Podcasts about progressive christians

Send us Fan MailHunger rarely looks like the stereotype. Sometimes it looks like a parent who works full-time but cannot make childcare and groceries fit in the same month. Sometimes it looks like grandparents raising grandchildren, a family navigating a health crisis, or someone who just lost a job and needs help for a season. Loving like Jesus means serving those who are the most vulnerable in real and tangible ways. In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Ashley and Sean Davis about the real faces of food insecurity and why a food pantry can be a lifeline without ever stripping away dignity. Their story starts with a major health issue that forced Ashley to step back from a corporate banking career and ask a hard question: what kind of work actually helps people? This discerning question led them to sell their California home, move to Cartersville, Georgia, and search for a place where they could stop feeling anonymous and start building community. That search led them to The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, where everything “felt right,” and soon after to the Red Door Food Pantry, where Ashley became executive director in 2024. They dig into the measurable impact and the human impact and how The Red Door Food Pantry grew from a ministry of Ascension into a nonprofit while continuing distributions through the church, and serving thousands of households across Bartow County and beyond. They discuss improving access through technology, mobile pantry plans, and partnerships that bring mental health support, housing resources, health services, and recovery connections right to distribution days. Listen in for the full conversation. About the Red Door Food Pantry:For decades, the food pantry was an outreach ministry of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, and it distributed the same 8-10 items of food every week to about 30-50 people. Purchasing food at retail prices required the food pantry to use restricted funds to meet budgetary needs. Thus, the food pantry was “in the red,” with only about 10 months of operating expenses to fall back on. However, by joining the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) in 2013, the Red Door Food Pantry was able to buy food for about sixteen cents a pound– thus giving it greater buying power and by helping it attain solvency. In 2022, the Red Door Food Pantry was designated 501(c)(3) status as a public charity. Learn more and give here.From the archives: Read an article from our diocese about the Red Door Food Pantry and partnerships, including our own Episcopal Community Foundation.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

Send us Fan MailThis episode is Bishop Rob Wright's sermon from the ordination and consecration of Bishop Sarah Fisher, ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina, given on May 23. In his sermon, Bishop Wright answers an important question: what is a bishop for? You'll hear a clear, memorable vision of Episcopal leadership as itinerant service, scripture-shaped preaching, guarding the faith, and doing “balcony” work that spots patterns and faces the challenges we'd rather avoid. The hat doesn't make the leader. The work does. Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

Send us Fan MailTogetherness is not a warm slogan, it's the only way we meet the scale of what's in front of us. From the start, we press on a simple question: how do you remember the past honestly without letting it turn into bitterness? In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Senator Jon Ossoff about faith, leadership, and what it takes to build a better world when the headlines feel like a steady stream of bad news. Ossoff traces his moral education through the legacy of Congressman John Lewis and the civil rights movement in Georgia, including the historic alliance between Black and Jewish communities in the South. He shares the powerful symbolism of being sworn into the US Senate on scripture belonging to Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, the Atlanta rabbi whose temple was bombed in 1958 for supporting Dr. King and the SCLC. They discuss what interfaith coalition building looks like when it's real, not performative, and why serious faith traditions should pull us alongside each other when the stakes are high. Listen in for the full conversation. Born and raised in Georgia, Senator Jon Ossoff serves as our Senior United States Senator. Since his election, Sen. Ossoff has built bipartisanship in the Senate to achieve meaningful legislative results for Georgia — even in a divided Congress. In his first two years in office, Sen. Ossoff passed into law more standalone bills than any other freshman Senator. Sen. Ossoff's legislative achievements include laws to protect children online; to strengthen public safety; to tackle the opioid epidemic and prevent fentanyl trafficking across the Southern Border; to investigate unsolved lynchings and Civil Rights murders; to strengthen mental health care services for veterans; and to fight corruption and improve security in U.S. prisons. Mentored by civil rights legend Congressman John Lewis, Sen. Ossoff previously led a small business that produced investigative journalism exposing war crimes, public corruption, human trafficking, and organized crime. Sen. Ossoff lives with his wife, Dr. Alisha Kramer, and two daughters in Atlanta.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Stan Mitchell joins to discuss LGBTQ inclusivity at church. Stan Mitchell currently serves as a Teaching Pastor at The Village in (Atlanta, GA), Austin New Church (TX), The Well (Phoenix, AZ), Harvest Sarasota (FL), The Grove (Bryson City, NC), and Pine Street Church (Boulder, CO).  He is the Pastor Emeritus of GracePointe Church in Nashville, TN, having served as its Lead Pastor from its inception in 2003 through 2019. In 2015, GP made the move to the full affirmation and celebration of LGBTQ+ people. He now spends his vocational time as a speaker, LGBTQ+ advocate, and consultant within the Progressive Christian movement.  He is a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School.    To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at natashahelfer.com and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at natashahelfer.com.  The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy. This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions. The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening. And remember: Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to symcounseling.com/ketamine-services. There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

We can't believe it but here we are with our ONE HUNDREDTH EPISODE of And Also With You! If this podcast has helped you grow in your faith, would you consider supporting us with a donation?  DONATE HERE VIA PAYPAL, VENMO, OR APPLE PAY: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/AQ74PDBMBXYVA +++ Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcast There's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons! +++ Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.com Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/ ++++ MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/ ++++ More about Father Lizzie: BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/ RevLizzie.com https://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzie Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org  ++++ More about Mother Laura: https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peaches ++++ Theme music: "On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue). New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send us Fan MailLove sounds simple until you try to practice it with someone who won't return it, someone who betrays you, or someone whose decisions harm people you care about. That's where Dorothy Day's language hits with force: “God is love,” and love doesn't just soothe fear, it casts fear out. In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright use Day's quote as a doorway into a grounded conversation on Christian love, faith and leadership, and what it means to follow Jesus when the world feels tense, divided, and exhausted.  They discuss the uncomfortable gap between sentimental love and what we actually deliver to each other. Bishop Wright names the cost of love that isn't contingent on someone else's goodness, gratitude, or agreement and why that kind of love often feels unrequited. They dig into the difference between belief and opinion: belief is rooted in being beloved by God, then living like it. That includes the hard questions, like how to hold dignity and respect for people you deeply disagree with while still working against policies and behaviors that harm others. Listen in for the full conversation.Read For Faith, the companion devotional.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

