Rector's Cupboard: Recent Episodes
Rector's Cupboard
The final episode of Season 7 of Rector's Cupboard.
Do you remember Stephen Colbert's This Week in God segment from the early days of The Daily Show? Inspired by that idea, the hosts gather to reflect on a handful of recent stories from the world of religion.
What on earth is happening with Christianity right now? And perhaps more importantly, what kind of faith are these stories inviting us toward?
Our conversation explores some of the central convictions of hopeful Christian theology that have shaped Rector's Cupboard from the beginning: that truth does not need fear to defend it, that humility is more faithful than certainty, and that if the "Good News" is truly good, it should be good for everyone—not only for those who consider themselves believers.
Enjoy the conversation.
References from this EpisodeThis Week in God Compilation
Stephen Colbert and Ricky Gervais Interview
Stephen Colbert and Dua Lipa Interview
“Pope Leo Faces the First Crisis of His Pontificate” New York Times, June 20, 2026
“Southern Baptists vote to advance a formal ban on churches with women pastors” AP News, June 10, 2026
“Where Testosterone and the Bible Are the ‘New Punk Rock'” New York Times, June 26, 2026
Tasting NotesHello-Bello Recipe, gratitude to Harry at Pub Saint Pierre in Montreal for this wonderful cocktail.
Shot of espresso and Campari (shaken no ice)
Pour into glass
Then add fresh OJ, about juice of half an orange
Ice and prosecco, just to top it
Orange peel as garnish
What happens when we look back at the faith communities that shaped us and ask, Where are those people now? Have they remained where they started, or have their experiences led them somewhere unexpected? And what can we learn when we listen to the stories of those whose journeys have unfolded differently than our own?
In this episode, we welcome Ken Best, therapist and longtime friend of Todd. They reflect on the formative church culture they shared and the ways their lives have diverged and intersected over the years. The conversation invites listeners to consider how other people's experiences can help us reinterpret our own past—and perhaps move toward a more hopeful future.
This conversation also marks the beginning of our new Community Mental Health Talks series with Ken. What would it look like to create spaces where people feel seen, understood, and free to be themselves? Join us on June 22 for the first talk in the series, Queerly Beloved, an evening exploring how we can better understand and support the queer people in our lives. More information about this event here.
In this episode of Rector’s Cupboard, Allison, Amanda, and Ken sit down for a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about MAID — Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada. Drawing on Ken’s work as a Spiritual Health Practitioner at Lions Gate Hospital, we explore what MAID actually is, how the process works, and why it remains such a difficult and emotional topic for many people, especially within faith communities.
Along the way, we talk about suffering, grief, agency, palliative care, and what it means to accompany people through death with compassion and dignity. Ken shares stories from his work with patients and families navigating end-of-life decisions, reflecting on the sacredness, tension, and beauty that can exist even in the hardest moments.
This isn’t a debate episode or an attempt to land on easy answers. Instead, it’s an honest conversation about mortality, care, faith, and how we show up for one another when life becomes fragile.
References:If you’d like to do some more reading on MAID in Canada, Ken suggests the following resources.
This is Assisted Dying, Dr. Stefanie Green (2022) A memoir by a Canadian physician at the forefront of MAID, exploring her experiences and the decisions behind the practice.
The Last Doctor: Lessons in Living from the Front Lines of Medical Assistance in Dying, Dr. Jean Marmoreo and Johanna Schneller (2023) Follows one of Canada’s first MAID practitioners, providing stories of patients and families.
Unravelling MAID in Canada, Edited by Ramona Coelho and Trudo Lummens (2025) A collection of perspectives from experts exploring the expansion and ethical, legal, and social implications of the practice.
The Many Faces of MAID: What to Expect When Someone You Know Chooses Medical Assistance in Dying, Cynthia Clark and Carol Cram (2023) A resource for families, friends, and caregivers dealing with the emotions surrounding a loved one’s decision.
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) Activity Book, KidsGrief.ca, a specialized guide designed to help children understand and navigate the experience of having a loved one choose MAID.
Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, Government of Canada (November 2025) The annual report on MAID that outlines MAID requests, assessments, and provisions across Canada in 2024.
In this episode, we’re sharing a live recording from one of our Tasting Room Theology gatherings—informal, in-person evenings where we pair something tasty (in this case, doughnuts from Lucky’s Doughnuts) with thoughtful theological reflection.
We welcome you into a conversation exploring a short history of evangelicalism—where it came from, what shaped it, and why it continues to matter today. As we trace its early roots, defining ideas, and cultural influence, we reflect on how themes like conversion, biblical interpretation, activism, and separation have shaped both personal faith and the wider world.
Along the way, we share some of our own experiences within evangelical spaces—what formed us, what challenged us, and what continues to stay with us. Ultimately, we’re asking what kind of faith is being carried forward, and what it might look like to move toward something more hopeful, grounded in beauty, goodness, and truth.
Note: This episode references a visual presentation used during the live event. You can find this presentation here if you’d like to follow along.
Materials Referenced in this episode:There are a lot of video and audio clips you can find in the presentation below but here are some of the other things Todd mentioned if you want to do some extra credit work.
Goodbye, Babylon – CD Set
Minds Wide Shut: How the New Fundamentalisms Divide Us, Gary Saul Morson and Morton Schaprio, 2021
American Apocalypse: A History of Modern Evangelicalism, Matthew Avery Sutton, 2014
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, Kristin Kobes Du Mez, 2020
We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland, Fintan O’Toole, 2023
Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free, Linda Kay Klein, 2018
Faith always has a public facet. It is lived out in the public sphere, in our day-to-day lives, our families and friendships, in those we encounter as we walk down the street, as we think about how the most vulnerable amongst us are treated and valued in society.
We see this in the current interactions between religious and political leaders, as we touch on in our introductory conversation, and in how subjects like addiction are talked about, particularly in understandings of faith.
We are please to welcome Dr. Quentin Genuis, emergency physician at St. Paul’s Hospital, ethicist, and author of Recovering People: Addiction, Personhood, and the Life of the Church. Bringing together his hospital work and theological degree, Quentin shares stories and insights shaped by close encounters with people living with addiction.
Together, we explore how common frameworks, seeing addiction as either a matter of choice or purely a disease, fall short. Instead, Quintin offers a “personal model,” one that takes seriously the full humanity of each person. Addiction, in this view, is often a search for good things: belonging, peace, joy, and healing—but sought in ways that ultimately do not lead to life.
What might it mean to move beyond labels and diagnoses, to see the whole person in front of us?
References“Trump vs. The Pope,” The Daily, April 16, 2026
“Trump’s Christlike image is filled with sloppy symbolism,” The Washington Post, April 13, 2026
Good Friday again.
Jesus gives his life for the life of the world.
The hosts of Rector’s Cupboard sit down to talk about Good Friday in the world today.
What does Jesus’ sacrifice mean in the midst of all of this? So much spinning around, so many examples of a quest for power, even within religious circles.
Meanwhile Jesus …
Meanwhile Jesus gives his life for the life of the world. Relinquishing power.
May we have eyes to see, may we know with our hearts that which is beyond knowledge.
Blessings to you on Good Friday 2026.
Resources referenced in this episode:The Afternoon of Christianity, Tomáš Halík,
“The Gospel according to St Viktor,” David Aaronovitch, March 26, 2026 (while there is a paywall, you should be able to read one post for free)
“Church attendance report pulled after YouGov finds ‘fraudulent’ responses,” BBC, March 26, 2026
“Roman Catholic Churches See a Surge of New Converts,” New York Times, March 26, 2026
“Pete Hegseth is changing the way the Pentagon handles faith. Some in the military are finding it ‘terrifying,’ report says,” The Independent, March 30, 2026
“White House ‘gamifying’ war on Iran marks a ‘moral crisis,’ warns US cardinal,” Catholic Review, March 10, 2026
When you think back on your religious past, are there memories that make you cringe or worse?
Perhaps you recall speaking in ways that you now find upsetting or even abhorrent.
Maybe it’s a youth group skit that you remember with embarrassment.
For many people, there are more troubling aspects of their religious past. Looking back, we might realize that we were part of a high-control religious system that fostered, and sometimes hid, abuse.
Coming to terms with the past may mean walking away from faith altogether. It may also mean a kind of growth in faith: still believing, but believing very differently than before.
Barrett Sprowson now lives in Vancouver, but he grew up in Zimbabwe.
In 2024, the Archbishop of Canterbury resigned over an abuse scandal in the Church of England. Barrett was a teenager at a camp in Zimbabwe where the abuser, John Smyth, assaulted multiple victims. Smyth had abused minors years earlier in England, but the case was covered up.
For Barrett, the camp in Zimbabwe was part of his Christian discipleship and formation. He now sees Christian faith differently than he did then. It is not only about coming to terms with proximity to an abuser, but also about grappling with how certain ways of understanding faith and the world can be shaped more by control and rigidity than by growth in compassion and love for all people.
Referenced in this episode:See No Evil, two-part documentary released on Channel 4 in the UK, December 2025
In this episode, the phrase “theology matters” is not a slogan but a warning. The ways we imagine God shape the ways we live in the world, how we see the world around, how we see the people around us.
At the moment, political leaders are explaining a real military conflict in theological language. One side denounces religious fanaticism while, at the same time, voices within its own ranks speak about war as part of God’s plan for Armageddon. It raises an unsettling question: what kind of theology leads people to speak about violence this way?
In this conversation we explore a different theological path.
Our guest is Dr. Marty Folsom, whose writing makes the work of Karl Barth more accessible to modern readers. Through Barth’s theology, Folsom points toward what might be called theological healing. Instead of beginning with fear, separation, and the need to draw hard lines between insiders and outsiders, Barth begins with something else; the hospitality of God.
Creation, in this vision, is not the act of a distant ruler but the act of a host who makes space for relationship. Humanity exists not primarily as isolated individuals but as people created for connection, with God and with one another. Even freedom, in this account, is not freedom from others but freedom for relationship, responsibility, and love.
It is a very different starting point than the kinds of theological ideas that so often dominate the public arena.
When theology becomes distorted, the consequences can be enormous. But good theology—clear, thoughtful, grounded in the character of God—can also heal.
And perhaps, in a world where bombs still fall and religious language is used to justify violence, that kind of theological healing is needed more than ever.
Prior Conversations with Marty Folsom:Vol 2 in Marty’s Church Dogmatics for Everyone – The Doctrine of God
Vol 1 in Marty’s Church Dogmatics for Everyone
Marty also has a new book out on the Psalms, The Psalms: A Sanctuary for the Soul
References:“Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to Press” March 3, 2026
“US troops were told war on Iran was ’all part of God’s divine plan’, watchdog alleges”, The Guardian, March 3, 2026
Brian Zahnd, on war before Christ returns, March 3, 2026
If you grew up in the evangelical church you may know that there are particular ways of interpreting history in evangelical culture. That is, like any sub-culture, evangelicals tend to tell one another particular stories about the past. In most of those stories, Christians are cast as the good guys. If you want to grow in faith, in knowledge, it is advisable to consider history with a clear lens. While no lens can be perfectly clear, we can seek to be aware of our own biases.
