Podcasts about General Theological Seminary

"She has been there all along."   About the speaker: Nathan LeRud is the dean of Trinity Cathedral in Portland, OR, the oldest Anglican/Episcopal congregation in the Pacific Northwest. A fifth-generation Oregonian and native Portlander, Nathan holds a BA in English and Theatre from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA and an M.Div from the General Theological Seminary in New York City. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2007. He will step down from his position at Trinity at the end of December 2024. ________________________ Join us throughout the Advent season for Divine Feminine, a daily podcast Advent Calendar. How are we changed if we pray, "Our Mother, who art in Heaven," or, "We believe in one God, the Mother Almighty?" If humans are created in God's image, perhaps our understanding of and imagination for God has been too narrow. Every day in Advent, tune in to spend a few minutes with God's femininity – as we prepare for her humanity.

Episcopalians have a love-hate relationship with evangelism. Everyone is welcome into an Episcopal church, but how do they get there? Is it true that "everyone who should be an Episcopalian, is"? Isn't evangelism what other Christians do who have lots of enthusiasm but less natural restraint and good taste? Is there an Episcopal, or even an Anglican, way to be an evangelist? According to the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, you bet. There is very much a way for Episcopalians to be active evangelists. It's not about being selling vacuum cleaners, and it's not about building it and they will come. You don't even have to leave your Episcopal hat behind. But you may need to be willing to lay aside some preconceptions.Today we'll pop in on a conversation with Canon Stephanie, who is basically the current evangelist in residence and evagelism teacher for the whole Episcopal Church. We talk about how she came to the Episcopal Church, and how she came to have the heart she does for wanderers and seekers, and how discovering Jesus in every step of every person's spiritual journey is part and parcel of the Anglican way. Stephanie serves as Canon to Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry and spearheads Episcopal efforts around evangelism, racial reconciliation and creation care. Her newest books are The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline and New Hope for Beloved Community and an updated 15th anniversary edition Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The Other and the Spirit of Transformation. She has served as Chaplain to the Episcopal House of Bishops, taught mission and evangelism at General Theological Seminary, and served as a canon in the Diocese of Long Island. We'll talk about more of her story in the episode today and include a link in the show notes to learn more about her recent work.Now shod those feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, tie the laces tight. But stay loose. Today we're going to drop the E Word, then pick it up and run with it. We hope you enjoy the conversation.See more of Canon Stephanie's recent work.Register for The Human Pilgrimage conference.

The University of the Free State (UFS) has announced that it will, during its April graduation ceremonies, taking place on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses, confer honorary degrees on Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and Professor Salim Abdool Karim. The University said the conferral was for their significant contribution to society in their respective fields. UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Francis Petersen said the acknowledgement was a testament to their outstanding contributions to society, academia and the betterment of humanity. "Both are highly reckoned and respected, and their exemplary leadership, scholarship and unwavering commitment serve as guiding beacons for future generations," said Petersen. The University said that the degree PhD in Theology (h.c.) would be awarded to Makgoba on the grounds of exceptional achievements of public service in accordance with the ideals and principles of the UFS, at the Qwaqwa Campus on 12 April 2024. Makgoba, the esteemed Archbishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, has dedicated his life to fostering social justice, education and spiritual guidance, the university highlighted. His academic achievements reflect his dedication to intellectual pursuits alongside his pastoral duties, with the university stating that Makgoba's impactful leadership as president of the South African Council of Churches and Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape has inspired countless individuals across the world. He has also received honorary doctorates from the General Theological Seminary, New York; Huron University College, Ontario; the University of the South, Tennessee; the University of the Witwatersrand; and Stellenbosch University. His memoir, Faith and Courage: Praying with Mandela, exemplifies his profound influence on reconciliatory efforts and spiritual guidance in challenging times. Karim will be awarded the degree PhD in Medical Virology (h.c.) during the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Health Sciences, which will take place on the Bloemfontein Campus on 18 April 2024. The degree is awarded for Karim's scholarship in the field of medical virology and his distinguished contributions in this field. Karim, a distinguished clinical infectious disease epidemiologist, has garnered international acclaim for his ground-breaking research in HIV/Aids and Covid-19. As director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa and Professor of Global Health at Columbia University, Karim has been at the forefront of scientific innovation and public health advocacy. "His extensive publication record, including more than 500 journal articles and three epidemiology textbooks, underscores his dedication to advancing medical knowledge and combating infectious diseases. Prof Abdool Karim's pivotal research on HIV prevention and treatment of HIV-TB co-infection have revolutionised healthcare practices globally, saving countless lives and shaping public health policies," said UFS. Karim has served as special adviser on pandemics to the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO). He is an Adjunct Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard University, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Cornell University, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Karim serves as a member of the WHO Science Council, is Vice-President of the International Science Council, a member of the US National Academy of Medicine, and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Episode Summary:Interviewing Jonathan Merritt felt like having a conversation with myself. His journey out of white evangelical subculture is an almost mirror-image of my journey. My guess is, you'll find a lot of correlation as well. Jonathan was a card-carrying evangelical who left his Southern roots and evangelical home to find faith, family, and freedom outside the confines and cult-like community of evangelical Christianity. His journey led him from certainty to contemplation, from winning to wisdom, from the shallow end of the pool into the deep waters of Ignatian spirituality, and from exclusion to radical inclusion. As he reminds us, evangelical Christianity is not only a fairly modern invention, it is also a minority movement within global Christianity. Evangelicals do not have a monopoly on God. There are a myriad of spiritual pathways available to you once you leave. So take heart, there is life after evangelicalism. There is faith after evangelicalism. There is new found family after evangelicalism. You get to decide what your future is going to look like. You have the power to form a freer faith and a more inclusive “family.” Four years and seventy-four episodes into Holy Heretics Podcast and I can honestly say I believe this conversation with Jonathan Merritt to be the most helpful and hopeful episode we've ever created. I hope you enjoy!Bio:Jonathan Merritt is one of America's most popular writers on issues of faith and culture. He is author of several critically-acclaimed books, including Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words are Vanishing - and How We Can Revive Them, named “Book of the Year” by the Englewood Review of Books. Jonathan is an award-winning contributor for The Atlantic, a contributing editor for The Week, and a regular columnist for Religion News Service. He has published more than 3000 articles in respected outlets such as The New York Times, USA Today, Buzzfeed, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast and Christianity Today. In addition to the written word, Jonathan regularly contributes commentary to television, print, and radio news outlets. He has been interviewed by ABC World News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR, PBS, and CBS' “60 Minutes.” Jonathan is also a sought after speaker at colleges, conferences, and churches on topics relating to spirituality, politics, and current events. Whether he is delivering an academic lecture or inspirational sermon, Jonathan's captivating communication style and powerful presence are well-suited for intimate gatherings of hundreds or arenas filled with thousands. As a collaborator or ghostwriter, Jonathan has worked on more than 50 books, with several titles landing on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists. Additionally, he trains hundreds of young writers through his Write Brilliant seminars and online course. He is often available for exclusive one-on-one coaching for a select number of advanced writers.Jonathan holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Emory University's Candler School of Theology, and has done additional graduate work focused on ascetical theology at The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. He is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the Wilbur Award for excellence in journalism, and the Religion News Association's columnist of the year award. Jonathan currently happily resides in New York City. You can find Jonathan's latest children's book My Guncle and Me here! For more information about Jonathan and his writings, visit his website. You can also connect with Jonathan on Instagram. 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

Robert Flanagan has served as an Episcopal priest since 2003. He is chaplain at General Theological Seminary in New York and serves as dean's advisor at Virginia Theological Seminary. We speak today about this 2022 book The Letters of an Unexpected Mystic: Encountering the Mystical Theology in First and Second Peter. We attend especially to how …

This podcast features alumna author Nicole Ruane, class of 1988. Nicole is senior lecturer in classics, humanities, and Italian Studies at University of New Hampshire. She was previously a visiting assistant professor at Syracuse University, a lecturer at Northeastern University, and an instructor at Union Theological Seminary and The General Theological Seminary. She has published numerous scholarly articles about gender, sacrifice, and ritual in the Bible and her work was included in “A Question of Sex? Gender and Difference in the Hebrew Bible and Beyond,” edited by Deborah Rooke as well as other collections. Her book is “Sacrifice and Gender in Biblical Law.”

If you're just joining us... It's priestly, it's profane, it's the queerest thing we've ever done – it's the Gospel of Musical Theatre, the podcast that dives deep into the spirituality of musical theatre! And when we can't find any spiritual themes to talk about, we talk about the clothes and the chorus boys.   Previous seasons: Season 1:  Rodgers & Hammerstein Season 2:  Lerner & Loewe Season 3:  Stephen Sondheim Season 4:  Andrew Lloyd Weber Season 5:  Barbra Streisand Bonus episodes: Schmigadoon, Season 1 Schmigadoon, Season 2 Steven Spielberg's West Side Story The Music Man (Pride Edition!) Sondheim & Judaism   Meet the Hosts: Nathan LeRud is a native Oregonian, a pastor's kid, and a musical theatre geek. With degrees in theology (General Theological Seminary) and English (Whitman College), his great loves are teaching the Bible, exploring Oregon history, attending vintage matinees at the Hollywood Theatre and finding the intersection of popular culture and religion. Nathan is currently Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Portland, Oregon. He also knows how to clog. Peter Elliott has loved musical theatre his whole life. At age 12, he appeared as Oliver Twist in a semi-professional production of Oliver! During his time as Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, British Columbia, it was the location of many musical theatre productions, including a memorable three night revue of the work of Stephen Sondheim September in the Cathedral with Sondheim, and Jubilation: 125 Years of Musical Theatre.

"Were you silent, or were you silenced?" About today's speaker:  The Very Rev'd Nathan LeRud is Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Portland, OR. With degrees in theology (General Theological Seminary) and English (Whitman College), his great loves are teaching the Bible, exploring Oregon history, attending vintage matinees at the Hollywood Theatre and finding the intersection of popular culture and religion. A native Oregonian, a pastor's kid, and a musical theatre geek, Nathan is also cohost of the podcast The Gospel of Musical Theatre (gospelofmt.podbean.com). He also knows how to clog.   Reverberation of the Spirit is a daily podcast for Advent designed to help us rediscover the beauty of waiting, as we prepare for the coming of Christ. Listen every day in Advent in the "Sermons from Trinity Cathedral Portland" podcast feed, trinitycathpdx.podbean.com

"Peace is here." About today's speaker:  Laura Di Panfilo is Associate Rector at St. Paul's Episcopal in Mt. Lebanon, PA, and the host of the podcast And Also With You. She grew up in Massachusetts and is a graduate of Emory University where she completed a BA in Women's Studies and Religious Studies. She earned her Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary and her Master of Arts in Ministry from General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York City. She was ordained a transitional Deacon in June in New Jersey, and was ordained to the Priesthood at St. Paul's in December 2019. Laura worked as a chaplain at a trauma hospital in Trenton, New Jersey prior to her time at St. Paul's. Laura is also a certified Kripalu yoga instructor and has taught classes in both yoga studios and churches. She lives with her husband Luke who is also a priest in the diocese, her pug and infant. At St. Paul's she coordinates Newcomers Ministries and also support the ministry of the Pastoral Care Commission and the Spiritual Growth Commission.   Reverberation of the Spirit is a daily podcast for Advent designed to help us rediscover the beauty of waiting, as we prepare for the coming of Christ. Listen every day in Advent in the "Sermons from Trinity Cathedral Portland" podcast feed, trinitycathpdx.podbean.com

If we can hold on to the God that suffers with us and transforms our pain, then the God that is with us comes through. Bishop Bob Fitzpatrick of The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i joins For People to share the impact of the recent fires on Maui and how it has brought waves of shock and sorrow throughout the community.  Together with Bishop Wright, they the deep impact of the devastations in Maui, navigating through the shock, sorrow, and anger expressed by its people. Bishop Bob offers his unique perspective as a spiritual leader, drawing parallels from the scriptural Lamentations, and shares how the church is fostering a space for open dialogue, healing, and support in these trying times.They discuss leadership in the face of adversity, scripture that equips us during times of sorrow, and the outpouring of love in the form of resources and letters from the mainland in the wake of the fire. God is with us in the grief! Listen in for the full conversation.Support the disaster relief efforts in The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i here.Bishop Bob Fitzpatrick is the fifth Bishop of The Diocese of Hawai‘i. He graduated from DePauw University, Greencastle, IN, and received a Master of Divinity degree from the General Theological Seminary, New York, NY. He also has a Doctor of Ministry degree in homiletics from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL. He was elected as 5th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi on October 20, 2006 and was ordained as Bishop on March 10, 2007.  He also serves as the Bishop-in-Charge of the Episcopal Church in Micronesia.  His wife, Bea, is a registered nurse.  He has two adult sons, a grandson, and a granddaughter.