Send us Fan MailThis week, we celebrate 300 episodes of For People! 300 episodes in, we're still surprised by what happens when you pair a simple setup with a clear purpose: offer people a Jesus-shaped invitation that doesn't rely on shame, fear, or gatekeeping. In this milestone episode, Bishop Wright sits down with producer and co-founder Easton Davis to share behind-the-scenes stories from the early days and reflect on how For People grew from a small investment into a podcast with 400,000 downloads, reaching listeners in thousands of cities across 184 countries.They discuss candidly why digital evangelism matters right now and how online spaces have become the new front door of the church. For many, a short-form video or a podcast is the first step toward faith, especially for those who have only heard harmful theology that says they are not enough. We dig into what it looks like to communicate the gospel with clarity, creativity, and consistency, and why we believe scripture can be shared in ways that respect questions, nuance, and real life. Listen in for the full conversation.Easton serves as Canon for Communications and Digital Evangelism for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, where he has been a member of the Bishop's Staff since 2015. Since 2020, in his current role, he has helped shape the diocese's voice and presence across digital platforms. A passionate storyteller, Easton believes deeply in the power of the visual arts to connect, inspire, and share the Gospel.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

Send us Fan MailWaiting for people to show up at church can feel polite, safe, and even faithful, but it may be the quickest way to lose real connection. In this episode, Bishop Rob Wright has a conversation with The Rev. Joseph Yoo, an Episcopal priest and creator known for talking about God with rare plainness, to explore what it looks like to take the Great Commission seriously as “come and see” and “go therefore” instead of “wait and welcome.”Joseph shares his journey as a Korean immigrant kid raised in a family where ministry is almost a birthright, and how seminary forced him to sort out what belonged to his parents' expectations versus what belonged to his own call. They get practical: Joseph explains why he started posting on TikTok and Instagram, why he wears a collar out in public to normalize faith, and what mainline churches can learn about speaking to people who are not already insiders. The grounded takeaway is simple and demanding: get local, learn names, show up, and bless someone today by helping them breathe easier, even for a moment. Listen in for the full conversation.Joseph Yoo currently works as a Church Planter and Episcopalian priest at Mosaic Episcopal Church in Pearland, Texas. He has served as a member of the clergy in multiple states in the US, including Hawaii and California. Born in Korea in 1980, he immigrated to the United States in 1986 and has lived in multiple states throughout his childhood and adult life. He received his BA in Psychology from the University of Hawaii, Manoa in 2003 and his M.Div from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2006. He got his priesthood in 2021 from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. He currently lives with his wife and family in Pearland. Learn more about Joseph: https://josephyoo.com/Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

What does the raucous laughter of Nicki Minaj and Billy Graham have to do with 14th century saint? Find out in PART TWO of our MOST requested episodes ever -- diving deep into the question "Who is Saint Julian of Norwich???" Author of Revelations of Divine Love, coiner of the phrase "All Shall Be Well," and delighter in God's delight, St. Julian is such a powerful visionary and leader we needed two episodes to do her justice. We're joined again by the The Rev. Dr. Amy Laura Hall, one of Lizzie's professors from her time at Duke Divinity School. In part two, we explore "Christ as our true mother," the nature of the devil, and we see how Julian has echoes for us to consider in today's religious landscape. We also get a little teaser for Dr. Hall's new book, out in May 2026, called ERECTING THE PULPIT: MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY FROM TEDDY ROOSEVELT TO DONALD TRUMP. Amy Laura Hall is Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies at Duke University, where she has taught since 1999. She is the author of four books, including Conceiving Parenthood: American Protestantism and the Spirit of Reproduction (2007) and Laughing at the Devil: Seeing the World with Julian of Norwich (2018). A noted authority on Christianity and culture in the U.S., Hall has also contributed provocative essays on Protestantism and politics to Religion Dispatches and Religion News Service. Resources mentioned in this episode: Laughing at the Devil: Seeing the World with Julian of Norwich by Amy Laura Hall https://www.dukeupress.edu/laughing-at-the-devil Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich trans. by Elizabeth Spearing https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/261039/revelations-of-divine-love-by-julian-of-norwich-translated-by-elizabeth-spearing-introduction-and-notes-by-a-c-spearing/ Julian of Norwich and the Mystical Body Politic of Christ By Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt --https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268022082/julian-of-norwich/ The Writings of Julian of Norwich A Vision Showed to a Devout Woman and A Revelation of Love Edited by Nicholas Watson and Jacqueline Jenkins -- https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/0-271-02547-6.html?srsltid=AfmBOoopOJOEaY69eupR8Rx1uxzSJyVJpaSpLJKpJoHSPKAQ9ry8HPJY Rev. Dr. Amy Laura Hall's works: FORTHCOMING: Erecting the Pulpit: Muscular Christianity from Teddy Roosevelt to Donald Trump https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/erecting-the-pulpit-9798216383475/ Laughing at the Devil: Seeing the World with Julian of Norwich by Amy Laura Hall https://www.dukeupress.edu/laughing-at-the-devil https://arcmag.org/home-movies-for-holy-week/ +++ Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcast There's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons! +++ Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.com Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/ ++++ MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/ ++++ More about Father Lizzie: BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/ RevLizzie.com https://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzie Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org  ++++ More about Mother Laura: https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peaches ++++ Theme music: "On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue). New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

The more we learn about the shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, the more we should fight for our own children. Evidently, he came from a Christian home. How could this happen? Join me for today's  Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.Scripture Used in Today's MessageProverbs 22:6Proverbs 26:12 To find Tom on Instagram, Facebook, TiKTok, and elsewhere, go to linktr.ee/tomthepreacher

Send us Fan MailThreats to voting rights rarely announce themselves as “suppression.” In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. They discuss the SAVE Act and related proposals that would tighten voter registration. Janai explains why the US already has voter verification systems, why fraud is not the widespread problem it's sold as, and how new rules can be engineered to shrink the electorate while sounding neutral on paper. This conversation goes deeper than policy. It wrestles with what it means to be a patriot in a country still learning how to be a multiracial democracy, and why naming white supremacy matters if we're serious about building something better. Janai offers a framework that sticks with us: reckon with our past, reimagine what this country can be, and refound it by removing the harmful systems that still weigh us down. If the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a kind of “birth certificate” for modern American democracy, then the work of growing up is still unfinished and still possible. Listen in for the full conversation.Janai Nelson is President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), the nation's premier civil rights law organization fighting for racial justice and equality. As the institutional thought-leader, she directs the organization's programmatic strategy and operations. Throughout her career, she has played a pivotal role in numerous landmark legal cases, shaping the fight for civil rights.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

