Podcasts about Chicago Theological Seminary

Most Americans go to church expecting to hear about salvation, morality and scripture. They don't anticipate hardball political endorsements. But some churches thrive on delivering politics from the pulpit. Sure, pastors are citizens, too. And so in other venues, such as op-eds, blogs, books, and other places of influence, a pastor may speak his mind. Even so, he must jealously guard that influence and always speak winsomely. As a gospel minister, he shouldn't make politics more important than his pastoral duties. The tax code prevents religious institutions from serving as political machines, a concept in keeping with the separation of church and state our founding fathers envisioned. Pastors cannot make declarations to favor or oppose any candidate from the pulpit. They cannot take money from the collection plate and give it to support a candidate. And if they want to participate in any partisan activity in their personal capacity, they must make sure it is done in a manner indicating it is separate from their religious institution.The Rev. Dr. Timothy C. Ahrens began his ministry as Senior Minister of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in downtown Columbus on January 23, 2000. A church known for its witness to social justice since its birth as an abolitionist congregation in 1852, Rev. Ahrens is the fifth consecutive senior minister from Yale Divinity School and is a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ. Rev. Ahrens is a 1980 graduate of Macalester College with a double major in Religious Studies and Political Science. Since January 2000, under his leadership, First Church has doubled in membership during an era when seven downtown churches have closed their doors. Rev. Ahrens earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in May 2015. His thesis was entitled: “Young and Growing Stronger: Creating a Model of 21st Century Prophetic Witness Leaders with a New Generation.” He is currently working on two books.

Episode Summary:You need to sit down for this episode.Mercer University's Dr. Angela Parker joins me today on the podcast for a heart-wrenching conversation about white supremacy, intersectionality, womanist theology, authoritarian Christianity, decolonization, Kamala Harris, and her sought-after book, If God Still Breathes, Why Can't I? According to Eerdmans Publishing House, “Angela Parker wasn't just trained to be a biblical scholar; she was trained to be a White male biblical scholar. She is neither White nor male.” Thank God.Womanist theology is a methodological approach to theology that centers the experiences and perspectives of Black women, particularly African-American women. Emerging in the mid to late 1980s, it serves as a corrective to early feminist theology—which often overlooked racial issues—and Black theology, which predominantly reflected male viewpoints. In plain language, Womanist theology interprets the Bible, Christianity, and life here in the American empire through the eyes and lived experiences of Black women.As a Black scholar who traces her family history out of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, and into the halls of higher education, Dr. Parker talks candidly about what it means to be an educated Black woman in both predominantly white higher education and Trump's MAGA America.I know I say this a lot, but this is one of the most important conversations we've had to date on Holy Heretics.If the United States is to survive the MAGA cult, it will be through the embodied actions, wisdom, spirituality, and lived experience of Black women and men who understand what it takes to resist, regroup, and offer the world a beautiful invitation into God's beloved, alternative community. In the context of Trump's America, characterized by racist policies and rhetoric, Womanist theology is particularly poignant. By offering a framework that not only addresses the intersections of race, gender, and class, “womanism” also actively resists the oppressive structures of White America.BIO:Rev. Dr. Angela N. Parker is associate professor of New Testament and Greek at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. She received her B.A. in religion and philosophy from Shaw University (2008), her M.T.S. from Duke Divinity School (2008-2010) and her Ph.D. in Bible, culture, and hermeneutics from Chicago Theological Seminary (2015). Before this position, Dr. Parker was assistant professor of Biblical Studies at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. She teaches courses in New Testament, Greek Exegesis, the Gospel of Mark, the Corinthians Correspondence, the Gospel of John, and Womanist and Feminist Hermeneutics unto preaching.In her research, Dr. Parker merges Womanist thought and postcolonial theory while reading biblical texts. Dr. Parker's most popular book is titled, If God Still Breathes, Why Can't I: Black Lives Matter and Biblical Authority. In this book, Dr. Parker draws from her experience as a Womanist New Testament scholar in order to deconstruct one of White Christianity's most pernicious lies: the conflation of biblical authority with the doctrines of inerrancy and infallibility. As Dr. Parker shows, these doctrines are less about the text of the Bible itself and more about the arbiters of its interpretation—historically, White males in positions of power who have used Scripture to justify control over marginalized groups. This oppressive use of the Bible has been suffocating. To learn to breathe again, Dr. Parker says, we must “let God breathe in us.”Please Follow us on social media (use the buttons below) and help us get the word out! (Also, please don't hesitate to use any of these channels or email to contact us with any questions, concerns, or feedback.)If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review, or share on your socials

This podcast is sponsored by Ritual + Shelter, which is located in Homewood, AL. Visit ritualshelter.com to book an appointment and restore peace to your body, mind, and spirit. You can also find them on Instagram at @Ritualsheltershoppe and on Pinterest at Ritual+Shelter. As this podcast goes to air, we find ourselves in a time of extremes. We notice this in our weather patterns, the political arena, and even the transitions of everyday life. How does it show up for you? For me, as we discuss this topic in today's episode, it manifests in the differences between being in the 5th dimension versus the humanness of the 3rd dimension. It's about finding ways to balance. We are coming into the full moon energy; the light is returning, and the days are getting longer, little by little. Things are getting exciting, as astrologer Armand Diaz mentions in his forecast around the Leo Full Moon on the 12th. From the 10th to the 12th, the Sun, Moon, and Mercury come into alignment with revolutionary Uranus.  So I say again: buckle up, buttercup! Find ways to ground your energy, create a spiritual practice, and learn to trust the messages coming in for you. We are in a state of transition, and change is necessary, even though most of us don't like it. How you adapt is a big part of this. Getting out of your comfort zone and breaking free of your old fears is very important. As we move through these transitions, now is the time to cleanse your energy with an energy clearing session. Schedule one now, in person or online. When we work with the energy body, it helps to release old patterns and all that old stuff. When you start going within and connecting to your soul and spirit, you will find your answers. Want to break free? Want to learn ways to help you find new solutions and feel connected to your purpose in life? Schedule a complimentary Spiritual Upgrade Breakthrough call with me, and let's talk about the #1 thing that is keeping you stuck and what you can do to break free and create the shifts you want to see this year. Click here. In this episode, I speak with Douglas Gillette about his new book, "Soul Making - The Realization of the Mystical Life." We discuss experiences of spiritual self-actualization, states of consciousness, evil, mystical beings, and how we can connect with the depth of our soul's journey. Douglas M. Gillette, M.A.R.S., M.Div., has a Master of Religious Studies degree from the University of Chicago and a Master of Divinity degree from the Chicago Theological Seminary. He taught in the Emeritus Program at Oakton College for nearly two decades, serving as a pastor, pastoral counselor, and a Jungian-influenced life guide. He is the bestselling author of several books, including "King, Warrior, Magician, Lover," co-authored with Robert Moore. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife. -

The JTS Commentary for Va'era by Claire Davidson Bruder, Student, The Rabbinical School of JTS, and Sherouk Ahmed, Student, Bayan Islamic Graduate School at Chicago Theological SeminaryIn the first week of 2025, the Washington Theological Consortium hosted a weeklong interfaith dialogue program at the United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia. Third-year JTS rabbinical student and Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue program manager Claire Davidson Bruder participated in this program, alongside other Jewish, Christian, and Muslim seminary students. The following d'var Torah is a collaboration between Claire and Sherouk Ahmed, a chaplaincy student at Bayan, an Islamic graduate school in partnership with the Chicago Theological Seminary.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

Shamanism: Pathways to Transformation with C. Michael Smith Michael Smith, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and medical anthropologist who studied at the University of Chicago, the Chicago Theological Seminary, and the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago. Dr. Smith has lectured on Jungian Psychology and Shamanism for the Jungian Society of South Italy, taught in the … Continue reading "Shamanism: Pathways to Transformation with C. Michael Smith"

Douglas Gillette, M.A.R.S. (University of Chicago), M-Div. (Chicago Theological Seminary) is a best-selling author of 9 books on depth psychology and spirituality. He recently retired as a teacher in the Emeritus program at Oakton College, where he taught for 20 yrs. He is still teaching/facilitating via Zoom an on-going series of book discussion groups. Douglas is also a retired pastor and pastoral counselor who continues to serve as a life-guide. Douglas has experienced his life as a fantastic series of adventures in every sense of the word, including many psi and consciousness-expanding spiritual experiences.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mission-evolution-with-gwilda-wiyaka--2888020/support.