When you learn that your own history is not as blameless as you may have been told there are some key possibilities in how to react. You can double-down, denying that your particular community or religion or denomination has anything to admit. You can console yourself by claiming that those who were part of the groups with which you identify were the best of a bad lot. You can also be honest about how some terrible things have been perpetrated in the name of your faith and even by people who were held up as heroes in history.
I was always taught that Christian revival was to be celebrated pretty much without question. In fact, in evangelical circles, revival was something to be longed for. It was a kind of “if only that could happen for us today”.
Our guest for this episode is a philosopher and an historian. Matthew Stewart’s An Emancipation of the Mind looks at the history of the abolition of slavery in the United States. In doing so, Stewart shows that the place of the church was almost entirely a place of support of slavery and loud argument for its continued presence.
In some of the most striking sections of the book, Stewart demonstrates how Christian revival in American history was almost entirely enmeshed with the assumption that slavery was blessed by God. That is, in many cases, as people converted to Christianity, they became even more supportive of the slave trade or even more violent “masters”.
This matters today because there are declarations of revival happening now.
Some Christians assume these revivals must be entirely good - a sign of God’s blessing. It is clear, however, that an honest look shows that there are cases in which revival, though lauded as spiritual and religious, is as much or more about politics and power.
We speak with Matthew Stewart about his book and about how the lessons of the past can help us to see our current world more clearly.
Resources referenced in this episode:An Emancipation of the Mind: the War over Slavery, and the Refounding of America, Matthew Stewart, 2024
The 9.9 Percent: the New Aristocracy That is Entrenching Inequality and Warping Our Culture, Matthew Stewart, 2021
"The 9.9 Percent is the New American Aristocracy", Matthew Stewart, The Atlantic, June 2018
Night of the Confessor: Christian Faith in an Age of Uncertainty, Tomáš Halík, 2012
“The Cities Church protest and Bonhoeffer’s ‘promising godlessness’”, Mac Loftin, Christian Century Magazine, January 28,2026
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. John Martens, Director of the Centre for Christian Engagement at St. Mark’s College at UBC, for a reflective conversation about faith, public life, and hope in a fractured world. Drawing on his Mennonite roots, his journey into the Catholic tradition, and years of teaching and scholarship, John reflects on how theology is shaped through lived experience, relationships, and place.
Together, we explore what Christian engagement might look like in a secular, pluralistic city like Vancouver, where many feel distant from institutional religion yet remain open to questions of meaning and belonging. The conversation also names the tensions facing contemporary Christianity, particularly the pull of nationalism and political power, while pointing toward practices of listening, humility, and presence as faithful ways forward.
At its heart, this episode asks a simple but demanding question: what does it mean to live faithfully now?
Resources referenced in this episode:Books and Articles
The Uses of Idolatry, William Cavanaugh, 2024
Ivan Illich: An Intellectual Journey, David Cayley, 2021
Night of the Confessor: Christian Faith in an Age of Uncertainty, Tomáš Halík, 2012
The Afternoon of Christianity: The Courage to Change, Tomáš Halík, 2012
“Court rules against anti-trans Christian teacher who demanded right to misgender students” Friendly Atheist, February 4, 2026
TV Shows
The Pitt
Riot Women
Father Brown
In this episode, we welcome back journalist and author Katherine Stewart, whose work has become a trusted guide for us as we continue to think about the intersection of politics, religion, and public life. Over the years, we’ve often found ourselves returning to her writing and asking, “What would Katherine say about this?” especially as stories emerge around Christian nationalism and the erosion of democratic norms.
As the pace of the news accelerates, Katherine helps us slow down and look beneath the headlines. She reflects on how economic inequality, disinformation, and anti-democratic movements reinforce one another, and on the ways certain forms of religion are being distorted to justify exclusion, hierarchy, and control. Together, we explore how language around religious freedom and moral certainty can mask deeper concentrations of power.
Katherine reminds us that hope exists and of our responsibility in this moment. She speaks to the importance of attention, organization, and moral clarity, particularly within faith communities; naming the growing presence of religious leaders and institutions who are resisting these distortions and reclaiming faith as a force for dignity, equality, and the common good. As always, her voice invites us not only to understand what is happening, but to consider how we might respond with courage, honesty, and care.
Resources referenced in this episode:“They’re doing to America what they did to Christianity”, The Guardian, November 23,2025
Jesus and the Disinherited, Howard Thurman (1945)
Djesus Uncrossed, SNL, 2013
The Cupboard is pleased to welcome back longtime friend, mentor, and Orthodox theologian David Goa for a reflective conversation about the recent rise in church attendance among young people, particularly within Orthodox Christian communities. We explore what might be happening beneath the surface of this trend—and why it evokes both hope and caution.
David offers historical, theological, and pastoral insight into patterns of conversion, revival, and youthful religious movements, situating the current moment within a much larger story. Throughout the conversation, the focus returns to formation: the slow, embodied work of learning how to respond rather than react, how to live for the life of the world rather than retreat into religious silos. We are reminded of the church’s calling to bless, to accompany, and to offer a vision of fully human life grounded in presence, humility, and love of neighbor. What might faithful leadership, deep catechesis, and genuine community look like in this moment of cultural and spiritual searching?
Resources referenced:“Orthodox Church Pews Are Overflowing with Converts”, November 19, 2025, New York Times
“Religious leaders say they’re observing a hidden trend among younger Americans”, December 9, 2025, The Washington Post
“What’s driving Gen Z’s return to Christianity?”, December 2, 2025, The Current with Matt Galloway, CBC
An Emancipation of the Mind, Matthew Stewart, 2024
In this annual Christmas episode of Rector’s Cupboard, the cupboard is opened for seasonal tasting, spirited conversation, and a few holy disagreements. Over glasses of wintery mead, the hosts reflect on Christmas songs they love and those they would happily never hear again, exploring how nostalgia, repetition, and theology shape the sounds of the season. What begins lightheartedly soon deepens into a conversation about nativity scenes, immigration, resistance, and why the Christmas story continues to unsettle cultural and political certainties.
Along the way, inflatables are stabbed, Randy Savage offers unexpected wisdom, and familiar carols are reframed through histories of abolition, protest, and hope. The episode closes by returning to the heart of Advent and Christmas alike: a reminder that comfort and joy are not sentimental escapes, but promises spoken into a dark and waiting world.
As a small gift to you this season, we offer a version of O Holy Night, produced and recorded by friends of the podcast, Mark Woodyard and Rick Colhoun, for the conclusion of the episode. Merry Christmas!
Our tasting today came from Golden Age Meadery, on Salt Spring Island.
Articles referenced“Christmas display carnage in Scarborough caught on camera: ‘Dad, they’re popping the inflatables!’”, Toronto Star, December 11, 2025
“As anti-ICE Nativity scenes spark outrage, faith leaders grapple with politics at the pulpit”, CNN, December 15, 2025
Song ListLeast favouriteThe Little Drummer Boy (Carol)
Mary, Did You Know? (Michael English)
Away in a Manger (Carol)
All I Want For Christmas is You (Mariah Carey)
Last Christmas (Wham!)
Tomorrow Christ is Coming (Carol)
FavouriteA Charlie Brown Christmas Album (Vince Guaraldi Trio)
What Child is This? (Carol)
Star of Wonder (Sufjan Stevens)
O Holy Night (Carol)
We recently had a storytelling evening in our garage studio. In this episode, we share a recording from this event featuring writer and lawyer Jonathan Wright, host of the podcast Hello Unknown, which has just released its second season. Jonathan invites us into the hidden layers of the human experience through stories that blend history, imagination, and spiritual reflection.
We heard two (and a half) stories that evening. Coffee, the first story on this episode, For Keeps, which was not recorded but is available now on the second season of Hello Unknown and talks about the POGs phenomenon of the 90s. We also were treated to some new work, in a draft form, from a story Jonathan is working on for the next season of Hello Unknown.
Jonathan’s stories explore how seemingly ordinary moments can reveal deeper questions about identity, connection, and the ways we make meaning.
Through his thoughtful storytelling and personal reflections on faith and creativity, Jonathan invites listeners to pay attention to the small details that illuminate our shared humanity. The episode becomes a meditation on the power of narrative, how it shapes us, unsettles us, and draws us toward the unknown with curiosity and grace.
We hope you enjoy the episode and highly recommend you check out all of Jonathan’s stories on Hello Unknown.
In this episode, we’re joined by Tara Boothby, a registered clinical psychologist, working in BC and Alberta for nearly 20 years. She is an Experiential Attachment Focused Therapist and a certified Emotionally Focused Couples, Family, and Individual Therapist and Supervisor. She is also currently doing a second Master's degree at St. Stephen's University, where she is studying themes of theology, social justice, and literature.
We speak to Tara about her new book Love and Love’s Energy. Tara reflects on her roots in evangelical Christianity, her path into psychology, and how attachment theory can help us understand love, not as an abstract ideal, but as something embodied and deeply formative.
Together we explore the tensions many carry around faith, forgiveness, and growth, and what it means to see ourselves and others with greater gentleness. Tara offers thoughtful insight into seasons of existential unraveling and the search for a God who meets us in our questions rather than our certainties.
What emerges is a hopeful reminder: love, in all its complexity, has the capacity to heal, reconnect, and reorient us toward a more grounded and generous way of being.
We are very happy to welcome back returning guest and friend of the podcast, Julian Davis Reid. Julian is a gifted writer, musician, speaker, theologian, and pastor and spoke with us about his new album, Vocation, in particular the song Moan: For Hearts of Flesh. Julian’s work is deep and thought provoking. It often walks a line between joy and pain, mixing the two together, demonstrating how one informs the other. His work articulates musically what can often be so difficult to articulate in other ways. It speaks to a hope that does not deny reality or skirt around pain or difficult topics but rather asks, what does faith look like here and now, in the midst of this.
If you want to check out Julian’s work (which we would highly recommend), you can check out Julian’s website, which has links to his music, both solo and other projects, as well as his music video for Moan: For Hearts of Flesh, which we reference in this conversation.
For the final instalment of our Alberta mini-series we visit Happiness by the Acre a regenerative farm run by Marcus and Sarah Reidner.
Rector’s Cupboard met Marcus and Sarah three years ago and things were tough then in the farming world. We hear about what has changed since and about what the future might look like.
You might not be a farmer, but you are likely familiar with the count-the-cost type of conversations like that which Marcus has with us. What keeps us going when we feel like doing things the right way or even the good way is so difficult or even impossible? How do we hold faith in these spaces and times of life?
