gcr's Podcast
A weekly Progressive Christian podcast from co-hosts Carol Howard Merritt and Derrick Weston.

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March 2024
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Syndication

Today Carol and Derrick talk with Sandhya Rani Jha about transforming communities and how people like you are healing their neighborhoods.  Sandhya Jha serves as founder and director of the Oakland Peace Center, a collective of 40 organizations creating access, equity and dignity for all in Oakland and the Bay Area. 

Raised in an interracial and multi-faith family and witness to the sometimes subtle (and sometimes obvious) ways that racism and xenophobia show up in our society, it is not surprising that Sandhya’s career has been marked by work to effect public policy change (working in the office of Congressman Thomas C. Sawyer from Akron, Ohio), religious liberty and an alternative voice to the religious right (at The Interfaith Alliance) and around the issues of housing for all (at East Bay Housing Organizations) as well as her work to build what Dr. Martin Luther King called Beloved Community (at the Oakland Peace Center).

She serves as an anti-racism/anti-oppression trainer with Reconciliation Ministries for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is a faith-rooted organizer with Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (formerly Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice – CA) and with the Emerging Leaders Program at the Leadership Institute at Allen Temple. Sandhya is particularly proud of her podcast, Hope from the Hood, available on iTunes and at sandhyajha.com.

A passionate reader and writer, Sandhya is the author of Room at the Table, the history of people of color in the Disciples of Christ, and Pre-Post-Racial America: Spiritual Stories from the Front Lines on the subject of race and spirituality in America. Pre-Post-Racial America was listed as one of the top five books on race and religion in 2015 by Publishers Weekly. Sandhya’s newest book, Transforming Communities: How People Like You are Healing Their Neighborhoods, focuses on concrete ways that regular people are creating change community-by-community in an era where positive change can feel impossible. 

Direct download: Sandhya_Rani_Jha.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:41pm CDT

Melvin Bray is an Emmy® award-winning storyteller, writer, educator and social entrepreneur embedded with his wife and three kids in the West End neighborhood of Southwest Atlanta. He is an active member of several vanguard networks working to cultivate more sustainable approaches to faith and civic engagement. His book Better: Waking Up to Who We Could Be invites us to consider how we might change the world by telling better stories.  Join Carol as she interviews Melvin to hear the stories he has to share.

 

Direct download: Melvin_Bray.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:11pm CDT

Didn’t get everything you wanted for Christmas?  How about this special GCR podcast with Meredith Gould?  Join Derrick and Carol as they chat with Meredith about her book “Desperately Seeking Spirituality” about spirituality through the lenses of sociology, theology, psychology, and social media.  They also spend some time talking about the spiritual stressors of our current culture and recent political events. Learn more about Meredith at meredithgould.com.

 

Direct download: Meredith_Gould2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:01am CDT

Carol is joined by Norman Wirzba, Duke University professor of Theology and Ecology and author of “Way of Love: Recovering the Heart of Christianity.”  The pioneering scholar and author of Food and Faith and Living the Sabbath asserts that Christianity has slid off its rightful foundation, arguing that the faith only makes sense and can only be expressed in a healthy way if it seen as based on love, with a mission of training others in the way of love.

It’s often said that God is love, yet his message of compassion and caring for others is often overshadowed by the battles dividing us politically, culturally, and religiously. Why does Christianity matter if it isn’t about love?

The Way of Love invites readers to experience Christianity that is centered on love. Extensive theological training cannot replace the way of love that transforms and connects each of us to God and the faith, Wirzba contends. Interweaving illuminating testimonials, historical references, and Scripture, he reveals how love allows us to move into the fullness of life; when we do not love we lose our faith. “To fail to love,” he reminds us, “is to lose God.”

Direct download: Norman_Wirzba.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:44pm CDT

We have been created to live and work in community. But all too often we see ourselves primarily as individuals and run the risk of working at cross-purposes with the organizations we serve. Living faithfully in a neighborhood involves two interwoven threads: learning and action. In Reading for the Common Good, C. Christopher Smith, coauthor of Slow Church, looks at the local church as an organization in which both learning and action lie at the heart of its identity. He explores the practice of reading and, in his words, "how we can read together in ways that drive us deeper into action." Beyond this interview with Carol, you can find out more about his activities and events at www.slowchurch.com.