In our final episode of Season 1, we are joined by Sarah A. Bowen, an animal chaplain and a co-founder of Compassion Consortium―the first interfaith, interspiritual, and interspecies community for people who care about and advocate for animals and the planet―where she leads the Animal Chaplaincy Training program. She also companions animals through death, creates sacred memorial rituals, counsels humans grieving animal loss, and advocates for exploited and endangered species in both religious and secular contexts. An RNS Vatican News Reporter featured her response to Pope Francis's suggestion that having pets is selfish.  An award-winning author, her latest book is Sacred Sendoffs: An Animal Chaplain's Advice for Surviving Animal Loss, Making Life Meaningful, & Trying to Heal the Planet  (Monkfish Publishing). A columnist on animal/human relationships for Spirituality & Health magazine, Bowen's work has also appeared in Parabola, Tricycle, Religion Dispatches, Psychology Today, and Animal Culture Magazine, ​​A passionate speaker and teacher, Bowen has presented for the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, Parliament of the World's Religions, Spiritual Directors International, Best Friends National Conference, and the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab. Sarah is also an academic dean at One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, where she encourages emerging clergy to align their spiritual values with animal and planetary welfare.  Sarah holds a BA in Human Ecology from Michigan State University, MA in Religious Studies from Chicago Theological Seminary, was ordained through One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, completed Emerson Theological's Passmore Animal Chaplain Program, and is joyfully engaged in postgraduate research in Humane Religious Studies and Anthrozoology. You can find her: Instagram @modernreverend Website: https://www.sacredsendoffs.com/ And in so many other places!  Do YOU want to be an animal communicator? Email us at info@theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com and ask to be alerted to the Black Friday deals our teacher, Danielle MacKinnon, will be announcing later this week! Meet the hosts- Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/ Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/ Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/ You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textWelcome baddies to Called to be Bad. In this episode I talk with professor, anti-racist, anti-oppression and peace educator Regina Shands Stoltzfus who co-authored the book Been in the Struggle: Pursuing an Antiracist Spirituality with Tobin Miller Shearer. Our primary topic is critical race theory, but we cover other elements of anti-racism and anti white-supremacy work within the world of education and church-life. BioRegina Shands Stoltzfus was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived there the first half of her life. She currently lives in Goshen, Indiana, and teaches at Goshen College in the religion, justice and society department. Regina is co-founder of the Roots of Justice Anti-Oppression program (formerly Damascus Road Anti-Racism Program) and has worked widely in peace education.  She holds a master of arts degree in biblical studies from Ashland Theological Seminary and a PhD in theology and ethics from Chicago Theological Seminary. She is the author of two previous books and her many articles have appeared in publications such as Sojourners and The Mennonite. She has also written for the Anabaptist Historians blog.Resources: Where to find Regina: https://www.goshen.edu/faculty/reginass/https://www.mennomedia.org/author/regina-shands-stoltzfus/Her book: https://heraldpress.com/9781513809458/been-in-the-struggle/Roots of Justice: https://www.rootsofjusticetraining.org/Wider Stand: https://www.widerstandconsulting.org/The water tracking app Regina mentions

In an election season marked by chaos and division, Interfaith America's Faith in Elections podcast cuts through the noise and deepens the conversation, highlighting the remarkable stories of everyday faith leaders who are working to build bridges and uphold democracy.Join hosts Jenan Mohajir and Adam Phillips as they speak with Interfaith America Faith in Elections grantees about how faith convictions motivate their civic engagement and service. The Faith in Elections Podcast is part of the Voices of Interfaith America Podcast network. Episodes will be released each Thursday leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Host Bios: Jenan Mohajir is the Vice President of External Affairs at Interfaith America. Inspired by faith and family to work for change at the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and religion, Jenan has served in leadership at IA for 15 years where she as has trained hundreds of interfaith leaders from diverse backgrounds to foster a vision and practice of civically engaged interfaith leadership. Jenan completed undergraduate work at DePaul University and is pursuing her MA in religious studies at Chicago Theological Seminary. As a natural storyteller, she performs with 2nd Story, Chicago's premier storytelling company. Jenan proudly lives on the south side of Chicago with her children and loves to collect vintage children's books.Adam Phillips is the Chief Strategy Officer & Chief of Staff at Interfaith America. Adam serves as the senior lead in the Executive Office by managing internal and external inquiries from the President's office and leads the organization's narrative strategy, ensuring the advancement of Interfaith America's mission and vision. Having spent two decades at the intersection of faith and public life, Adam most recently served as a Biden Administration appointee leading Localization and Faith-based efforts at the United States Agency for International Development. Working closely with the White House and Department of State, in his role at USAID Adam oversaw development policy, new and non-traditional partnerships, as well as democracy and diplomacy initiatives in nearly 100 countries. Adam has been a TEDx speaker, his work has also been featured in The Atlantic, CNN, Washington Post, NPR, Huffington Post, Relevant Magazine and the Christian Broadcasting Network's 700 Club.Visit Interfaith America to learn more about the organization and our podcast. Learn more about how you can support your community this election season with Interfaith America's Faith in Elections Playbook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with new episodes, interfaith stories, and our programs.

On this episode of Recovery Podcast, host Nick Angeloff sits down with Dr. Zachary Moon Ph.D. Dr. Moon serves as Professor of Theology and Psychology at Chicago Theological Seminary. He has published widely and is the author of four books, including Coming Home: Ministry That Matters with Veterans and Military Families, and Warriors between Worlds: Moral Injury and Identities in Crisis. On this episode Nick and Zach discuss Moral Injury and how it impacts daily life for so many. The Recovery Podcast is brought to you by VOA Northern Rockies. Contact Us:For further information, support, or inquiries, you can reach out to us at Ministry@VOANR.org or call 1-866-Get-2-VOA. Explore more about Volunteers of America Northern Rockies at VOANR.org.Donate to Support:If you're moved by our conversations and the impactful work we do, consider contributing to our cause. Your support helps us make a difference in the lives of those on the journey to recovery. To learn more, please visit our website at www.voanr.org.988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:We recognize the importance of mental health. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please call the 988 Lifeline. It provides 24/7 free and confidential support.- - -At Volunteers of America Northern Rockies, we engage those we serve with an intentional focus that meets needs, educates, uplifts, and inspires. We also recognize how much we all need to hear positive stories of lives transformed. That's why we created the Recovery Podcast.Recovery Podcast is a collection of interviews designed to share stories of recovery and faith from Volunteers of America Northern Rockies past and present. It is our honor to share them with a belief they will enlighten and encourage. From amazing testimonies of hope to educating around serving our community in need, our podcast will inform, engage, and inspire. Many of our leaders are among the top professionals in their field, navigating their teams through the changing landscape of human services. In the coming months, we'll hear interviews from many of them, sharing their expertise in the world of addiction treatment, homeless services, veteran support, moral injury and so much more.We also have a diverse portfolio of partners who have joined forces with us to provide practical self-care education and spiritual direction and helped bring a deeper understanding of what it means to be true servant leaders. We will bring you special interviews with many of our current and past partners, offering insight into how they helped us grow, and we trust it will help many of you as well. Today's music is courtesy of the Free Music Archive. This week you heard tunes by Ketsa who also composed our theme music. 