Other Episodes in this series:Faith and the Land, Part One: Winter is Coming
Faith and the Land, Part Two: Everything Can Be Transformed
Our 2022 Alberta series:Leaving the World a Less Shitty Place with Marcus and Sarah Reidner
Soil as The Least of These with Rod Olson
Yakety Yak, Depth and Breadth of Life with Jerremie Clyde
You have likely noticed that hope is apparently in short supply these days. Talk of politics, rising authoritarianism, and political unrest reveals a present despair felt individually and collectively. Stories of effective hope can change the world.
Land of Dreams is changing the world for many people. Hearing the stories of this place might well inspire hope for you.
Because someone had hope, there is life in a place that was lacking life. If Rod and the crew at Land of Dreams can picture life and growth and transformation and community in a plot of land surrounded by major highways, then, perhaps, we can picture life and growth and community and transformation in the various desolations that surround and us.
At Rector’s Cupboard we are familiar with the question, “What can you say that might give me hope?” Well, there is a lot to say that is hopeful. One of the answers we can give is to invite you to listen to this episode. Enjoy.
Land of Dreams is located on Treaty 7 territory in Southeast Calgary.
Rector’s Cupboard in Alberta, Canada.
We set out on a road trip to visit some regenerative farmers we first met three years ago. In this episode, Todd and Allison and Amanda speak about the trip and about a visit to the Pine Haven Hutterite colony.
It is the season of harvest, the autumn. Winter is coming. Looking at the skies and reading the news can bring about the feeling that an apocalypse is imminent. However, in the context of obvious challenge, without denying the real difficulties that are present, we found in people who tend the land and provide nourishment for the world, a faith and hope that is enlivening. We saw both the wonder of the earth and the gift of humanity.
In this mini-series, we’ll be speaking (again) with Marcus Reidner, a regenerative farmer from Happiness By the Acre and Rod Olson, an urban farmer and director of Land of Dreams.
Enjoy the episodes!
From our 2022 Alberta Road tripLeaving the World a Less Shitty Place with Marcus and Sarah Reidner
Soil as The Least of These with Rod Olson
Yakety Yak, Depth and Breadth of Life with Jerremie Clyde (We unfortunately were not able to see Jerremie and his lovely yaks on this trip)
References:Prairie Ranchers Beef, produced by Pine Haven Colony (also available at Two Rivers Meats in North Vancouver)
Welcome to season 7 of Rector’s Cupboard!
Do you sometimes feel like all we do is talk about America? While many Canadians would see Canada as distinct from the States, we are influenced by our neighbours to the south. In Alberta, the provincial government is supporting the banning of books. Some of the political and religious currents in Canada look very similar to those in the United States.
In the first episode of our new season, we speak with a Canadian writer and professor who has described the relationship of the neo-charismatic Pentecostal movement and the rise of Donald Trump.
André Gagné is Chair of the Department of Theological Studies at Concordia University in Montreal. He is also a host of Spirit, State and Society, a podcast exploring how the global Pentecostal and charismatic movements intersect with politics, culture and society.
We speak with Gagné about his 2024 book, American Evangelicals for Trump: Dominion, Spiritual Warfare, and End Times. Gagné’s book is enlightening if somewhat disturbing. His work speaks not only to the American context, it also brings to mind similarities and differences in Canada.
If you’d like to find Gagné’s work, such as his podcast and recent articles, you can check out his Concordia faculty page.
Definitions:Expository Preaching – this style of preaching that seeks to detail the meaning and intent of a particular biblical passage.
Articles Discussed:“A shadow war on libraries”, CBC The Fifth Estate, February 7, 2025
“New Alberta school books order bans explicit images of sexual acts”, CBC, September 8,2025
“Man arrested after driving child-size pink Barbie Jeep through Prince George, B.C.”, CBC, September 8, 2025
Tasting Notes:We kicked off the season with two tastings. The first was a lovely 15-Year-Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey from Balblair Distillery, in the North of Scotland.
For our second tasting we went a bit more local with Barrel-Aged Family Reserve Gin from Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. This gin is not your typical gin. While we tasted it neat, if you wanted to mix this, Ken suggests trying a blueberry tea cocktail, with hot tea and an orange slice to bring out the citrus and oak notes in the gin.
In our final episode of season 6, we are pleased to speak with Angela Reitsma Bick, editor of Christian Courier and co-author of the newly released book Blessed Are the Undone, which explores faith deconstruction in the Canadian context.
Angela joined us while in Vancouver on the national tour for the book, and we talked about why so many people in Canada are stepping away from church—and how we might begin to understand, rather than fix, that reality. Blessed Are the Undone doesn’t rush to offer answers or prescriptions. Instead, it makes space for grief, honesty, and a deeper look at the fractures that often go unnamed in church life.
This conversation invites us to consider how listening—really listening—to those who’ve walked away can become a kind of faithfulness in itself. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next season!
This is our third and final instalment of our series with Orthodox theologian and friend of the Cupboard, David Goa. This series has focused on the topic of fundamentalism, how it is expressed within the church, from several sides. If you haven’t listened to the first two episodes in this series, we’d encourage you to go back and take a listen to them before diving into this conversation.
In today’s episode, Todd and David speak of the challenge that encountering the living God presents to fundamentalism and how this challenge is hopeful for those professing Christian faith. Discussing the work of William Cavanaugh in his recent book, The Uses of Idolatry, we consider how encountering the living God is fundamentally unmanageable. This unmanageability can be experienced as distressing and fearful for people as it can be at odds with that which we assume is certain, is foundational, that which we may hold sacred. But in this place, we can come to understand the presence of God rather than our presumptions about God.
We hope that you have found challenge and encouragement, perhaps, hope in these conversations. Thanks for listening.
If you’d like to explore these ideas more, we invite you to read the books that these conversations have largely centred around.
Minds Wide Shut: How the New Fundamentalisms Divide Us, Gary Saul Morson and Morton Shapiro, 2021
Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers of the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter, Gary Saul Mortson, 2023
The Uses of Idolatry, Williams T. Cavanaugh, 2024
This is the second of three conversations we had with friend of the Cupboard, David Goa, on the topic of fundamentalism. If you haven’t listened to part one, we’d encourage you to do so before diving into this conversation.
In this conversation, Todd and David consider the question, If not fundamentalism, than what? David observes that our capacity for conversation, particularly with those with whom we have profound disagreement, has shrunk, exacerbating the polarization that many feel.
How can we relearn this critical skill? How can we relearn to see the Other as human rather than issue or stance? How can we reach across the divide in love rather than push away in fear?
As David says, this is small, slow work, and it is always particular. But it is vitally important work.
You have likely heard, and perhaps said, that we live in a world that is very polarized. Too often, communities of faith have contributed to this polarization rather than offered help or healing to a divided world.
David Goa has been, and continues to be, a formational voice for Rector’s Cupboard and for the work of Reflector Project.
David has been running Philosopher Cafés in his home province of Alberta, Canada around the topic of “The New Fundamentalisms and How They Divide Us.” He has drawn from the work of Gary Saul Morson and Morton Schapiro in describing how openness to the other person is a more hopeful and faithful way of living than being closed and fundamentalist.
Saul Morson refers to a notion that he calls the “congregation of the blessed.” This is the idea that anyone and anything outside of a particular group becomes seen as suspect or even evil, “Where people belonging to one faction (or faith, or denomination) feel that they are not just in a particular party, but are part of the congregation of the blessed, fighting demonic forces.”
David and I recently had three conversations about the new fundamentalisms and the possibility of finding a better way forward in faith, belief and worldview. Part one of this series considers how fundamentalism, rigidity and suspicion of others can be unfortunately understood as faithful when it is actually fearful.
David Goa is a thoughtful and helpful guide through a consideration of how our faith and worldview might grow up past a kind of spiritually adolescent fundamentalism.
Those in Christian circles have likely spent many a Sunday morning sitting in a pew (or, perhaps, a more comfortable seat) listening to someone preach. While the length of sermon or its place in a service may vary from denomination to denomination, or pastor to pastor, the act of hearing the Word of God preached regularly is part of the Christian tradition.
We were please to speak to Mark Glanville about this topic. Mark is a pro at sermons, quite literally. Having spent much of his career preaching sermons as well as teaching classes on the subject, he has decades of broad experience from which he draws.
Mark is an author, podcaster, Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership, and jazz pianist. We spoke to Mark about his latest book, Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Communities, which came out this spring. This book is a guide of sorts for those new to sermon writing as well as those who are wanting to find a fresh and new approach to the task. Our conversation touched on the holistic nature of sermon writing as well as how it can be approached in the post-Christian world many communities of faith find themselves in. It is hopeful and beautiful and worth reading, even if you don’t happen to be a pastor yourself.
You can check out Mark’s many projects on his website, which has links to his books, podcast, and social media. If you’re in the Vancouver area, we highly encourage you to check out Mark's book launch for Preach in a New Key, coming up May 23, at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church. This unique event includes art, storytelling, and Mark’s jazz trio.
Today is Good Friday.
In Christian faith, today and Easter Sunday are two of the most important days of observation.
We often, on Rector’s Cupboard, refer to what is happening in the world, the news, politics, culture.
In Christian faith, Good Friday is always more than news of the week. It is at the heart of the faith.
With that in mind, we offer a Good Friday reflection.
The reflection is intended as an invitation to spiritual contemplation. What does it mean that Jesus was alone on Good Friday? What does “Christ Alone” entail?
Wherever you are at, in terms of faith and belief, may you know God’s presence and blessing and hope this Easter weekend.
A special episode.
Recorded live at the Rector’s Cupboard studio.
John Swinton is Professor of Practical Theology at the University of Aberdeen. Before becoming a mental health professional and then a writer (of at least four books) on faith and mental health, John wanted to be a rock star. He brought together his interests in recording an album called Beautiful Songs about Difficult Things.
We speak with John in studio, hear him reflect on some of his work and the personal nature of some of the songs. John also performs some of the songs for the assembled gathering.
Enjoy!
A quick note, the “this book” that Todd references toward the beginning of the episode is John’s 2016 book, Becoming Friend of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship.
It might be that being a full-time pastor is now untenable. It is a job that pulls in so many directions that it becomes virtually impossible. One of the things that can help is accepting that for pastors, spiritual energy often comes from outside of the church in which they work.
We speak with Matthew Brough, a Presbyterian pastor in Winnipeg, who is also an author and podcaster. Matthew has written books on spirituality (Let God series) as well as five fantasy/adventure books for kids (Del Ryder series). Oh, and he runs a small publishing business.
Matthew speaks to us about the challenges and benefits of a multi-vocational life, giving us a picture of how pastoral life might function in the future.
If you’re interested in Matthew’s work, check out his website. You can find links to his writing, podcast, and how to connect with him there. Enjoy!