We're back! This season we're focusing on worship, particularly worship that is transformative. Our season long guest is Rory Noland and we will be working with his book, Transforming Worship: Planning and Leading Sunday Services as If Spiritual Formation Mattered. In addition to Ruth and Rory, we will also be bringing other guests into the conversations about worship with spiritual formation at its core. This season is for all who worship, not just pastors and leaders who plan the weekly services!   In today's episode Aaron Niequist joins Ruth and Rory to discuss the practices that make up Transforming Worship. They discuss how Covid revealed just how little participation was required in most church services, the temptation leaders face to create emotional experiences rather than allow space for the Holy Spirit to do its work, and what's wrong with how most of us pray in worship settings. This conversation is full of thoughtful dialogue and practical advice.   Aaron Niequist is a liturgist, writer, and pastor who recently graduated from General Theological Seminary in NYC. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and Willow Creek Church (Barrington, IL), he created A New Liturgy - a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings. He then curated a discipleship-focused, formational, ecumenical, practice-based community at Willow Creek called “The Practice”. Aaron released a book called The Eternal Current: How a Practice-based Faith can Save us from Drowning, and continues to create resources to help others flesh it out. He currently serves at St Peter's Episcopal Church in Chelsea and helps lead Pastors, Priests and Guides retreats around the country. The best part of his life is his wife Shauna, and their sons Henry and William.  Aaronniequist.com   Rory Noland is the director of Heart of the Artist Ministries, an organization dedicated to serving artists in the church. He mentors worship leaders, speaks at churches and conferences, leads retreats for artists, and consults with churches in the areas of worship and the arts. Rory is also a trained spiritual director, a published songwriter and has authored five books, including the best-seller, The Heart of the Artist: A Character-Building Guide For You and Your Ministry Team. Rory earned a Doctoral Degree from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. He was part of TC2 and led worship for the The Transforming Center for fifteen years.   We are now accepting applications for Transforming Community 20! Use the code Podcast20 to receive $50 off your application fee. Learn more and apply HERE.   Mentioned in the episode: Transforming Worship: Planning and Leading Sunday Services as If Spiritual Formation Mattered by Rory Noland All music in this episode is featured on the Transforming Resource, The Lord is In Our Midst CD   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive bonus conversations, extra content and guided practices relating to Rory's book.  Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Comparing the way Jesus lived with the Church today can be pretty confusing. It can be hard to find your place among so many differing ideologies and competing viewpoints. In this episode, we are breaking down what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus in a divided world.Join us today on the Lasting Change Podcast, where we're talking with Aaron Niequist, a liturgist, writer, and pastor who recently graduated from General Theological Seminary in NYC. Together we're talking about practice-based faith, de-construction, re-construction of faith, and the importance of staying open-minded when searching for the “right way” to follow Jesus.Learn more about how you can get involved today at onecollective.org/podcasts

This week, Jonathan Merritt joins me to discuss all things writing and publishing. If you have ever been interested in the behind-the-scenes of publishing a book or have the desire to refine your own writing, you will surely enjoy this episode!  Episode At A Glance: This week on The SavvyCast, Jonathan Merritt joins me to discuss all things writing, publishing, and ghostwriting. Jonathan is a widely celebrated author, cultural commentator, and ghostwriter. He is also an incredible writing teacher and has trained hundreds of young writers through one-on-one coaching, his online seminar, and writing courses. In this episode, Jonathan shares how he became involved with writing, the details of his writing seminar, the three main ways to publish a book, and so much more.  Who Is Jonathan Merritt?  Jonathan Merritt is one of America's most popular writers on issues of faith and culture. He is the author of several critically-acclaimed books, including Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words are Vanishing - and How We Can Revive Them, named “Book of the Year” by the Englewood Review of Books. Jonathan is an award-winning contributor for The Atlantic, a contributing editor for The Week, and a regular columnist for Religion News Service. He has published more than 3000 articles in respected outlets such as The New York Times, USA Today, Buzzfeed, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, and Christianity Today.  As a collaborator or ghostwriter, Jonathan has worked on more than 50 books, with several titles landing on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists. Additionally, he trains hundreds of young writers through his Write Brilliant seminars and online courses. He is often available for exclusive one-on-one coaching for a select number of advanced writers. Jonathan holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Emory University's Candler School of Theology, and has done additional graduate work focused on ascetical theology at The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. Jonathan currently happily resides in New York City. He is an aspiring dog dad, a college football fan, and intolerable before coffee. Questions Answered In This Episode: How did Jonathan start writing? What are other forms of writing people can do other than writing a book? What is the “Write Brilliant” writing course and what skills does it teach? What is ghostwriting? What is the ghostwriting process like? What are the 3 main ways to publish a book? What do you need if you want to go into trade publishing? What is hybrid publishing? Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Jonathan Merritt's website Write Brilliant Writing Course - Use code SAVVY for 25% off until Oct. 1 http://www.christopherferebee.com/ I hope you enjoyed this episode! As always, if you have time to rate, review and subscribe to The SavvyCast on Apple Podcasts, it would be SO appreciated. If you would prefer to watch the podcast interview, check it out on YouTube. Blessings to you! Jamie Announces New Role With Birmingham/Nashville Christian Family Magazines How Glorilight is Making Kids' Bedtime More Productive and Peaceful

Welcome to The "For the Makers" Podcast where we interview artists on their journeys, inspirations, and processes and encourage you, the makers, to listen well and tell stories. Today's guest is Kimberly Yates. Kimberly Yates is a New York based actress. Some of her favorite projects include the LA premiere of The Mistakes Madeline Made by Elizabeth Meriweather, creator of New Girl, the New York Premiere of Fabuloso at the Irish Repertory Theatre, The Cherry Orchard playing opposite Jim Parsons, The Woolgatherer playing opposite Bradley Cooper, playing alongside Sue Galloway in the Wonder of the World and Criminal Minds', Kirsten Vangsness in the Inv:s:ble Play. She can be heard in tons of anime features including Evangelion, Gunsmith Cats and Read or Die for which she won the Dubbie Award for Best Voice Actress in a Leading Role. She's the acting coach for clients including A$AP Rocky, Jack Whitehall and 2 time Emmy winner Tamara Braun. One of the founding members of the improv team High Status and their spinoff podcast called, High Tea. She gave a TedxTalk called Re-Learning Forgiveness. She graduated with a Masters of Sacred Theology from General Theological Seminary in May of 2022 and won the historic Seymour Prize for Extemporaneous Preaching. She has written the book Rivers of Life: A 40 day devotional, the film Relatively Speaking starring Jim Parsons, and was commissioned to write the short film “Kissing.” She has recently workshopped her first full length play: La Joie: A Play about Suffering. It is based on the Chagall painting named La Joie, so if the title is hard to pronounce blame it on him. Kimberly's socials: Website: Kimberly-yates.com IG: @kimberlyyat La Joie IG: @playlajoie Ted Talk on YouTube IMDb Seeded Productions, LLC: Visit our website to support us on Patreon: www.seededproductions.com And follow us on Instagram: @seeded.productions Podcast Producers: Seeded Productions, LLC Todd & Tina Gifford Huge thank you to Cultivate NYC for allowing us to use their space and equipment!

During the Easter season, Sermons That Work is pleased to present reflections from bishops of The Episcopal Church on the resurrection of our Lord. Check back each week for a brief exploration of how Jesus Christ's rising from the grave changes everything. The Rt. Rev. Shannon Rogers Duckworth was ordained and consecrated on November 19, 2022, as the 12th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. A 2001 graduate of The General Theological Seminary, Bishop Duckworth served in the Diocese of Mississippi until her call in 2013 as canon to the ordinary to the Rt. Rev. Morris K. Thompson, Jr. Sermons That Work is an offering of the Episcopal Church's Office of Communication. For more free resources, including sermons, Bible studies, bulletin inserts, and more, visit episcopalchurch.org/sermons. We would love it if you'd rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcasting platform – and while you're at it, share it with a friend!

Episode 109 was recorded at the West Seattle food bank, so the quality of the recording is below. our normal standard, we hope you will still enjoy the conversation we had with Frann Yeatts, the executive director of the West Seattle Food Bank and Elise Johnstone, Rector of St. John's The Baptist Episcopal Church. Elise joined St. John's in August of 2021. Prior to joining St. John's, she served as the Canon to the Ordinary of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, in Kentucky, where she had served since 2014. Prior to that call, she served as Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity, Georgetown, KY, and the Assistant Rector of Good Shepherd, Lexington, KY. She has a Bachelor's in Classics from the University of Georgia, a Master of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary in New York City, and a Doctor of Ministry in Liturgy from the University of the South School of Theology in Sewanee, TN. Fran Yeatts, was hired as Executive Director of the West Seattle Food Bank June of 2001.Prior to joining this agency Fran had managed vocational services at Highline West Seattle Mental Health (now called Navos) for 10 years and worked with at risk youth for two years. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and enjoys hiking, skiing and traveling in her spare time.   The songs picked by all our guests can be found via  our playlist #walktalklisten here.    Please let me/us know via our email innovationhub@cwsglobal.org what you think about this new series. We would love to hear from you.   Please like/follow our Walk Talk Listen podcast and follow mauricebloem on twitter and instagram.  Or check us out on our website 100mile.org.  We also encourage you to check out the special WTL series Enough for All about an organization called CWS.  The 11th 100 mile walk campaign will continue until the summer, find more info via de 100mile.org website. Or go straight to our fundraising page.

Today we are pleased to present an encore guest meditation by Aaron Niequist. Aaron is a liturgist, writer, and pastor who recently graduated from General Theological Seminary in NYC. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and Willow Creek Church (Barrington, IL), he created A New Liturgy - a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings. He then curated a discipleship-focused, formational, ecumenical, practice-based community at Willow Creek called “The Practice”. Aaron released a book called The Eternal Current: How a Practice-based Faith can Save us from Drowning, and continues to create resources to help others flesh it out. But that's just job stuff. The best part of his life is his wife Shauna, and their sons Henry and Mac. 

Jonathan Merritt is one of America's most popular writers on issues of faith and culture. He is author of several critically-acclaimed books, including "Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words are Vanishing - and How We Can Revive Them" named “Book of the Year” by the Englewood Review of Books. Jonathan is an award-winning contributor for The Atlantic, a contributing editor for The Week, and a regular columnist for Religion News Service. He has published more than 3000 articles in respected outlets such as The New York Times, USA Today, Buzzfeed, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast and Christianity Today. In addition to the written word, Jonathan regularly contributes commentary to television, print, and radio news outlets. He has been interviewed by ABC World News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR, PBS, and CBS' “60 Minutes.” Jonathan is also a sought after speaker at colleges, conferences, and churches on topics relating to spirituality, politics, and current events. Whether he is delivering an academic lecture or inspirational sermon, Jonathan's captivating communication style and powerful presence are well-suited for intimate gatherings of hundreds or arenas filled with thousands. As a collaborator or ghostwriter, Jonathan has worked on more than 50 books, with several titles landing on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists. Additionally, he trains hundreds of young writers through his Write Brilliant seminars and online course. He is often available for exclusive one-on-one coaching for a select number of advanced writers.Jonathan holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Emory University's Candler School of Theology, and has done additional graduate work focused on ascetical theology at The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. He is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the Wilbur Award for excellence in journalism, and the Religion News Association's columnist of the year award. Jonathan currently happily resides in New York City. He is an aspiring dog dad, a college football fan, and intolerable before coffee. Hear more from Jonathan at:https://www.jonathanmerritt.com/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jonathan_merritt/Facebok:  https://www.facebook.com/JonathanMerrittWriter/ Learn more at StephanieNelson.comDownload Stephanie's free ebook to cut your grocery bill in half--no coupons required!Follow us on Instagram @stephanie_nelson_cmFollow us on Facebook at CouponMom

Donate to the Living Church. What's more important, unity or justice? Today we're travelling back in time with the Rev. Dr. Brandt Montgomery and the Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin to look at some influential figures from the Episcopal past -- John Henry Hobart and the founders of Saint James School in Maryland -- and how they influenced the shapes of political engagement of Anglicans in the United States. We'll examine the choices they made that encouraged justice and flourishing among God's people, especially among Black Anglicans -- or not; and mistakes they made that, however clear or unclear they were at the time, we can now see in retrospect. What can we learn from them? One interesting pattern that we'll trace from the 19th century to today is the high-church Anglican habit of reserve, which often includes a strategy of gradualism or reticence when it comes to social justice issues. How do you balance social justice with a peaceful or coherent community life? Is it a matter of balance? Or some other kind of equation? Together Father Brandt and Bishop Franklin will examine this speckled history as it plays out in these leaders' responses to social ills and evils, especially those that affect Black Americans, from slavery to civil rights. And what do the Anglo-Catholics have to do with all of this? Bishop Bill Franklin is assisting bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island. He was previously Bishop of Western New York, and has also served, among other places, at St. Paul's Within the Walls in Rome, as associate director of the American Academy in Rome, and as associate priest of the Anglican Centre in Rome. He served as dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and as a professor at the General Theological Seminary in New York and at St. John's University in Minnesota. Fr. Brandt Montgomery is the chaplain of Saint James School in Hagerstown, Maryland, having previously served as the Chaplain of Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette, Louisiana and curate at Canterbury Episcopal Chapel and Student Center at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He is a trumpet player and profound lover of jazz, as well as a scholar of American religious history, Episcopal Church history, the Oxford Movement and Anglo-Catholicism, and the Civil Rights Movement. Last but not least, our interviewer today is the Rev. Mark Michael, who is our editor and interim executive director here at the Living Church. Now ready the horses and hold onto your garters. We're headed into 200 years of history to see what we can learn for today. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Donate to the Living Church. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/living-church/support

On this episode we talk about how violence and injustice affect our humanity, and about the possibility and practice of peacebuilding and reconciliation. Jeff and Emily are joined by Nina Balmaceda and Michael Battle.Dr. Nina Balmaceda is a scholar-practitioner whose work focuses on civic leadership development and education for peace and reconciliation. Nina is president of Peace and Hope International, a nonprofit that works through local organizations in Latin America to prevent and confront violence and other forms of injustice against the most vulnerable.Rev. Dr. Michael Battle is the Herbert Thompson Professor of Church and Society and Director of the Desmond Tutu Center at General Theological Seminary. In his PeaceBattle Institute he works on subjects of diversity, spirituality, prayer, race and reconciliation. He is the author of many books including his latest Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa's Confessor. You can also join Dr. Battle on trips to learn more about the life and work of Tutu.Please note that this episode references situations of sexual violence.