Send us a Text Message.Bishop Jack, as he is affectionately called, is a native of Tennessee and the founder of Blessing Hands USA, Inc. (Blessing Hands USA – Building Bridges Around The World), a non-profit humanitarian organization established to revive, restructure, and revitalize communities. He presently serves as Executive Bishop of Hillside International Truth Center in Atlanta (Bishop Dr. Jack L. Bomar - Hillside International Truth Center), Georgia and Lead Pastor at UNITED Church in Beaufort, South CarolinaHe has committed his life to ministry, beginning at Williams Grove Missionary Baptist Church (Camden, TN) where, by age 12, he was the official church musician, the Sunday School Assistant Superintendent, and adjutant to the pastor and his family. After fellowship with various movements within Christianity including the C.M.E. Church and the Church of God in Christ, at the age of 23, Bishop Jack was introduced to New Thought teachings. Since that time, he has presided over, revived, revitalized, repositioned ministries throughout the nation and beyond. Bishop Jack has served as Senior Minister for various New Thought communities in states including Hawaii, New York, Tennessee, California, Illinois, and Georgia; and as International Guest Minister in Australia and U.S. Virgin Islands. Bishop Jack received his Doctor of Ministry degree with a concentration in Parish Revitalization & Building the Beloved Community from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary; the Bachelor of Arts degree from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee; a ministerial ordination from the Barbara King School of Ministry in Atlanta, Georgia; and the ecclesiastical ministerial endorsement from the United Church of Religious Science, now known as Centers for Spiritual Living. He was inducted into the Morehouse College, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers in 2008 and was consecrated as Bishop on September 23, 2018, becoming the second New Thought minister to be consecrated to the Episcopal Office of Bishop.His desire is to serve as a conduit that fosters a greater sense of self-awareness, spiritual enlightenment, and God-consciousness with the communities in which he serves. His hope is to encourage people of diverse backgrounds to transcend differences, bridge communication, and build a coalition that leads to the achievement of a common purpose, a unified and loving community.Support the Show.Donate – CelesteFrazier.com

In this week's episode, Amos Smith shares deeply from his personal experience in contemplative mysticism. We talk about the release of the 10th anniversary edition of Healing the Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots, why centering prayer is a critical practice today and his writing practice. Amos Smith (D.Min) earned a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Religion from The University of California at Santa Cruz in 1993, a Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley in 1998, and a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2008.  Buy a copy of Healing the Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots https://amzn.to/3KFju9L  Check out his other books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39oIxPs  Connect with Amos Smith:  Twitter: @amossmi  Email: amossmi@gmail.com Web: www.amossmith.org Password: friends  Books mentioned in the conversation: Van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score https://amzn.to/4bU1ODE  Athanasius, On the Incarnation https://amzn.to/4bSyzRr Brian's Free Centering Prayer course: https://www.brianrussellphd.com/challenge-page/fb06a8df-99bd-47c0-bc06-0892ec6777ed  Brian Russell's Books  Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation (2023) https://amzn.to/3Vw9I07 Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God's Presence Can Change Your Life (2021) https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ   (Re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade Books) https://amzn.to/30tP4S9  Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/onebook-invitation-by-brian-russell/  Connecting with Brian: Website: www.brianrussellphd.com Twitter: @briandrussell Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group? Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support. #mysticism #spirituality #silence

If you've ever wondered what bridgebuilding looks like, look no further than Jenan Mohajir and Rebecca Russo. Just two weeks after the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7th and the subsequent Israeli bombing and invasion of Gaza, Jenan - who is Muslim and the mother of three beautiful Palestinian children - and Rebecca - who is Jewish and has multiple personal and familial connections to Israel (and is also the mother of three beautiful children) - came together to publish an op-ed insisting on "the importance of seeing each other and each other's people as fully human." In this episode, they tackle tough questions about what it means to be Zionist, pro-Palestinian, a committed partisan, and an unwavering bridgebuilder.  Guest Bio:Jenan Mohajir is the Vice President of External Affairs at Interfaith America. In this role, Jenan focuses on building strategic relationships and programs with new partners across Interfaith America's emerging sectors. Inspired by faith and family to work for change at the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and religion, Jenan has served in leadership at IA for 15 years, where she has trained hundreds of interfaith leaders from diverse backgrounds to foster a vision and practice of civically engaged interreligious leadership. Jenan completed undergraduate work at DePaul University and is pursuing her M.A. in religious studies at Chicago Theological Seminary. As a natural storyteller, she performs with 2nd Story, Chicago's premier storytelling company. Jenan proudly lives on the south side of Chicago with her children and loves to collect vintage children's books. Rebecca Russo is the Vice President of Higher Education Strategy at Interfaith America. Rebecca oversees I.A.'s higher education strategy in this role, focusing on bridgebuilding programs and partnering with senior campus administrators. Rebecca has worked with IA since 2014 and sees college campuses as a laboratory where students can deepen and challenge their worldviews and learn to build relationships across divides. Rebecca has worked in higher education for over a decade, including roles as the Director of Engagement at Northwestern University's Fiedler Hillel and Executive Director of the Campus Climate Initiative at Hillel International. Rebecca holds a B.A. in Middle East Studies from Brown University and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Rebecca is inspired by her interfaith experiences living in Morocco and Jerusalem and by the Talmudic concept of "these and those are words of the living God" to work toward a society where religious diversity is engaged actively and positively. Rebecca lives in Chicago with her family and enjoys singing, hiking, and chasing around her three children.

In recognition of Women's History Month, on today's episode of The “Center” we are joined by Leenah Safi. Ms. Safi is the daughter of Syrian immigrants and is currently completing PhD work at Chicago Theological Seminary. As a Muslim woman, Leenah has immersed herself in full time community work as a college chaplain with a Muslim nonprofit called the Felicity Foundation. Inspired and deeply challenged by the necessary work of supporting adolescents navigating educational and community belonging, she transitioned to doctoral studies to further identify the gaps in identity formation of young Muslims and is actively learning and teaching in the fields of pastoral care, theology, and religious education. Thank you for joining us for this important conversation on the importance of women's voices within all faith traditions. "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

Racism has been America's lingering cancer. There is no question that great strides have been made in eradicating this evil from our culture since the bad old days of slavery and Jim Crow. But alas, the urgent task is not completed, and as a result, a great divide still lingers among too many Americans based on superficial and irrelevant differences of skin color and hair texture. Listening to each other's stories and understanding differing perspectives are crucial medicines in healing this great wound in our collective national soul. My guest today is an expert communicator in this regard, helping to build bridges and palliate bitterness across racial divides. The Reverand Dr. Arthur Cribbs, Jr. is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, a former network television journalist, radio talk show host, and documentarian. He is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley, obtained his Master's of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1986, and his Doctor of Ministry and Ethics from Claremont School of Theology in 2009. Cribbs produced and hosted the television special, “Stories of the Soul: Life after 9/11,” for which he received an Emmy Award. He was nominated for an Emmy for his documentary: Changing Faces of AIDS. He is the former executive director of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity and has been a long-time ethics instructor for the California Department of Justice working with police departments to improve law enforcement. Due to his many contributions in serving his community, the City of San Diego proclaimed, February30, 2007 as The Reverend Arthur Cribbs Day. Now, Cribbs has written what he calls an “autobiographical novel”—HollyWatts: From the Promised Land to Purgatory, actually a memoir recounting his life growing up in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, where he witnessed the destruction of an important African-American community under the onslaught of drugs, gang violence, and ruling class indifference. Cribbs is currently Senior Pastor of the Christian Fellowship Congregational Church in San Diego, CA. He was also Wesley's college roommate and remains one of his oldest and dearest friends Hollywatts: From the Promised Land to Purgatory: Jr Cribbs, Arthur Lawrence: 9780829800371: Amazon.com: Books R-302356.pdf (sandiego.gov) Life-Giving Acts — Little River United Church of Christ (lrucc.org)