We are pleased to speak to the Ven. Dr. Rob James (which he said we could shorten to Rob), about his latest publication, 50 New Testament Stories for Storytellers, a new illustrated, beautifully illustrated we might add, children’s Bible. Rob is an Associate Professor and the Director of Anglican Studies and Formation at the Vancouver School of Theology. He also holds six degrees from five universities and has many years of experience as an Anglican perish priest. Rob speaks to us about his approach to telling biblical stories to kids (and adults) through the lens of storytelling, incorporating visuals and participation as he goes.
There are important questions to be asked about how we speak to children about faith and how we tell kids the stories of the Bible. Often this telling has been experienced as reductionist or moralizing. Rob does neither of these things. He helps to bridge the gap between biblical scholarship and storytelling in this book and is a resource that we heartily recommend for those wanting to find hopeful, new, and interesting ways to bring the stories of the Bible to children. 50 New Testament Stories for Storytellers is available now.
A quick recording note, you may notice that our interview with Rob has a distinct cathedral-like echo. Unfortunately, we did not record our conversation with Rob in a cathedral, although that would have been cool, but we hope it isn’t a distraction as you listen. Enjoy!
In the 20th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells His followers what power is like in the kingdom of God. He says that real greatness is servanthood and that we ought not aim to “lord it over” others.
There is a movement in the United States, and in many countries around the world, that apparently utterly rejects Jesus’ way of power. This movement, called Christian nationalism, is a parasite upon Christian faith that is proudly taking up a crusade against anything and anyone deemed as opposition or enemy. Though it uses the language of faith, it is not about faith. It is about the accumulation of power. Donald Trump is held up by Christian nationalists. Vladimir Putin argues that the invasion of Ukraine is an exercise of upholding Christian values against ungodly enemies. We are of the opinion that many well-meaning Christians have fallen into listening to voices of Christian nationalism.
Christian nationalism is perhaps the biggest present threat to democracy. Christian nationalism is not Christian. It is a form of idolatry, a worship of power. We are not alone, at Rector’s Cupboard, in feeling that if we want to speak a hopeful faith, a faith that reflects the love of God in Jesus for all the world, then we will speak against Christian nationalism.
We are pleased to welcome back to Rector’s Cupboard Katherine Stewart to speak about her new book, Money, Lies, and God. The book has just been released this week. We were privileged to read it before publication and spoke with Katherine early in January. Money, Lies, and God is a frightening book to read as it describes real threats to democracy. There is hope and humour in it as well as Katherine Stewart tells us about her interactions with Christians who hold a hopeful faith and as she narrates visits to many religious and political rallies.
Katherine’s previous book, The Power Worshippers was adapted into a documentary by Rob Reiner. It is called God and Country and is available through Apple TV and other platforms.
Having interviewed Katherine about two of her books, we are pleased to welcome her for an in-person event in Vancouver on April 28. Details will be available on our website and the Rector’s Cupboard social pages so keep an eye out for registration details coming soon.
Terms Referenced:There are a lot of terms, institutions, and people mentioned in our conversation with Katherine Stewart. You may want to avail yourself of some googling, but we have put together a short glossary to help with listening.
Pluralism – The idea that people who are different in belief, life style, etc can coexist in a society peacefully.
Sectarian – Usually divisive ideology based on political or religious difference. It is typically expressed in hard line stances and by an unwillingness to work with or tolerate differing opinions
Kleptocracy – A form of government structure in which leaders use political power to amass wealth from the general population
Theocracy – A form of government structure which is based on or run by a particular religious system/belief
Charter Schools/Voucher System – In our conversation with Stewart these are used within an American framework. Charter Schools are alternate schools requiring no tuition that are run, to some degree, under a local school board, but tend to offer different types of programming or structure than a typical public school. The Voucher System allows for funds allocated to public education to be used for alternate educational systems, such as homeschooling, or tuition for private schools (which may be religious or not)
The Great Awakening – A series of religious revivals that took place between the early 18th century and 1960’s. These movements have typically been defined by a focus on making religion personal.
Historical Jesus – A picture of Jesus that is based on an academic study, considering historical and cultural context, of the person of Jesus rather than a religious interpretation.
Resources Referenced:The Good News Club, Katherine Stewart, 2012
The Power Worshippers, Katherine Stewart, 2020
God & Country (documentary), 2024
The Givenness of Things, Marilynne Robinson, 2015
Jonathan Rauch is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow in the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution. His most recent book, out this week, is called Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy. We speak with Jonathan about the book, about why he, as a non-Christian, self-identifying atheist, makes the claim that democracy in the United States is at risk if Christian faith is not sufficiently Christian.
Host Todd Wiebe is joined by friend of the show Spencer Capier for the interview. Spencer is a philosophy teacher and is currently the President of the West Vancouver Teachers Association. He is familiar with much of Rauch’s work and writing.
A brief glossary of terms:
Liberal - As in “Liberal Political Party” distinct from as in “Liberal Democracy”. The term “liberal democracy” refers to a form of governance defined by separation of powers. Here the word “liberal” might be considered in light of the aspect of freedom. Power is spread out. Checks and balances are in place and freedom/agency is emphasized alongside individual rights.
“Liberal” as a description of a political party or on the spectrum of “liberal vs. conservative” has a somewhat different meaning. Here it describes a political expression that can be based out of ideas of liberal democracy but can also come to be defined by being progressive or anti-conservative.
When “liberal” becomes an ideology, an “ism” it can become as totalizing as any other ideology.
Here is an excerpt from the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities: “Liberalism is a version of progressivism: it perceives society as in the process of constant improvement (usually measured by the criterion of equality) and claims to possess the conceptual instruments that make such a change possible. Liberalism believes itself to be both the doer and the supervisor of progress.”
Our annual hosts only Christmas special.
Cupboard Master Ken Bell presents his take on a B5-2, using Nocciola, a hazelnut liqueur from one of our favourite local distilleries, The Woods Spirit Co.
We ask one another three questions about Christmas:
1. What do you miss about Christmases past?
2. What are you glad that is gone?
3. What is needed to properly celebrate Christmas?
Our hope is to take the pressure off. The world was not ready for the first Christmas. God is good beyond your readiness or preparation.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
We speak with theologian and philosopher Thomas Jay Oord about his church trial and his book Open and Relational Theology. Thomas, who was a minister for many years in the Church of the Nazarene, faced a trial for being inclusive on matters of LGBTQ+ and church participation and blessing. Thomas outlines a theological view that is about love more than it is about traditional concepts of power. This means that he calls for better understanding of what it means that God is all powerful or all knowing.
The story of Thomas’ trial and excommunication can sound almost medieval, but it reminds us that the struggle over proper belief is very much alive today. Individuals and churches are being excommunicated or disaffiliated. Some people are choosing themselves to part company with a church or denomination based on rigid belief or what they see as damaging theology.
Thomas is a regular contributor to podcasts such as Tripp Fuller’s Homebrewed Christianity and continues to write and to direct the Center for Open and Relational Theology.
Articles and Episodes Referenced:“Six Heretics Who Should Be Banned From Evangelicalism” – Relevant Magazine, September 13, 2022
“Church Fights: King vs. Liquorish” – Rector’s Cupboard, Season 3
Tasting Notes:On today’s episode we sampled the Iron Buddha Gin and the Black Tusk Smoked Vodka from Squamish’s Raincity Distillery.
We speak with friend of the show Ross Lockhart about his recent book (and PhD work) called West Coast Mission: The Changing Nature of Christianity in Vancouver.
The book takes an in-depth look at 12 churches and two faith-based organizations in the Vancouver area. It takes up themes that are familiar to almost everyone who has been part of a church in the last couple of decades.
We talk about differences in approach to the “outside world” and how things have changed in regards to how churches relate to society as a whole. There is both consolation and challenge in our conversation. What might real theological change look like as compared with change of style or strategy?
Ross is the Dean of St. Andrew’s Hall, the Presbyterian Church in Canada college at the University of British Columbia. Ross is also the Professor of Mission Studies at Vancouver School of Theology, where he teaches courses in practical theology. Ross holds a PhD from Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam and is the author of Lessons from Laodicea: Missional Leadership in a Culture of Affluence; Beyond Snakes and Shamrocks: St. Patrick’s Missional Leadership Lessons for Today; co-author of Better Than Brunch: Missional Churches in Cascadia as well as Christianity: An Asian Religion in Vancouver andeditor of Christian Witness in Cascadian Soil. Ross’ latest project is West Coast Mission: the Changing Nature of Christianity in Vancouver published this fall by McGill-Queen’s University Press. Ross lives with his family on Bowen Island, B.C. Ross’s newest book is available now.
Mental health and matters of spiritual and mental wellness are often topics we address on Rector’s Cupboard and so we were very grateful to speak to Elise Girardin, Executive Director of The Woods Arts & Wellness, a North Vancouver based therapy practice addressing the well being of mind-body-spirit through engagement with nature and the arts.
Elise practices what she calls embodied therapy, helping people find healing and flourishing through connection and creativity. This kind of therapy is beneficial for those who have experienced trauma, those who feel disconnected, those who do not feel like they are flourishing. We highly recommend checking out The Woods and their programs. They offer a variety of therapies, some available virtually, and have sliding-scale pricing for accessibility.
If you’d like some extra credit, Elise recommends the following books on embodied therapy practices and research:
The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk
Your Brain on Art, Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
Shaila Visser is the National Director of Alpha Canada and the Global Senior Vice-President for Alpha International. She is the Executive Producer of both The Alpha Youth Film Series (2013) and The Alpha Film Series (2016), and currently holds a position on the Board of the Damascus Road Foundation.
We speak with Shaila about how and why Alpha works and has for so many years. What does it mean to talk about faith, but not prescribe a particular outcome? We also speak about what faith might look like for those who have pushed away from their previous church experience.
For information on Alpha, including finding a course, running a course, or helping support Alpha, you can check out their website.
Dr. Aurelian Crăiuțu is Professor in the Department of Political Science at Indiana University, Bloomington, and Adjunct Professor in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropic Studies at IUPUI, Indianapolis. He is also affiliated with the Russian and East European Institute, the Institute for West European Studies, and the Ostrom Workshop. Crăiuțu has written extensively about the concept of political moderation and has argued that moderation is the strongest, most intellectually honest, and most radical political position in times of polarization.
Rector’s Cupboard co-host, Todd Wiebe, wrote an article for Church For Vancouver, in April 2024 reflecting on Crăiuțu’s latest work, Why Not Moderation?, in relation to Evangelical culture. Asking questions such as; What are the shadow sides of the calls for “radical commitment” in Evangelical faith? How might religious moderation by the strongest type of commitment?
After publication of that piece, Aurelian Crăiuțu reached out to Todd and asked for a conversation on religious moderation and how it might relate to political moderation.
This episode is that conversation.