Direct download: C_Christopher_Smith.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 9:44pm CDT

Direct download: Ruth_Everharts_Ruined_-_8_2_16_11.17_AM.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:25am CDT

Direct download: BruceReyesChowAHat.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:33pm CDT

Teresa B Pasquale, LCSW, E-RYT 200 wears many hats including: author, trauma specialist, educator, trainer, yoga teacher, "crooked mystic," contemplative-actioner bringing mindfulness and healing into action and activist contexts, and a meditation & retreat facilitator.  Teresa believes strongly in the potential in everyone to overcome hardship, be stronger than they ever thought possible, and the capacity for people to not just survive life but thrive in the process of living.

In this episode, Derrick speaks with Teresa about her new book Sacred Wounds about healing from the spiritual traumas of our lives.

Direct download: Teresa_Pasquale_Mateus.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 6:54pm CDT

Derrick interviews Drew Hart on the church’s view of racism followed by Carol and Derrick reflecting together.  Drew Hart is a writer, speaker, and PhD candidate in theology and ethics with ten years of pastoral ministry experience. Regularly speaking at churches, conferences, and colleges, Drew brings together his pastoral experience with his academic training to challenge the Church on a variety of topics. Most recently he has been especially invested in conversations on white supremacy and racism and Christianity, but also routinely speaks on Christian discipleship to Jesus, western Christendom, Christian history, peacemaking and nonviolence, urban ministry, social media, etc.

Drew has a Christian Century hosted blog entitled ‘Taking Jesus Seriously’, while also writing occasionally for The Mennonite’s and Biblical Seminary’s blog as well. His own personal site is http://www.drewgihart.com. He sneaks in tweets with the handle @DruHart and can also be found on Facebook.  He is the author of Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism.

Direct download: Drew_Hart.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:55pm CDT

Rev. Frank Schaefer is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church where he ministered for 20 years (in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference) when, in 2013, he was tried by a highly publicized United Methodist church court for officiating at his son’s same-sex marriage. He was defrocked on December 19th, 2013 when he refused to uphold the Book of Discipline in its entirety, which would have meant to denounce gay marriage rights. With the stripping of his credentials, he lost his parish, career and security. Subsequently, Frank became a nation-wide speaker and activist. Though his credentials were reinstated by the Church's highest court in the fall of 2014, Pastor Frank continues to advocate for human rights while also working in a new United Methodist parish in Isla Vista California.

Carol and Derrick reflect after the interview on the various things that divide our churches.

Direct download: Frank_Schaefer.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:16am CDT

God Complex Radio is back with Rev. Kate Foster Connors, Director of The Center in Baltimore.  The Center envisions neighborhoods transformed by congregations engaged in the justice-seeking, compassionate, and reconciling work of Jesus Christ. Through education, service, partnership, and advocacy, their mission is to equip congregations in Baltimore and beyond to transform neighborhoods by engaging in the justice and reconciliation of Jesus Christ. They partner with local churches to transform neighborhoods by workng for justice in their communities. Local congregations also collaborate with visiting adult or youth groups for mission work projects.

 

Direct download: Kate_Foster_Connors.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:46am CDT

Producer Rob Dyer unleashes this special 2015 season preview episode.  Derrick interviews author, pastor, and parent Andrew Taylor-Troutman about his book "Parables of Parenthood: Interpreting the Gospels with Family."  Andrew invites us to bring our experiences of parenting into our experience with God's Word.  

Direct download: Andrew_Taylor-Troutman.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:31pm CDT

Join Carol for an engaging conversation about unjust suffering and oppression with Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim.  Her book "Colonialism, Han, and the Transformative Spirit" guides our podcast discussion using the Korean concept of han (unjust suffering) to shed light on our theological understanding of power and its abuse.  Grace Ji-Sun Kim is a Korean-American theologian, professor, blogger, and author.  

Direct download: Grace_Ji-Sun_Kim.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:55pm CDT

Tony Kriz, who infamously appeared in Donald Miller's books under the name "Tony the Beat Poet"has discovered the abiding presence of Jesus in the lives and words of people from diverse (and often radically unchristian) sources.