Parenting is hard...ever wish you had a guidebook for it? Dr. Randy Schroeder joins us to share the top takeaways from his book, Simple Habits for Effective Parenting. You won't want to miss this!  Bio: Dr. Randy Schroeder wrote the 2020 three-time national award-winning Christian marriage book, Simple Habits for Marital Happiness. The only marriage book that provides practical, specific words, actions, and essential knowledge in the seven major areas of a relationship to help every couple achieve a gratifying marriage. He has helped thousands of spouses achieve a consistently satisfying happy marriage with these simple, yet very effective habits.   His 2021 two-time national award-winning book, Simple Habits for Effective Parenting is the only parenting book that provides detailed guidance in the seven key aspects of parenting. Happy, confident children driven to reach their full potential with self-motivation, good decision-making skills, a positive attitude, and determination are raised by parents who use these simple successful habits.    Dr. Schroeder joined Jim Daly, President, and John Fuller, Vice President, on FOCUS ON THE FAMILY national broadcasts for six interviews: Simple Habits to Embrace in Your Marriage – January (BEST of 2022); Forming New Habits for Your Marriage I – September 2022; Forming New Habits for Your Marriage II – September 2022; Effective Habits to Embrace in Parenting – July (BEST of 2021); More Effective Habits to Embrace in Parenting I – November 2022; and More Effective Habits to Embrace in Parenting II – November 2022. These six FOCUS ON THE FAMILY interviews can be found on YouTube.    Dr. Schroeder was born and raised in Austin, Texas.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University Chicago and received a Master of Education in Administration from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.  He also earned a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana and holds a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Chicago Theological Seminary.    The first eight years of his professional career were spent as a Lutheran high school teacher, assistant principal, athletic director, and head varsity basketball and football coach. In 1982, after eight years as an educator, he felt called to serve the Lord as an LCMS pastor and left the teaching ministry to prepare for the pastoral ministry.   After graduating from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1986, Dr. Schroeder became a Professor of Pastoral Counseling, Vice President of Student Personnel Services, and Dean of Students.  For nearly 25 years he taught pastoral counseling classes including Premarital Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Family Counseling, Crisis Counseling, Ministry to the Sick & Dying, and Pastor as Counselor. He also wrote a Family Counselor column for the Lutheran Witness magazine for 15 years.    In 2010, after being an educator for 36 years, he strongly desired to serve God and others as a full-time Christian counselor to help individuals, marriages, and families with the practical wisdom that makes a profound positive difference.  Dr. Schroeder is a Marriage and Family Counselor and has a successful practice at Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Carmel, Indiana.   For over four decades, Dr. Schroeder has spoken to and counseled thousands of individuals, spouses, and parents about the simple, yet effective habits that are essential for an enjoyable life, a happy marriage, and for effectively parenting a child. Dr. Schroeder believes a lack of valuable knowledge about specific practical words, actions, and skills, not a lack of desire, is what holds people back from accomplishing their individual, marriage, parenting, and relationship goals.    Randy and his wife, Ginny, have been married since 1975 and have two married sons and seven grandchildren. Learn more about Dr. Schroeder at his website, DrRandySchroeder.com and enjoy his educational videos at Dr. Randy Schroeder - YouTube Channel  Resources in this episode: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: lcmslife.org For resources on the family: lcmslife.org/family Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Shamanism: Pathways to Transformation with C. Michael Smith Michael Smith, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and medical anthropologist who studied at the University of Chicago, the Chicago Theological Seminary, and the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago. Dr. Smith has lectured on Jungian Psychology and Shamanism for the Jungian Society of South Italy, taught in the … Continue reading "Shamanism: Pathways to Transformation with C. Michael Smith"

Episode 67 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS | More IN THIS EPISODE In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA, talks with Sister Laura Nettles, the Executive Director of Mission and Social Justice at Viterbo University. Sister Laura shares her vocation story and how she came to know her call to be a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. They discuss the relational and communal charism of Franciscanism as well as the charism of FSPA: being Eucharistic presence to others. Sister Laura shares the importance of Christian action and outreach combined with an openness to the complexities and struggles for social justice. They get into the danger of bias and why it's essential to stay open to learning and knowing different perspectives, and how Christians are called to conversion. “Conversion in the Franciscan sense about just going inward and looking at yourself and reevaluating always what do I know and what don't I know … We are not static, we are always changing,” says Sister Laura. ABOUT THE GUEST Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Laura Nettles is the Executive Director of Mission and Social Justice as well as an associate professor in Religious Studies and Theology at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Currently she is a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) in Moral and Systematic Theology at the Chicago Theological Seminary, researching topics within the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition, Catholic Social Teaching and the inter-textual connections between Medieval Franciscans, Jews and Muslims. Most recently, Sister Laura has been exploring the connection between Christianity, Catholicism and racism. She regularly teaches courses in introductory Christian theology, World Religions, Franciscan theology, Catholic Social Teaching and Womanist, Mujerista and Asian feminist theologies. Sister Laura is also the author of multiple articles and book chapters and speaker of topics like Franciscan theology and spirituality. In addition to her ministry of education, Sister Laura serves the congregation in the ministry of justice and peace, primarily as a member of the FSPA Anti-Racism Team, missioned to authenticate unity in diversity by fostering the growth of FSPA into an anti-racist community and organization that dismantles racism through prayer, witness, study and action. Sister Laura also serves as co-chair of the La Crosse Interfaith Shoulder to Shoulder Network, a group dedicated to the eradication of islamophobia. Viterbo University's Sister Thea Bowman Center MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh.  Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans. Email us at messyjesusbusiness@gmail.com BE SOCIAL:https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/messyjesusbusiness

On today's episode of The “Center” we are joined by Dr. Christophe Ringer, associate professor of Theological Ethics, and Society at Chicago Theological Seminary.Professor Ringer's research interests include theological and social ethics, African American religion, public theology, religion and social sciences, religion and politics, critical theory and African American religion, and cultural studies. He is particularly interested in African American religion as a site for understanding the relationship of self, society and the sacred as it concerns human flourishing. Ringer's research currently focuses on the religious and cultural meanings that sustain and rationalize mass incarceration and other forms of social death in American public life.Please note: The views expressed here are individual views that do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa. "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

Jay Michaelson brings to life the charlatan and heretical Jewish leader Jacob Frank. The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jew­ish Mes­sian­ism to Eso­teric Myth - Winner, National Jewish Book Award for Scholarship. Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and a visiting scholar at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion. He holds a Ph.D. in Jewish Thought from Hebrew University, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and nondenominational rabbinic ordination. His most recent book, The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Antinomianism to Esoteric Myth, was published by Oxford University Press and won the 2022 National Jewish Book Award for scholarship. Dr. Michaelson's scholarly work on Jewish mysticism and messianism has been published in journals including Theology and Sexuality, Modern Judaism, and Shofar, and anthologized in volumes including Queer Religion, Imagining the Jewish God, and Jews and the Law. Outside the academy, Dr. Michaelson is the author of nine books, including Everything is God: The Radical Path of Nondual Judaism and God vs. Gay? The Religious Case for Equality, a Lambda Literary Award finalist. He directs the Hazon Jewish Meditation Retreat, and is authorized to teach in a Sri Lankan Buddhist lineage. He lives outside of New York City.

Holy Shenanigans Practioner Rev. Tara L. Eastman caught up with her colleague Rev. Dr. Deborah Roof at this summer's Wild Goose Festival, to hear all about Words, Wonder and the Divine in You - a new book release. Deborah Roof, a queer Christian pastor, is an enthusiastic life-long learner and a passionate teacher. She is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ with a Master of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from the Chicago Theological Seminary.In her new book, “Words, Wonder, and the Divine in You”, Roof shares her experience, strength and hope and invites the reader to take their own spiritual journey.  Exemplifying her authentic gift of hospitality Roof shares the truth she has come to know: divinity dwells within each one of us. She finds God in the wonder of the created world and in the scriptures she has come to love. Deborah and her wife, Liz, have four adult daughters, their daughters' four spouses, and four grandchildrenSupport the showWhen in Western New York, please join Pastor Tara in worship at First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown NY on Sundays at 10:30 am.

Clinton College President Dr. Lester McCorn walks through the story of Historically Black Colleges & Universities and the civil rights movement in America. He talks about his personal experience with education at some of the most important HBCUs, through his work as a Pastor all over the country, an author, civil rights figure, and finally, President of Clinton College. Dr. McCorn also talks about the hope he finds in the future among the students at Rock Hill's only HBCU, Clinton College.   President McCorn is an alumnus of Morehouse College, Yale Divinity School and Chicago Theological Seminary. He holds the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from United Theological Seminary, where he was a Gardner C. Taylor Fellow in social justice and prophetic leadership and Adjunct Professor/Doctoral Mentor. He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Ethical and Creative Leadership, with a specialization in Martin Luther King Jr. Studies and Social Change, and a certificate in Educational Leadership at Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was named one of “The 10 Most Dominant HBCU Presidents of 2019” by the HBCU Campaign Fund. Before being appointed President of the Clinton College in 2017, Dr. McCorn was a pastor at Churches in Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and Baltimore.  Rev. Dr. Lester A. McCorn and his wife Mrs. Charlene M. McCorn are proud parents of William Elijah Benjamin, Maliaka Kenyetta, and John-Charles Wesley.