Luke Jernagan, an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church and Director of Family Learning at the Matter Family Office, passionately shares the value of counseling for wealthy multigenerational business owners and their families. The problems facing any family are complicated; however, the issues can escalate when wealth is added to the equation. The Matter Family Office provides tools that enable families to work through problems while focusing on identity, values, vision, and purpose. Tune in to hear how this type of counseling creates a foundation for families to thrive over generations.     IN THIS EPISODE    [01:33] Luke Jernagan explains the purpose of The Matter Family Office  [04:04] The benefits of communication  [06:27] Luke describes the differences between secular counseling and the counseling done at The Matter Family Office  [11:04] How successful families navigate the wealth they have by listening, identifying purpose and intent  [15:33] Bringing in-laws into a family business seamlessly  [17:54] Encouraging parishioners to seek outside counseling and the rules regarding that situation in the Episcopal Church  [21:09] Luke leaves us with a takeaway about himself and his passion    KEY TAKEAWAYS    Multi-generational families with businesses have obstacles that other families do not. It takes effort to manage wealth and teach children how to manage money successfully..   Extended family within the business can bring another set of problems. The best way to handle those joining the existing family is to have a plan before the situation arises.   It is essential to begin training children early about the mechanics of running a business and the pitfalls they may face.  Business owners need to realize that all the tools and knowledge they have that create a  successful business are different from the tools that make a healthy, thriving family.    RESOURCES:    Beyond the Balance Sheet Website    The Matter Family Office Website    Luke Jernagan LinkedIn    Luke Jernagan Facebook    BIO:    Luke joined Matter in 2022 after 15 years as a parish priest in the Episcopal Church. He was drawn to the Family Matter Office for many of the same reasons he is drawn to ministry – his love of helping people celebrate the joys of life – and has deep experience guiding families as they navigate complexities, transitions, and opportunities.  As Matter's Director of Family Learning, Luke works with families to strengthen their relationships, communicate effectively, and identify what matters most to them, so they can thrive as individuals and together. He also leads Philanthropic Strategic Planning and Next-Gen Education at Matter and enjoys supporting family members of all ages and financial acumens on their wealth journeys.  A graduate of the University of Alabama with master's degrees in divinity and sacred theology from the General Theological Seminary, Luke is also a trustee of American Friends of the Anglican Centre, a Rome-based organization working to promote reconciliation across denominations. He serves on the board of the Episcopal Parish Network, which encourages innovation and collaboration across the church. He is a board member of the Cricket Island Foundation, which funds organizations that support youth-led social change.  Luke is a lifelong learner and is drawn to hobbies and activities that lend themselves to continuous improvement. Nothing makes him happier than skiing with his kids and pushing himself to tackle harder runs and techniques. Golf is another passion (he picked it up during the pandemic, and now he's hooked), though Luke notes that woodworking with his children is more satisfying and produces better results…time together and a hand-made item that will last forever.

"I'm not willing to hide any longer." About today's speaker: The Very Rev'd Nathan LeRud is a native Oregonian, a pastor's kid, a musical theatre geek, and Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Portland. With degrees in theology (General Theological Seminary) and English (Whitman College), his great loves are teaching the Bible, exploring Oregon history, attending vintage matinees at the Hollywood Theatre, and finding the intersection of popular culture and religion. He also knows how to clog.   Advent for Every Body is a daily podcast exploring how human bodies bear God in our world. Listen every day in Advent in the "Sermons from Trinity Cathedral Portland" podcast feed, trinitycathpdx.podbean.com. 

Subscribe to The Living Word Plus -- 30% off with an annual subscription. Learn more about the Anglican Heritage Pilgrimage. Today's episode is bittersweet. When we were recording it, we were saying goodbye, now we have said goodbye to our executive director of 13 years, Dr. Christopher Wells -- the inimitable Christopher Wells -- and in today's episode, I sit down with him for a little heart-to-heart. An exit interview, if you will. We reflect together on his time at TLC, his own sense of calling, and what next for him in his new role in London. And how can you have a conversation with Christopher without also talking about Anglican history? We do talk about Anglican history, and little about the history of the Living Church as a magazine and a movement; about the vocation of Anglicanism; and about how evangelical, Catholic, and ecumenical go together like Stanley Hauerwas, George Lindbeck, and the Second Vatican Council. For those of you who sense some insider baseball up in here, you are absolutely right, and like baseball, you will still enjoy yourself even if you don't know everything that's going on. So grab yourself a hotdog and stick with us. We'll be entertaining and edifying as always. But there will definitely be some goodies in here for those interested in the Living Church's history and mission, and what further cahoots might look like with, for example, the Anglican Communion Office in London. Speaking of which, Dr. Christopher Wells is the new Director of Unity Faith and Order for the Anglican Communion Office. He was executive director and publisher of the Living Church Foundation for 13 years. He is affiliate professor of theology at the General Theological Seminary and Nashotah House Theological Seminary, where he teaches courses on Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, and Anglican ecclesiology. He has served as theological consultant to the Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation in the U.S. (ARC-USA), is a prolific writer and editor, as well as a runner and an appreciator of good food. You definitely want to have dinner with Christopher. I also count him as a friend. And like me, I hope you enjoy the conversation. Subscribe to The Living Word Plus -- 30% off with an annual subscription. Learn more about the Anglican Heritage Pilgrimage. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/living-church/support

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is the Rt. Rev.  Kirk Smith, Church Divinity School of the Pacific's interim Dean and President, and former Bishop of the Diocese of Arizona. Bishop Smith spoke with us about about deepening the churches understanding of its history while adapting to the need of a changing world to spread the Gospel in the 21st century. He also shared about his own call and his hopes for serving the CDSP community. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio:  Bishop Kirk Smith is the interim Dean and President of Church Divinity School of the Pacific.  He formerly served as bishop of the Diocese of Arizona from 2004 to 2019. Before and after his retirement in 2019, he taught church history courses at the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, General Theological Seminary, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and Virginia Theological Seminary. He served as Bishop in Residence at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale for the Spring term 2021.Prior to serving as bishop for the Diocese of Arizona from 2004-2019, Bishop Smith led parishes in Connecticut and California, including St James', Wilshire Boulevard, a large urban multi-cultural and multi-racial congregation which also operates a day school, nursery school, senior housing project and food program. He received his bachelor's degree from Lewis and Clark College, MDiv from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and PhD from Cornell University.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

In many churches, innovation and experimentation is avoided, often due to a fear of failure. Author and Episcopal Priest Lorenzo Lebrija joins the pod to talk about Design Thinking, why frameworks can be helpful in church contexts, and why failing is okay. Lebrija believes that God rewards faithfulness, not success and encourages leaders to examine their goals rather than just aiming to get people in the seats! The Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija is the Chief Innovation Officer of Virginia Theological Seminary and the founding director of TryTank Experimental Lab, an action laboratory for church innovation. Prior to launching TryTank, Fr. Lorenzo was the Chief Development Officer for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. He also served as the Pastor on behalf of the Bishop at St. John's Episcopal Church in San Bernardino, CA, and as priest associate at St. Athanasius Episcopal Church at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul in Los Angeles. He studied at the General Theological Seminary in New York City where he earned his Master of Divinity degree. His book How to Try is available by print or audio. The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.  

On this episode, we speak with Rev. Chris McNabb, the Program Officer for Recruitment & Engagement of Neighbor to Neighbor. We explore the experience, evolution, and expansion of this program since its inception around August 2021, as well as some continued challenges around funding, and the call to respond to issues of forced-displacement as a result of environmental changes and gender identity. Fr. Chris McNabb is an Episcopal Priest who has been called to the work as Program Officer for Recruitment & Engagement of Neighbor to Neighbor, a program of Episcopal Migration Ministries. He graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity, and earned his diploma in Anglican Studies from The General Theological Seminary. Prior to his role with EMM, Fr. McNabb served as the Curate for "Caritas, Justice, and Healing" at Trinity Church in Princeton, NJ and was the Priest in Charge of St. Francis Episcopal Church, on the south shore of Long Island. When not working, Chris enjoys hiking, camping, and hanging out with his dog Lucky. Neighbor to Neighbor trains community groups to welcome newcomers into their communities. You can play a critical role in this ministry. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, stitcher, Google play, or SoundCloud. To support the ministry of welcome, make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

In the June 2022 issue of Presence Journal, Dr Westina Matthews writes, “We will not attempt to convince another to adopt any view but rather offer a safe and sacred space to share knowledge and to engage in open and honest dialogue about what is usually considered to be a taboo topic.  In spiritual direction, often resisted is the topic of sex, sexuality, and sexual orientation. We have found that both spiritual director and spiritual directee tend to avoid these “taboos,” So why the silence? (We) are convinced it is due to the shame.” How does one begin to overcome this shame?” In this interview, we talk with Dr Matthews about how spiritual directors and companions can begin to create a safe, holy space in their sessions to allow for safe, brave conversations about sexuality. Approaches, icebreakers questions, acknowledging sexual confusion and harm, and understanding sexuality from a contemplative grounding are discussed. --- Dr. Westina Matthews, PhD, is an author, public speaker, retreat leader, and theologian. She is an adjunct professor at General Theological Seminary in the Center for Christian Spirituality in New York, New York, USA, where she teaches contemplative spiritual direction. Further reading and resources can be found at https://www.spiritualityandsexuality.org/ Dr. Westina's website: Westina – Author (westinamatthews.com) --- Presence is the flagship publication of SDI. It comes out four times a year, and is an international journal on spiritual direction and companionship. Presence Journal is available in print and on the web to SDI Members.  Read the current issue on the web, with exclusive video interviews, here: Presence - 28.2 - June 2022 - SDI Companions Become a Member of SDI and support our work to bring spiritual direction and companionship to the world by clicking here: SDI Membership - Join the Community of Spiritual Companions (sdicompanions.org)    

Today's guest is Dr. Michael Battle, an Episcopal moral theologian whose work centers around the spirituality, life, and work of Archbishop Desomd Tutu of South Africa. Dr. Battle discusses his most recent work, Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa's Confessor, and touches on how Archbishop Tutu saw forgiveness, reconciliation, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the world.Dr. Battle is currently appointed as Herbert Thompson Professor of Church and Society and Director of the Desmond Tutu Center at General Theological Seminary in New York. He has an undergraduate degree from Duke University, received his master's of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, a master's of Sacred Theology from Yale University and a PhD in theology and ethics, also from Duke University. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1993. He lived and worked with Archbishop Tutu for two years, where he saw the deep faith that guided the Archbishop's life in every way.Resources:Learn more about Dr. BattleBuy Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa's ConfessorFind Dr. Battle on Facebook and Twitter

The Very Reverend Ward B. Ewing is former Dean and President of The General Theological Seminary in New York City. Dr. Ewing has met in and with Alcoholics Anonymous groups as a non-alcoholic for more than four decades, also serving as Trustee and Chair of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous for the U.S. and Canada. In addition to the book that grows out of that experience, Twelve Steps to Religionless Spirituality: the Power of Spirituality with or without God, which we discuss in this episode, he has also written one volume each on the Book of Job and the Book of Revelation.