You may have grown up in a religious culture that demanded or rewarded a kind of fully-sold-out faith. While the appeals of this kind of neither-hot-nor-cold understanding of faith are evident, the dangers and weaknesses are often overlooked. If sold out faith means never questioning belief or leadership, than it is weak, not strong. If sold out faith means seeing people who don’t believe what you believe as obviously misguided or even evil, than it is weak, not strong. Political moderation moves us towards genuine consideration of the other. Christian faith, at its hopeful best, does the same. The concept of the Incarnation is the heart of God moving towards humanity. Faith that is truly strong (moderate) recognizes this call.
If you’d like to read more about moderation, you can find links to Todd original article and Dr. Crăiuțu’s book above. If you’re really keen about even more writing about moderation, you can also check out Todd’s other article about it, written earlier this year, in Evangelically Departed.
We hope you enjoy the conversation!
As we close season 5 of Rector’s Cupboard and begin summer, Rector’s Cupboard hosts, Todd, Amanda, and Allison have gathered to talk about what is on our summer reading/watching/listening lists this year that we think you might find interesting. We hope that you are able to find time for beauty and rest and entertainment this summer and we will be back in the fall with season 6!
Rector’s Cupboard Recommendations:Music:Outlaw Festival – taking place at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, featuring Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and John Mellencamp
Shows:The Bear, season 3 – Disney Plus
Outlaws – Prime
Blue Lights – Brit Box
Plant Earth 3 – Prime
Taskmaster - Brit Box
Books:Take What You Need – Idra Novey
Reading Gensis – Marilynne Robinson
A Commentary on Jeremiah – Walter Brueggemann
Incarnational Humanism Jens – Zimmerman
The Five Invitations – Frank Ostaseski
I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together – Maurice Vellekoop
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands – Kate Beaton
Gilead – Marilynne Robinson
Small Things Like These - Claire Keegan
Benjamin Perrin is a professor at the University of British Columbia, Peter A. Allard School of Law and a senior fellow in criminal justice at the Macdonald Laurier Institute of Public Policy and the author of several books including Indictment: the Criminal Justice System on Trial and Overdose: Heartbreak and Hope in Canada’s Opioid Crisis.
We speak with Ben Perrin about a couple of his books. Ben does a fantastic job of describing challenges of criminal justice and the opioid crisis in Canada. He places himself within the frame of someone who used to believe one way, but changed his view – in his own description, because of his faith.
Ben’s research on the topics is extensive and his books offer a look into the many challenges and considerations. They also offer an example of the positive call of being open to change. It was a privilege to speak with Ben. We think that you will find his insight and example inspiring.
We are grateful as well to open this episode with a conversation with a member of the Reflector Project Board, the non-profit of which Rector’s Cupboard is a part. Tierney has professional experience working with people who have faced the trauma and stigma that Benjamin Perrin writes and speaks about.
We were pleased to speak again to Dr. Marty Folsom about his latest work, Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics For Everyone, Vol 2 – The Doctrine of God: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners and Pros. Marty Folsom has taken up an expansive work of outlining the main points and the structure of Karl Barth’s multi-volumed Church Dogmatics. Those two words, “church” and “dogmatics,” both carry negative perceptions for many people. What you will find in Church Dogmatics, however, is helpful and hopeful, positive and thoughtful, and even healing.
Karl Barth presents a way of seeing faith and life that is bright, a way that calls us to solidarity rather than separation, all because God has chosen not to be God without us.
You might find it hard to believe what you used to believe, or hard to believe in the way that you used to believe. Marty Folsom shows us, through presenting the work of Karl Barth, that there is a better, more faithful way of believing.
Volume 2 of Folsom’s Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics for Everyone has just been released. This book looks at Church Dogmatics 2 and outlines concepts such as the sovereignty of God in choosing to love humanity, and the hopeful doctrine of election, God’s love for ALL. We are grateful for the conversation about the new book.
If you’d like to listen to our interview with Marty about Volume 1 of his Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics for Everyone series, you can find that episode here.
This week on Rector’s Cupboard, we gather the Cupboard hosts, Todd, Allison, and Amanda, as well as Cupboard Master, Ken, to discuss what we’re watching and reading right now, as well as few articles that speak about the apocalypse, hope, fear, and changing understandings of faith.
Ken mixed us a delicious cocktail called a Bourbon Pecan Pie Cocktail, which contained vodka, whiskey/bourbon, and Pecan Liqueur, featuring Revel Stoke Roasted Pecan Flavored Whiskey.
If you’d like to read the articles we discuss in this episode, here they are:
“They broke up for their faith. Asking questions brought them back together” – CBC, April 1, 2024
“Climate Doom Is Out. ‘Apocalyptic Optimism’ Is In.” – New York Times, April 21, 2024
We hope you enjoy the conversation!
This week on Rector’s Cupboard we are pleased to offer a collaboration with our good friend, David Goa.
David has been on the podcast a number of times through the years and in 2022 we partnered with David to record a series of conversations about the Church, the “ecclesia,” asking “who is she?” entitled The Church In-Between Times.
David’s love for the Church and his insight into the blessings and challenges faced historically and today are evident.
David has continued these conversations with pastors, theologians, and other people interested in the Christian Church.
He recently invited Todd to speak about the Church with him and we are pleased to bring this conversation to Rector’s Cupboard.
We speak with United Church Minister Deb Walker about her attendance at the COP 28 Climate Conference in Dubai. 85,0000 people attended the event, which was held in a country often referred to as a Petrol State.
Deb’s attendance was officially as a Faith Observer as a part of the Christian Climate Observers Program. Deb is informed on the issues around climate change and outlines the hope she felt at the conference in the midst of some of the most important challenges of our time.
Deb mentions many organizations and programs related to ecology, environmentalism, and activism during our conversation.
If you’re interested in looking into some of these yourself, here are the resources Deb spoke to us about:
The Mother Tree
Faith Pavilion YouTube Channel
Climate Intercessors
A Rocha Canada
New York Times article referenced in this episode:
Bravo! Hurray! Wahoo! (Meh.) – New York Times, April 11, 2024
Do you have a testimony?
If you are familiar with the culture of evangelical church, you will know what is being asked. Maybe you heard someone give their testimony at church, or at camp.
In this context, testimony meant a personal account of your life or background with an emphasis on your conversion to evangelical faith. It was communicated, largely, with the intent and hope that those listening, who had not experienced such a conversion, may, themselves, make a declaration of faith.
Spiritual memoir is different than testimony.
Richard Lischer’s book, Our Hearts are Restless, introduces us to the spiritual memoir of some interesting people. In describing spiritual memoir, Lischer says, “some lives are construed as if lived in the presence of God.”
We found the book wonderful and thoughtful. Lischer skillfully and compassionately (for subject and reader) opens the accounts of the people to whom he introduces us in a way that helps to ask meaningful questions about life and faith.
Enjoy the episode and if you are so inclined, read the book – it really is good.
Dr. J. Warren Smith is Professor of Historical Theology at Duke Divinity School. Professor Smith is a great guide in helping us to see hope for the future in listening to voices of hope from the past.
We talk with him about how some sayings, perspectives, and experiences of those who lived many centuries ago can be resonant in the midst of the challenges of our time.
Besides being compelling and interesting, and at times upsetting, encountering theology in history can be a lot of fun.
Enjoy.
At least once a season, we speak with David Goa, a spiritual friend and mentor.
David is a writer, professor, and theologian and has been a great help to us as we hope to articulate a hopeful vision of faith and theology.
When we speak with David, we tend to ask about life and faith in relation to the current cultural and religious landscape.
Given what is happening in the world right now, in this episode David talks about the ongoing crisis in Israel/Gaza and about the nature of righteousness, rightness, and evil.
David’s words to us are insightful, considerate of the challenges of our time, and even consoling.
Blessings as you listen.
We are pleased to speak with J Alkana about his work in architecture and design. J thoughtfully asks questions of meaning, humanity and faith in relation to the work that he does.
What is vocation? What gives your work meaning?
Various understandings of work in relation to faith historically have often divided work into realms of the sacred and the secular. J speaks with us about inspiration and spiritual hope around his work and offers insight into what can compel and positively motivate us to make a difference in the world.
Our hope for this episode is that you will feel inspired in whatever you do for work and vocation.
Perhaps you are drawn by questions of how your faith animates your work. For some, work and faith come together in even more direct ways. Wherever you are at, we hope that you feel inspired by hearing J.
References in this episode:The Many Lives of Martha Stewart – CNN, 2024
Don’t Feel Bad About Your Laundry Chair – The Washington Post, January 29, 2024
Growing Up Evangelical: Moms and Daughters – Rector’s Cupboard Season 1, April 25, 2020
The image of a new leaf implies new season, new hope. Elle Pyke, Director of Programs and Innovation at New Leaf Network, helps to navigate people and organizations through some of the significant changes in what it means to be a church with a particular Canadian focus.
You may feel a sense of longing for a time of apparent certainty in what church looked like. Conversely, you may be glad that things as they were have come apart.
Rector’s Cupboard host, Allison Williams and guest Elle Pyke speak about reasons for hope in a time of change.
For more information about New Leaf, the work they do and upcoming events, check out their website.
Books referenced:The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker
Leaving Christianity: Changing Allegiances in Canada by Brian Clarke and Stuart Macdonald
There are some truly terrifying Christmas/winter characters out there. Many may have heard of Krampus, a German partner of St. Nick who punishes poorly behaved children, but what about Peruchty, a winter witch who likes to disembowel naughty children?
Santa, also, may fall into these terrifying categories, although in less severe ways. Lumps of coal in stocking, running naughty and nice list, even Jolly St. Nick has taken on the role of scaring children into behaving well with threats.
This year, we gathered to talk about some of these characters and the way in which they have been shaped by and, in turn shape, imaginations in Christian understanding.
It’s not all scary, though, we also talk about a Christmas tradition from Catalonia where a log poops out Christmas treats, so there’s something for everyone!
We had a special guest for this recording, Amanda’s puppy, Luna, who greatly enjoyed chewing on our chairs throughout the episode, providing much joy and additional noise while we chatted.
We hope you enjoy this conversation and that you have a blessed Christmastime.
Materials referenced:Church Fights: King vs. Liquorish, Season 3
"Shock of the Old" - The Guardian, December 5, 2023
Tio de Nadal article
Raising Children UnFundamentalist
Tis the Grinch Holiday Talk Show
Tasting Notes:On this episode, we enjoyed blueberry tea, a lovely warm cocktail, prepared by Cupboard Master, Ken Bell. Here’s a recipe if you’d like to mix one for yourself. We used some local spirits in our version with Amaretto from Sons of Vancouver Distillery and Triple Sec from Copperpenny Distilling Co.
You can find pictures of the Bible inscription, fill-in afterlife destination card, and the scary Santa from Allison’s house on our website.
In recent years, there has been a growing number of people who have moved from one Christian faith tradition to another. Some of the lines within Christian expression have been fairly rigid. This rigidity has even led, in some instances, to the assumption that “those other churches” are not even Christian.