What couple doesn't want a happy marriage? Surely every husband and wife get married hoping to have a healthy and ever-growing happy marriage, yet quickly find just how damaging sin, resentment, miscommunication, and the withholding forgiveness can be. With just SEVEN essential habits, guest Dr. Randy Schroeder gives a crash course in implementing and achieving a Christ-focused, God-oriented marriage that will almost certainly also lead to happiness and contentment. Find Simple Habits for Marital Happiness at cph.org. Bio: Dr. Randy Schroeder wrote the 2020 three-time national award-winning Christian marriage book, Simple Habits for Marital Happiness. The only marriage book that provides practical, specific words, actions, and essential knowledge in the seven major areas of a relationship to help every couple achieve a gratifying marriage. He has helped thousands of spouses achieve a consistently satisfying happy marriage with these simple, yet very effective habits.   His 2021 two-time national award-winning book, Simple Habits for Effective Parenting is the only parenting book that provides detailed guidance in the seven key aspects of parenting. Happy, confident children driven to reach their full potential with self-motivation, good decision-making skills, a positive attitude, and determination are raised by parents who use these simple successful habits.    Dr. Schroeder joined Jim Daly, President, and John Fuller, Vice President, on FOCUS ON THE FAMILY national broadcasts for six interviews: Simple Habits to Embrace in Your Marriage – January (BEST of 2022); Forming New Habits for Your Marriage I – September 2022; Forming New Habits for Your Marriage II – September 2022; Effective Habits to Embrace in Parenting – July (BEST of 2021); More Effective Habits to Embrace in Parenting I – November 2022; and More Effective Habits to Embrace in Parenting II – November 2022. These six FOCUS ON THE FAMILY interviews can be found on YouTube.    Dr. Schroeder was born and raised in Austin, Texas.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University Chicago and received a Master of Education in Administration from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.  He also earned a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana and holds a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Chicago Theological Seminary.    The first eight years of his professional career were spent as a Lutheran high school teacher, assistant principal, athletic director, and head varsity basketball and football coach. In 1982, after eight years as an educator, he felt called to serve the Lord as an LCMS pastor and left the teaching ministry to prepare for the pastoral ministry.   After graduating from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1986, Dr. Schroeder became a Professor of Pastoral Counseling, Vice President of Student Personnel Services, and Dean of Students.  For nearly 25 years he taught pastoral counseling classes including Premarital Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Family Counseling, Crisis Counseling, Ministry to the Sick & Dying, and Pastor as Counselor. He also wrote a Family Counselor column for the Lutheran Witness magazine for 15 years.    In 2010, after being an educator for 36 years, he strongly desired to serve God and others as a full-time Christian counselor to help individuals, marriages, and families with the practical wisdom that makes a profound positive difference.  Dr. Schroeder is a Marriage and Family Counselor and has a successful practice at Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Carmel, Indiana.   For over four decades, Dr. Schroeder has spoken to and counseled thousands of individuals, spouses, and parents about the simple, yet effective habits that are essential for an enjoyable life, a happy marriage, and for effectively parenting a child. Dr. Schroeder believes a lack of valuable knowledge about specific practical words, actions, and skills, not a lack of desire, is what holds people back from accomplishing their individual, marriage, parenting, and relationship goals.    Randy and his wife, Ginny, have been married since 1975 and have two married sons and seven grandchildren. Learn more about Dr. Schroeder at his website, DrRandySchroeder.com and enjoy his educational videos at Dr. Randy Schroeder - YouTube Channel  Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life, and email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org. Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Throughout millennia, Jews have explored individual and communal consciousness through a variety of techniques and traditions. More recently, Jews have played an outsized role in the “psychedelic renaissance” as researchers, practitioners, and advocates, including prominent leaders. A surge of interest in these substances creates an opportunity to reflect on non-ordinary experiences in Jewish life and theology more broadly. This panel, hosted by the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School, included Sam S. B. Shonkoff, the Taube Family Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union, Melila Hellner-Eshed, Professor of Jewish Mysticism in the Department of Jewish Studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, as well as a senior research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, and Jay Michaelson is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and the author of nine books on Judaism and contemplative practice. A full transcript is forthcoming. This event took place April 27, 2023. Learn more: https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/home

Today's guest on The "Center" is Dr. Joanne Marie Terrell. Dr. Terrell is the Kenneth B. Smith Chair of Public Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology, Ethics, and The Arts at Chicago Theological Seminary. Dr. Terrell had the distinct honor of being mentored by Dr. James Cone while she completed both her MDiv and Doctoral degrees at Union Theological Seminary. In her own right, Dr. Terrell is a brilliant scholar, and author of the book Power in the Blood? The Cross in the African American Experience. As part of her ministry, Dr. Terrell utilizes theater, poetry, and clothing design as both pedagogical process, and expressive nonviolence in response to the violence that is present within our communities. "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

In this week's episode, Amos Smith shares deeply from his personal experience in contemplative mysticism. We talk about silence, solitude, and the inner life including insights from his latest book (releasing in 2023): Journey of Holistic Mysticism: Experiencing the Integrated Spirituality of the Quakers. Amos Smith (D.Min) earned a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Religion from The University of California at Santa Cruz in 1993, a Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley in 1998, and a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2008. He is a lifelong student of three streams: Progressive Christianity, Contemplative Christianity, and Eastern Mystic Christianity. Check out his books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39oIxPs Connect with Amos Smith: Twitter: @amossmi Authors Recommended by Amos: Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Kitty Muggeridge, et al., Sacrament of the Present Moment, https://amzn.to/3ZlDN0Q Maximus the Confessor https://amzn.to/3ZjfUqT Brian Russell's Books Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God's Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ  or sign up for information: www.centeringprayerbook.com  (Re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade Books) https://amzn.to/30tP4S9  Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/onebook-invitation-by-brian-russell/  Connecting with Brian: Website: www.brianrussellphd.com Twitter: @briandrussell Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife Deep Dive Spirituality Coaching for Pastors: www.deepdivespirituality.com  Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group? Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.   #mysticism #contemplative #prayer

In this week's episode, Rev. Dr. Stephen Ray shares his journey from growing up in Jamaica Queens, New York, to serving as president of Chicago Theological Seminary. In his role as an educator and administrator, Dr. Ray has always sought ways to contribute to shaping the future of teachers and students in the academy. Dr. Ray recently retired as president of the Chicago Theological Seminary and is the immediate past president of the Society for the Study of Black Religion. Rate, review, and subscribe to Sound of the Genuine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Brie Stoner is a bilingual indie rock musician and songwriter, creative thinker and podcaster. She co-hosted Richard Rohr's “Another Name for Every Thing” podcast before launching her own podcast titled “Unknowing”, which explores the unexpected path of creative possibility with guest artists, authors, and activists. Brie studied at the Chicago Theological Seminary and served as program designer at the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this episode, Brie brings a thoughtful perspective on art and the urge for transcendence. She talks with Stephen about embodiment, being grounded and the somatic connections of our deeper, spiritual yearnings.Brie's Upcoming Tour DatesSupport The Podcast

Meaning is more than an abstraction—it is a sense that we matter to one another, woven together with threads of reciprocity. But in those times when we feel lost and cut off from our sources of strength, we may have to simply move forward in faith, holding out hope for renewal and restoration. Guest:  The Rev. Dr. Stephanie M. Crumpton is a professor of practical theology at McCormick Theological Seminary. Prior to that, she was an assistant professor of practical theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She taught and lectured at Hood Theological Seminary, Chicago Theological Seminary, Candler School of Theology at Emory University and the Interdenominational Theological Center. Making Meaning is a limited series from Ministry of Ideas that explores how life can be lived more meaningfully. Featuring meditations by some of the world's most sensitive and insightful thinkers, Making Meaning will give you fresh perspective and encouragement to live with greater intention and fullness. Making Meaning is produced by Jack Pombriant and Zachary Davis. Artwork by Dan Pecci. Learn more at ministryofideas.org and find us on Twitter @ministryofideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Meaning is more than an abstraction—it is a sense that we matter to one another, woven together with threads of reciprocity. But in those times when we feel lost and cut off from our sources of strength, we may have to simply move forward in faith, holding out hope for renewal and restoration. Guest:  The Rev. Dr. Stephanie M. Crumpton is a professor of practical theology at McCormick Theological Seminary. Prior to that, she was an assistant professor of practical theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She taught and lectured at Hood Theological Seminary, Chicago Theological Seminary, Candler School of Theology at Emory University and the Interdenominational Theological Center. Making Meaning is a limited series from Ministry of Ideas that explores how life can be lived more meaningfully. Featuring meditations by some of the world's most sensitive and insightful thinkers, Making Meaning will give you fresh perspective and encouragement to live with greater intention and fullness. Making Meaning is produced by Jack Pombriant and Zachary Davis. Artwork by Dan Pecci. Learn more at ministryofideas.org and find us on Twitter @ministryofideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