What does Rage Against the Machine and motherly images of God have to do with a 14th century saint?  Turns out ... a LOT. We are (finally) doing one of the MOST requested episodes ever -- diving deep into the question "Who is Saint Julian of Norwich???" And in order to dive into this saint whose revelatory witness of radical love, the wounds of Christ, and laughing at the nothingness of the devil, we have called in an expert: The Rev. Dr. Amy Laura Hall, one of Lizzie's professors from her time at Duke Divinity School.  This conversation was so rich that we had to split into two parts, so join us this week for PART ONE where we get a lay of the land of 14th century England, the bubonic plague, feudalism and its violence, and in this despairing time how Saint Julian received an incandescent vision of Christ's love for the whole world.  Amy Laura Hall is Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies at Duke University, where she has taught since 1999. She is the author of four books, including Conceiving Parenthood: American Protestantism and the Spirit of Reproduction (2007) and Laughing at the Devil: Seeing the World with Julian of Norwich (2018). A noted authority on Christianity and culture in the U.S., Hall has also contributed provocative essays on Protestantism and politics to Religion Dispatches and Religion News Service. Resources mentioned in this episode: Laughing at the Devil: Seeing the World with Julian of Norwich by Amy Laura Hall https://www.dukeupress.edu/laughing-at-the-devil Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich trans. by Elizabeth Spearing https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/261039/revelations-of-divine-love-by-julian-of-norwich-translated-by-elizabeth-spearing-introduction-and-notes-by-a-c-spearing/ Julian of Norwich and the Mystical Body Politic of Christ By Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt --https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268022082/julian-of-norwich/ The Writings of Julian of Norwich A Vision Showed to a Devout Woman and A Revelation of Love Edited by Nicholas Watson and Jacqueline Jenkins -- https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/0-271-02547-6.html?srsltid=AfmBOoopOJOEaY69eupR8Rx1uxzSJyVJpaSpLJKpJoHSPKAQ9ry8HPJY Rev. Dr. Amy Laura Hall's works: FORTHCOMING: Erecting the Pulpit: Muscular Christianity from Teddy Roosevelt to Donald Trump https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/erecting-the-pulpit-9798216383475/ Laughing at the Devil: Seeing the World with Julian of Norwich by Amy Laura Hall https://www.dukeupress.edu/laughing-at-the-devil https://arcmag.org/home-movies-for-holy-week/ +++ Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcast There's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons! +++ Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.com Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/ ++++ MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/ ++++ More about Father Lizzie: BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/ RevLizzie.com https://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzie Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org  ++++ More about Mother Laura: https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peaches ++++ Theme music: "On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue). New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send us Fan MailEaster doesn't just ask us to believe something happened 2,000 years ago. It challenges the size of our imagination today. In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Rob Wright have a conversation about his Easter devotion “Alive". They talk about what it means to live as Easter people who confess, without flinching, that nothing is impossible for God. Together, they unpack how the resurrection is a blueprint for real life and leadership: God's persistent love that can't be silenced by soldiers, stones, or collusion with empire. Bishop Wright argues that Jesus isn't “resurrected” only after the crucifixion, he's already living a resurrected way before it, restoring dignity, healing old wounds, and telling the kind of truth we often try to deny, soften, or kill. That raises the stakes for how we face fear and mortality, and how we keep pursuing God's truth even when it costs us. Listen in for the full conversation.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

The sermon may (or may not) be your favorite part of the service, but did you know not all Christian services have a sermon? And there are as many definitions of what a sermon "is" as there are preachers. So we dive into what a sermon is in the most basic terms, and then get into what a sermon is for us, and what we think makes the best kind of sermon.  +++ Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcast There's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons! +++ Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.com Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/ ++++ MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/ ++++ More about Father Lizzie: BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/ RevLizzie.com https://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzie Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org  ++++ More about Mother Laura: https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peaches St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA ++++ Theme music: "On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue). New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send us Fan MailServing people in prison isn't a side project of the Church—it's at the heart of the gospel. Jesus makes it unmistakably clear: “I was in prison and you visited me.” To step inside those walls is to encounter Christ himself, already present among the forgotten.  In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Chaplain Susan Bishop, who serves at Lee Arrendale State Prison. They explore what 44 years of prison ministry have taught her, including how Susan got involved in this work. Susan didn't set out to become a prison chaplain, but what began as a step along the way became a life-altering calling. Susan also reflects on why this work matters—even when it's hard, messy, and emotionally demanding. She speaks honestly about crime and harm, while also pointing to God's capacity to restore what seems beyond repair. In their conversation, Susan names a truth many prison volunteers quickly discover: you think you're bringing Jesus into prison—then you realize Jesus was already there. Listen in for the full conversation. Chaplain Susan F. Bishop is an ordained Southern Baptist clergywoman with more than four decades of experience in prison ministry. She currently serves as Director of Chaplaincy Services and Clinical Chaplain at Lee Arrendale State Prison. Over the course of her 44 years of service, she has held a variety of roles, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to spiritual care, pastoral leadership, and the support of incarcerated individuals.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

Easter is proclaimed in the Easter Vigil with a famous chant called "The Exsultet," and while we have lots of other famous chants and proclamations, this one is really special and has a wild backstory. So for Eastertide this year, we're excited to welcome Mother Laura back from her maternity leave and dive right into this liturgical, theological, and social history! Special thanks to The Rev. Kira Austin-Young who so expertly chanted the Exsultet for us! +++ Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcast There's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons! +++ Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.com Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/ ++++ MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/ ++++ More about Father Lizzie: BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/ RevLizzie.com https://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzie Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org  ++++ More about Mother Laura: https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peaches St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA ++++ Theme music: "On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue). New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send us Fan MailGood Friday isn't just a date on the calendar—it's a truth test. What happens when real integrity shows up in public life and refuses to be bought, bent, or silenced?In his 1964 meditation Discovery, Howard Thurman suggests that death isn't the worst outcome. The real tragedy is living without dignity, without conviction—without the integrity of your spirit and soul.In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright wrestle with the uncomfortable logic of the cross. If Jesus embodies a truth that heals, feeds, and restores, why do systems react as if that truth is a threat? Maybe it's because truth—real, lived truth—disrupts what's convenient. Bishop Wright offers a simple invitation: anchor yourself in God's goodness, treat every person as a sibling, and live a truth the world can recognize. Listen in to the full conversation.Read For Faith, the companion devotional. Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