One of the main lines of distinction has been between mainline churches and evangelical churches and now, more than in years past, people have begun moving across this line in one direction or the other. Perhaps you grew up in the Christian Missionary Alliance Church and now attend a United Church. Or maybe you were Presbyterian for most of your life and now you are part of a Baptist congregation.
We speak with Rev. Dr. Ross Lockhart, Dean of St. Andrew’s Hall in Vancouver, about the history of how some of these divisions came to be and how they exist today. We aim towards a more accepting and grateful view of the other (whatever “the other” means in your background) as enlivening and helpful to Christian faith in general.
Terminology:Ecumenical – Representing a number of different churches and denominations
Missiology – The theological study of the mission of the church, particularly the character and purpose of missionary work
Ecclesiology – The study of the church
Books Referenced:Ross’s Books:
Christianity: An Asian Religion in Vancouver (2023)
Christian Witness in Cascadian Soil: Coworkers with God in the Land of Hiking, Hipsters, and Hand-Crafted Lattes
Better Than Brunch: Missional Churches in Cascadia (2020)
Beyond Snakes and Shamrocks: St. Patrick’s Mission Leadership Lessons for Today (2018)
Lessons from Laodicea: Missional Leadership in a Culture of Affluence (2016)
Phyllis Airhart – A Church with the Soul of a Nation
Have you been feeling like things are a little precarious at the moment? If so, you are certainly not alone. For our first Host Only episode of season five, we gather to discuss some of the precarious nature of our current days.
The conversation is not entirely serious, the facial expressions of cats and destructive nature of a local bear come up as well.
Whatever you’re feeling at this point, we hope this conversation provides some levity and encouragement as we all walk through some rather precarious times. Blessings from all of us at Rector’s Cupboard.
Articles referenced in today’s episode:“The End of Retirement” by Cathrin Bradbury, from the December 2023 edition of The Walrus
“Think cats are aloof? They make nearly 300 facial expressions, study says” by Kevin Melnick, The Washington Post, November 7, 2023
“I was freaking out: Bear breaks into Metro Vancouver minivan” CTV News, November 7, 2023
Tasting Notes:On today's episode, Cupboard Master Ken made us a warm cocktail, very appropriate for the rainy falls we get in Vancouver. If you'd like to make one for yourself, here's the recipe:
Gin Toasty Cocktail from Food & Wine
1 ¾ oz Gin
3 ½ oz Hot Water
Orange peel twist
¾ oz Tonic Syrup
John Lennox is a mathematician and bioethicist at Oxford University, where he is a Professor of Mathematics. He has spoken internationally and written many books on the intersection of science and philosophy and religion. His latest book, 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity, came out in 2020.
While most of us here at Rector’s Cupboard have had fraught relationship with what has been called “apologetics,” we are pleased to welcome Professor Lennox as a guest.
The discussion took place on a visit to Oxford. We speak about artificial intelligence, about John Lennox’s public engagement (discussions, debates) with various neo-atheists, including Richard Dawkins, and we address the larger question of the role of apologetics in faith and belief.
You can find more information about John Lennox’s publications, debates, and other resources he has made on his website.
Books referenced in this episode:Bittersweet - Susan Cain
Around this time last year, we had the distinct pleasure of speaking to musician, author, theologian, and all around wonderful person, Julian Davis Reid. Next week, October 13 and 14 in Vancouver, BC, we are having an in-person conference around the theme of vocation and rest and Julian is our keynote speaker. In honour of that we thought we’d replay this episode from last season. If you’re in the Vancouver area and would like to attend, there is still time to register. You can check out the Rector’s Cupboard social pages or click here.
Original episode notes:In so many ways, we often feel ground down, in the words of this episode’s guest, “disintegrated.” Julian Davis Reid speaks to us about rest. This is more and better than simply disengagement or a break from the grind; rest is an essential part of what it means to be human, in the image of God.
Julian starts from a recognition of the profound restlessness that marks much of our lives and moves us towards the promise of the final and complete resting in God. Along the way, we talk about what theology and aesthetics, music and culture have to do with rest. We hold on to the promise that we might know rest, rest for our soul.
Julian’s website has links to all his music, both his solo work and work with the JuJu Exchange, his retreat work, as well as his newsletter where you can get more of his thoughts on rest.
Articles referenced in this episode:Do You Really Want a New Kitchen Counter - The Atlantic, November 18, 2022
A Parent’s Typical Day, As Envisioned By My Child’s Preschool - McSweeney’s, November 10, 2022
In the United States and elsewhere, including Canada, large numbers of people are leaving church. A recent book, The Great Dechurching, points out that the movement is the largest religious cultural shift in American history. Many writers, professors, and observers have often used the word “decline” to talk about such a phenomenon. The truth is more nuanced. The church is not in decline in much of the world and where it is declining in numbers, North America, etc. there is perhaps much more to the story.
What if the decline of the church is a good thing for faith and the church?
We talk to Dr. Andrew Root about his recent book, Churches and the Crisis of Decline, and how recent and ongoing decline in church attendance might point to something positive. As Root says, the church is more properly the narrator not the star. He argues for a better view of faith in which faith is lived in the world, rather than in opposition to the world. Root mentions that, so often, God is caged into religion and that the changes in the church, that so many see as threatening, are an opportunity to embrace a healthier view of faith.
We found, in reading Andrew’s books and in speaking with him, an enlivening way of seeing and living faith that many people who have pushed away from church will likely experience as hopeful and engaging.
One term to mention; a good portion of Andrew Root’s writing touches on the work of Charles Taylor and his book, A Secular Age. That book asks one question, Why was it virtually impossible to not believe in God 500 years ago and yet in contemporary western culture it has turned the other way around, to where it is much more difficult for people to believe in God? One of the central terms in Taylor’s book is “The Immanent Frame.” The idea here is that the frame of a person’s worldview, the way they saw the world and their place in it, used to be defined by a sense of the transcendent, by a belief in God. Now, even for most people who count themselves as religious, the frame has become immanent, that is, bounded mostly by the scientifically observable and material.
For more of Andrew Root’s work you can check out his website and his work with Homebrewed Christianity.
Books and Articles Referenced:The Weariness of the Self - Alain Ehrenberg
Bittersweet - Susan Cain
“The Largest and Fastest Religious Shift in America Is Well Underway” - New York Times, June 21, 2023
Rector’s Cupboard is pleased to welcome Brian Zahnd. Brian is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church in Saint Joseph, Missouri.
Brian has been somewhat of a trailblazer in contemporary expressions of hopeful theology. His books, including Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God and Beauty Will Save the World, outline a thoughtful, positive, and beautiful understanding of Christian faith and belief. Brian’s work has informed the work of Rector’s Cupboard and Reflector Project. As our reach has grown, we have consistently encountered people who have been helped by Brian’s writing.
We were pleased, in this episode, to include a couple of friends we’ve met through our work who have also followed Brian’s work. Neil and Peter start the conversation with Brian by opening up some of their key questions.
Brian is one of those writers and speakers that people who hold rigid and fearful understandings of faith sometimes warn you about. One of the problems for such accusations is that Brian knows his stuff. He opens a consideration of the history of Christian faith and theology and of Biblical interpretation in a way that shows us how, often, the fearful or divisive ways we have understood theology and the Bible are the distortions, not the life-giving truth.
Brian does this in a way that is direct, but not accusatory, thoughtful, but understandable and relatable.
Enjoy the episode.
Tasting Notes: Our tasting for this episode comes all the way from Lviv, Ukraine. Piana Vyshnia, or Drunk Cherry in English, is a not too sweet cherry liqueur that we would highly recommend, if you can find it.
In some religious circles, dialogue or collaboration with people of other faiths is seen as dangerous. In some evangelical contexts, such interfaith consideration may even have been labelled as faithless.
Hopeful Christian theology sees interfaith dialogue as faithful, not faithless. True interfaith dialogue is neither dangerous nor insipid. Rather, in building connections with people of other faiths we can grow in our own faith and have positive impact in the world.
In this episode, we speak with a Minister, an Imam and a Rabbi. Pastor Don Mackenzie, Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, and Imam Jamal Rahman are called The Interfaith Amigos and their work has been featured in Ted Talks and presentations around the world.
We had the joy of speaking with Rabbi Laura previously in March of 2021. You can find that conversation here.
For more information on The Interfaith Amigos, check out Imam Jamal’s website.
Books and Resources references in this episode: Finding Peace Through Spiritual Practice by The Interfaith Amigos, 2016
Charter for Compassion
Ram Dass once famously said, “If you think you are enlightened, go spend a week with your family.” We came across this quote when David Hayward, known as NakedPastor, quoted it after seeing his own family.
Arthur Boers, our guest on this episode of Rector’s Cupboard, delves deeper into the truth of family of origin than even a week together can afford. Boers’ faith matters a great deal to him. In fact, it has come to define much of his career as he has been a pastor, a professor, and a writer.
In Shattered: A Son Picks up the Pieces of His Father’s Rage, Boers tells his story of growing up in the Christian Reformed Church in Ontario, Canada. He speaks of the violence present in the culture at the time, even within families like his own. He speaks of what it can look like to grow in faith, in an awareness of the transcendent and of the grace of God, even as the places where he first encountered such faith can also convey fear and violence.
We are pleased to speak with Arthur because his book is really good. More than that, we are pleased to speak with Arthur because his story can help us in consideration of our stories. You have likely struggled with some painful things from your own family of origin. We hope that, though some parts may be difficult to hear, Arthur’s story may be part of you growing in strength and hope.
Arthur will be in the Vancouver area July 13 and 14 to speak about his book and memoir writing. Click here for details on these and other events of his across Canada.
The second part of our interview with Julia and Jeremiah, sex therapists and hosts of the podcast Sexvangelicals. If you haven’t listened to part one, we encourage you to go back and listen to that before this episode.
In this episode, we spoke with Julia and Jeremiah about how we got to the place where conversations around sexuality are framed around morality and behaviours and some ways of dealing with the grief of what has been lost or damaged. We also got a list of resources for those wanting to learn more or look into counselling.
We are grateful to Ken Best, our occasional co-host, who joined us for this interview.
It was an enjoyable, honest and open conversation. Given that the topic is sex you will likely hear things that upset or offend you, no matter where you are on the spectrum of religious/non-religious. After all, sex therapy is unafraid to delve into some topics and questions that are often left unaddressed.
ResourcesBooks
Peggy Kleinplatz – Magnificent Sex
Doug Brown Harvey – Treating Out of Control Sexual Behavior
Beverley Dale - Advancing Sexual Health for the Christian Client
Nadia Bolz-Weber – Shameless
Linda Kay Klein – Pure
Dr. Wednesday Martin
Therapy Resources
The Incarnation Institute for Sex and Faith - Online Resources
AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) - An online database for finding certified therapists in your area, both in the United States and Canada
In a previous episode of Rector’s Cupboard we were pleased to interview Linda Kay Klein, author of the book Pure on purity culture within the evangelical church. Through Linda, our guests for this episode found Rector’s Cupboard and connected with us. Julia and Jeremiah are sex therapists who work often with people who were raised in high control religious environments. They are also the hosts of the podcast Sexvangelicals.