The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers serves as Canon to Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry and spearheads Episcopal efforts concerning evangelism, reconciliation, and creation care. Her newest book, The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline and New Hope for Beloved Community (March 2021), follows her popular titles Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The Other and the Spirit of Transformation and The Episcopal Way. Spellers has served as chaplain to the Episcopal House of Bishops, directed and taught mission and evangelism at General Theological Seminary, and served as a canon in the Diocese of Long Island. Before that, she founded The Crossing, a ground-breaking church within St. Paul's Cathedral in Boston, and led numerous church-wide renewal and justice efforts. A native of Frankfort, Kentucky, she and her husband Albert deGrasse make their home in New York's Harlem neighborhood.

**We recorded this episode in November, before the omicron wave came to North America and well before various jurisdictions began lifting restrictions. Had we recorded this later in the pandemic we would have spent additional time discussing the complexity of how vulnerable populations are affected by public health decisions.** Robyn, Stephanie, and Gabe talk about the HIV/AIDS pandemic, some of the comparisons with the COVID19 pandemic, and Church responses to both. The Rev. Gabe Lamazares serves as the Associate Rector at St. Phillip's Church in Durham, North Carolina. Since his ordination as a priest in 2011, he has served congregations in Portland, Oregon, Manhattan, and Queens. He received his Master of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary and his Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Boston College. Gabe lives in Durham, North Carolina with his husband Terry and their dog Marley. Full Transcript Resources from and related to the episode: A note that Gabe misspoke when he said it's been 30 years since the first cases of AIDS showed up in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; it's actually been 40 (such is the nature of time!). Here's a reference to that report from the 20 years later: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5021a1.htm  The Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina ACT-UP NY Historical Info website, Current website St Luke-in-the-Fields NYC For a look at the conversation in popular culture when effective anti-retroviral drugs first became available, see this Newsweek article from 1996 https://www.newsweek.com/end-aids-175200  How to Survive a Plague: The Documentary (for more history of AIDS activism)

The Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija is the Director of the TryTank, a joint project of Virginia Theological Seminary and the General Theological Seminary.

This week's guest is Jon Carl Lewis (he/him), who is a spiritual director and writer focusing on the intersection between spirituality and sexuality for queer folks. Lewis shares about his childhood and adolescence, and what it was like for him to discover his gay identity and then later come out amidst the AIDS pandemic of the 1980's. He goes on to share about how his Second Adolescence involved completing developmental tasks missed out on from his first adolescence, and how maintaining and redefining a relationship with Christianity that invites more space for queerness has been integral to his path and to the work he now does in the world. About the guest:Jon Carl Lewis (he/him) is a 56-year-old, Gay Christian living with his husband of 26 years in Trenton, NJ. A lifelong Christian and undeniably gay—he has wrestled for over forty years with the question of integrating his sexuality and spirituality. Although raised in the Black church, a flirtation with fundamentalism landed him in conversion therapy—which didn't work. Deciding to choose life rather than the living death fundamentalism prescribed, he joined the Episcopal Church, where he worshiped for almost 30 years. After a period of deconstruction, he reconstructed his approach to Christianity from a more contemplative perspective and became a spiritual director. He now worships in a radically inclusive and LGBTQ-celebrating Methodist congregation where he has been asked to preach.  He is a graduate of Princeton University and has been trained to think theologically and biblically at Princeton Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, and the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. In October 2020,  he launched the Sex & the Gay Christian website (at sexgaychristian.com) as a place to provide resources and gather community to support Queer men seeking to live integrated sexual lives. He is currently working on a book on the topic of Sex & the Queer Christian, which is expected to be released in 2023. For show notes and more, visit secondadolescencepod.com.Download episode transcript here.

PODCAST What does the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea mean to you? Religion and architecture? Art galleries and gay bars? Shopping and brunch after a stroll on the High Line? Tens of thousands of people, of course, call it home. But before it was a neighborhood, it was the Colonial-era estate of a British military officer who named his bucolic property after a London veterans hospital. His descendant Clement Clarke Moore would distinguish himself as a theologian and writer; he invented many aspects of the Christmas season in one very famous poem. But he could no longer preserve his family estate when New York civic planners (and the Commissioners Plan of 1811) came a-calling. Moore parceled the estate into private lots in the 1820s and 30s, creating both the exclusive development Chelsea Square and the grand, beautiful General Theological Seminary. Slowly, over the decades, this charming residential district (protected as a historic district today) would be surrounded by a wide variety of urban needs -- from heavy industrial to venues of amusement. One stretch would even become "the Bowery of the West Side." Further change arrived in the late 20th century as blocks of tenements were replaced with housing projects and emptied warehouses became discotheques and art collectives. Then came the Big Cup. Join us as we celebrate over 200 years of urban development -- how Chelsea the estate became Chelsea the neighborhood. Visit the Bowery Boys website for more information on Chelsea. If you like the show please rate and review The Bowery Boys podcast on Apple Podcasts Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/boweryboys See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melissa Chim, an adjunct professor and reference librarian with the General Theological Seminary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tara is joined by Becca Ehrlich from Lost Resort on TBS, who describes how living with less makes room for more of the things that really matter.Becca Ehrlich is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and services as Associate Dean for Community Life at General Theological Seminary in New York City. Her book, Christian Minimalism: Simple Steps for Abundant Living was released in May. Check out her blog, Facebook page, Twitter & Instagram.You can read Tara's story about her Grandpap here.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/taraleastman)

On today's Halloween show, Reagan Seidler, author of "The Law of Haunted Houses" in the latest volume of the UBC Law Review talks why homeowners aren't legally obligated to let potential buyers know if the property was home to a horrific crime. Melissa Chim, an adjunct professor and reference librarian with General Theological Seminary discuses how a notorious 15th-century book gave instructions – and helped execute thousands of women thought to be witches. Plus, we get the low-down on how exactly the myth of vampires was born with Stanley Stepanic, an assistant professor of Slavic languages and literatures at the University of Virginia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guests on this episode of Crossings Conversations are the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church, and Dr. Scott MacDougall, associate professor of theology at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. They spoke to us about Dr. MacDougall's new role as theologian to the House of Deputies, the importance of lay theologizing, and the prophetic witness of the Church. Full transcript now available here.Guest Bios: The Reverend Gay Clark Jennings was elected president of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church in 2012, and was reelected in 2015.  As president, Jennings is committed to fostering a new generation of leaders in the Episcopal Church and encouraging the church's work for justice through the actions of General Convention and the work of Episcopalians throughout the church.  She was ordained in 1979 and is a nine-time deputy from the Diocese of Ohio. She is also the Episcopal Church's clergy representative to the Anglican Consultative Council.  Before her tenure as president, she served on the Executive Council from 2006-2012, and has held many elected and appointed leadership positions, including chairing the General Convention legislative committees on Structure, World Mission, Communications, and Canons. She is a founding member of the Chicago Consultation, which supports the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians.Dr. Scott MacDougall was appointed theologian of the House of Deputies in 2020. He also serves as associate professor of theology at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Prior to undertaking the formal study of theology, he worked in the non-profit sector. He received his MA in theology from General Theological Seminary in 2007, and his PhD in systematic theology from Fordham University in 2014.  His research centers on ecclesiology and eschatology and is interested in the difference a robust theological imagination of the future makes in how Christian community is lived out, both in the church itself and in the wider world.About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Drawing on the concepts presented in Matt's book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, the Reverend Merrill Wade joins Matt to discusstactful delivery and the art of remaining composed during a performance or presentation,finding faith in the ability to build confidence,how to discern and manage anxious environments and communication, andthe necessity and benefits of sincere compliments. (The Reverend) Merrill Wade is a recently retired Episcopal priest living in Austin, Texas. Raised on Air Force bases in Florida, Morocco, and Kansas, his family settled in Fort Worth, Texas in the mid-1960s. Merrill graduated from the University of Texas in 1976. He worked in the oil and gas industry for the next nine years, the last six years as a petroleum land manager in Jackson, Mississippi. In 1986 he made a career change, and after having attended and graduated from General Theological Seminary in New York City, he was ordained an Episcopal minister in 1989. Merrill served three congregations in Mississippi (Vicksburg, Long Beach, and Meridian) over the next 13 years. In 2002 he and his wife Crystal and their two young children were called to Austin, Texas, where Merrill served as the Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church for 17 years, retiring in the Fall of 2019. A music lover, Merrill and St. Matthew's launched a singer-songwriter series in Austin called the Soul of a Musician Series in 2013. The Soul Series affectionately focused on the heart and soul of the musicians seeking to honor their creativity and vocation. Merrill has spoken on music issues at the South by Southwest Music Conference four times and, on occasion, is interviewed on local “sports talk” radio as an informed live music curator. Merrill is excited about offering his 31 years of non-profit leadership experience in the South and Southwest in support of the staff and board of This is Noteworthy. Matt Wilson gained national exposure as the “Piano Man” in the First National Tour of the Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp's Tony-award-winning musical Movin' Out. In 2005, the Texas State Senate honored Matt with a resolution for his achievements in Fine Arts, and he was accepted to the 2016 - 2018 Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster. Matt continues to tour with his band, headlining numerous public, private, and social events of all sizes. In 2021, Matt released his first book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, available on Amazon and iBooks.Support the show

Today we are pleased to present a guest meditation by Aaron Niequist. Aaron is a liturgist, writer, and pastor who recently graduated from General Theological Seminary in NYC. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and Willow Creek Church (Barrington, IL), he created A New Liturgy - a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings. He then curated a discipleship-focused, formational, ecumenical, practice-based community at Willow Creek called “The Practice”. Aaron released a book called The Eternal Current: How a Practice-based Faith can Save us from Drowning, and continues to create resources to help others flesh it out. But that's just job stuff. The best part of his life is his wife Shauna, and their sons Henry and Mac.  aaronniequist.com

Jonathan Merritt is one of America’s most popular writers on issues of faith and culture. He is author of several critically-acclaimed books, including Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words are Vanishing - and How We Can Revive Them, named “Book of the Year” by the Englewood Review of Books. Jonathan is an award-winning contributor for The Atlantic, a contributing editor for The Week, and a regular columnist for Religion News Service. He has published more than 3000 articles in respected outlets such as The New York Times, USA Today, Buzzfeed, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast and Christianity Today. In addition to the written word, Jonathan regularly contributes commentary to television, print, and radio news outlets. He has been interviewed by ABC World News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR, PBS, and CBS’ “60 Minutes.” Jonathan is also a sought after speaker at colleges, conferences, and churches on topics relating to spirituality, politics, and current events. Whether he is delivering an academic lecture or inspirational sermon, Jonathan’s captivating communication style and powerful presence are well-suited for intimate gatherings of hundreds or arenas filled with thousands. As a collaborator or ghostwriter, Jonathan has worked on more than 50 books, with several titles landing on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists. Additionally, he trains hundreds of young writers through his Write Brilliant seminars and online course. He is often available for exclusive one-on-one coaching for a select number of advanced writers. Jonathan holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, and has done additional graduate work focused on ascetical theology at The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. He is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the Wilbur Award for excellence in journalism, and the Religion News Association’s columnist of the year award. Jonathan currently happily resides in New York City. He is an aspiring dog dad, a college football fan, and intolerable before coffee. @deconstruct.poc @officialadamfrost @laurendeleary Facebook: Jonathan Merritt; Instagram: jonathan_merritt; Twitter: @JonathanMerritt

Reverend Michael Battle’s latest book, “Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa’s Confessor,” gives an unprecedented closeup of one of the most visible figures of the anti-apartheid movement. Rev. Battle has known Archbishop Tutu for more than 25 years, once living in residence with him in South Africa, serving as his chaplain and eventually getting ordained by him. In that time, he became deeply acquainted with the spirituality that helped Tutu tackle apartheid. In today’s episode, he talks about what he learned from his mentor, how he came to be in that position as his mentee, who Archbishop Tutu was beyond his political work, as well as Rev. Battle’s thoughts on the current reparations movement. Rev. Battle is currently the Herbert Thompson Professor of Church and Society and Director of the Desmond Tutu Center at General Theological Seminary in New York. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com

In this episode of Think Queerly, I speak with Jon Carl Lewis, the founder of Sex and the Gay Christian. He is also one of my coaching clients.Jon Carl Lewis has studied theology, scripture, discernment, and ethics at Princeton Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School and General Theological Seminary. He is currently in training to be a spiritual director, which immerses him in contemplative practices designed to integrate an awareness of the Divine presence into every aspect of one's personhood and relationships.Throughout his studies, he has been distracted by questions he didn't think he could ask — questions that seemed to be at the periphery of the concerns of the academy and the religious establishment. There were places where he could explore identity and questions of belonging as a gay man, as a Black man, and as a Christian embracing those two identities, but he didn't find a place where he could answer his questions about actual sex, sexual ethics, sexual practice, and sexual relating.In this interview, we discuss,Who Jon Carl is and what he believes in;What has happened in his life that has created a curiosity to discover how his sexual attitudes and practices could better integrate with his spiritual life and practices;What led him to create “Sex and the Gay Christian,” a healthy, sex-positive, Christ-centred community, and;The book he is currently writing.We also talk about coaching, specifically,How he was feeling before he reached out to me;What made him decide to connect with me;What happened at the end of our first session;How he is feeling now and what he is doing differently since we started working together three months ago, and;The value of coaching in his life.You can learn more about Jon Carl and Sex and the Gay Christian by going to his Website or following him on Twitter and Instagram.Darren Stehle is a coach, writer, and host of the Think Queerly Podcast. He helps deep thinkers & creatives cultivate their purpose & uniqueness to enjoy more peace of mind, acceptance, and freedom. Subscribe to Darren's Newsletter to be notified of new articles, podcast episodes, and some of his best work and ebooks along the way.