Lent begins with the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan. But ... what is temptation? As we come to the end of our 40 days of Lent now in Holy Week, we take a moment to truly ask of God and ourselves what temptation is, and is not. Join friend of Rev. Lizzie and the pod, The Rev. Angela Tyler-Williams. We're excited to welcome Rev. Laura back from maternity leave next month! Please pray for her continued rest and recovery in the meantime :)  +++ Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcast There's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons! +++ Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.com Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/ ++++ MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/ ++++ More about Father Lizzie: BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/ RevLizzie.com https://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzie Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org  ++++ More about Mother Laura: https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peaches St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA ++++ Theme music: "On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue). New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST!  Cover art today is a sketch by Rembrandt of the Temptation of Christ. 

Send us Fan MailThe military chaplain is one of the few people trained to stand close to war without becoming part of the fight, and that tension can change everything. In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Bishop Ann Ritonia, Bishop Suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, about what spiritual care looks like in deployed units, VA health care facilities, and federal prisons, and why chaplains exist to help people stay whole in the middle of experiences most of us will never face.They get practical about the day-to-day reality: providing Episcopal worship, facilitating religious support for other traditions when no clergy are available, advising commanders on the human needs inside a unit, and showing up for service members and veterans who carry trauma, grief, and moral injury. Bishop Ritonia also shares why Episcopal chaplains are formed as priests first, and how that priestly identity helps them care for all, including people who may be turned away elsewhere. Listen in for the full conversation.The Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia served parishes of all sizes for more than 19 years before her election as the eighth bishop suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries of The Episcopal Church. She served 17 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve, holding a range of leadership and executive roles. Ritonia's military honors include two Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendations, and the Recruit Honor Graduate Award. She served seven years on the Chaplain Selection Committee for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries and provided spiritual direction and pastoral care to chaplains.Mother to four adults and grandmother to Eva, Adaline, Leo, and Polly, Ritonia and her husband, Mike, live in Ellicott City, Maryland, with their two English bulldogs and golden retriever, Phoebe, Gemma and Louie.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

The Samaritan Woman, also called The Woman at the Well, appears in John 4 in a long discourse with Jesus under the noonday sun. She famously has had many husbands and is currently "with" a man who is "not her husband," and yet ... she is also a pivotal evangelist, preacher, and leader for the early Jesus movement. We heard her story in Lent 3, Year A, so we're taking a moment dive deeper into this text and what it might to say to us who are reclaiming our Christian faith for modern Christian life.  Join friend of Rev. Lizzie and the pod, The Rev. Angela Tyler-Williams!.  We're excited to welcome Rev. Laura back from maternity leave next month! Please pray for her continued rest and recovery in the meantime :)  +++ Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcast There's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons! +++ Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.com Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/ ++++ MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/ ++++ More about Father Lizzie: BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/ RevLizzie.com https://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzie Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org  ++++ More about Mother Laura: https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peaches St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA ++++ Theme music: "On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue). New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST!  Cover art for this episode from Wikimedia commons, Carl Heinrich Bloch - Woman at the Well. 

Send us Fan MailDuring the season of Lent, Bishop Wright invites all to a five-week Lenten teaching series, We Confess, with weekly video meditations and study guides that frame Lent as a loving turn toward healing, renewal, and hope through honest confession. You can learn more about the series at episcopalatlanta.org/lent26.In this week's episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the fifth reflection: We Confess Nothing is Impossible for God. In Ezekiel 37, dry bones come to life– nothing is impossible for God. Whether you read the dry bones as literal or symbolic, the point is the same: God can revive what looks dead, even what has been desecrated and denied dignity. That raises a practical question for anyone trying to live a faith that matters: what is our role in breathing life over death? Listen in for the full conversation.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

Saint Brigid of Kildare is steeped in myth to people of Christian and Pagan faith, and she's one of the three patron saints of Ireland. Known for being an abbess who led orders of men and women; a nun who celebrated the Mass; a woman who shared a bed with her "anam cara" or "soulmate," fellow nun Darlughdach; for making a pregnancy miraculously disappear; and, bamboozingly, for being the patron saint of computers ... there's a lot to unpack about this fiery lady. Join friend of Rev. Lizzie and the pod, The Rev. Angela Tyler-Williams, for a spirited conversation about saints, who tells the sacred stories of our faith, and why this Irish goddess-slash-saint still has good news for us in the liminal spaces today.  We're excited to welcome Rev. Laura back from maternity leave next month! Please pray for her continued rest and recovery in the meantime :) More on Saint Brigid: Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul - John Philip Newell - https://materialmedia.com/product/sacred-earth-sacred-soul/ Catholics for Choice - St. Brigid prayer card - https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/resource-library/prayer-cards-st-hildegard-and-st-brigid/ https://www.cta-usa.org/perspectives/st-brigid-of-kildare-patroness-of-reproductive-justice Britannica - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Brigit-of-Ireland https://www.asn.org.uk/st-brigid-of-kildare-patron-saint-and-irelands-first-abortionist/  +++ Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcast There's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons! +++ Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.com Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/ ++++ MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/ ++++ More about Father Lizzie: BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/ RevLizzie.com https://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzie Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org  ++++ More about Mother Laura: https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peaches St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA ++++ Theme music: "On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue). New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send a textDuring the season of Lent, Bishop Wright invites all to a five-week Lenten teaching series, We Confess, with weekly video meditations and study guides that frame Lent as a loving turn toward healing, renewal, and hope through honest confession. You can learn more about the series at episcopalatlanta.org/lent26.In this week's episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the fourth reflection: We Confess We Do Not See as God Sees. What if the metrics you trust most are blinding you to the best possible choice? In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel's search for Israel's next king helps us uncover why patience, humility, and a long memory of God's ways are essential for real discernment. The story refuses our love of polish and speed: seven strong candidates pass by, and the answer arrives late, smaller, and smelling like pasture. That pause—Have we seen all the sons?—becomes a model for leadership, relationships, and everyday decisions that resist convenience in favor of wisdom. Listen in for the full conversation.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

