The Luxcast

Today's guest is Dr. Greg Lee, Associate Professor of Theology and Urban Studies at Wheaton College. Dr. Lee was on campus giving a lecture on An Augustinian theology of Mass Incarceration. Much of Dr. Lee's work appropriates Augustine as a resource for addressing contemporary issues of church and society. A resident of the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, he is especially interested in urban questions of race and class, which he approaches from a distinctly Asian American perspective. WTS student and Wheaton grad Anna Erickson sat down with him to discuss Mass Incarceration.

Rev. Dr. Joseph Small talks about church unity, denominations, and living as the Body of Christ: "There's something about the faith that impels us into relationship with each other. Now what happens, especially in American culture, is that denominations become institutionalized, become businesses that sell goods and services to their member congregations, become political institutions where significant issues of faith and morals are decided by voting. And of course, voting divides a question into two sides, as if any question that's worth asking has only two sides... ...the very method we have chosen to resolve disputes guarantees that the disputes will continue, because there are winners and losers of every single vote that's ever taken." -Rev. Dr. Joseph Small

Today's guest is Dr. Jana Bennett, Professor of Religion at the University of Dayton. Dr. Bennett is a moral theologian and author of "Water is Thicker than Blood: An Augustinian Theology of Marriage and Singleness." Dr. Bennet was on campus for a colloquy hosted by the Girod Chair in Reformed Theology, during which she also participated on a panel on “A Theology of Singleness.” WTS student James Schetelich sat down to talk with her about her books and why marriage and singleness are important topics for the church.

Today's guest is Dr. Leah Gunning Francis. Dr. Francis is the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is also the author of Ferguson and Faith: Sparking Leadership and Awakening Community and this year's 2019 Stoutemire lecturer in multicultural ministry. For Ferguson and Faith, Dr. Gunning Francis interviewed more than two dozen clergy and young activists who were actively involved in the movement for racial justice in Ferguson and beyond. She researched and wrote Ferguson and Faith while serving at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Gunning Francis sat down with Dr. Kyle Small to discuss her time in Ferguson and what it means for the church to be engaged in the work of justice.

Today's guest is speaker, writer and activist, Lisa Sharon Harper. Lisa is the Chief Church Engagement Officer at Sojourners and has written extensively on shalom and governance, immigration reform, health care reform, poverty, racial and gender justice, climate change, and transformational civic engagement. CJ Kingdom-Grier sat down with her to discuss her views on patriarchy, reparations, and orthodoxy.

Today's guest is Dr. Amanda Drury, Director of Vision and Innovation at The Brain Kitchen in Marion, Indiana. Dr. Drury is also Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Indiana Wesleyan University where she writes and teaches about testimony, innovation, and youth ministry. Shari Oosting sat down with Amanda to find out how practice and theology meet through cooking, doing homework, and hanging out with kids at the Brain Kitchen.

Today's guest is WTS Alumnus and Duke Divinity school Th.D. Candidate, Alberto La Rosa. Alberto's doctoral work focuses on a theology of immigration, and in this interview he shares why his work is important in today's cultural moment, and what it is like to approach theology of immigration as an immigrant himself. Sara Sanchez, a current WTS student originally from Honduras, sat down with him.

This episode features songwriter and worship artist, Sandra McCracken. Sandra joined us during “Doxophilia” – a week-long exploration of worship and worship renewal. WTS alum Rev. Jonathan Gabhart sat down to discuss Sandra's work and music's ability to connect the church and the larger world.

Today's guest is Dr. Deanna Thompson, professor of religion at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN and author of "Glimpsing Resurrection: Cancer, Trauma, and Ministry." Dr. Thompson was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2008 and is currently in remission. WTS student Katlyn DeVries sat down with Dr. Thompson to discuss how faith is experienced through the trauma of serious illness, and what connections she sees between cancer stories and the Christian story.