“What is the revelatory potential of the corpse?” That is the question that Cody Sanders and Mikeal Parsons seek to answer in their new book, Corpse Care: Ethics for Tending the Dead. Here's the book's blurb: "Corpse Care relates the history of death care in the U.S. to craft robust, constructive, practical ethics for tending the dead. It specifically relates corpse care to economic, environmental, and pastoral concerns. Death and the treatment of the dead body loom large in our collective, cultural consciousness. The authors explore the materiality and meaning of the dead body and the living's relationship to it. All the biggest questions facing the planetary human community relate in one way or another to the corpse. Surprisingly, Christian communities are largely missing in the discussion of the dead, having abdicated the historic role in care for the dead to the funeral industry. Christianity has stopped its reflection about the body once that body no longer bears life. Corpse Care stakes a claim that the fact of embodiment, this incarnational truth, this process of our bodily becoming, is a practical, ethical, and theological necessity." Dr. Cody Sanders is pastor to Old Cambridge Baptist Church in Harvard Square, and holds various roles at Harvard University, MIT, and Chicago Theological Seminary. Dr. Mikeal Parsons is professor and Macon Chair in Religion at Baylor University.

In The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth (Oxford University Press, 2022), Jay Michaelson explores the religious philosophy of the mercurial eighteenth-century figure Jacob Frank, who, in the wake of false messiah Sabbetai Zevi, led the largest mass apostasy in Jewish history. Based on close readings of Frank's late teachings, recorded in 1784 and 1790, Michaelson challenges scholarly presentations of Frank that depict him as a sex-crazed "degenerate," and presents Frank as an original and prescient figure at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, reason and magic, Kabbalah and Western Esotericism. Jay Michaelson is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and a visiting scholar at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion. Schneur Zalman Newfield is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York, and the author of Degrees of Separation: Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism (Temple University Press, 2020). Visit him online at ZalmanNewfield.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth (Oxford University Press, 2022), Jay Michaelson explores the religious philosophy of the mercurial eighteenth-century figure Jacob Frank, who, in the wake of false messiah Sabbetai Zevi, led the largest mass apostasy in Jewish history. Based on close readings of Frank's late teachings, recorded in 1784 and 1790, Michaelson challenges scholarly presentations of Frank that depict him as a sex-crazed "degenerate," and presents Frank as an original and prescient figure at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, reason and magic, Kabbalah and Western Esotericism. Jay Michaelson is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and a visiting scholar at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion. Schneur Zalman Newfield is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York, and the author of Degrees of Separation: Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism (Temple University Press, 2020). Visit him online at ZalmanNewfield.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth (Oxford University Press, 2022), Jay Michaelson explores the religious philosophy of the mercurial eighteenth-century figure Jacob Frank, who, in the wake of false messiah Sabbetai Zevi, led the largest mass apostasy in Jewish history. Based on close readings of Frank's late teachings, recorded in 1784 and 1790, Michaelson challenges scholarly presentations of Frank that depict him as a sex-crazed "degenerate," and presents Frank as an original and prescient figure at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, reason and magic, Kabbalah and Western Esotericism. Jay Michaelson is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and a visiting scholar at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion. Schneur Zalman Newfield is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York, and the author of Degrees of Separation: Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism (Temple University Press, 2020). Visit him online at ZalmanNewfield.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

In The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth (Oxford University Press, 2022), Jay Michaelson explores the religious philosophy of the mercurial eighteenth-century figure Jacob Frank, who, in the wake of false messiah Sabbetai Zevi, led the largest mass apostasy in Jewish history. Based on close readings of Frank's late teachings, recorded in 1784 and 1790, Michaelson challenges scholarly presentations of Frank that depict him as a sex-crazed "degenerate," and presents Frank as an original and prescient figure at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, reason and magic, Kabbalah and Western Esotericism. Jay Michaelson is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and a visiting scholar at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion. Schneur Zalman Newfield is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York, and the author of Degrees of Separation: Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism (Temple University Press, 2020). Visit him online at ZalmanNewfield.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

In The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth (Oxford University Press, 2022), Jay Michaelson explores the religious philosophy of the mercurial eighteenth-century figure Jacob Frank, who, in the wake of false messiah Sabbetai Zevi, led the largest mass apostasy in Jewish history. Based on close readings of Frank's late teachings, recorded in 1784 and 1790, Michaelson challenges scholarly presentations of Frank that depict him as a sex-crazed "degenerate," and presents Frank as an original and prescient figure at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, reason and magic, Kabbalah and Western Esotericism. Jay Michaelson is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and a visiting scholar at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion. Schneur Zalman Newfield is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York, and the author of Degrees of Separation: Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism (Temple University Press, 2020). Visit him online at ZalmanNewfield.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth (Oxford University Press, 2022), Jay Michaelson explores the religious philosophy of the mercurial eighteenth-century figure Jacob Frank, who, in the wake of false messiah Sabbetai Zevi, led the largest mass apostasy in Jewish history. Based on close readings of Frank's late teachings, recorded in 1784 and 1790, Michaelson challenges scholarly presentations of Frank that depict him as a sex-crazed "degenerate," and presents Frank as an original and prescient figure at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, reason and magic, Kabbalah and Western Esotericism. Jay Michaelson is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and a visiting scholar at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion. Schneur Zalman Newfield is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York, and the author of Degrees of Separation: Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism (Temple University Press, 2020). Visit him online at ZalmanNewfield.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

In The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth (Oxford University Press, 2022), Jay Michaelson explores the religious philosophy of the mercurial eighteenth-century figure Jacob Frank, who, in the wake of false messiah Sabbetai Zevi, led the largest mass apostasy in Jewish history. Based on close readings of Frank's late teachings, recorded in 1784 and 1790, Michaelson challenges scholarly presentations of Frank that depict him as a sex-crazed "degenerate," and presents Frank as an original and prescient figure at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, reason and magic, Kabbalah and Western Esotericism. Jay Michaelson is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and a visiting scholar at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion. Schneur Zalman Newfield is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York, and the author of Degrees of Separation: Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism (Temple University Press, 2020). Visit him online at ZalmanNewfield.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Sister Patricia Crowley, a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, has served her own community as sub-prioress and prioress – and the greater community in leading non-profit organizations serving women, families, and people experiencing homelessness. Currently she is the board president of Bethany House of Hospitality, which shelters young women seeking asylum in the US. She also recently started a position with the Religious Formation Conference's Together program for young women religious. In recognition of her leadership in Chicago, she was awarded three honorary doctorate degrees: one from Chicago Theological Seminary (1998), a second from Elmhurst College (1998), and a third from St. Mary of the Woods College in Terre Haute, IN (2011). Show Notes (04:28) An early call to social justice (05:46) All in the family (09:13) Why the Benedictines? (15:40) Pre- and post-Vatican II (26:07) Transitioning from teaching (28:51) The joys of administration (30:55) The year of traveling sabbatically (36:46) Like mother, like daughter (44:37) Election (47:14) Into Africa (48:08) Bethany House of Hospitality (50:50) The Together program (53:31) Building community (55:18) Coming to Bethany Links Bethany House of Hospitality Benedictine Sisters of Chicago Religious Formation Conference Read the transcript here: https://anunslife.org/podcasts/in-good-faith/igf057-pat-crowley   Subscribe to our newsletter  https://siste.rs/3isP2CZ Check out lots more podcasts  https://siste.rs/2SfnoyS Don't forget to call us and leave a message. Tell us what you like, ask a question, or just say hi. Call 913-214-6087. Let us know your thoughts about the podcast! Please take this short survey—your input helps us shape the future In Good Faith podcasts. Click HERE to take the survey. Thank you!

