Podcasts about west hill united church

Gretta Vosper is a best-selling author and an atheist minister at West Hill United Church. She envisions an all-inclusive religion where people of different worldviews can build right relationships with themselves, the environment and other humans. I enjoyed our chat.

Cass Midgley and Bob Pondillo interview another Canadian guest, 2 weeks in a row. A guest we talked to back in October of 2015 on episode 67, Gretta Vosper.  Gretta is an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada who is an atheist. Her latest book is titled, "Time or Too Late: Chasing the Dream of a Progressive Christian Faith. Her other books include the best-selling "With or Without God: Why The Way We Live is More Important Than What We Believe," and "Amen: What Prayer Can Mean in a World Beyond Belief in 2012." She has also published three books of poetry and prayers.Vosper is a graduate of Mount Allison University, and received her Master of Divinity degree from Queen's Theological College in 1990 with ordination in 1992. She has been a minister with West Hill United Church in Toronto since 1997. Gretta Vosper is also founder of the Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity.Despite a finding in September 2016 by the church's Toronto Conference Review Committee that her atheism made her "not suitable to continue in ordained ministry", her congregation has remained staunchly supportive. The matter has been referred to the church's General Council for a decision that could have her defrocked. As of September 2017, the matter remains unresolved.Her work bridges progressive Christianity and atheism exploring beyond the boundaries of Christian thought. Her website indicates, "In 2001, I made it clear that I did not believe in a supernatural, interventionist, divine being. At first, I identified as a non-theist as I do in my first book published in 2008. Then, in my second book, I felt the need to further distinguish myself from those who used the term non-theist but retained a belief in the supernatural aspects of god; there, I identified as a theological non-realist. In 2013, I embraced the term atheist which means, literally, no belief in a theistic, supernatural being." I've met Gretta. She's a very impressive, powerful woman. One thing I love about Gretta and her work is the level of honesty she exudes and in fact personifies. Having graduated from Vanderbilt Divinity school, my professors and my fellow classmates looked at things honestly and each found their own unique measure of faith in the supernatural that could remain true to the facts and the truth in front of them. This goes on in academia every day. And yet, these clergy, ministers, and pastors graduate and are ordained and get into their congregations and their pulpits...and they can't say to these poor people in their pews what they just learned in their seminaries. In fact, whole Bible Colleges have been erected to teach people how to REALLY tell the people what they want to hear and our proud to do so. But for those with a conscience, with values and moral integrity who've become scholars in theology find themselves having to be disingenuous from their pulpits if they're going to keep people coming. Enter Gretta Vosper...and David Dark...and Stan Mitchell...and all the many ministers who are walking that tight rope of theology and honesty and integrity and love and trying to find this tiny little space that the Christian narrative and reality share. And there are those that just can't give up the ghost of Jesus but aren't willing to sell their souls, bury their heads in the sand, and hang on to that which they know is only embraced because they need it to be true. Bob and I really enjoy talking to Gretta and I think you will enjoy this conversation too. We enjoy talking to all our guests and helping people through this difficult journey of life, feel less alone. Religion, like any other drug or alcohol can make some people's life easier and destroy others. And one thing you're doing by trying to stay honest, and maintain your agency and freedom as a thinking human being is truly be the steward of your own happiness and not make the values and priorities that work for you the measuring stick of what everyone else should believe. And that can be hard sometime because your epiphanies have brought you so much joy that you want to share them with others. In that way it can feel like your loving them, but when it infringes on their freedom and agency to think for themselves it ceases to be love. That reminds me of a story from my life. During my high school years I lettered in varsity basketball and I had multiple coaches but this is the tale of two coaches. The first was a guy who was really just a dick. He was insecure. He didn't like himself and so in order to save himself from drowning in his own self-loathing he would elevate himself by lowering others. So when he was critical of your playing or dribbling or shooting, the undertone was judgment, condemnation, and spiteful. Another coach I had later was Jeff Levitzow. I remember his name because a made a wholesome impression on my life. He loved us and we all knew it. He believed in us. He never said as much but you could just feel it. He smiled a lot. We could tell he really enjoyed being with us and teaching us and encouraging us to be the best players we could be in the short time we had together. Certainly he would also critique our playing but it was assessment and evaluation and feedback from an expert. The last thing he wanted to do was crush us or diminish our confidence. Quite the opposite. So that's my tale of two coaches. We, as a team, had no incentive to play hard for our coach or even listen to him, and we sucked. And didn't care. Conversely, we all love playing for Levitzow, we wanted to hustle, he motivated us to excellence. And under his leadership, we made it to the State playoffs for the first time in decades at that little rural Oklahoma high school. So when we're critiquing others or offering feedback, first of all, make sure it's solicited feedback, and secondly, check your heart to make sure you love that person just as they are and not who you wish they were. We taped the following conversation with Joy Hopper on January 27th, 2018. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast, or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe segue music on this episode is "Lost in You" by Dirty Loops The GoFundMe for Gretta Friends of Gretta Vosper Foundation on FB  