Through the pages of Neighbors and Wise Men, Tony guides the reader through Muslim lands, radically anti-religious academia and post-Christian cultures to discover a God who speaks with generosity and creativity.  Our conversation with Tony is filled with stories and inspiring thoughts on what we can learn from "deChristians" and others outside of the Christian faith.

Direct download: Tony_Kriz.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:29pm CDT

UNCO is an unconfernce for church leaders, pastors, families, and seminarians. It is three days of worship and open space discussion on the church and its future. Today we chat about the past, present, and future of this incredible conference opportunity with Shannon Meacham.  You can also follow Shannon's musings at her Pulpit Shenanigans blog.

 

Direct download: Shannon_Meacham_UNCO.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 3:55pm CDT

Our summer season kicks off with Brian McLaren as we talk about the Cana Initiative (www.canainitiative.org) and his new book We Make the Road by Walking.  Brian always offers such wonderful insights for constructive and fresh approaches to the Christian life.  We are delighted to have him join us for this conversation.  Find out more about Brian and his projects at www.brianmclaren.net.

 

Direct download: Brian_McLaren_2014.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:59am CDT

We are talking about taboo topics in this special episode. American Christian women get frank about faith and life as Erin Lane and Enuma Okoro, editors of Talking Taboo, join Derrick and Carol for a conversation. This latest book in the I Speak For Myself series addresses the experiences of faith, gender, and identity that remain taboo for American Christian women under 40.  For women and their partners, faith leaders and their members, historians and their students, this book documents the voices of young Christian women and their refusal to be silent any longer.

Direct download: Erin_Lane_Enuma_Okoro.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:10am CDT

Ever feel like ministry makes your spiritual life tougher?  Keeping busy can so easily become our most common spiritual practice.  Join Derrick and Carol as they talk with Lauren Winner, author of StillStill offers reflections on how murky and gray the spiritual life can be while, at the same time, shows us how to see the light we do encounter more clearly. The former book editor for Beliefnet, Lauren teaches at Duke Divinity School, and lives in Durham, North Carolina. Lauren travels extensively to lecture and teach.  Her other books include Girl Meets God and Mudhouse Sabbath.


Direct download: Lauren_Winner.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:16pm CDT

The new season opens with zombies!  How awesome is that?!?!  We have a lot to learn about our society from zombies as we chat with Dr. Kelly J Baker. Kelly is the author of Gospel According to the Klan: The KKK’s Appeal to Protestant America, 1915-1930, The Zombies Are Coming!: The Realities of the Zombie Apocalypse in American Culture, and a forthcoming cultural history of zombies from the University of Washington Press.

She received a PhD from Florida State University in Religion in 2008, particularly American religious history. She edits the Religion in American History blog, http://usreligion.blogspot.com, and blogs at www.kellyjbaker.com.

Direct download: KellyJBaker.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:49am CDT

This week we talk with Meredith Gould who has written nine books since 1998 including her latest The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways.  She is a sociologist and digital strategist with decades of strategic communications experience. In July 2011, she founded the weekly Twitter-based ecumenical Church Social Media Chat (#ChSocM) and serves as its lead moderator.


Direct download: Meredith_Gould_2013.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:55pm CDT

Why are we still so terrible at having conversations about race in our culture?  Join Derrick as he speaks with Bruce Reyes-Chow, former God Complex Radio host, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church USA, and author of the new book "But I Don't See You As Asian: Curating Conversations About Race."  In this extended interview, Derrick and Bruce explore issues around race in our culture and the church.  

Direct download: Bruce_Reyes_Chow.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:41pm CDT

Carol goes on a pilgrimage to Thistle Farms for an on-site interview with Becca Stevens.  The Reverend Becca Stevens is an Episcopal priest serving as Chaplain at St Augustine's at Vanderbilt University, and founder of Magdalene & Thistle Farms. Magdalene, the residential model, serves women for two years at no cost to residents. Thistle Farms employs 40 residents and graduates who manufacture, market and sell all natural bath and beauty products in over 200 retail stores across the globe. Her latest book is Snake Oil: The Art of Healing and Truth-Telling. Her blog is available at beccastevens.org.