Here is my segment of the #Christmas episode of TGIF on the Wallasey Unleashed channel - see the full episode and subscribe here: hhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLy-iMASe91bbJReLRyVfHg. It tried to be cynical but it didn't work out. This is the work of Samuel Clements Moore. The poem, which has been called "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American", is largely responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today. Prior to the poem, American ideas about St. Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors varied considerably.On Christmas Eve night, while his wife and children sleep, a man awakens to noises outside his house. Looking out the window, he sees St. Nicholas in an air-borne sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. After landing his sleigh on the roof, the saint enters the house through the chimney, carrying a sack of toys with him. The man watches Nicholas filling the children's Christmas stockings hanging by the fire, and laughs to himself. They share a conspiratorial moment before the saint bounds up the chimney again. As he flies away, Saint Nicholas wishes everyone a "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."Clement Clarke Moore ( 1779 – 1863) was an American Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, as well as Divinity and Biblical Learning, at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Located on land donated by the "Bard of Chelsea" himself, the seminary still stands today on Ninth Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets, in an area known as Chelsea Square. Moore's connection with that institution continued for over twenty-five years. He is the author of the yuletide poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", which later became famous as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azPXxmB4nKI

Here is my segment of the #Christmas episode of TGIF on the Wallasey Unleashed channel - see the full episode and subscribe here: hhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLy-iMASe91bbJReLRyVfHg. It tried to be cynical but it didn't work out. This is the work of Samuel Clements Moore. The poem, which has been called "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American", is largely responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today. Prior to the poem, American ideas about St. Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors varied considerably.On Christmas Eve night, while his wife and children sleep, a man awakens to noises outside his house. Looking out the window, he sees St. Nicholas in an air-borne sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. After landing his sleigh on the roof, the saint enters the house through the chimney, carrying a sack of toys with him. The man watches Nicholas filling the children's Christmas stockings hanging by the fire, and laughs to himself. They share a conspiratorial moment before the saint bounds up the chimney again. As he flies away, Saint Nicholas wishes everyone a "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."Clement Clarke Moore ( 1779 – 1863) was an American Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, as well as Divinity and Biblical Learning, at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Located on land donated by the "Bard of Chelsea" himself, the seminary still stands today on Ninth Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets, in an area known as Chelsea Square. Moore's connection with that institution continued for over twenty-five years. He is the author of the yuletide poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", which later became famous as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azPXxmB4nKI

Doug Pagitt talks with the Rev. Michael Battle author of "Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa's Confessor."   The first biography of its kind about Desmond Tutu, the book examines how his Christian mysticism shaped his commitment to restorative justice and reconciliation. Rev. Battle, director of the Desmond Tutu Center at General Theological Seminary, has known Archbishop Tutu for more than 25 years, and has seen up close his deep spirituality, rooted in ancient Christian practice, and in the African concept of Ubuntu, human interdependence. “Tutu's life and work are crucial for both the wellbeing of the world and the survival of the church that seem equally bent toward crisis and culture wars,” Rev. Battle says.     Buy the book here.   michaelbattle.com   Doug Pagitt is the Executive Director and one of the founders of Vote Common Good. He is also a pastor, author, and social activist. @pagitt   The Common Good Podcast is produced and edited by Daniel Deitrich. @danieldeitrich Our theme music is composed by Ben Grace. @bengracemusic   votecommongood.com votecommongood.com/podcast facebook.com/votecommongood twitter.com/votecommon  

Our guest on this episode of Crossings Conversations is Bishop Jennifer Reddall of the Diocese of Arizona. Bishop Reddall talks about new models of leadership formation for rural parishes in the Diocese of Arizona. She also discusses the importance of laughter and flexibility in church leadership. Download full episode transcript hereGuest Bio: The Right Reverend Jennifer Reddall is Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. She formerly served as Rector of the Church of the Epiphany in New York City, proclaiming a message of joy, love, and justice. She grew up in California and graduated from Yale University with a degree in Theater Studies before pursuing her vocation in the Church and graduating from General Theological Seminary in 2002. About the Show: Crossings Conversations is a co-production of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Trinity Church Wall Street. If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or share it with a colleague. You can learn more about the only Episcopal seminary on the West Coast and subscribe to Crossings magazine at cdsp.edu.

Jonathan Merritt is one of America's most trusted and popular writers on religion, culture, and politics. He is an award-winning contributor for The Atlantic, a contributing editor for The Week, and is author of several critically-acclaimed books including Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words are Vanishing - and How We Can Revive Them. Jonathan has published more than 3500 articles in respected outlets such as The New York Times, USA Today, Buzzfeed, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. As a respected voice, he regularly contributes commentary to television, print, and radio news outlets and has been interviewed by ABC World News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR, PBS, and CBS' “60 Minutes.” Jonathan is a sought after speaker at colleges, conferences, and churches on topics relating to spirituality, politics, and current events. Whether he is delivering an academic lecture or inspirational sermon, Jonathan's captivating communication style and powerful presence are well-suited for intimate gatherings of hundreds or arenas filled with thousands. As a collaborator or ghostwriter, Jonathan has worked on more than 50 books, with several titles landing on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists. Additionally, he trains hundreds of young writers through his Write Brilliant seminars and online course. He is often available for exclusive one-on-one coaching for a select number of aspiring and accomplished writers. Jonathan holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Emory University's Candler School of Theology, and has done additional graduate work on ascetical theology at The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. He is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the Wilbur Award for excellence in journalism, the Religion News Association's columnist of the year award, and the Englewood Review of Books “Book of the Year” award. Jonathan currently resides in New York City where he is an aspiring dog dad and college football fan. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanMerritt Follow Jonathan on Instagram @Jonathan_Merritt

Season 2 Episode 61: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am you host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. Clement Clarke Moore, born July 15, 1799 was a writer and American Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, Divinity and Biblical Learning at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in New York City. Clement Moore had strong ties to the seminary for I understand that it was his generosity that led him to donate land, which was his private apple orchard, upon which the seminary was built. The Seminary remains on the same parcel of land, which is located at Ninth Avenue between 20th and 21st streets, in an area known as Chelsea Square Clement Moore became a wealthy man through the ownership of the estate “Chelsea,” an inheritance he received from the passing of his mother and grandfather. Fast forward to present day, the “Chelsea” area is located on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between 14th Street to the south, the Hudson River and West Street to the west and Sixth Avenue to the east, with its northern boundary variously described as near the upper 20s or 34th Street. Clement Moore accomplished a great deal in his lifetime. He was a writer and a poet, a professor and scholar. He served twice in the position of President of Columbia College (now Columbia University) and served as a board member on the New York Institution for the Blind. But what he is most known for is how he changed the way we see Christmas. He called the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” It was published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel in 1823. He had second thoughts in 1837 when eventually he told everyone that he had penned the poem. Many believe that it is the most well-known and beloved poem written by an American poet. We read it every Christmas, most generally on Christmas Eve, and then reflect on Christmases past when we were young and heard the familiar words read by our parents and grandparents. Santa and the tradition of Christmas gift-giving was transformed by this poem Clement Moore published several academic works, including A Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language (Collins & Perkins, 1809), but “A Visit from St. Nicholas” more commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas” and “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” captured the hearts of children young and old. Please join me in reading, A Visit form St. Nicholas AKA ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

Please enjoy this virtual book talk featuring 'Courage to Thrive' by Bob Flanagan, provided by Cathedral Book Store and recorded on November 10, 2020. ABOUT THE BOOK: When battling mental illness, it takes courage to find victories in the small things of life—including, some days, getting out of bed. In his first-person spiritual journal Courage to Thrive, Rev. Dr. Bob Flanagan, who has battled mental health illness for two decades and managed to thrive, offers meditations that navigate the dark scenery of his mind and then the paths that lead to the Source of light. Whether dealing with mental health challenges or everyday stressors of life, readers are left with a quiet confidence that they can still thrive and enjoy the gifts God has given them. Each reflection concludes with a heartfelt prayer that revels in God's healing mercies. Order your copy of the book here: https://www.cathedralbookstore.org/courage-to-thrive-finding-joy-and-hope-in-the-mids.html ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The Rev. Dr. Bob Flanagan has struggled with mental illness and managed to thrive for over twenty years. He holds a doctorate of ministry degree in Christian Spirituality and is an adjunct faculty member at General Theological Seminary in New York City, teaching on Christian spirituality. He has served for over ten years as a state and federal advocate for and board member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. His previous book, Growing a Sustainable Soul, won a bronze medal in the Reader's Favorite International Book Contest. Bob lives with his wife, Lanie, in Bridgewater, Connecticut. They have two grown children.

In this episode of Stang Stories, Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer '87 discusses her time at Milton (0:56), Harvard (3:46), and The General Theological Seminary (9:01); experience in the aftermath of 9/11 (11:44); and work at The Interfaith Center of New York (15:39) - along with her perspective on aspects of religion and social justice (20:19). (Image source: The Interfaith Center of New York Facebook)

This week we continue with our four part series on the exploration of sexuality in spiritual companionship. Facilitated by Frederica Helmiere, we present to you a series of perspectives from several spiritual directors, pastors, and guides on how they approach sexuality in their roles as spiritual companions. These episodes are offered in conjunction with our upcoming webinar series Spiritual Companionship and the Divine Erotic – Ethics and Sexuality, which you can learn more about at sdicompanions.org. This week features a conversation with Frederica, professor and spiritual director Westina Matthews, and Episcopal Priest Father Tommie Watkins, who will be presenters at our upcoming Santa Fe conference.  -- Westina Matthews is an adjunct professor for the Center for Christian Spirituality at The General Theological Seminary, where she teaches contemplative spiritual direction. A graduate of the Spiritual Guidance program at the Shalem Institute, she is an author, public speaker, spiritual director and retreat leader whose practice reflects contemplative living through “holy listening.” Westina has contributed to several Forward Movement anthologies and was a frequent contributor to Sacred Journey: The Journal of Fellowship in Faith. Her newest book is Dancing from the Inside Out: Grace-filled Reflections on Growing Older (Church Publishing Inc., 2019).   Father Tommie Watkins, the first openly gay ordained black priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, is the Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Alabama. A certified Spiritual Director and licensed master social worker (LMSW), he completed his joint Doctorate in Philosophy degree from the Universities of Alabama, Tuscaloosa and University of Alabama, Birmingham, School of Public Health. Father Tommie earned his Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from The General Theological Seminary. In his book Living Out Loud, he shares his struggle of self-acceptance. Father Tommie’s favorite quote is Dr. King’s: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” As such, Father Tommie is compelled to continue to Live Out Loud. --- Support for this podcast comes from SDI’s upcoming webinar, Spiritual Companionship and the Divine Erotic – Ethics and Sexuality In this two part webinar, we will explore embodied spirituality, sexuality and the divine erotic as they relate to the practice of spiritual companionship. Join us for this practice-based training designed for spiritual companions, guides and directors. Learn more at https://www.sdicompanions.org/product/sdi-webinar-series-spiritual-companionship-and-the-divine-erotic-ethics-and-sexuality/