We are grateful to welcome occasional co-host Ken Best for this episode and the next as the conversation went so well that we split it into two episodes.
We talk about common assumptions around sexuality in church culture. We consider what the term “value-based” means. We unpack some of the potential damage from various fundamentalist (both religious and otherwise) frameworks of sexual health.
It was an enjoyable, honest and open conversation. Given that the topic is sex you will likely hear things that upset or offend you, no matter where you are on the spectrum of religious/non-religious. After all, sex therapy is unafraid to delve into some topics and questions that are often left unaddressed.
The article discussed in the banter on today's episode is "The Hounding of Kate Forbes Shows Godless Squad Have Won," February 23, 2023
Rector’s Cupboard is part of a larger non-profit that exists to articulate Hopeful Theology. A theologian whose work informs our perspective is Karl Barth.
This episode delves into the theology of Barth by way of the work of Dr. Marty Folsom. Barth’s writing is extensive, with his major work, “Church Dogmatics” consisting of over 9,000 pages over multiple volumes.
Many Christians have pushed away from rigid and divisive understandings of faith. Some of those who have “deconstructed” their faith hang onto a desire for a meaningful more hopeful Christian faith. Barth’s theology, while outlined decades ago, provides such a frame. Barth was known as “the cheerful theologian” and his theology gives what we think is a much healthier view of the Bible, salvation, belief and non-belief than we have often encountered in evangelicalism.
As Barth’s writing is extensive, it helps to have informed guides. Marty Folsom fits the bill. We talk about his book, “Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics for Everyone: volume 1”. Dr. Folsom does not imply any advanced knowledge of Barth and guides us through even the basic structure of the dogmatics and some of the most important terms.
Everyone has a theology, a way of understanding the bigger things of life and the world. Barth offers a hopeful Christian theology that can contribute much to the necessary theological renewal of the church.
The episode opens with Rector’s Cupboard hosts speaking about why Barth’s theology might matter today.
If you have been raised in a religious context, you may assume that the way your church, your denomination, conceived of faith was and is the very definition of faith. Obviously, there is a lot that impacts what we believe and how we practice and express that belief.
Dr. Mathew Guest helpfully describes how a particular way of seeing the world (neo-liberalism that defines much of politics and economics in our world) has come to impact religion in general and Christian faith in the west in particular. As many people who grew up in the church look towards a more hopeful understanding of faith, the disentangling of worldview and religion can prove to be a key part of moving forward. Perhaps what you were told you had to believe to even be considered a Christian had more to do with power and culture than it had to do with faith.
Our conversation with Dr. Guest focused on his book Neoliberal Religion: Faith and Power in the Twenty-First Century. You can also read his recent article “The New Spirit of Capitalism: How neoliberalism has changed the way we do religion,” published November 2022.
This episode has a lot of terms, some coined by Dr. Guest, so we thought it would be helpful to add some definitions.
Episode Terminology:Neoliberalism: Neo-Liberalism can be seen as a perspective on politics and economics that assumes some key things. Firstly, there is a heightened individualism, the sense that value and virtue are conceived as aligning with the individual and individual rights and identity. Secondly, there is marketization, the way of seeing that ascribes value to that which is successful or popular in the marketplace of ideas, views and goods. Finally, there is a commodification of society and life. People, agencies and ideas are seen to have value in how they can be evaluated as a commodity. Neo-Liberalism as a political concept has led to fulsome ideas of freedom, autonomy and identity. At its best, it can reveal coercion and groupthink. However, there are also neutral and negative ways in which neo-liberalism impacts everything from social life to work life to spirituality and religion.
Marketization: The idea that religion functions best as a market. So, the religions or churches that attract the most people, are the best. Churches and religions come to be seen as competing for a market. (Mathew thinks it’s more complicated than that) Marketization also impacts notions of spiritual and moral success for groups and for individuals.
Populism: This is a form of political identity that rests on an idea of “the people.” Populism eventually bypasses elections, and claims to voice what the real people want. Characterized by a kind of rhetoric, typically from one leader who claims a special connection to the people, even though they may be part of the elite. Populism often assumes there is a corrupt elite getting in the way of the people getting what they want. We can see how, in our current social and political culture, populism becomes aligned with and uses religion.
Post-Truth Thinking: The idea that the powers that be are hiding things. You get conspiracy theories, the X Files, etc. It has escalated recently through the activities of public figures who have disregarded what may previously been thought to be unassailable traditions or truths. This can include the thought that key to Christian practice is a rejection of the world. In some expressions of church, there has been a very present critique of “the world” in saying that the world is not interested in truth. It is curious how this tendency has often existed alongside a willingness for fantastical belief or the propagation of conspiracy theories.
Securitization: An assumption, at a policy level, that conceives of some religions as more suspicious than others. People and groups who can be characterized as “the other” are identified as forces from which we need security. This leads to a stigmatization of people who look different, or believe differently as dangerous. Thus, intense Christian faith, for example, can be seen as virtuous while intense Islamic faith is portrayed as threatening.
Cosmeticization: The ways in which particular kinds of Christianity foreground the drive for polished perfectionism as a way of measuring success. Things viewed as successful in these religious circles resemble advertising or celebrities. The celebration of the cosmetic overcomes traditional depth or thought or interior life.
Rich or poor or somewhere in-between, our sense of security and identity can often have to do with money. Who we are, how we relate to others, and how we feel about our well-being is impacted, for good or ill, by whether we feel we have enough money.
Mark Petersen has lived much of his life in the world of money and philanthropy. He has also taken up multiple spiritual pilgrimages as a way of asking the big questions of identity and meaning.
We are pleased to speak with Mark about his experience with his family foundation, his journey on the Camino (you can find his blog about his Camino pilgrimages here) , and his thoughts about charity and fundraising.
Mark has written a book relating the world of philanthropy to the journey on the trail. It is called Love Giving Well and it offers insight into what compels people to give and how decisions about giving are often made.
We are pleased to be joined by Tim Dickau of CityGate and The Centre for Missional Leadership. He is also the author of Forming Christian Community in a Secular Age.
Tim speaks with us about his vision for how faith and church should be blessing in the world. Tim was pastor of Grandview Calvary in Vancouver for many years and has helped facilitate numerous community projects addressing needs around housing and other areas of need.
Tim offers thoughtful considerations of hopeful ways forward for faith and church.
How do you remember Christmas? What traditions are essential to make it really feel like Christmas?
So much of how we experience Christmas is based in nostalgia, an understanding and, often, idealization of the past.
The Cupboard hosts gathered to enjoy a Christmas tasting (recipe below), share memories, and discuss the of role nostalgia at Christmastime. There’s a term we just discovered, “imagined future nostalgia,” wanting to make memories now that will hold meaning in the future, which can place additional pressure on preparations for Christmas.
We hope that you are able, in spite of the uncertainties or pressures you may be experiencing, to know and experience that Christmas can be informed by the future, which is good, rather than a longing or recreation of the past. Merry Christmas from all of us at Rector’s Cupboard!
Materials Referenced:
Day 9: The Magic of Less ‘Holiday Magic’ - New York Times, December 9, 2022Masks, mops and ‘ugly sticks’ – a look at Newfoundland’s tradition of mummering – Macleans, December 12, 2022Land of My Sojourn – Rich MullinsGravy – Rhona McAdam in Larder
Tasting Notes:
Our tasting for this episode was a Snowflake cocktail using gin and Figgy Puddin’ liquor from Copperpenny Distilling Co. in North Vancouver.
Snowflake Cocktail
1.5 Oz Gin1 Oz Figgy Puddin’ Liqour3 Oz Eggnog
Served over ice and topped with nutmeg or cinnamon
Story is the universal human language. We learn who we are and how to make sense of the world through story. It can also be a means through which we can engage with and encounter others. Story can communicate truth in a way that other forms of communication cannot.
In this episode, we spoke with fellow podcaster, Jonathan Wright, from the podcast Hello Unknown. Jonathan is a former tax lawyer but has left the practice of law to write and tell stories. Jonathan talked to us about how he came to podcasting and of the importance of story in his own life.
The first season Hello Unknown is out now and the second season is in the works. We would highly recommend checking it out. It’s available anywhere you get your podcasts.
In so many ways, we often feel ground down, in the words of this episode’s guest, “disintegrated.” Julian Davis Reid speaks to us about rest. This is more and better than simply disengagement or a break from the grind; rest is an essential part of what it means to be human, in the image of God.
Julian starts from a recognition of the profound restlessness that marks much of our lives and moves us towards the promise of the final and complete resting in God. Along the way, we talk about what theology and aesthetics, music and culture have to do with rest. We hold on to the promise that we might know rest, rest for our soul.
Julian’s website has links to all his music, both his solo work and work with the JuJu Exchange, his retreat work, as well as his newsletter where you can get more of his thoughts on rest.
Articles referenced in this episode: Do You Really Want a New Kitchen Counter - The Atlantic, November 18, 2022
A Parent’s Typical Day, As Envisioned By My Child’s Preschool - McSweeney’s, November 10, 2022
We conclude our 3 part Calgary road trip with a visit to Jerremie Clyde from Alberta Yak Co and Little Loaves Farm (check out their Instagram page for some amazing yak photos @littleloavesfarm).
Did you know that yaks purr? Or that they can survive at -64 degrees Celsius (for any American listeners that’s -83 Fahrenheit)? We certainly didn’t before visiting Jerremie. We got to take a tour of Jerremie’s farm and he was gracious enough to provide with lunch as well (yak tacos). So much of how Jerremie understands his work is relational. He spoke to us about the abundance of relationships at play on the farm, between himself, his family, and the yaks, the relationships that exist in the herd itself, and the many, many relationships that are happening in the ecosystem all around them.
Jerremie refers to the yaks on his farm as his coworkers and understands the way they farm as being one part in a much larger ecosystem, one where they can be active participants both in seeking to bring depth and breadth of life to creation as well as taking so much joy and fulfillment from these relationships.
Thanks for joining us as we’ve learned a lot about cows and soil and yaks, and about how, even as non-farmers, we can support farmers and actively participate in creation care with them.
We continue our 3 part series of Rector’s Cupboard on the Road. In July several of us from Rector’s Cupboard headed to Alberta for a few days to speak with some farmers.
On this episode we spoke with Rod Olson. Rod works with several local organizations. He is a certified nutrition farmer with the organization Leaf and Lyre, planting and overseeing urban farms in people’s backyards. He also is a founding member of YYC Growers, a collective of independent farmers. Rod also works with Land of Dreams, a community farm which provides newcomers to Canada with land and resources to grow things.