Direct download: Becca_Stevens.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:56pm CDT

Derrick has an inspiring and energizing conversation with Rev. Cameron Trimble about the future of renewal in the Church.  Cameron is the Executive Director of the Center for Progressive Renewal (www.progressiverenewal.org). She most recently served as an advisor to the Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Team of Local Church Ministries for the United Church of Christ and as Associate Conference Minister of Church Development in the Southeast Conference of the UCC. In her ministry in the national setting, Cameron was responsible for the development of national strategy for birthing new churches. In her conference setting, she directly oversaw the birthing of churches throughout the Southeast Conference. Each setting has given her a unique perspective on the challenges of cultivating leaders equipped to meet the needs of the future of mainline Protestantism.

Cameron is an adjunct professor teaching church planting and renewal with the Pacific School of Religion and Chicago Theological Seminary. She has co-authored the book "Liberating Hope" with Michael Piazza in 2011. 

With this wide experience and exposure, Cameron is convinced that the future of the progressive mainline Church is dependent upon our ability to cultivate the highest quality of leadership in both ordained and lay leadership.


Direct download: Cameron_Trimble.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:24pm CDT

This episode features Rick Ufford-Chase.  Rick worked as a mission worker for twenty years on the U.S./Mexico border, supporting migrants and refugees and developing educational programs for people of faith who are interested in the complexities and challenges of the border region. Rick served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCUSA from 2004 to 2006. He is currently the Executive Director of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, and the Co-Director (with his wife, Kitty) of Stony Point Conference Center. Rick has been deeply interested in the intersection between our faith, the challenge of responding to violence in our time, and the work of partnering with those from other religious traditions to protect and extend basic human rights to all people.

Rick is leading the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship delegation to Israel/Palestine next January 3-17. There is a grant that will subsidize more than half the cost of the trip for every participant, so the total, out-of-pocket expense should be under $2,000 including airfare. More information for anyone who would like to join this trip can be found at http://presbypeacefellowship.org/content/january-2014-middle-east-witness-delegation#.UYBWOqUQ_0A

Direct download: Rick_Ufford-Chase.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:44pm CDT

Carol speaks with David H. Jensen, author of God, Desire, and a Theology of Human Sexuality.  David desires to connect the basic Christian beliefs to the day-to-day living of individuals. His book examines human sexuality in light of Christian faith and doctrine. Jensen moves beyond the hot-button social debate about sexual orientation and sexual practices to look for healing. You are invited to explore human sexuality from a new biblical perspective.

Direct download: David_Jensen.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:53am CDT

Join Carol and Derrick as they are talking to D. Mark Davis author of “Left Behind and Loving It: A Cheeky Look At the End Times." This podcast interview was recorded just days after the Boston Marathon Bombing. Reflections on how we process tragic events are interwoven with a unique perspective on end times theology.

Direct download: D_Mark_Davis.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:42pm CDT

Join Carol and Derrick as they speak with Lia Scholl, author of I Heart Sex Workers.  Lia brings her years of experience to help us see the sex worker industry through new eyes.  Issues of choice, agency, and human trafficking are explored along with real talk on how Christians can minister to this unique population.  This may not be an episode that you want to listen with your kids... just sayin'.

Direct download: Lia_Scholl.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:45pm CDT

Host Derrick Weston takes us on a trip down memory lane with a look back at the very first episode of God Complex Radio.  The charter co-hosts Bruce and Carol have a lot to say about the state of the church in 2009 and a lot of unique music to share as well!  Enjoy!

Direct download: VintageGCR-Episode_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:42pm CDT

Break out the confetti.... It's the 75th episode! In this episode, we are talking about authentic ministry for the needs and concerns of veterans and their families. Derrick and Carol are talking with Amy Blumenshine, one of the authors of "Welcome Them Home, Help Them Heal: Pastoral Care and Ministry With Service Members Returning From War." You can also access resources for veterans' ministry, including healing rituals from this book at http://www.mpls-synod.org/programs/vets.