Connecting with people to help, heal, and serve the worldSuzi has the pleasure of chatting with Bruce Kittle, Life & Performance Coach and Community Outreach & Co-Host of Hidden Pearls Podcast. Bruce works 1-on-1 with veterans, athletes, and others to help them mindfully discover and express their authentic self through meditation, mindfulness, breath work, yoga, affirmations, visualization and variable identities. As co-host of The Hidden Pearls Podcast, Bruce connects with people to help, heal, and serve the world by way of storytelling to inspire and heal, develop and connect with communities to create personal growth & healing; and supporting organizations and people serving veterans, athletes, and the world.Bruce is an experienced criminal defense lawyer with a long history of working with clients with mental health and addiction issues, veterans, and those living in poverty, unemployment, and with physical disabilities. Years of experience working with clients incarcerated in prisons/jails and with probation and parolees on reentry efforts. Bruce also holds a Masters of Divinity (M.Div) with a focus in Social Justice from Chicago Theological Seminary. Ordained through the United Church of Christ. Additionally, Bruce is an experienced high school, college, and D1 Position Coach (Offensive Line) in Football, Leadership / Player Development, Recruiting and Athletic Administration.Follow Bruce LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-kittle6161/ Instagram @hiddenpearlspodcastTwitter https://twitter.com/kittlebruceContact Suzi at suzigma@gmail.com if you want to be a guest on Be Crazy Well Podcast.Suzi's challenge: Have the courage to talk about what happened and how it affected you! You deserve to heal and be the person you want to be and create the life you want to live.Music credit to Kalvin Love for the podcast's theme song “Bee Your Best Self”Follow us on IG @cominghomwell_bts and @behindtheservicepodcastFacebook at Coming Home Well or Behind The ServiceLinkedIn at Coming Home Wellcominghomewell@gmail.comvetsandplayers.orgwildhorserescue.org

This excerpt is from Robert Moore's lecture series entitled The Warrior Within, which is available from the CG Jung Institute of Chicago and republished here under a Creative Commons license. Robert L Moore was an American Jungian analyst and consultant in private practice in Chicago, Illinois. He was the Distinguished Service Professor of Psychology, Psychoanalysis and Spirituality at the Chicago Theological Seminary; a training analyst at the CG Jung Institute of Chicago; and director of research for the Institute for the Science of Psychoanalysis. He was author and editor of numerous books in psychology and spirituality, and lectured internationally on his formulation of a Neo-Jungian paradigm for psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.Robert Moore is probably best known as the senior author, along with Douglas Gillette, of a series of books on the in-depth structure of the male psyche, drawing on the account of the archetypal level of the human psyche developed by CG Jung. The most well known of these books is King, Warrior, Magician, Lover, which remains a seminal text of the ever-evolving men's movement.To find out about my coaching program for men based on the work of Robert Moore and CG Jung, visit http://fourinitiations.comI'm offering a 25% discount on the program until September 2022.*Please note: the audio quality of the original tapes is quite poor but I've done my best to optimize it for clarity and ease of listening. I hope you can overlook (overhear?) the poor audio and appreciate the excellent content. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Become a member of the Medicine Path Inner Circle and gain early access to new episodes, exclusive bonus episodes and full podcast archives. https://plus.acast.com/s/medicinepath.

In this week's episode, Amos Smith shares from his decades of experience in contemplative mysticism. We talk about silence, solitude, and the inner life as well as insights from his latest book (releasing in June 2022): Journey of Holistic Mysticism: Experiencing the Integrated Spirituality of the Quakers. Amos Smith (D.Min) earned a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Religion from The University of California at Santa Cruz in 1993, a Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley in 1998, and a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2008. He is a lifelong student of three streams: Progressive Christianity, Contemplative Christianity, and Eastern Mystic Christianity. Check out his books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39oIxPs Connect with Amos Smith: Twitter: @amossmi Authors Recommended by Amos: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, https://amzn.to/3zBxxZX Barbara Brown Taylor, Luminous Web: Faith, Science and the Experience of Wonder https://amzn.to/3b4LMMF Brian Russell's Books Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God's Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ or sign up for information: www.centeringprayerbook.com (Re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade Books) https://amzn.to/30tP4S9 Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/oneboo... Connecting with Brian: Website: www.brianrussellphd.com Twitter: @briandrussell Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife Deep Dive Spirituality Coaching for Pastors: www.deepdivespirituality.com Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group? Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support. #mysticism #contemplativeprayer #spiritualformation

"Peacemaking is not about making a political commitment, it’s a commitment to a deep healing of deep traumas. Until we do that we can never do peacemaking.” When Sami was just 16, his uncle Mubarak Awad was permanently exiled for taking a leading role in the Palestinian nonviolent resistance movement during the first Intifada. “That is how dangerous non-violence is,” says Sami. His parents were refugees, displaced by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Sami watched his own father abused by Israeli authorities. Though Sami “had every excuse and justification to hate Israelis,” he did not. In spite of the violence, his mother emphasized the Christian teachings of “loving your enemies” and forgiveness, while his uncle exposed him to the messages of non-violence from Jesus to Mahatma Gandhi to Martin Luther King Jr. In the late 90s, Sami founded Holy Land Trust (HLT), a non-profit organization in Bethlehem, whose mission is to find peace, justice and understanding for people in this land that is sacred to faith communities the world over. HLT seeks to uncover the root causes and real reasons that people are not seeking and finding peace. The organization engages in deep healing work for the trauma—of both Palestinians and Israelis—from the existential fears and violence that mark their lives in the Holy Land. For Sami and HLT, healing the collective traumas that prevent peace is an intense and spiritual process focused on personal transformation and commitment to community. In seeking to create a Holy Land for all, Sami asks: "Can I make a decision that is motivated by the future that I seek—not the past that I experience?" In one word, Sami describes himself as an “activist.” He is continually plumbing the depths of how real change happens and how true healing occurs. He defines sacred activism as not just sitting and meditating, but engaging in direct action--stopping the violence—in a way that is infused by the mindfulness work and spiritual practices peacebuilders have been engaging in over the past decades. "I now believe that my own liberation as a Palestinian is not only about ending the Israeli military occupation, but also about addressing all aspects of violence—be they political, social, economic or environmental. Nonviolence is not a tactic to be taken out of the box when it seems fit to use. It is a way of life." Recently, he has been exploring the connection to nature as a peacebuilder’s guide and a comfort—to find the sacred understanding and messages that come through the elements of water and land. Sami and HLT are working with other partners to explore the intersections of environmental justice, non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation, and sacred activism. Sami lives outside Bethlehem in the West Bank. He holds a Doctoral Degree in Divinity from the Chicago Theological Seminary, a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the American University in Washington D.C., and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas. Sami’s courage to be among the first activists to see Israelis not as “the Other” but as brothers and sisters together in this land—and his willingness to engage in the trauma work in both communities—inspired the Euphrates Institute to create the Visionary of the Year award in order to honor his unique vision. Today, as the director of programs at Holy Land Trust, Sami travels widely and is a frequent speaker, and leads intensive trainings and retreats for Palestinians and Israelis. Please join us in conversation with this visionary peacebuilder to kindle our own commitment to peace, justice, sacred activism, and connection to nature.

The Seminary Coop Bookstore began in 1961 when a small group of students grouped together to buy academic books at a discount. In 2013, it moved from the basement of the Chicago Theological Seminary to the McGiffert House, a former CTS dormitory.

We are so glad you are listening to our podcast! This week's sermon is based on Acts 17:16–31. We were delighted to welcome Rev. Braxton Kemp to our pulpit while our pastor and a group from our church were traveling in the Holy Land. Braxton is a native of Richmond, VA, an M.Div. student at Chicago Theological Seminary, and an enneagram fanatic (he's a 3!). He is passionate about racial recognition, fighting injustices, and seeing a more diverse church and community. Braxton serves as a member of the CBF Virginia Coordinating Council, and was a breakout leader at our church several weeks ago when we hosted The Summit Youth Conference! We were delighted to welcome him back, and are so grateful for his willingness to share words of wisdom, encouragement, and challenge! To find more out about our church, head on over to our website at https://www.williamsburgbaptist.com. While you are there, you can also find out updated information about our current programming for children and spiritual formation, our ongoing speaker series, and our current Covid protocols on the website! Thanks again for listening. Blessings to you this week.