For part 12 of 12 on “What is the Nicene Creed?” we unpack these lines:"We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come.Amen."**cues up "The Final Countdown" by Europe**So... what is the world to come? What does it have to do with the resurrection of the dead? +++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send a textDuring the season of Lent, Bishop Wright invites all to a five-week Lenten teaching series, We Confess, with weekly video meditations and study guides that frame Lent as a loving turn toward healing, renewal, and hope through honest confession. You can learn more about the series at episcopalatlanta.org/lent26.In this week's episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the third reflection: We Confess We Forget. Thirst in the desert will test any heart. Using Exodus 17, they trace the tension of freshly freed people, real dehydration, rising panic, and ask why human memory collapses right when we need it most. Their focus lands on confession as a path back to freedom: admitting that we forget and that fear tempts us to outsource our agency to leaders or systems that cannot carry our soul. Walking through the story, they name the true cost of freedom—responsibility and agency—and sit with Moses in the uncomfortable middle between a grieving crowd and a listening God. Rather than scolding the ancestors, we let their honesty teach us. If you're standing at the edge of a hard need—health, money, work, or grief—this conversation invites you to carry memory like water and to trust that provision may arrive from an angle you didn't expect.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

Texas Primary results: Jasmine Crockett loses Senate primary to James Talarico, Prop 10 crushes Sharia law ban with ~95% YES vote. Plus: the emerging red-green alliance, progressives keep twisting Scripture into their own version of Christian nationalism, Iran war reality check (no WW3 panic). Toward the end, we discuss two exciting new programs from CFBU.

Baptism is considered THE entrance to Christian faith -- but Christians vary widely in practice and belief on what baptism does, who it is for, and why we do it. So for part 10 of 12 on “What is the Nicene Creed?” we unpack this lines:"We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins."So we wade into the muddy waters of the River Jordan to ask: what is sin, what does it mean to be forgiven, and how does this apply when some people are literally infants when they are baptized? What does God do when we are baptized? And why is this significant that it only happens once? +++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

For part 10 of 12 on “What is the Nicene Creed?” we unpack this lines:"We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church."... which can feel strange, or outright ironic, when you are in a church that doesn't get along with ... the church across the street. How can we proclaim we are ONE church when Christianity is so obviously divided? How could the church 1700 years ago claim this, when division goes back to James and John vying to sit at the right hand of Jesus when he came into glory? We bring in scholar and priest, The Rev. Dr. Valerie Bailey, to speak with us and muddle through what it means to (1) be a church in the tradition of the apostles and (2) aspire for such holy unity. The Rev. Dr. Valerie Bailey Fisher The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer serves at Williams College as the chaplain.  She has more than 11 years of college chaplaincy experience, nearly a decade in ordained ministry and strong foundations in experiential education and social justice. Raised in the African-American Pentecostal tradition, Bailey Fischer joined the Episcopal Church as a young adult. She has a B.A. from Penn State and an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary. She is completing a dissertation in Anglican studies and U.S. Episcopal Church history at General Theological Seminary.+++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send a textBeginning on Ash Wednesday, Bishop Wright invites all to a five-week Lenten teaching series, We Confess, with weekly video meditations and study guides that frame Lent as a loving turn toward healing, renewal, and hope through honest confession. You can learn more about the series at episcopalatlanta.org/lent26.In this week's episode, Melissa has a conversation with Bishop Wright about the first reflection: We Confess Our Disobedience to God. Starting with Genesis 2–3 as a living paradigm, they unpack why humans reach for control even when life is abundant, and how that refusal to submit to God's words and ways leads to guilt, isolation, and disobedience. The aim isn't to scold; it's to show a path home. Listen in for the full conversation.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

For part 9 of 12 on “What is the Nicene Creed?” we unpack these lines:"We believe in the Holy Spirit,The Lord, the Giver of Life,Who proceeds from the Father and the Son,With the Father and the Son S/He is worshipped and glorified;S/He has spoken through the Prophets."The Holy Spirit is probably God's most misunderstood person of the Trinity ... and yet, the one who is our Advocate, guide, Wisdom, and companion. So we spend a little time understanding where She fits in the big picture of Christianity, how we might discern between what is anxiety and the voice of God within us, and what exactly is the "Filioque" and the Great Schism debate about. +++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send a textWhat if the friends you need for today's troubles include people from yesterday's pages? Jesus' transfiguration points to a friendship that bridges time. It unites Jesus with Moses and Elijah to steady him for the hard road ahead. From that mountaintop, we explore how spiritual companions—ancestors in faith and the neighbors at our table—help us move through division, loneliness, and the loud churn of public life without losing our center.In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the transfiguration and friendship. From that mountaintop, they explore how spiritual companions—ancestors in faith and the neighbors at our table—help us move through division, loneliness, and the loud churn of public life without losing our center. Listen in for the full conversation.Read For Faith, the companion devotional.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

For part 8 of 12 on “What is the Nicene Creed?” we unpack these lines:he ascended into heaven            and is seated at the right hand of the Father He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,        and his kingdom will have no end.Ok so Jesus was born (Christmas), lived and did ministry and healed and taught and stuff, then was killed (Good Friday), and rose again (Easter) before he ... ascended into heaven. It's a big deal, but probably the most confusing part of his story on earth? So we called our most-listened to guest, our brilliant friend, the Rev. (future-Dr.!) Kelli Joyce, to unpack this for us. (Her previous episode with us, "What is Confession?" remains our #1 episode ever!) The Rev. Kelli Joyce is an Episcopal priest and a PhD student at Vanderbilt University.More of her work is here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAcZY-jo5lEhttps://www.christiancentury.org/contributor/kelli-joyce +++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send us a textWhat if the most political act in history was God taking on human flesh? In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to explore what it means to follow Jesus in a complex, pluralistic, and politically charged world. Drawing on the Incarnation, John 14, and decades of global ministry, Welby reflects on human dignity, solidarity with all people, and why an apolitical Jesus is no savior at all. From interfaith neighborliness to immigration, public witness, and the courage required of the church today, this episode invites listeners to imagine a faith rooted in Christ, lived boldly in context, and marked by hope, humility, and love. The claim is simple and bracing: following Jesus means honoring the dignity of every person and showing up where life is fragile, complicated, and real. Listen in for the full conversation. Justin Welby was Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Anglican Communion from 2013 to 2024. Born in London in 1956, he was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied history and law. For 11 years—five in Paris and six in London—he worked in the oil industry; his booklet, Can Companies Sin?, drew on this corporate experience and evolved from his dissertation at theological college. He was Bishop of Durham, Dean of Liverpool Cathedral, and Canon of Coventry Cathedral, whose international reconciliation work he led for five years. As Archbishop of Canterbury, he set three priorities for his ministry: a renewal of prayer and religious communities across the Church; supporting churches and Christians to be agents of reconciliation and peace-making in places of conflict; and encouraging and inspiring Christians to share their faith. Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