Direct download: Amy_Blumenshine.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:18am CDT

Ruth Everhart is our guest. She has been a pilgrim in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. Ruth served as a pastor 22 years and she’s also the author of the book Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land. You can read more about her at RuthEverhart.com. One of her amazon reviews says that her book is like Eat, Pray, Love for people who go to church.

 

In this episode, we talk about the value of pilgrimage.  We also spend some time reflecting on the experience of other types of shared journeys.

Direct download: Ruth_Everhart.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:57pm CDT

Mark Linsenmayer is the founder and co-host of  The Partially Examined Life philosophy podcast and blog. He is a writer and musician who attended graduate school in philosophy at the University of Texas in the 90's but quit academia for several years before coming back to re-explore classic philosophy texts through the podcast. His areas of specialty in his graduate work were in continental philosophy and philosophy of mind.

The Partially Examined Life has recorded several discussions on topics in the philosophy of religion, including on arguments for the existence of Godthe New Atheists, the liberal Protestantism of Friedrich Schleiermacher, and the psychology of the the self and faith of Soren Kierkegaard.

Direct download: Mark_Linsenmayer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:32am CDT

How have images of Christ formed our faith and the ways in which we understand one another? How have pictures been used in our racial history? Why are images of Jesus so important? We invited Edward J. Blum to talk about some of these questions.

Dr. Blum is an associate professor of history at San Diego State University and the author of several award-winning books on religion and race in the United States. His latest book, co-authored with Paul Harvey, is The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America


Direct download: Ed_Blum.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:17pm CDT

Ben Crawford is a founding partner of Epipheo. Epipheo uses video and social media to translate meaning and communicate the stories behind companies and their products. His vision for Epipheo is to reveal truth in a way that changes people’s lives. Clients include Facebook, Google and Visa. Prior to Epipheo, Ben launched a blackjack team that notoriously took millions from casinos over the course of seven years and was featured in the documentary Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians.  Join Carol and Derrick as they explore issues of vocation, call, and of course... gambling!

Direct download: Ben_Crawford.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:26pm CDT

Mihee Kim-Kort talks with Carol Howard Merritt and Derrick Weston about her book, Making Paper Cranes: Toward an Asian-American Feminist Theology. How has the myth of the model minority affected her life and work? How should we claim our context in our work? Should white male theologians claim their context in the same way women and racial/ethnic minorities have?  Is there an intellectual segregation in the marketing of theology? We talk about these questions and more with Rev. Kim-Kort.

 

Mihee Kim-Kort is a PC(USA) pastor and author who blogs regularly at miheekimkort.com.

Direct download: Mihee_Kim-Kort.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:20am CDT

After the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, people of faith yearned to respond. The horror highlighted that many children live with fear of guns every day. How can we understand the impact that gun violence has on our country? What can we do to change this culture of violence? What are the greater political and systemic issues that we ought to be aware of?

Derrick and Carol invited J. Herbert Nelson to discuss these issues. J. Herbert started the Liberation Community Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Now he serves as Director of the Office of Public Witness for the Presbyterian Church (USA). And while you're listening, we invite you to check out this petition, sign it, and distribute it.

Direct download: J_Herbert_Nelson_II.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:14am CDT

Derrick and Carol talked with Hugh Hollowell about Love Wins, a ministry of presence and pastoral care with homeless men and women in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hugh tells us about his approach to ministry and explains that homelessness is, basically, a relationship issue.

Direct download: Hugh_Hollowell.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:19pm CDT

Derrick Weston will be talking to MaryAnn McKibben Dana about her book, Sabbath in the Suburbs. How do you practice Sabbath in this busy, stressed-out world? Is Sabbath just a luxury for those who don't have kids? What if both parents are working? Does Sabbath make sense in our modern life? How does Sabbath help us to become more human?

Direct download: MaryAnn_McKibben_Dana.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:44pm CDT

Direct download: DBB_Christianity_after_Religion.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:40am CDT

Throughout this political season, the Bible has been used in our discourse. Should this be the case? When is the Bible helpful and when is it harmful in the public square?

Derrick asked Nyasha Junior, a scholar who teaches at Howard University's Divinity School, to help us take a closer look at how it's being used. Dr. Junior not only enlightens our perspective, but she gives church leaders helpful tools in how to lead Bible studies in light of current politics.