Progressive Spirit is now one hour! (Technically 54 minutes to accommodate top of the hour news). Ask your local public radio station to carry Progressive Spirit! I am thrilled to have my conversation with Gretta Vosper be the first show in the now expanded Progressive Spirit! Gretta Vosper is an atheist minister in the United Church of Canada. She is the author of 'With or Without God: Why The Way We Live is More Important Than What We Believe'' and 'Amen: What Prayer Can Mean In A World Beyond Belief.' She is the leader of an exciting community in Toronto, West Hill United Church, that has been under fire from its larger institution for moving beyond the language of the church. Gretta discusses the work of this community and her own struggles with the larger institution. Because of her theological views she was reviewed and declared to be "unsuitable" for ministry. Is there a larger story, though? Gretta also talks about how the liberal United Church in order to grow has accepted into its clergy pentecostals and fundamentalists without examining their theology. The result, according to Gretta, is a church that is losing its progressive principles in order to increase its numbers. In this interview she discusses her review process with the denomination, what she means by "atheist", the doublespeak of clergy who use the word "God" but do not mean it the way it is commonly understood, and the need for communities who want the ethical and spiritual vitality of a community without the archaic language of theism.

In this special update I speak with Gretta Vosper about the decision that just came down last week, declaring that she is "unfit for ministry in the United Church of Canada." This decision has come after a year and half of investigation into Gretta's beliefs after she said publicly that she does not believe in a theistic God.For more background on Vosper's work at West Hill United Church in Toronto and the United Church of Canada's investigation into her fitness for ministry, please listen to Episode 2: http://www.spreaker.com/user/lifeaftergod/2-interview-with-gretta-vosper"Flock sticks with atheist United Church minister," Toronto Star, Sept. 11, 2016https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/09/11/flock-sticks-with-atheist-united-church-minister.htmlGretta's personal website: http://www.grettavosper.caWest Hill United Church's website: http://www.westhill.net

Rev. Gretta Vosper has been deemed unsuitable for ministry in the United Church of Canada due to her atheist beliefs. She believes she fits right in with the congregation at West Hill United Church. Vosper joined The John Oakely Show.

Cass Midgley & Bob Pondillo talk with Gretta Vosper, pastor of West Hill United Church in Scarborough, Ontario. She’s also founder of the Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity back in 2004. Over the last decade, she has written about the rejection of an interventionist god and the impervious idea that the Bible is the ultimate authority for all time and people and yet remained the pastor of a Christian church. You heard me right: an “out” non-theist pastor still in the pulpit.   We taped this talk on Oct 3rd, 2015. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn and most podcast platforms.  If you’re feeling grateful for our podcast, Patreon.com is like a per episode tip jar for our work.   Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson All other music is written and performed by Cass Midgley  

Gretta Vosper, a minister in the United Church of Canada, and pastor of West Hill United Church in Toronto, Ontario, is under fire from her denomination. Like many clergy, myself included, she doesn't believe in a supernatural, interventionist god, or a god called God. She is an atheist. She calls herself that. She has been one for a long time. Now, officials want to review her credentials for ministry which is a first for this denomination.  She returns to Religion For Life to tell her story and report on the support her congregation is giving her.   Full disclosure: my letter of support for her.