Send us a textIn this special release episode, Bishop Rob Wright speaks with Bishop Craig Loya of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota about the immigration crisis unfolding in Minnesota and beyond. Recorded as a resource for clergy and lay leaders, the conversation moves beyond headlines to the lived realities facing immigrant communities.“On the one hand, we're seeing a campaign of cruelty and intimidation and violence. On the other hand, we're seeing the faith community mobilizing for love.” — Bishop Craig Loya“The central question for followers of Jesus is always the same: What does Christian love require of us now?” — Bishop Rob WrightBishop Loya shares how Episcopal congregations are responding with care—delivering food to families afraid to leave their homes, expanding food pantries, caring for children, and standing vigil outside daycares—while also naming the fear and trauma communities are experiencing.These themes echo a recent letter signed by 154 bishops across The Episcopal Church, including Bishop Wright. Addressed to the American people, the letter calls for accountability, restraint, and renewed commitment to human dignity, asking a simple and urgent question: Whose dignity matters Together, the podcast and the bishops' letter offer a clear call to prayer, moral courage, and faithful action in a time of fear.Give to the Episcopal Church in Minnesota.Give to Casa Maria. Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

Send us a textThe story we tell about Jesus often sounds suspiciously like the story we want to tell about ourselves. We pull his words toward our preferences and mistake charisma for character. In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about what Jesus actually says. They unpack how the “identity theft of Jesus” happens in public life and in our own hearts. Rather than wag a finger at politicians or rivals, start with the mirror: integrity begins by acknowledging the gap between what we say on Sunday and how we live on Monday. Bishop Rob Wright lays out a simple but demanding path back to center—read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John slowly, let Jesus speak for himself, and test every claim by long-term fruit. Listen in for the full conversation.Read For Faith, the companion devotional.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

Send us a textBarriers don't bury the church; they clarify the mission. The Book of Acts reveals a pattern in which every barrier is followed by a fresh witness to Jesus. In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Bishop Justin Holcomb using Acts as the centerpiece. From language and culture gaps to political pressure and outrage cycles, they discuss how a consecrated voice—rooted in promise, not panic—cuts through the noise and opens doors for real renewal. Their conversation points toward a practical path forward: witness over winning, promise over pressure, and trust that the Holy Spirit will write the next paragraph of the church's story. Listen in for the full conversation.The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb was ordained and consecrated as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Central Florida on June 10, 2023. He was elected at a special Diocesan Convention on Jan. 14, 2023.A native Floridian, the bishop earned his Ph.D. in theological studies from Emory University and has both a Master of Arts in theological studies and a Master of Arts in Christian thought from Reformed Theological Seminary as well as a B.A. in biblical studies from Southeastern University. He also studied at the University of Oxford during the summer of 1996.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

I look at a few key arguments Allie Beth Stuckey makes from the Christian right against the views of progressive Christian James Talarico: (1) what makes someone a Christian, (2) the authority of the Bible, and (3) the idea that the founding documents of the U.S. were based on biblical principles. I critique her views and offer my own perspective on the whole debate.

Send us a textGreatness to God is measured not by a country's advances in buildings and technology but by how those are treated with the least. In Dr. King's final Sunday sermon at Washington National Cathedral, he addressed a challenge of the day that remains true in the present: if we claim blessing, are we ready for God's accountability? That question us into the bracing clarity of Matthew 25, where Jesus sets the bar with the hungry, the unhoused, and the stranger.In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation centered on Dr. King's final Sunday sermon, given four days before his murder. Together, they explore why prophets are often met with resistance. Instead of condemning, true prophetic work loves a nation enough to critique it. Followers of Jesus embedded in institutions can bend systems toward mercy through fair wages, humane services, restorative practices, and transparent accountability. A nation's greatness, then, becomes directional: power constrained by love, budgets aligned with neighbor-care, and policies that honor the image of God in every person. Listen in for the full conversation.Read For Faith, the companion devotional.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

Send us a textEver feel the tug to shrink yourself so others stay comfortable? Pleasing people drains joy, while pleasing God frees us.In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the difference between pleasing people and pleasing God, and why living as our truest selves leads to freedom from fear and a deeper peace. Purpose stops being mystical and becomes practical through small, faithful steps that compound into a life of impact. They trace how obedience isn't about rule-keeping—it's the doorway to hearing God more clearly, knowing who we are, and unchaining our lives from fear. With God, we can trade our anxiety for a grounded sense of worth, and vague resolutions for purposeful action. Listen in for the full conversation.Read For Faith, the companion devotional.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

Send us a text"In the Christmas story, God slips through a birth canal underneath the empire. This star child is born in a borrowed room and takes his first rest in a feeding trough. God chooses vulnerability over visibility and humility over dominance. Christmas helps us to know who God is through God's choices. The child we say we love tonight but are afraid to love too much is born on the underside of history. No status, no security. So if you're looking for God, you can always find God where the world least expects God to be. So if we're only watching the Empire's headlines, we may be missing the holy things that are being born right in front of us. Christmas is God's graceful and gentle refusal of the Empire's terms and methods. In God's Christmas story, domination is overthrown by incarnation and love."Excerpt from Bishop Wright's Christmas Sermon "Born Beneath the Headlines"Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

Merry Christmas friends, from us and ... a surprise guest!! +++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Merry Christmas from Unshaken Faith! In this special holiday episode, we're mixing some festive fun with some serious discernment.We'll kick things off with our annual "Christmas Karens" who need to have some discussions with managers (if you're new to the Christmas livestream event, you'll soon understand what that means). Then we'll be doing a fun "Year in Review" where we talk about things like the most overconfident thoughts we had this year that reality quickly corrected. Then we'll pivot to a timely and important conversation as we review the progressive Christian book Better Ways to Read the Bible by Zach Lambert. We'll walk through the interpretive “lenses” Lambert proposes, explain where we agree, and then take a careful look at where this approach goes wrong. If you want to skip the Christmas banter, the book review begins at the 01:13 mark. This episode originally aired on YouTube on Dec. 16th. Be sure and subscribe if you want to watch the video!