The Richard Spasoff Show Ep 74 is a unique blend of paranormal, spirituality and comedy.With Guest: Wolfman Jesse James Hale III (christian catholic prayer warrior i believe in forgiveness) and Jason Faust Founder and lead investigator for Heartland Paranormal. Father Rutler was ordained to the diaconate in Rome by His Eminence William Cardinal Baum in 1980 and received priestly ordination in St. Patrick's Cathedral at the hands of His Eminence Terence Cardinal Cooke in 1981. He served as Associate Pastor of St. Joseph's in Bronxville; Our Lady of Victory in the Wall Street area; and St. Agnes, in Manhattan. He was a university chaplain for the Archdiocese, and also chaplain to a general hospital and a psychiatric hospital. For ten years he was also National Chaplain of Legatus, the organization of Catholic business leaders and their families, engaged in spiritual formation and evangelization. A board member of several schools and colleges, he is Chaplain of the New York Guild of Catholic Lawyers, Regional Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary (New York and northern New Jersey) and has long been associated with the Missionaries of Charity, and other religious orders, as a retreat master. Since 1988 his weekly television program has been broadcast worldwide on EWTN. Father Rutler has lectured and given retreats in many nations, frequently in Ireland and Australia. Cardinal Egan appointed him Pastor of the Church of Our Saviour, effective September 17, 2001, and Cardinal Dolan appointed him pastor of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in 2013.Born in 1945 and reared in the Episcopal tradition in New Jersey and New York, Father Rutler was an Episcopal priest for nine years, and the youngest Episcopal rector in the country when he headed the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. He was received into the Catholic Church in 1979 and was sent to the North American College in Rome for seminary studies. His parents, Adolphe and Dorothy, both now deceased, were received into the Church in 1982 by Cardinal Cooke. Father Rutler graduated from Dartmouth, where he was a Rufus Choate Scholar, and took advanced degrees at the Johns Hopkins University and the General Theological Seminary. He holds several degrees from the Gregorian and Angelicum Universities in Rome, including the Pontifical Doctorate in Sacred Theology, and studied at the Institut Catholique in Paris. In England, in 1988, the University of Oxford awarded him the degree Master of Studies. From 1987 to 1988 he was regular preacher to the students, faculty, and townspeople of Oxford. Thomas More College and Christendom College awarded himhonorary doctorates, and in 1996 Governor George W. Bush made him an Honorary Texan. For his help at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 he was honored by the City Council of New York and was made an honorary firefighter by the City of Dallas. He is a knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and chaplain of the St. Andrew's Society of the State of New York, the Robert Burns Society of the City of New York, and the West Point Society of New York.Father Rutler has made documentary films in the United States and England, contributes to numerous scholarly and popular journals and has published 31 (and counting) books on theology, history, cultural issues, and the lives of the saints, and also one book on sports, as a member of the U.S. Squash Racquets Association.oin Psychic Medium and Comedian Richard Spasoff as he welcomes guests to discuss their personal experiences with the paranormal and journeys in spirituality. Everything from ghosts and profound truth, to celebrity interviews and more can all be found in every episode of the Richard Spasoff Show.The Richard Spasoff Show is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit our LISTEN LIVE page and join the...

The Richard Spasoff Show Ep 74 is a unique blend of paranormal, spirituality and comedy.With Guest: Wolfman Jesse James Hale III (christian catholic prayer warrior i believe in forgiveness) and Jason Faust Founder and lead investigator for Heartland Paranormal. Father Rutler was ordained to the diaconate in Rome by His Eminence William Cardinal Baum in 1980 and received priestly ordination in St. Patrick's Cathedral at the hands of His Eminence Terence Cardinal Cooke in 1981. He served as Associate Pastor of St. Joseph's in Bronxville; Our Lady of Victory in the Wall Street area; and St. Agnes, in Manhattan. He was a university chaplain for the Archdiocese, and also chaplain to a general hospital and a psychiatric hospital. For ten years he was also National Chaplain of Legatus, the organization of Catholic business leaders and their families, engaged in spiritual formation and evangelization. A board member of several schools and colleges, he is Chaplain of the New York Guild of Catholic Lawyers, Regional Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary (New York and northern New Jersey) and has long been associated with the Missionaries of Charity, and other religious orders, as a retreat master. Since 1988 his weekly television program has been broadcast worldwide on EWTN. Father Rutler has lectured and given retreats in many nations, frequently in Ireland and Australia. Cardinal Egan appointed him Pastor of the Church of Our Saviour, effective September 17, 2001, and Cardinal Dolan appointed him pastor of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in 2013.Born in 1945 and reared in the Episcopal tradition in New Jersey and New York, Father Rutler was an Episcopal priest for nine years, and the youngest Episcopal rector in the country when he headed the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. He was received into the Catholic Church in 1979 and was sent to the North American College in Rome for seminary studies. His parents, Adolphe and Dorothy, both now deceased, were received into the Church in 1982 by Cardinal Cooke. Father Rutler graduated from Dartmouth, where he was a Rufus Choate Scholar, and took advanced degrees at the Johns Hopkins University and the General Theological Seminary. He holds several degrees from the Gregorian and Angelicum Universities in Rome, including the Pontifical Doctorate in Sacred Theology, and studied at the Institut Catholique in Paris. In England, in 1988, the University of Oxford awarded him the degree Master of Studies. From 1987 to 1988 he was regular preacher to the students, faculty, and townspeople of Oxford. Thomas More College and Christendom College awarded himhonorary doctorates, and in 1996 Governor George W. Bush made him an Honorary Texan. For his help at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 he was honored by the City Council of New York and was made an honorary firefighter by the City of Dallas. He is a knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and chaplain of the St. Andrew's Society of the State of New York, the Robert Burns Society of the City of New York, and the West Point Society of New York.Father Rutler has made documentary films in the United States and England, contributes to numerous scholarly and popular journals and has published 31 (and counting) books on theology, history, cultural issues, and the lives of the saints, and also one book on sports, as a member of the U.S. Squash Racquets Association.oin Psychic Medium and Comedian Richard Spasoff as he welcomes guests to discuss their personal experiences with the paranormal and journeys in spirituality. Everything from ghosts and profound truth, to celebrity interviews and more can all be found in every episode of the Richard Spasoff Show.The Richard Spasoff Show is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit our LISTEN LIVE page and join the...

The Richard Spasoff Show Ep 74 is a unique blend of paranormal, spirituality and comedy.With Guest: Wolfman Jesse James Hale III (christian catholic prayer warrior i believe in forgiveness) and Jason Faust Founder and lead investigator for Heartland Paranormal. Father Rutler was ordained to the diaconate in Rome by His Eminence William Cardinal Baum in 1980 and received priestly ordination in St. Patrick's Cathedral at the hands of His Eminence Terence Cardinal Cooke in 1981. He served as Associate Pastor of St. Joseph's in Bronxville; Our Lady of Victory in the Wall Street area; and St. Agnes, in Manhattan. He was a university chaplain for the Archdiocese, and also chaplain to a general hospital and a psychiatric hospital. For ten years he was also National Chaplain of Legatus, the organization of Catholic business leaders and their families, engaged in spiritual formation and evangelization. A board member of several schools and colleges, he is Chaplain of the New York Guild of Catholic Lawyers, Regional Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary (New York and northern New Jersey) and has long been associated with the Missionaries of Charity, and other religious orders, as a retreat master. Since 1988 his weekly television program has been broadcast worldwide on EWTN. Father Rutler has lectured and given retreats in many nations, frequently in Ireland and Australia. Cardinal Egan appointed him Pastor of the Church of Our Saviour, effective September 17, 2001, and Cardinal Dolan appointed him pastor of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in 2013.Born in 1945 and reared in the Episcopal tradition in New Jersey and New York, Father Rutler was an Episcopal priest for nine years, and the youngest Episcopal rector in the country when he headed the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. He was received into the Catholic Church in 1979 and was sent to the North American College in Rome for seminary studies. His parents, Adolphe and Dorothy, both now deceased, were received into the Church in 1982 by Cardinal Cooke. Father Rutler graduated from Dartmouth, where he was a Rufus Choate Scholar, and took advanced degrees at the Johns Hopkins University and the General Theological Seminary. He holds several degrees from the Gregorian and Angelicum Universities in Rome, including the Pontifical Doctorate in Sacred Theology, and studied at the Institut Catholique in Paris. In England, in 1988, the University of Oxford awarded him the degree Master of Studies. From 1987 to 1988 he was regular preacher to the students, faculty, and townspeople of Oxford. Thomas More College and Christendom College awarded himhonorary doctorates, and in 1996 Governor George W. Bush made him an Honorary Texan. For his help at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 he was honored by the City Council of New York and was made an honorary firefighter by the City of Dallas. He is a knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and chaplain of the St. Andrew's Society of the State of New York, the Robert Burns Society of the City of New York, and the West Point Society of New York.Father Rutler has made documentary films in the United States and England, contributes to numerous scholarly and popular journals and has published 31 (and counting) books on theology, history, cultural issues, and the lives of the saints, and also one book on sports, as a member of the U.S. Squash Racquets Association.oin Psychic Medium and Comedian Richard Spasoff as he welcomes guests to discuss their personal experiences with the paranormal and journeys in spirituality. Everything from ghosts and profound truth, to celebrity interviews and more can all be found in every episode of the Richard Spasoff Show.The Richard Spasoff Show is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit our LISTEN LIVE page and join the...

[ep 97] Aaron Niequist is a liturgist, writer, and pastor currently attending General Theological Seminary in NYC. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and Willow Creek Church...

Melissa Rau joins us for the fourth part of our coronavirus pandemic miniseries to discuss faith formation. We discuss rethinking faith formation now and beyond the pandemic.  Melissa Rau is Director of Partnerships and New Initiatives for Episcopal Church Foundation. Melissa joined the ECF staff in April 2018. Prior to joining ECF, she served churches as a consultant doing strategic visioning, assessments, facilitation, training, and coaching. She has studied with Princeton Theological Seminary, the General Theological Seminary, and Candler School of Theology. She has written and published curriculum and numerous articles for online and printed publications, and more recently co-authored a book—Ten Solutions for Small Churches. She has extensive ecumenical experience in parishes throughout the country. Melissa is married to the Rev. Mike Rau, Rector at Holy Nativity in Rockledge, PA. They have two daughters and a son. Melissa loves to read and is particularly fond of giraffes and the color orange.

Jennifer Allen is a seminarian at General Theological Seminary who is looking forward to her work in the Bethany House and Garden Project in Topeka KS. This project will bring together diverse groups in the area, including those victimized by poverty, trauma, and trafficking, and create a space that ministers to the soul while restoring the land.

Trinity CathedralEpiscopal Diocese of ArizonaPhoenix, AZThird Sunday after the EpiphanyIsaiah 9:1-41 Corinthians 1:10-18Matthew 4:12-23Psalm 27:1, 5-13New Associate for Hispanic Ministries - The Rev. Rosa M. Brown - A native of Costa Rica and a cradle Episcopalian, the Rev. Rosa M. Brown will be moving to Phoenix after serving Episcopal congregations in Arizona, California, New Jersey, and Ohio. Rosa received her theological education at Seminario Biblico Latinoamericano (Costa Rica) and General Theological Seminary in New York. She was ordained in November 1994, and was the first women ordained to the priesthood in Costa Rica. She will be serving at both Trinity Cathedral and Iglesia Santa Maria in Phoenix.

Trinity CathedralEpiscopal Diocese of ArizonaPhoenix, AZThe Rev. Rosa M. Brown is a native from Costa Rica and a cradle Episcopalian. Rosa has worked as Priest-In-Charge in the Diocese of Costa Rica.Prior to her calling to the Diocese of Arizona as Vicar at St. John’s, Bisbee and St, Stephen’s, Douglas, Rosa, served as Associate Rector at St. Philip’s in the Hills, Tucson, AZ. , as Vicar at Iglesia de la Magdalena, Glendale, CA and has served as Priest-In-Charge/Hispanic Missioner at St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish, Paterson, NJ, as well as Associate Rector/Hispanic Missioner at Church of Our Saviour in Cincinnati, OH.Rosa is a graduate of Seminario Biblico Latinoamericano (Costa Rica) and General Theological Seminary in New York, where she received a Master of Divinity Degree and Master in Sacred Theology. Ordained to the Holy Orders in November 1994, Rosa became the first women ordained to the Priesthood in Costa Rica.