Gretta Vosper has been the minister of West Hill United Church of Canada for the past 18 years. She now faces expulsion from the denomination if they determine she is unsuitable for ministry based on her belief that God does not exist.::Links::Life After God | www.lifeaftergod.orgGretta Vosper | www.grettavosper.caWest Hill United Church | www.westhill.netHuge thanks to these amazing folks...I Doubt It with Dollemore podcast | www.dollemore.comCaitlyn Mayers design | http://caitlynmayers.com

Ken starts off by wrestling with the talk he's going to give at West Hill United Church, then gives the talk.

Ken starts off by wrestling with the talk he's going to give at West Hill United Church, then gives the talk.

EICC Dr. Scott Masson, and Gretta Vosper of West Hill United Church, debate the morality of the recently-passed law outlawing homosexual behaviour in Uganda, and related issues of religion, culture, and international relations.

EICC Dr. Scott Masson, and Gretta Vosper of West Hill United Church, debate the morality of the recently-passed law outlawing homosexual behaviour in Uganda, and related issues of religion, culture, and international relations.

EICC Dr. Scott Masson, and Gretta Vosper of West Hill United Church, debate the morality of the recently-passed law outlawing homosexual behaviour in Uganda, and related issues of religion, culture, and international relations.

Gretta Vosper is a minister in the United Church of Canada.   She identifies herself as “author, minister, atheist.” She is a minister at the West Hill United Church in Toronto.  She has written a number of books including With Or Without God:  Why the Way We Live Is More Important than What We Believe and Amen:  What Prayer Can Mean In A World Beyond Belief.  She spoke with me about her own journey as a minister and an atheist and what church looks like beyond god.

EICC founder, Rev. Joe Boot and Dr. Charles McVety, President of Canada Christian College, debate the minister of West Hill United Church and founder of the Centre for Progressive Christianity, Gretta Vosper, on the Syrain civil war, the broader Middle East crisis, and whether Christianity offers the solution. The live debate aired on AM640 in Toronto on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 9:00AM.

EICC founder, Rev. Joe Boot and Dr. Charles McVety, President of Canada Christian College, debate the minister of West Hill United Church and founder of the Centre for Progressive Christianity, Gretta Vosper, on the Syrain civil war, the broader Middle East crisis, and whether Christianity offers the solution. The live debate aired on AM640 in Toronto on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 9:00AM.

EICC founder, Rev. Joe Boot and Dr. Charles McVety, President of Canada Christian College, debate the minister of West Hill United Church and founder of the Centre for Progressive Christianity, Gretta Vosper, on the Syrain civil war, the broader Middle East crisis, and whether Christianity offers the solution. The live debate aired on AM640 in Toronto on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 9:00AM.

EICC founder Rev Joe Boot debates Gretta Vosper, minister of West Hill United Church and founder of the Centre for Progressive Christianity, on the recent introduction of a third gender identity in Germany, the TDSB's so called obesity letters, the military coup in Egypt and Christian persecution. This live debate aired Tuesday August 20 2013, at 9:00 AM.

EICC founder Rev Joe Boot debates Gretta Vosper, minister of West Hill United Church and founder of the Centre for Progressive Christianity, on the recent introduction of a third gender identity in Germany, the TDSB's so called obesity letters, the military coup in Egypt and Christian persecution. This live debate aired Tuesday August 20 2013, at 9:00 AM.

EICC founder Rev Joe Boot debates Gretta Vosper, minister of West Hill United Church and founder of the Centre for Progressive Christianity, on the recent introduction of a third gender identity in Germany, the TDSB's so called obesity letters, the military coup in Egypt and Christian persecution. This live debate aired Tuesday August 20 2013, at 9:00 AM.