For part 7 of 12 on “What is the Nicene Creed?” we unpack these lines:For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;        he suffered death and was buriedOn the third day he rose again            in accordance with the Scriptures;One of the wild things about the Creed is we go right from Jesus' birth, via Mary, to his death, at the hands of Pontius Pilate. And yet, even wilder still, is that our God in Christ suffered death. The crucifixion – a death used by the Roman Empire to terrify and suppress enslaved people who rebelled – and the resurrection – are at the epicenter of Christian faith. What does it mean that Jesus died this way? What does it mean that on the third day, he rose? We are delighted and amazed to welcome to the podcast the inimitable Rev. Dr. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas, whose enormous work as priest, preacher, teacher, and writer, has long explored these questions.More about our guest: The Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas is the Canon Theologian at the Cathedral and Visiting Professor of Theology at Harvard Divinity School for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years.  In 2017, she was named Dean of Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and in 2019, she was appointed to the Bill and Judith Moyers Chair in Theology at Union. Kelly is considered a leader in the field of womanist theology, racial reconciliation, social justice, and sexuality and the Black church.From 2017 to 2023, she was Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary and Professor of Theology. She was named the Bill and Judith Moyers Chair in Theology at Union in November 2019 where she is now Dean emeritus. She served as Interim President of Episcopal Divinity School from 2023-24. During the 2023 fall term, she served as Honorary Professor of Global Theology at Emmanuel Theological College in Liverpool, England.Ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1983, Douglas currently serves as the Canon Theologian at the Washington National Cathedral and Anglican Communion Canon at Newcastle Cathedral in Newcastle, England.Prior to Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary, she served as Professor of Religion at Goucher College where she held the Susan D. Morgan Professorship of Religion and is now Professor Emeritus. Before Goucher, she was Associate Professor of Theology at Howard University School of Divinity (1987-2001) and Assistant Professor of Religion at Edward Waters College (1986-87). Douglas holds a master's degree in theology and a PhD in systematic theology from Union.Douglas is the author of many articles and several books including the 2023 Grawemeyer Award winning book, Resurrection Hope: A Future Where Black Lives Matter. Her academic work has focused on womanist theology, racial justice issues as well as sexuality and the Black church. Her current research interest involves expanding the moral imaginary in fostering a more just future.Douglas proudly serves on the New York City Homeless Coalition Board and the Public Religion and Research Institute Board.+++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send us a textA life can pivot on a single whispered word. In Matthew 1, Joseph is at a real-world crossroads, balancing righteousness, reputation, and love, until an angelic message reframes his next step. That shift from fear to faithful action changed everything. In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the angels we encounter in the real world. God speaks at difficult intersections, often through ordinary messengers like therapists, pastors, songs, and trusted friends, and those messages give courage to walk a hard path. Listen in for the full conversation.Read For Faith, the companion devotional.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

For part 6 of 12 on “What is the Nicene Creed?” we unpack these lines:by the power of the Holy Spirit        he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,        and was made manThe Virgin Mary is a powerful force in Christian imagination – meaning, whether you venerate her or are suspicious of folks “praying to” her, whether you grew up celebrating the many apparitions of Mary or vaguely only heard her referred to around Christmas, her role in Jesus' life and our lives communicates what we believe about motherhood, virginity, women, and Jesus' incarnation. So why is she included in the Creed? What about her presence, consent to bear the Christ child, and reproductive status made her significant enough to be the only human being referenced besides Pontius Pilate? Join Mary devotee (Rev. Lizzie), Mary skeptic (Rev. Laura), and our guest, Mariology expert (Rev. Dr. Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones) as we unpack these questions and more. More about our guest: Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones is Assistant Professor of Theology and Africana studies at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. Adkins-Jones came to Candler from Boston College, where she served as Assistant Professor of Theology and African and African Diaspora Studies. A theologian and scholar of Black religion, she specializes in Mariology, Black feminist and womanist thought, and theological anthropology. A graduate of the University of Virginia and Duke Divinity School, she received her Ph.D. in Religion from Duke University in 2016 with a Certificate in Feminist Theory. She was the first Black woman to graduate from the doctoral program in Christian theology and ethics.Her first monograph, Immaculate Misconceptions: A Black Mariology (Oxford University Press, June 2025), argues that "Mary is Black," and is a Black feminist theological account of the icon of the Black Madonna and the rise of the global sex trade. She is at work on a second book project, See No Evil, which explores how visual technologies and artificial intelligence impact public perception of violence and Black death, developing a theological framework for Black protest.. Outside of academia, Rev. Dr. Adkins-Jones is an ordained Baptist minister who frequently preaches and teaches around the country, and brings pastoral sensibility to her work centering social justice. She is a practicing birth worker (doula), a trained iconographer, and has a career background in UX Copywriting and Design. She joyfully shares life and builds community with her beloved spouse and four children in Atlanta, Georgia.Instagram: @tomuchavail, @blackfuturesarchiveWeb: adkinsjones.com+++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send us a textWhat if hope isn't tidy or instant, but slow and stubborn—something that holds you when outcomes don't? In Matthew 11, John the Baptist asks a big question about Jesus. "Are you the one, or should we wait for another?" John's question is really our question. Is Jesus deserving of our faith, hope, and following? In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the ache for a savior who will make it all better, especially amid Christian nationalism and culture-war politics. It's human to want a rescuer, but it's risky to confuse charisma with character. The kingdom's pattern is quieter: reversal at the edges, healing without spectacle, and justice in motion. Advent brings the hard edge of timing. God is not a magician, and the “already and not yet” of the kingdom asks us to live with tension—trusting that change has begun while admitting it is not complete. This is mature faith: patient, honest, and, grounded in the long arc of God's work. Listen in for the full conversation.Read For Faith, the companion devotional.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

