Podcast appearances and mentions of Sandra T Montes

In this fourth episode of season 3 of Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community, we speak with Episcopalians committed to the Beloved Community about the texts for Advent 4. The texts covered in this episode are Luke 1:39-45 and Canticle 15. Our guests this week are:     The Hon. Warren Hawk, Isnala Ohitika (Brave Alone), who serves his tribe as a member of the Standing Rock Tribal Council. Warren is an active, lifelong Episcopalian who serves on several Episcopal boards and committees.  Dr. Sandra T. Montes, an indigenous Latina (born in Peru and raised in Guatemala) who splits her time between New York City and Houston. She holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Houston and her book, Becoming REAL and Thriving in Ministry, was published in May 2020. She is the dean of chapel at Union Theological Seminary.  Tamara Plummer, a program officer in the U.S. Disaster Program at Episcopal Relief & Development and host of the podcast Pursuing Call.    Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church's staff officer for Racial Reconciliation. For more information on Becoming Beloved Community, visit iam.ec/becomingbelovedcommunity. 

In Mark 7:18, 14-15, 21-23, we enter into a conversation Jesus has with the religious leaders of his day. Those leaders criticize the disciples for not following the rules around hand washing. Jesus speaks on behalf of the disciples and taught them and the religious leaders: "For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come...." Henri Nouwen reflects about the heart with the following: "...By 'heart' I mean the centre of our being, the 'place' where were are most ourselves, where we are most human, where we are most real. In that sense the heart is the focus of the spiritual life." Jesus taught the disciples, and us as modern day disciples, to be real and authentic in ministry. They continued on as do we. Episcopal writer, academic and musician Sandra T. Montes has a provocative book entitled Becoming REAL and Thriving in Ministry. REAL is an acronym meaning Respectful relationships, Excellence, Authenticity, and Love--four ingredients she sees as an essential framework for all relationships whether individual or in ministries. She challenges us, just as Jesus challenges us, to be better and to open our hearts. How can we be conscious of transforming our tongues and words and actions to heal and build relationships?

Why are our worship spaces sometimes the most segregated spaces? Do we prefer to worship with those that look like us? Is it just cultural? Location? Sandra T. Montes from Union Theological Seminary and author of REAL: Thriving in Ministry joins the show. Tune in at 9am EST today?  

Last month, Dr. Sandra T. Montes joined EDS at Union as an Artist in Residence, sharing her talents for leading worship, song, and bi-lingual liturgy with our community. In today's episode, Dean Douglas interviews Dr. Montes to learn more about her experience using music to bring congregations and communities together.  About Sandra Montes: Sandra is the Spanish Language Resource Consultant at ECF. She was born in Perú, grew up in Guatemala and settled in Texas as soon as she could. Her passions are God, family (especially her son), music, education, and writing and she has been hoping and praying for this position for years. Sandra has been developing original bilingual resources for her church, school, and others for years. Sandra has been volunteering and working in the Episcopal Church since she was welcomed in 1986. She serves as musician, translator, speaker, consultant, and writer. She earned her doctorate in education in 2016 and is a full-time freelance consultant and musician. Sandra T. Montes nació en Perú, se crió en Guatemala y se instaló en Tejas lo antes que le fue posible. Sus pasiones son Dios, familia (especialmente su hijo), música, educación y escribir, y ha estado esperando y orando por este puesto por años. Sandra ha estado elaborando recursos bilingües originales para su iglesia, escuela y otros por años. Sandra ha sido voluntaria y trabajado en la Iglesia Episcopal desde que le dieron la bienvenida a Ella en 1986. Se desempeña como música, traductora, oradora, asesora y redactora. Obtuvo su doctorado en educación en 2016 y es consultora y música de tiempo completo.

La Rda. Nancy Frausto, rectora asociada de la Iglesia Episcopal de San Lucas en Long Beach, California, y miembro fundador del Grupo de Trabajo del Santuario de la Diócesis de Los Ángeles, presenta un podcast de #GC79. Invitada: Sandra Montes es de la Diócesis de Texas. Es una amante de la música, cantante, y consultora en Episcopal Church Foundation. Los temas incluyen: Música, justicia y mayordomía.