Direct download: Junior.mp3
Category:Religion/Spirituality -- posted at: 6:34pm CDT

Ever wondered what guys go through when they their wives are preganant? Not to worry! Author Christian Piatt lays it all out for his in his memoir "PregMANcy: A Dad, A Little Dude, and A Due Date". He also share some of his thoughts on the church's role in politics in the current election season.

Direct download: GCRs6e2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:45pm CDT

Carol Howard Merritt talks to Melissa DeRosia about her book, The Girlfriend's Clergy Companion, and how we can encourage and support women in minstry. 

Direct download: GCR_-_Melissa_copy.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:33am CDT

The season of Advent is upon us! During this time of watchful expectation, we often turn to the words of the Hebrew scripture for inspiration and enlightenment as we prepare are hearts for the coming of the Messiah. Dr. Stephen B. Reid discusses with ways to think about these scriptures with respect to their roots in Judaism and illustrates what we can learn about prayer from the Hebrew texts. 

Direct download: GCR_S5E7.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:44pm CDT

What are today's youth saying about their faith? How does what they profess compare to our historic creeds? What are they saying about the beliefs of their parents? Join Derrick Weston as he talks to Kenda Creasy Dean about your book Almost Christian and learn how youth reflect the faith of our communities. Plus, you won't want to miss the insightful reflections of the Two Friars and a Fool (Aric Clark, Doug Hagler, and Nick Larson) and Carol Howard Merritt.

Direct download: Dean.mp3
Category:Religion/Spirituality -- posted at: 10:46am CDT

What the heck is process theology? Author Bruce Epperly helps us to understand the concept of process thought and how we might apply it to some of the more challenging issues in our life of faith. 

Direct download: GCR_S5E5.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:28am CDT

Have you ever experienced a major shift in how you view politics? How did it happen? How does your faith and political life intersect? How should it intersect? Join Derrick Weston as he talks to Alisa Harris, the author of Raised Right, about these questions and more. We’ll also introduce the Two Friars and a Fool—Aric Clark, Nick Larson, and Doug Hagler-- as they reflect on the Occupy Movement.

Direct download: Harris.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:25am CDT

In major cities all across the globe, crowds of people are coming together in at the seats of political and financial power. What began with Occupy Wall Street has become a genuine movement that begun a national dialogue about economic inequalities. Washington D.C. pastor, and friend of the show, Brian Merritt shares his experience with the Occupy K Street community and shares insights as to how the faith community can be involved with this movement. 

Direct download: GCRS5E3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:22pm CDT

Have you ever gotten frustrated with Christmas shopping? Yes? Well, have you ever gotten so irritated with buying Christmas crap that you make a decision that would change your life? Craig and his wife did that... and they ended up with a year of plenty. 

Direct download: Craig_Goodwin.mp3
Category:Religion/Spirituality -- posted at: 11:30pm CDT

"Evangelism" has become a scary word in many mainline congregations, even scarier for those outside of the church. But if sharing our faith is an essential part of our spiritual health, not to mention the health of our congregations, how can it be done in a way that takes away some of the anxiety? 

Martha Grace Reese shares her insights from her work with the Mainline Evangelism Project as well as some of the helpful tips from the "Unbinding" series with Carol. Carol and new co-host Derrick Weston then discuss some of their previous history with evangelism in their pasts and their hopes for it in the church. 

Direct download: GCR_S5E1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:16am CDT

Where does that coffee come from? What does that chocolate bar have to do with global slavery? How do our everyday choices affect the global economy and human rights? Julie Clawson wrote a book on these very things.

Carol Howard Merritt talks to Julie Clawson about her unique perspective on the Emergent Church as well as her book, Everyday Justice. Then Carol talks with Ryan Kemp-Pappan about what Julie had to say. 

Direct download: ClawsonRKP.mp3
Category:Religion/Spirituality -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

Direct download: Hackenberg.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:40pm CDT

Direct download: S4E3_-_Jonathan_Brink.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:50pm CDT

Join Carol Howard Merritt and Landon Whitsitt as they interview Steve Knight of the Transform Network as he discusses mission in the 21st century church.

Direct download: S4E1_-_Steve_Knight.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:15pm CDT