Lesley Mazzotta is the founder and executive director of One World Girl, a nonprofit organization, working in NYC and Long Island, to empower and champion girls to reach their full potential, build leadership abilities and become changemakers in the world. For over 20 years, she has worked as a producer, educator, workshop facilitator and spiritual director, conceiving and producing unique programming, imaginative events and creative learning opportunities on Broadway, in entertainment and in religious communities around the country. Lesley also serves as the educational specialist for the RCA Women’s Transformation and Leadership, a national initiative that encourages and equips women for leadership and worked for 6 years as Producing Director of Camp Broadway, an award-winning children’s theater company in New York City. Lesley has a BA from Tufts University, a Certificate of Creative Arts Therapy from The New School and a Certificate of Spiritual Direction from General Theological Seminary. Lesley can be reached at lesleym@oneworldgirl.org Visit One World Girl at www.oneworldgirl.org --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paul-kimmerling/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/paul-kimmerling/support

Today’s guest is the Rev. Lee Ann Tolzmann, who currently serves on the staff for ECCT as Canon for Mission Leadership, and we’ll talk about what that means. Lee Ann grew up mostly in Virginia Beach, Virginia, but graduated from Glastonbury High School in Connecticut. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College, and General Theological Seminary. Lee Ann was ordained in the Diocese of Maryland, she served as the Assistant Rector at St. Andrew’s, Glenwood (Howard County, Maryland), and Rector of the Church of the Messiah in Baltimore. Lee Ann came to Connecticut in 2008 to serve as the Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Riverside. In 2015 she accepted the position of Canon for Mission Leadership for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Lee Ann’s main role is working with parishes in transition and helping to find proper placements for clergy in transitions. She also helps to break down the misconception of what “ministry” looks like — mainly that it doesn’t look like a full-time rectorship anymore. She is married to David, owner of the Labyrinth Company and one of our first guests on the podcast.  They live in Berlin, CT and have two grown daughters. Welcome Lee Ann!  Alli starts with a tough question: What does ministry look like right now and how has that shifted over time, and is it the same in other dioceses? Lee Ann jumps right in to tell us about the changes and how churches are responding. It’s not as bad as it could be ... She describes the difference in the various titles ECCT uses for parish priests, primarily between rector and priests-in-charge, and ECCT variants of those priests-in-charge. We talked about the challenge of finding priests who can serve as missional priests-in-charge in particular, defined as less than half time. Some are only 10 hours a week – the minimum needed. Retired priests are less likely than in prior years and decades to take on these jobs, and training and formation is slowly adjusting to allow more people to be ordained who will also have other employment, generally secular. The need for more part-time clergy is increasing and the number of available priests isn’t really keeping pace with that need. Alli asked if enough young people are being ordained to replace all the current Baby Boomer generation priests who are now retiring; Lee Ann gave more statistics and noted that in the 1980s and 1990s bishops chose not to ordain younger people, and while this has now changed, that affected both the supply of priests and prevented the church from receiving the charism that younger clergy bring. But the fact is, she said, we don’t have, and aren’t going to have, enough priests in ECCT for  every parish to have its own priest, and the change in model is very difficult for many lay leaders to accept – even though that model was an anomaly in the Anglican Communion and in The Episcopal Church. We switched topics, and Karin asked Lee Ann to share how she came to be a priest, herself, about living in Baltimore, and about her time serving in parishes in Baltimore and later, in ECCT. She arrived in Riverside right after the financial crisis hit, in 2008, and found preaching to be especially important in that community at that time. We asked for her reflections on the future of the church, and she’s hopeful – as long as the focus is on what God is doing, and following that -- and not on “growing the church.”

The Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija joins us to talk about his ministry with TryTank, a joint partnership between the General Theological Seminary and Virginia Theological Seminary. TryTank is a learning lab to experiment in church growth and innovation. In this episode we talk about the boldness to experiment in ministry, and how failure can lead to true success.  https://www.lorenzolebrija.com/about-lorenzo.html https://www.trytank.org/about.html   Check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/priestpulse  

Discussing: John Bale’s Biblical Plays Host Robert Crighton discusses with Dr Jeff S. Dailey the Biblical plays of John Bale - God's Promises, John Baptist's Preaching and The Temptation (of which we have recordings on the podcast).  Jeff Dailey produced two of John Bale’s Biblical plays in 2017 (John Baptist's Preaching and The Temptation) – details about the production, cast and photos, can be found at [http://johnbaleplays.blogspot.com/](http://johnbaleplays.blogspot.com/) Dr Jeff S. Dailey earned his PhD in theatre from NYU, with additional study at Wagner College, The College of Staten Island, The Folger Institute, New York Theological Seminary, General Theological Seminary, and Union Theological Seminary. This episode was recorded in late 2018 and features clips from some of our work - and includes some sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com and http://www.freesfx.co.uk. Excerpts from God’s Promises: Noah, Alan Scott - Abraham, Geir Madland – God, Robert Crighton Excerpt from Robin Hood and the Friar: Friar Tuck, Heydn McCabe – Robin Hood, Geir Madland Excerpt from Exploring John Baptist’s Preaching: Pharisee & Sadducee, Mark Scanlon and Mark Holtom – Jesus, Richard Fawcett Excerpt from Exploring The Temptation: Satan, Alan Scott  Support this podcast by going to www.patreon.com/beyondshakespeare or follow us @BeyondShakes on Twitter.

Trinity Episcopal CathedralDiocese of ArizonaPhoenix, AZThe Rev. Hershey Mallette Stephens, Associate Rector, St. John's Norwood (Chevy Chase/Bethesda).Hershey is a native North Carolinian. Baptized and raised at St. Ambrose Church in Raleigh, she is a third-generation Episcopalian. Hershey was educated at North Carolina A&T State University and Howard University before graduating from General Theological Seminary.Most recently, Hershey has worked in the Presiding Bishop’s Office of Evangelism, where she was Project Lead for the Beloved Community Storysharing Campaign.Hershey is married to Rob Stephens. Rob is the Minister for Congregational Life at Middle Collegiate Church, a multicultural community in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Together, they enjoy cooking, and also working on the Poor People’s Campaign.

The Very Reverend Dr. Alan W. Jones is Dean Emeritus at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Previously, he served as the Stephen F. Bayne Professor of Ascetical Theology at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, where he was the founder of the Center of Christian Spirituality at General. Dr. Jones is the author of numerous books, including "Journey Into Christ" and "Exploring Spiritual Direction: An Essay in Christian Friendship."

Diana Butler Bass is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture. She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University and is the award-winning author of ten books, including Grounded: Finding God in the World—A Spiritual Revolution, Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening, and her latest work, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. She speaks regularly at conferences, consults with religious organizations, leads educational events, and teaches and preaches in a variety of venues internationally. She has taught in colleges and seminaries and has commented on religion, politics, and culture in various media. The recipient of numerous grants and awards, she holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from The General Theological Seminary in New York, serves on the board of Public Religion Research, and is an advisor on the project for a National Museum of American Religion in Washington, D.C. We spoke about various issues around modern Christianity and the substance of her new book on gratitude. Learn more about Diana Butler Bass here: https://dianabutlerbass.com/.

Fr. Benjamin Gildas sits down for a roundtable discussion with the full time faculty of the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church to discuss challenges and opportunities facing current and new leadership in this denomination. www.gts.edu Desmond Tutu Travel Seminar with the Rev. Dr. Michael Battle: www.gts.edu www.michaelbattle.com  

Fr. Benjamin Gildas joins the faculty of the General Theological Seminary for a round-table discussion of many challenging issues facing the Episcopal Church in the 21st century: the future of seminary education, recapturing mission, incarnational ministry, and much more. This episode is dedicated to Mother Mitties DeChamplain for all the blessings she bestowed upon us and many generations of GTS grads. www.gts.edu

I met Petra a long time ago when we were both embarking on a 200 hour yoga certification. She's lived a lot of life since then. She's become more authentic and is living a life that is more in alignment with who she is. I stumbled on an older email thread from when we were on that yoga journey and it struck me what can happen in 10-11 years as the email sender was Peter rather than Petra. We have the potential to grow and change and become more vulnerable, authentic, real and add to that the backdrop of space and faith.  I am Petra Aleah and live in the United States, in northeastern New Jersey. Since childhood, the quest for the Divine has been the exclusive center of my life. I LOVE BOOKS One of the Fireside Poets, Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894), might have spoken for me when he wrote in 1858 in The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table, chapter 9, “I was born and bred … among books and those who knew what was in them,” and chapter 6, “I like books,—I was born and bred among them, and have the easy feeling, when I get into their presence, that a stable boy has among horses.” I too always loved books, especially old books, and the culture of books. AND THE OUTDOORS I love nature, and I love wilderness and whenever I can be out where it is wild—and beautiful and vast—and where people are sparse. Nature, as living presence, has always been the healing and nurturing companion of my spiritual life. I first started backpacking 30 years ago and converted to ultralight backpacking probably over 20 years ago. I am still an avid hiker, backpacker, and canoeist. Between 2014 and 2017, I worked in retail as a sales specialist at REI in Paramus. I was hired on the basis of my experience as an outdoorswoman. I am a Woman I am a woman who is transgender. My transition took place late in life. Outwardly I became to others who I already was to myself. I have therefore occupied the world of both genders: for most of my life I tried my best to live in the role of a male; in 2015, I finally “came out” to the public and transitioned outwardly to the wonderful creation of the Divine that I have always been. This is who I am before the Divine, who I have always been, the actual one whom the divine One created and redeemed. In a way, this is not a big deal because I have never been anyone else; it is just that no one else knew my actual gender, and I spent my life confused about it. That confusion and my coming out of it, of course, was a big deal (however little surprise it was to some others). A couple of years ago, I wrote a short reflection on my transition (see My 58th Birthday). In Admonition XIX, Francis of Assisi said to his brothers,  “What a man is before God, that he is and no more.” I would add, “and no other”: you are no other than what you are before the divine One. Bonaventure, in his Legenda Maior, tells us that Francis “had these words continually in his mouth.” My preaching every week on the Gospel according to Matthew in 2013, and seeing how this recognition by Francis was foundational to Jesus' own teaching—along with the spiritual reflection I was doing while taking a course at the General Theological Seminary during its Fall semester—compelled me to face the truth about myself, who I was in the presence of my divine Lover. Francis' words catalyzed my transition and my coming out. A newspaper story on me: “A Transgender Minister's ‘Long, Painful, Joyous, Happy and Dizzying' Road to Acceptance.” THE CHARISM THAT HOLDS ME I am a Franciscan, a Franciscan woman, a vowed member of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans since 2001. I think of myself this way first of all. To connect with Petra: * Email: petra.aleah@gmail.com * Website: https://petraaleah.net and http://mylonging.net * FB: www.facebook.com/petra.aleah

Throughout history, there have been many interpretations of the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Many of the early Christians viewed the ideal christian life in a very different way than how it is commonly viewed today. By reading the writings of early christian mystics, monks, priests and non canonical christian texts, we find a view of christian spirituality that parallels many of the life affirming views found in Tantra. Join us with ordained Episcopal priest, Reverend James Hughes Reho, as we explore the similarities between early mystical Christianity and Hindu and Buddhist Tantra. Rev. James Hughes Reho is an ordained Episcopal priest with a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Princeton University. He has served on the staff of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Miami, as the Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Formation at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, and currently pastors a Lutheran-Episcopal church in Fort Myers, Florida. A spiritual director and certified yoga instructor, he leads retreats and workshops on yoga, meditation, and tantric practice in both religious and secular settings. His recent book, Tantric Jesus: The Erotic Heart of Early Christianity, through Inner Traditions is available anywhere books are sold. --- Anatomy of Living Podcast with Ashton Szabo Tantric Jesus – Conversation with Rev. James Hughes Reho [Episode 01] Credits: Special Guest: Rev. James Hughes Reho www.jamesreho.org Producer and Host: Ashton Szabo Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Intro and Outro Music: Emily Ann Peterson   Ashton Szabo Facebook: www.facebook.com/anatomyofliving Instagram: @anatomyofliving Twitter: AnatomyofLiving www.anatomyofliving.com

Hello, friends. I'm Father Cathie.  I'm an Episcopal priest in North Carolina, serving congregations and people with the freedom to go where I am called. That's why my ministry is called Free Range Priest — instead of serving one church or group, I serve in many places and many ways. Through teaching and discussing Christian practice in everyday life, I help clergy and congregations re-imagine relationships and connect with audiences through digital evangelism. I became a Free Range Priest after a decade serving in Episcopal congregations in New York City, Durham, NC and Wichita, KS, then another five years serving regionally on a bishop's staff, where I worked with clergy and congregations through mission and ministry development. Today I consult and teach for Backstory Preaching, an online preaching program, as part of my Free Range Priest Ministry, along with blogging, speaking,  coaching, and leading worship. I’m married to the love of my life, and together we raise my two dogs and his three kids (but don't call me a stepmom). I’m an avid runner, a pretty committed vegan, and a champion coffee-drinker. Jay: Coffee drinker!?!? Well then, Cathie, you've come to the right place! Welcome to the show and thank you for the introduction.  As most of you know, I'm your host at Coffeepot Fellowship and a bit of a free range priest myself. If you were to browse the web pages for Free Range Priest and United Faith Leaders you would quickly understand why I am so excited to get to know Father Cathie.  Cathie brings great experience and expertise to her ministries. One of the areas of expertise that has caught my attention has to do with her conceptualization and language. Her bachelor of science degree from Georgetown University is in Linguistics and her master of divinity is from The General Theological Seminary in NYC. What does a pastor with a linguistics degree - a degree in the study of language - feel or say when she is holding The Word of God in her hands, called to transfer, teach or communicate that holy body of words? Does it feel possible? Is it a burden? Does it feel futile? Or, rather, is it an easy joy? Jesus is the Living Word; is that even more marvelous to a Christian with a linguistics degree? Father Cathie shares that we each carry that Word - Jesus Christ - in us, that the Word is alive. The beauty is that we have been reading and communicating the Word, this Love, to one another for centuries. It is infinitely creative and mysterious. Each one of us is "translating" it and adding to that conversation all the time. This linguist is also a Biblical literalist, "a real one," she declares! You'll have to listen to this podcast episode to hear her make her case. Last but not least, Cathie also shared that she is at the beginning of this magnificent, risky, and exciting endeavor. Find ways to stay tuned and stay involved while the brainstorming and development take place. Father Cathie, with others, is facilitating a better, more creative future for God's beautiful Church and world. Let her know that you are interested in becoming certified as an official Free Range Priest. (By the way, you cannot simply start calling yourself a Free Range Priest without the certification. The name is actually Cathie's property.) To stay tuned in you can: follow her on Twitter and like the Free Range Priest Facebook Page. Links: United Faith Leaders United Church of Christ (UCC) Free Range Priest (the book!) by Fr. Cathie Caimano Free Range Priest Website Free Range Priest on Facebook Father Cathie's Blog (subscribe in right margin) Twitter: @frcathie RomanTEC on Facebook Presiding Bishop Michael Curry George Lakoff Backstory Preaching (don't forget to subscribe!) Backstory Preaching on Facebook