Are y'all ready for some brewtastic goodness LIVE from Atlanta?! On episode 175 of the Brew Theology Podcast, Ryan and Piper (Tallahassee BT Director) get to sit down with the renowned REV Otis Moss III* from McAfee School of Theology  (Part 1 of 2), and brew up the topic of preaching as community development. You definitely don't want to miss out on this one, friends!  We had the honor to reunite with McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University for their Fourth annual live podcast recording! This year's event featured McAfee's Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III (Part 1) and Dr. Robert Nash (Part 2). Get ready to enjoy top-notch theological conversation in regard to Otis Miller's Blue Note Preaching style! (Otis brings the heat, to say the least.) If you are a fan of any of our Brew Theology shows, give this episode a share on the interwebs, rate Brew Theology on iTunes and give BT a brewtastic review! Head over to the Brew Theology website, www.brewtheology.org to learn more, and/or become a local partner, sponsor and financial contributor. Questions & inquiries about Brew Theology, the alliance/network, Denver community or podcast, contact Ryan Miller: ryan@brewtheology.org &/ or janel@brewtheology.org. /// Follow us on Facebook & Instagram (@brewtheology) & Twitter (@brew_theology) Brew Theology swag HERE. T-shirts, tanks, hoodies, V-neck's, women's, etc. all in multiple colors. /// * With civil rights advocacy in his DNA, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III built his ministry on community advancement and social justice activism. As Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Ill., Dr. Moss spent the last two decades practicing and preaching a Black theology that unapologetically calls attention to the problems of mass incarceration, environmental justice and economic inequality. Dr. Moss is part of a new generation of ministers committed to preaching a prophetic message of love and justice, which he believes are inseparable companions that form the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As part of his community engagement through Trinity United Church of Christ, Dr. Moss led the team that came up with the “My Life Matters” curriculum; which includes the viral video “Get Home Safely: 10 Rules of Survival,” created in the aftermath of Michael Brown's death at the hands of Ferguson, Mo., police. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Moss is an honors graduate of Morehouse College who earned a Master of Divinity form Yale Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. He returned to Yale in 2014 to present the famed Lyman Beecher lectures. The three-day event included an in-depth discourse on the subject of “The Blue Note Gospel: Preaching the Prophetic Blues in a Post Soul World.” The lectures, which demonstrated a homiletic blueprint for prophetic preaching in the 21st century, were the foundation of his latest book, Blue Note Preaching in a Post-Soul World: Finding Hope in an Age of Despair, published in 2015. Dr. Moss was named to the inaugural Root 100, a list that “recognizes emerging and established African-American leaders who are making extraordinary contributions,” according to the publication's Website. Honorees range between ages 25 to 45, and their accomplishments and successes transcend media headlines or statistics. With a unique gift to communicate across generations, Dr. Moss' creative biblebased messages have inspired young and old alike. His intergenerational preaching gift has made Dr. Moss a popular speaker on college campuses, at conferences, and churches across the globe. He is highly influenced by the works of Zora Neale Hurston, August Wilson, Howard Thurman, Jazz, and Hip- Hop music. The work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the pastoral ministry of his father, Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio, have been primary mentors for his spiritual formation. He is the former pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta, Ga., his first pastorate, where the church grew from 125 members to over 2100 disciples during his tenure. His earlier publications include: Redemption in a Red Light District, and The Gospel According to the Wiz: And Other Sermons from Cinema. He coauthored The Gospel Re-Mix; How to Reach the Hip-Hop Generation with three other contributors, and Preach! The Power and Purpose Behind Our Praise, with his father. His sermons, articles, and poetry have appeared in publications such as Sojourners Magazine and The African American Pulpit Journal. Those works include: Power in the Pulpit II: America's Most Effective Preachers, Joy To The World: Sermons From America's Pulpit, Sound The Trumpet: Messages of Hope for Black Men, and The Audacity of Faith: Christian Leaders Reflect on the Election of Barack Obama. His work has also been featured on HuffingtonPost, Urban Cusp, and The Root. Dr. Moss is an ordained minister in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the United Church of Christ. He is on the boards of Auburn Seminary and Faith-In-Place/Action Fund , and chaplain of the Children's Defense Fund's Samuel DeWitt Proctor Child Advocacy Conference. Additionally, Dr. Moss is a Senior Fellow in the Auburn Seniors Fellow Program. He is married to his college sweetheart, the former Monica Brown of Orlando, Fla., a Spelman College and Columbia University graduate. They are the proud parents of two children, Elijah Wynton and Makayla Elon.

Follow us on Instagram @letstalktouchysubjects Join the Touchy Subjects Community on Facebook Support us on Buy Me A Coffee This episode was recorded on March 15, 2022. On this episode, we discussed why women holding leadership positions in the church is a touchy subject. On this episode, we shared: Experiences with discrimination as female leaders in the Church Biblical grounds for women to hold high level leadership positions in church How to create space in the Church for women to have a voice for generations to come  About our panel: Rev. Susan “Sue” A. Webley (She/Her/Hers) is an award-winning ordained minister and entrepreneur on a mission to Encourage, Empower, and Educate. She is an Associate Pastor at Rivers of Living Water Ministries, UCC in NY and NJ, and serves The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries as its National Minister of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. An advocate for the traumatized, ostracized, villainized, and stigmatized, part of Sue's life's work is to help young people -particularly those who exist on the margins - realize their purpose, tap into their Divine-given potential, and embrace their power. Sue is the editor of the anthology At the Table: Words of Faith, Affirmation, and Inspiration for LGBT Believers of Color, created to bring messages of hope, love, acceptance, reconciliation, and restoration to those rejected for walking in their authenticity. Currently, Sue is a student at Chicago Theological Seminary, finishing a Master of Divinity degree. She is in the process of compiling additional installments of the At the Table series along with penning a more personal work, Pushing Past You: From Limitation to Liberation, scheduled for release Winter 2022. Heather is a former pastor/worship leader that hosts the Just A Girl Pastor Podcast and page on Instagram. She has been out of church for almost a year after beginning her deconstruction journey over a decade ago. Her podcast and Instagram page started as a way to process her experience working in church, and her intention is to have conversations and create space for people to share their own stories of church hurt and abuse. Chandrika D. Phea, an ordained reverend, is an outdoor enthusiast, a triathlete, a Wellness Coordinator by profession, and a partner with W. Brand Publishing for the release of her debut book, "Lord, I Don't Want to Die a Christian." In 2005, she graduated Beacon University with a Bachelor's of Arts in Biblical Studies then went on to complete a two-year teaching and missions assignment in China that ultimately revolutionized her life. For fun, Chandrika initiates local events (e.g. Bikes and Breakfast, Melanin Miles & More) providing her community's Black women trustworthy outdoor experiences.

About KiaAn unapologetic agitator, Kia Speaks creates content that pushes the conversation forward. From digital campaigns and multimedia projects to thought-provoking articles, visuals and speeches, Kia tells stories that challenge, provoke, and move audiences into action.With over 15 years of communications experience, Kia has created award-winning digital campaigns that produced national and international media coverage, interviewed New York Times best-selling authors, Grammy-award winning artists, and US ambassadors, and provided digital support for speeches and lectures by Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis, and more.When she's not writing and tweeting, you can find Kia in front of the camera discussing media, culture, and society. She has been featured on NPR, BET, and TVOne.com discussing sex, gender, theology, and more.Kia earned a B.A. in English from Spelman College and graduated from Kennesaw State University with an M.A. in Professional Writing. She is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary.Connect with Kia:Find Kia online via her website, Instagram, Twitter, or FacebookConnect with UsBuy a Lent DevotionalSign up for our Weekly Devotional emailsFollow us on Instagram or FacebookGive financially to support the Lady Preacher Podcast!

A weekly podcast exploring stories at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. This week Mitch and Autumn talk about the ongoing fights for voting rights and public schools. Later, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III joins the show to talk about his family legacy and future in social justice. He built his ministry on community advancement and social justice activism. As Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Moss spent the last two decades practicing and preaching a Black theology that unapologetically calls attention to the problems of mass incarceration, environmental justice, and economic inequality. He was recently named professor of homiletics at Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Moss is an honors graduate of Morehouse College. He earned a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. He is the founder of Unashamed Media Group, a justice-centered, faith-based agency committed to producing and curating stories to inspire the heart and challenge the mind.

Join us for another season of OUR 7 NEIGHBORS. This season, we feature stories from the Black spiritual diaspora, hosted by Dr. Kameelah Mu'Min Rashad and brought to you by The InterReligious Institute at Chicago Theological Seminary, Muslim Wellness Foundation and Bayan Islamic Graduate School.