What does it mean that God takes on human flesh?In our Nicene Creed series we're tackling these next lines:Lines: Through him all things were made.    For us and for our salvation        he came down from heaven:And we're talking with dear friend, mentor, and fellow church planter Rev. Lisa Yebuah, the lead pastor of Southeast Raleigh Table. We tackle the myths around the human body being a divine problem, what it means for our God to suffer and live as one of us, and why the incarnation has a robust meaning in our current political, spiritual, and theological landscape. More about our guest, Rev. Lisa:Reverend Lisa Yebuah currently serves as the Lead Pastor of the Southeast Raleigh Table, a United Methodist worshipping community located near downtown Raleigh. She's a 1999 graduate of Wofford College and a 2004 graduate of Duke University Divinity School. What fuels her life in ministry is seeing people become their whole selves, and in turn, witnessing people live like and believe that the world can be collectively marked by liberation. Reverend Yebuah is deeply invested in her local community, and works alongside organizations engaged in advocacy for affordable housing, a living wage, access to mental wellness resources, and equity in public education. Most would describe Lisa as a glutton for joy, a lover of people and the enneagram, a self-professed party-starter, and a biscuit connoisseur. She also admits to having a slight obsession with “Abbott Elementary” and “The Office,” and hopes that one day 90's R&B becomes required listening.+++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Send us a textHow do we bring spiritual practices into our everyday working lives? This adaptive challenge requires a new path—one where risk becomes stewardship, attention becomes a sacred resource, and everyday tasks turn into a living conversation with God. In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Dr. Chip Roper, founder and president of the VOCA Center. Chip's journey from profit-chasing ambition to seminary and back into the marketplace as an executive coach gives him rare range: he understands performance pressure, pastoral care, and the hard realities of modern organizations. Bishop Wright and Dr. Roper dig into the quiet epidemic of workplace loneliness and the surprising data showing how few professionals tap spiritual resources when the heat is on. From Jesus' words about doing only what the Father is doing to the easy yoke that lightens our overwork, Chip maps out a way to lead with courage and calm. Listen in for the full conversation.Dr. Chip Roper is the Founder and President of the VOCA Center, a faith-based organization driven to equip Christians to approach their daily work with God's wisdom and power. With an Executive Coaching Certification from Columbia University and a Doctorate of Ministry from Missio Seminary,  Chip tackles client challenges from 30+ years of P/L leadership responsibility as a small businessman, a pastor, a career coach, and a business consultant. Chip's clients are found at Blackstone, Sunrise Brokers, JP Morgan, Randall-Reilly, Goldman Sachs, Nielson, Knopman Marks, and CNBC.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

Send us a textWhat if the kingdom of God becomes visible not in our theories but in our steps? Dietrich Bonhoeffer's theology reframes discipleship as embodied obedience—showing up in prisons, sharing real mutuality, and trading religious privilege for humble responsibility. In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with The Rev. Dr. Jenny M. McBride, Associate Rector of All Saints' Atlanta and president of the International Bonhoeffer Society. Jenny shares how reading Bonhoeffer at an urban house of hospitality opened a door from evangelical ideas to lived formation. That path led her into prison classrooms where fashion small talk mingled with raw theological questions, and where “helping” gave way to being helped. They discuss Luke 10's sentness, why belief grows when we go where Jesus intends to go, and how visiting the incarcerated unmasks our craving for superiority. Responsibility becomes the antidote to Christian nationalism's power hunger, and repentance becomes a daily practice that forms courage and tenderness. Listen in for the full conversation.The Rev. Dr. Jennifer M. McBride (Ph.D. University of Virginia) is Associate Rector at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Atlanta. Previously she served as an Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and held the Board of Regents Endowed Chair in Ethics at Wartburg College in Iowa. After a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Religious Practices and Practical Theology at Emory University, McBride directed a theology certificate program for incarcerated women through Emory's Candler School of Theology.McBride is author of You Shall Not Condemn: A Story of Faith and Advocacy on Death Row (Cascade, 2022), Radical Discipleship: A Liturgical Politics of the Gospel (Fortress, 2017), The Church for the World: A Theology of Public Witness (Oxford University Press, 2011), and is co-editor of Bonhoeffer and King: Their Legacies and Import for Christian Social Thought. In addition to book chapters and scholarly articles, her work has appeared in popular publications like The Christian Century and CNN.com and has been featured in the New York Times.McBride is the recent past president of the International Bonhoeffer Society – English Language Section, an organization made up of scholars, religious leaders, and readers of German pastor-theologian and Nazi-resister, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. She serves as co-editor of the T&T Clark book series, New Studies in Bonhoeffer's Theology and Ethics.She is married to Dr. Thomas Fabisiak, who is the co-executive director of the Georgia Coalition for Higher Ed in Prison and Associate Dean at Life University, where he runs a college degree program for women in Georgia prisons. Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

When hate is loud, love cannot afford to whisper. When forces of oppression are on the move, lovers of freedom must respond. When those who seek to replace democracy with theocracy are gaining ground, those who are sworn to preserve and protect democracy must stand our ground. Jesus, of course, was neither oppressor nor hater nor promoter of theocracy. There are those who claim to speak for him at times, however, who are all of those things. One of the primary forces behind Project 2025 is a political movement called Christian Nationalism. Christian Nationalism speaks not of the teachings of Jesus - feeding the hungry, helping the poor, healing the sick, and kindness to the stranger. Their vision is not about love, but power - specifically a version of power that transgresses basic American Constitutional principles (subjugation of women, primacy of Christianity over other religions, and more). Progressive Christians are rising up in response, bringing to the theological as well as political sphere a voice that is much needed at this time. Theirs is a Jesus of the Gospels, recognizing that loving one another is indeed the salvation of the world. My guest in this interview is Brian Recker, author of HELL BENT: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love. Recker, a former Evangelical pastor, is an influential figure in the Christian Deconstructionist Movement. He explains a journey taken by millions of Christians in America today. who feel strongly that a Jesus of love, not retribution, should guide our hearts. Subscribe to Marianne's Substack: MarianneWilliamson.Substack.com Website: BrianRecker.com Substack: BrianRecker.Substack.com Instagram: @berecker