Join us for a Twilight Meditation honoring International Women's Day, with a focus on the unique challenges that displaced refugee women face throughout the world. Women who are refugees and immigrants will share their personal stories and testimonies. The evening will close with a community conversation about the importance of individual and collective efforts to advocate for and support just and equitable policies in support of refugees and immigrants. Musical performance by Mohammad Sheikh Horo, Saz player International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. About the Presenters Wafa Abdin is Vice President for Immigration and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. She oversees the Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance, the largest non-profit provider of immigration legal services for low-income and indigent non-citizens as well as the Refugee Resettlement Program. Ms. Abdin has more than sixteen years’ experience in representing vulnerable immigrants and refugees including detained adults and children, asylum seekers, victims of human trafficking and other crimes. The Rev. Hannah E. Atkins became Trinity's fifteenth rector in September of 2007. To prepare herself as a third generation Episcopal priest, the Reverend Atkins earned a bachelor of arts degree in history at Douglass College, Rutgers University and a masters degree in divinity at the General Theological Seminary in New York in May 1996, with additional studies in theology at Universidad Centroamericana Jose Simeon Canas in El Salvador. The Reverend Atkins previously served as Senior Assistant Rector at St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C. Before joining St. John's Church, she served as Director of Theological and Christian Education in the Diocese of the Episcopal/Anglican Church of El Salvador, Associate Priest at St. John the Evangelist San Salvador, Priest-in-Charge at Holy Trinity Church Santa Teresa in San Martin, and as Interim Priest-in-Charge at St. Andrew's Church in Amatepec, Soyapango. Asinja Bedeel was born and raised in the small Northern Iraqi village of Behzani. Badeel had been living with her husband and two children in Baghdad when they received word in 2003 that her husband was in danger because he was working for an American company. Since Badeel and her family arrived in Houston in 2008, she has accomplished not only academic accolades at Houston Community College and University of Houston, but has also been pro-active on issues facing the refugee population and refugee women in particular. Badeel currently works as a medical-case worker in Refugee Services at Interfaith Ministries and she is engaged with YAZADA – A Global Yizidi Organization. You can read more about her story by visiting www.imgh.org/our-blog/our-blog/refugee-spotlight-asinja-badeel Chloe Krane worked as a reporter in the Middle East for many years and moved to Houston from England for her husband’s job. Jim Krane, Ph.D., is the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute. Chloe is passionate about refugees and is the lead volunteer for the Interfaith Ministries Women’s Initiative Project, a group of Arabic-speaking refugee women that meet on a weekly basis for networking and support. Chloe is an active and well-informed voice in the community - advocating for refugees and engaging the local community in supporting refugees in Houston. She has two young children, and prior to being a mom she was a TV Producer for about 10 years. Based mainly in the Middle East, she worked on hard news, documentaries, investigative programs and commercials.

Welcome 2017 and welcome everyone to our first episode of the New Year! Ben and Colin discuss their resolutions, and recommend one for you! On this episode we have yet another guest from the General Theological Seminary, the Rev. Emily Wachner, who joins us to discuss the Wisdom Year program and revitalization of GTS. Also, our most recurringest guest Anna Courie joins us to discuss her new book Christ Walk Kids from Church Publishing, as well as raising faithful and healthy tweens and teens. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/priest-pulse/id925044272?mt=2 http://news.gts.edu/2016/10/the-way-of-wisdom-in-practice-2/ http://pastoralimagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/CSTE-LPI-030116.pdf https://www.churchpublishing.org/christwalkkids www.episcopalcafe.com    

Dr. Todd Brewer, New Testament Professor at General Theological Seminary, comes on the podcast to talk about Mockingbird's best theology book list of 2016. Then the roundtable talks about, among other things, Good Riddance Day.

It's episode 40 of Priest Pulse. In this episode, Todd Brewer from the General Theological Seminary in NYC and Karyn Wiseman from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia join us for a preaching roundtable where we discuss preaching out of chaos. How do we approach the pulpit in the midst of national tragedies and the complex and difficult realities of our modern world? How does this election effect our preaching voice? What does the gospel demand during difficult times? The Rev. DeDe Duncan-Probe, bishop-elect of the Diocese of Central New York, joins Colin to talk about her unique name, her journey of faith, and expectations for entering into her new ministry as bishop. In the lightning round, our roundtable guests talk about their favorite holiday pies. http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/08/08/central-new-york-elects-dede-duncan-probe-as-next-bishop/ http://news.gts.edu/2015/08/meet-the-faculty-an-interview-with-prof-todd-brewer/  

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Diocese of Arizona Phoenix, AZ The Rev. Tommy J. Dillon II is Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Bainbridge Island, Washington. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tommy honors and values his conservative Anglo-Catholic Episcopal roots, but has moved well beyond them in ministry, theology, and liturgical style. He has a passion for helping faithful church people discover how to take ministry and spirit beyond the church walls, and embrace new ways of being the church in a changing world. In Tommy’s world, there is no such thing as the “outcast and the stranger.” His work with newly-released prisoners, people suffering mental illness and homelessness, and Hurricane Katrina survivors, gives him a fearless compassion for human need. During his nine years as Rector of St. Aidan’s, San Francisco, parish foodbank and elder ministries flourished, and Tommy was dubbed ‘'the Vicar of the Castro District' for his work with the LGBTQ community. Tommy Dillon serves on the board of the Wild Goose Festival, and is newly-elected to the General Theological Seminary Board of Trustees. He graduated Louisiana State University, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University, and General Theological Seminary, where he specialized in Anglican Liturgy. Collaborating to create eclectic liturgy feeds his soul. Good food, good friends, and road trips with his Whippet pal Josh reveal the Holy in the everyday world.

It is time to talk about the church. I am joined by Scott MacDougall who is Visiting Assistant Professor of Theology at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Let me just tell you now that this episode is a nerdy good time. Not only is Scott an actual HBC Deacon but he is the professor of a Deacon of legendary proportions - Aron Klinefelter - and comes on good recommendation. [This is me subtly suggesting if you have had an awesome prof who should be on HBC play theological match maker] MacDougall received his M.A. in theology from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church and his Ph.D. in systematic theology from Fordham University. We discuss his new book More Than Communion and lots of other connected topics. In More Than Communion: Toward an Eschatological Ecclesiology Scott seeks to expand the general ideas of communion ecclesiology (understood broadly), by suggesting they often pay insufficient attention to eschatology, which has deleterious effects on the church's theological imagination of itself and, so, on its practice. The constructive position he advances is developed in conversation with case studies of the ecclesiologies of John Milbank and John Zizioulas, which are analyzed in their eschatological and practical dimensions. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On April 21, 2015, I got to continue my conversation about where the resurrected Jesus is. This week I had a chance to talk to Tommie Lee Watkins, Jr. He is in his second year at General Theological Seminary. Tommie offered his thoughts and reflections on where the resurrected is by taking a look at … Continue reading Notoriously Episcopalian Episode 4 – #Easteris50days Get on the email list at notoriouslyepiscopalian.substack.com

Father Austin went to Saint Thomas early in 2005 to be the parish’s first “theologian-in-residence.” A priest-scholar, his background is in both the parish ministry and the academic world. At Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania, Father Austin was assistant professor of religious studies, philosophy, and theology. He has also taught on the adjunct faculty of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York; Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, New York; and Fordham University and the General Theological Seminary in New York City. Father Austin preaches on Mark 13.

Fr. Benjamin Gildas discusses the future of clergy formation and seminary education in a changing religious landscape. Guests include the Rev. Keith Voets, the Rev. Dr. Karyn L. Wiseman, and Kari Collins. Fr. Keith and Fr. Ben discuss the conflict at the General Theological Seminary in New York City and its broader implications on theological education and the church. Dr. Wiseman discusses new models for church practice and seminary formation, and Kari talks about her experiences as a non-residential seminary student. Fr. Keith writes at http://theyoungcurmudgeonpriest.blogspot.com/ Dr. Wiseman writes at http://texaspreacherponderings.blogspot.com/ Thanks for listening to episode 2, and don't forget to leave feedback on iTunes!

In this first episode of Priest Pulse: What is the job of a priest? We take a look at Daily Prayer for All Seasons, new liturgical supplement from the Episcopal Church. Interview with the Rev. Colin Chapman. SPECIAL: Discussion of crisis at the General Theological Seminary including timeline of events starting at 31:30. Special thanks to Awaking Mercury for the music in this podcast. www.awakingmercury.com

Jeffrey Small is the author of the best-selling thriller, The Breath of God, which won the Nautilus Book Award Gold Medal for Best Fiction. He is also a popular blogger on Huffington Post, and an acclaimed speaker on religious and spirituality topics. Jeffrey graduated summa cum laude from Yale University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School where he was elected to the Board of Student Advisors and taught speech, legal writing, and research. Jeffrey next earned a Masters in the Study of Religions from Oxford University in England where he was a member of Oriel College. Jeffrey is active in the Episcopal Church, currently serving as a member of the Board of Trustees at General Theological Seminary in New York, but he has also studied Yoga in India, practiced Buddhist meditation in Bhutan, explored the ancient temples in Egypt, and journeyed throughout the Holy Land. When not pursing his passion for theological discourse, Jeffrey is the CEO and founder of MDH Partners, an Atlanta-based commercial real estate investment and development company that has participated in over $2 billion of acquisitions and developments. Jeffrey’s eclectic hobbies include being a former US Champion amateur ballroom dancer with his wife, Alison. He also held the rank of Black Sash in Kung Fu, specializing in the Internal Arts.  Resources Jeffrey Small's WebsitePurchase The Jericho DeceptionPurchase The Breath of God  Jeffrey's Previous Inquire Within Podcasts—>The Breath of God with Jeffrey Small—>East-West Spirituality with Jeffrey Small  

"We Three Kings", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a Christmas carol written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the lyrics and the music. It is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863. John Henry Hopkins, Jr., then an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church,[1] was instrumental in organizing an elaborate holiday pageant (which featured this hymn) for the students of the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1857 while serving as the seminary's music director. In 1872 Hopkins was ordained an Episcopal priest and later served as rector at Christ Episcopal Church (Williamsport, PA).[2] We three kings of Orient areAuthor: John H. HopkinWe three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.RefrainO star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.RefrainFrankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.RefrainMyrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.RefrainGlorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.RefrainCOPY FREELY ©2012 Shiloh Worship Music-This Music is copyrighted to prevent misuse, however,permission is granted for non-commercial copying only. www.shilohworshipmusic.com

Jeffrey Small, Jr. is the author of the mystical thriller, The Breath of God, a popular blogger on Huffington Post, and an acclaimed speaker on religious and spirituality topics.  A student of world religions, Jeffrey has studied at Harvard and Yale and traveled the globe to study various religions.  In addition he is a successful real estate developer and champion amateur ballroom dancer along with his wife Alison.  He is also active in the Episcopal Church and board member of the General Theological Seminary in New York. Breath of God is a novel of suspense and spirituality.   It is the story of a graduate student who travels to the Himalayas to try to find linkages in the world religions and the antagonist zealots who try to protect their belief systems.  Throughout their journeys, the characters experience their own spiritual journeys. Jeffrey and Darren talk about St. Issa and the legend that Jesus traveled through the Middle East and India where he underwent his spiritual awakening and around which the plot of the novel revolves. Through his story, Jeffrey hopes to create a point of discussion about the commonalities of the religions of the world.   Resources Jeffrey’s Website Breath of God