these things as part of their ministry or their shared gospel.

Alan is the first guest speaker to return to the show, this time to talk about another hefty topic - Heaven and Hell. Join us as we discuss the who, what, when, where, and why's of Heaven in part 1.

The second part of my conversation with Miriam and Tara about the theology and practicality of women in prominent roles of ministry and leadership in the Bible and in the Church. Miriam Fischer - mfisher@laidlaw.ac.nz https://miriamjessie.com/ Tara said you can reach her through me, lol - facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast Authors and resources noted in this episode: Lucy Peppiatt - https://www.bookdepository.com/author/Lucy-Peppiatt The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis (Dr. Nahum Sarna) - https://www.bookdepository.com/JPS-Torah-Commentary-Genesis-Nahum-M-Sarna/9780827603264?ref=grid-view&qid=1662502581959&sr=1-1 Sandra Schneiders - Written That You May Believe (https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/written-that-you-may-believe-revised-and-expanded-encountering-jesus-in-the-fourth-gospel_sandra-m-schneiders/1550304/#edition=3724474&idiq=8728834) and a list of others from Sandra - https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/sandra-m-schneiders/319548/ Wilda (Wil) Gafney - https://www.wilgafney.com/ https://www.wilgafney.com/publications/ Juliana Claassens - https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=L.+Juliana+Claassens&search=Find+book Rachel Held Evans - A Year of Biblical Womanhood - https://www.bookdepository.com/Year-Biblical-Womanhood-Rachel-Held-Evans/9781595553676?ref=grid-view&qid=1662503046861&sr=1-4 Beth Allison Barr - The Making of Biblical Womanhood - https://www.bookdepository.com/Year-Biblical-Womanhood-Rachel-Held-Evans/9781595553676?ref=grid-view&qid=1662503046861&sr=1-4 I'll also add Sarah Bessey's and Rachel Held Evans' "Jesus Feminist" - https://www.bookdepository.com/Jesus-Feminist/9781476717258

In this episode I have on 2 women with varied experience in both, life and ministry. We talk about what their experience in the church as a whole has been like as well as how Scripture conveys the importance of women in doing God's work and why that might should outshine a couple popular texted often used against women. Tara is, among many things, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church of New Zealand (MCNZ) and Miriam is, also among many things, a lecturer at Laidlaw College, Christchurch.

continuing in their conversation, Jonathan and Sue talk about ways forward, how to be intracultural, and share some resources and experiences that might be helpful for this particular struggle. Dr. Sue Kim Park - parks@ctsnet.edu Columbia Theological Seminary - ctsnet.edu Resources: Dr. Christine Hong - Decolonial Futures Courtney Goto - Taking on Practical Futures Grace Ji-Sun Kim - Invisible David Bohm - On Dialogue Global Theology in Evangelical Perspective - Essays from Samual Escobar, Andrew Walls, Lamin Sennah, James Kombo, Terry LeBlanc, Ken Gnanakan to name a few Bible For Normal People podcast - episodes 185, 196, 129 were all referenced as well facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast

*Disclaimer - there is a fair amount background noise on Dr. Kim's audio. We did what we could with it and in pt. 2 it goes away for most of the episode* In this episode, Jono talks with Dr. Sue Kim Park of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA about how the "Majority" Church deals with minority voices and theological interpretations and perspectives from Christians from cultures and contexts different to the dominant form of Church through Western influence. Join the conversation. post comments, thoughts on the episode, further questions the episode sparks for you on in our Facebook community - facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast Sue Kim Park - parks@ctsnet.edu

Join me and Esther for the second part of our discussion on sex, sexuality, marriage, brokenness, restoration, love, life, and ministry. join the discussion, ask questions, post comments, etc., on our facebook community page - facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast find Esther's church - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1228317920551807 or email Esther directly if you have sensitive questions for her - esther_clarke_prebble@hotmail.com

Join me for a conversation with gay minister, Esther Clarke-Prebble, about sex and sexuality, life and ministry. check out Esther's church on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1228317920551807 check out our page - https://www.facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast or you can email Esther directly - esther_clarke_prebble@hotmail.com

This is part 2 of a 2 part conversation with distinguished professor of Theology and Ethics at The University of Otago where we discuss the church and Christian faith as it pertains to war, and to violence in general. *apologies for some of the sound quality on the guest's end. Don't let it detract from the content.

Jonathan and Murray - a professor of Theology and Ethics with a special interest in War and Violence at the University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ - sit down to discuss one of the most challenging subjects in the history of the church (and all of humanity, really); war and violence. What do we make of all the violence in the Bible? Is war ever "good"? Why do many Christians advocate for war? Should Christians be in the military at all? These are some of the questions that come up in this 2 part discussion.

This is PART 2 of my conversation with Rev. Dr. Bill Loader on how we can read Scripture seriously without taking everything literally, including understanding biblical genre, culture and context of the writers, and the overarching narrative in ways that produce good fruit for the glory of God, and hopefully enhances one's faith through better engagement with the Bible. Email Bill at w.loader@murdoch.edu.au facebook.com/thehonesttheologypodcast

Jono discusses with Rev. Dr. Bill Loader how we can approach Scripture, express our faith, and do theology carefully and contextually with conviction, while taking the Bible and Christian faith seriously, but not necessarily literally.

A recap of insights into who Jesus is.

Jono and guest, Kristel van Houte, talk about how Jesus relates to the created world and why caring for the environment is and should be of central importance for Jesus followers.

Jono and guest, Pastor Donald Scott, have a conversation about Bi-culturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand; what it is, what it looks like, the journey and commitment the country and many churches have made to it, some history between church and iwi in NZ, and the theological reasons why a bi-cultural commitment and journey is so important.

Jono and guest, Alan Thomson, discuss, from a theologically pastoral perspective, the church's history with the LGBTQIA+ community, and how Jesus relates.

Jono and guest, Rev. Dr. Jordan Redding, discuss if there's such thing as "too much Jesus," if it's possible to have a balanced Trinitarian theology (and what that might look like), and why a Jesus-centred theology is inevitable for the church.

Jono and guest, Dr. Bob Robinson, chat about Jesus' relation to and interaction with other religions of his day, and what replicating his approach today might look like

Jono and guest, Alistair Donaldson of Laidlaw College, discuss the presence of Jesus in the Old Testament. Is he there? If so, how? Where? When?

Episode 1 - Jono and guest, Spanky Moore, discuss the importance and implications of Jesus death, resurrection, and ascension.

The introduction episode to The Honest Theology Podcast, a platform for open and honest theological conversations... Season one is specific to Jesus and is called 'Me, You, Jesus and Who?'