We met Rod at the Land of Dreams farm where he took us on a tour of the farm, taught us about the importance of soil health, and spoke about some ways we can participate in helping to heal the land.
Rector’s Cupboard, on the road! We travelled to Calgary this summer and met some amazing farmers. In this episode we talk to Marcus and Sarah Reidner from Happiness By the Acre, a regenerative farm in Didsbury, Alberta. Marcus and Sarah have cows, chicken, pigs, and ducks but they say what they really grow is grass, because that’s what the land wants to do.
Along with meeting some great animals, we also talked about climate change, the necessity of death, and why Marcus and Sarah have chosen to farm in about the most difficult way possible. Hopeful Christian theology will help us towards a healthy relationship with the land. Marcus and Sarah taught us a lot, even in this short visit.
We cannot say enough about the hospitality and generosity that we encountered in Calgary. Marcus and Sarah welcomed us to their farm, answered all of our questions, were generous with their time, and even shared some of their amazing chicken and duck eggs. If you are in the Calgary area we highly recommend looking them up.
Who are the people in your neighbourhood? For some this might be geographical, your literal neighbours, for others it might include the more expansive community in which you find care and support, or perhaps an online neighbourhood where you connect with others.
As we begin season 4, we take some time to consider those in our neighbourhood. For Rector’s Cupboard, this includes people we have spoken to in previous episodes and season, guests we’re anticipating, as well as you, our listeners. We feel blessed to have learned from and with those in our neighbourhood. As we look forward to future conversations, we’re delighted to have our neighbourhood grow.
Articles referenced in this episode: “A boy with cancer hoped to see monsters. Hundreds of strangers showed up in costume.” – The Washington Post, September 22, 2022
For the first episode of season 4, the Cupboard is pleased to welcome Nelson Boschman to speak with us about his book, The Growing Season, and to lead us in an informative wine tasting. A pastor, teacher, and musician, Nelson considers himself a wine enthusiast rather than an expert. He sees in the vineyard and wine-making the stuff of life and spirit.
We hear some of Nelson’s story, about concepts of identity and challenge and change that are present in wine-making and in the spiritual life. We see, in Nelson’s love of the vineyard and the process, that often the most enduring spiritual lessons come in paying close attention to the things that we love.
Tasting Notes:
We learned a great deal from Nelson about the ways we can experience and enjoy wine.
“80% of the wine experience is olfactory, it happens through the sense of smell. To look, swirl, sniff are the first three steps to taste.”
The wines we tasted on today’s episode are both available at BC Liquor Stores. The first was the 2018 Cairanne from Boutinot and the 2020 Gigondas from Dom Brusset, both from the Rhone region in France.
The Cupboard had intended to take a break over the summer to plan and prepare for season 4 in the fall, but some topics and stories are too timely to ignore. The recent decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade by the United States Supreme Court compelled us pause and discuss what it means to us. For this bonus summer episode, we’re pleased to welcome Rev. Michael Coren, an Anglican priest, author and columnist for numerous publications.
Once a prominent voice for conservative media and a strong opponent of marriage equality, Michael now advocates for abortion rights, marriage equality and LGBTQIA+ rights.
As we discussed with Michael in this episode, his change in stance did not happen in spite of his faith but because of his faith. In his most recent books and our conversation with him, he describes his journey, thought processes and scriptural study that moved him to where he is today.
Article we discussed in this episode:
"Does Christianity condemn abortion? That's not what the Bible says" - The Globe and Mail - June 29, 2022
Michael’s most recent books: The Rebel Christ Epiphany: A Christians Change in Heart & Mind Over Same-Sex Marriage
Tasting Notes: We enjoyed some delicious blackcurrant cider from Naramata Cider Co. situated on the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan.
Two years ago Rector's Cupboard interviewed Katherine Stewart, an author and leading voice on the “Christian Nationalist” movement in the United States. At the time, we spoke about her book "The Power Worshippers".
This week, Stewart had an article in the New York Times that discussed the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. This week we're re-releasing that episode, as the conversation is as relevant now as it was then.
Christians should be speaking against Christian Nationalism. It is not speaking against Christianity. It is not speaking against Jesus. It is speaking against a political movement that has become idolatry.
Books and articles referenced in this episode:
The Power Worshippers The Good News Club How a Data-backed Christian Nationalist Machine Helped Trump to Power - The Guardian, March 2020 Bill Barr Thinks America is Going to Hell - The New York Times, December 2019 Why Trump Reigns as King Cyrus - The New York Times, December 2018
Our final episode of season 3 of Rector’s Cupboard.
We were honoured to speak with James K. A. Smith, professor of philosophy at Calvin University and editor-in-chief of Image Journal.
The conversation is centred largely around a fantastic book that Jamie has written and that will be available in September. Jamie’s work demonstrates a hopeful view of faith. He skillfully and insightfully looks to the past for how it might positively shape and inform faith and life today. He does this with a strongly stated desire to move ahead. The conversation became one of great hope, that included inspiring reminders of the goodness, beauty and truth in our world.
We talk about modernism and post-modernism. We talk about philosophy and power and control and fear. We talk about these things because they (and misunderstandings around them) have been influential in many churches and ways of seeing faith, perhaps even in how you were taught to understand Christian faith.
Some extended episode notes: The names Derrida, Foucault, Bentham, and Lyotard may not be familiar to all or most readers, but these are writers whose work has had impact on our culture and our faith. Michel Foucault was a French Philosopher whose work was key in what became known as “post-modernism”. We speak about Foucault’s ideas around discipline and control. Foucault argued that power and punishment were once exercised in harsh and physical ways, but as these means of control became less physically forceful, they actually became more powerful and more pervasive in society.
Jacques Derrida, another contributor to post-modernism, spoke about deconstruction. This term has largely been adopted to define what very many people with religious backgrounds are doing now. Smith says that both those who embrace “deconstruction” and those who warn against it often have a distorted view of what deconstruction is. For Derrida, virtually everything is interpreted. Whether it is a Biblical text or a summer sunrise, you as the reader or viewer are part of interpreting the meaning. Deconstruction aims to see these layers of interpretation.
In this episode we also mention Alain de Botton. He is a contemporary philosopher who though he frequently mentions that he is an atheist, has some tremendously helpful and appreciative things to say about faith and the church.
Finally we mention the new Arcade Fire album, “We”. Art such as the music on that album demonstrates a thoughtful consideration of some of these important religious, cultural and philosophical themes.
In 2021, a book by Canadian writer and broadcaster David Cayley was published. The book was a biography of Ivan Illich who, in the 1970’s, became quite well known for his criticism of the church, and for institutions of education and medicine.
We find Ivan Illich compelling because he speaks about faith and society in ways that can shape and inform hopeful theology. If you have pushed away from rigid examples of religion, you will likely find many of Illich’s ideas helpful.
In this episode we talk about Cayley’s book and about Illich with our friend and Orthodox theologian David Goa.
Note – You may find some language in this episode offensive. Hopefully not much, but maybe a little.
Have you heard a good sermon lately?
83% of people surveyed who attended a Christian church service said that the top reason for choosing and remaining in a church is the sermon.
In this episode we talk with Rev. Dr. Will Willimon about sermons and listening to sermons. He is a pastor, bishop in the United Methodist Church and the author of, in his approximation, about 100 books. We have had the pleasure of speaking with Will about his writing on several occasions and were very happy to speak with him again about his most recent book, “Listeners Dare. ” It is an engaging examination of the role of the listener in the sermon. Will points out that any true hearing of a sermon requires divine assistance.
Here are a few notes from the book;
To preachers:
“Beginning a sermon with a joke is nearly always a bad idea; including a sweet story about a child (particularly if the child is yours). It risks adulterating the gospel with maudlin sentimentality.”
“Don’t read your sermons; preaching is personal, bodily testimony to the gospel truth you have received, not a lecture about God.”
To listeners: When told by a listener about a sermon, “I didn’t get anything out of it”, a reply should potentially be, “So how much did you put into it?”
“God’s word usually comes to us through others, those who dare to tell us truth we wouldn’t tell ourselves.”
What sort of conversations should the church be having around mental health? What is it’s role in supporting those in congregations who are experiencing mental health challenges or know someone who is?
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, a Vancouver based organization is doing some amazing work in regard to conversations about mental health in the church. We had the honour of welcoming Daniel Whitehead, Sanctuary CEO, and Dr. John Swinton, Sanctuary Ambassador, Practical Theologian, and newly appointed Chaplain to the Queen, to talk with us. We spoke with Daniel and John about the role of the church in mental health, ways to reframe our understandings about mental health challenges, and some helpful resources for those wanting to learn more about mental health and faith.
Sanctuary has just released a free course for churches to work through how to have these kinds of conversations and to have better understandings about mental health issues.
Tasting Notes
We enjoyed two Amaro based drinks, a Negroni and an Amaro Spritz, made with Amaro from The Woods Spirit Co. based in North Vancouver. If you’d like to mix your own drinks here are the recipes:
Negroni
1.25 oz Gin (we used gin from The Woods) 1 oz Amaro .75 oz Red Vermouth Garnished with a slice of orange peel
Amaro Spritz
2 oz Amaro 3 oz Prosecco Topped with soda water and garnished with an orange wedge
Our first ever Rector’s Cupboard Arts and Culture (and Entertainment) panel.
Amanda, Allison and Todd speak about some television shows, books and movies that you may find interesting, engaging, thoughtful and offensive.
In case you didn’t take notes during the episode here is a list of the shows, movies, and books we talked about.
TV Shows: Righteous Gemstones Shameless Derry Girls Only Murders In the Building Somebody Somewhere Late Night with Seth Meyers Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed
Movies: Everything Everywhere All At Once Turning Red Encanto
Books: The School for Good Mothers – Jessamine Chan We Don’t Know Ourselves – Fintan O’Toole The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien Butcher, Blacksmith, Acrobat, Sweet – Peter Cossins This Here Flesh – Cole Arthur Riley Run Towards the Danger – Sarah Polley Homegoing – Yaa Gyasi
The question “What is a woman?” has upset people on the left and on the right.
We speak with our guest, Brenda-Lee Sasaki, about her writing on Christian faith and motherhood. How are expectations and gender roles perceived in evangelicalism? Our conversation with Brenda-Lee focuses largely on her recently published essay, “I Am More Than a Mother: Dismantling the Madness of the Motherhood Myth".
Cupboard Master Ken Bell pours a special cocktail as we speak about gender conversations in the news.
Tasting Notes: Ken's unnamed cocktail:
1.5 oz gin 1 - 1.5 oz peach schnapps 1 oz mango or peach nectar
Shake with ice and serve in a hi-ball or martini glass. Or, alternatively, serve with the ice in a collins glass and top with sparkling water or flavoured soda water.
Article referenced in this episode: “Republicans thought defining a ‘woman’ is easy. Then they tried.”, Washington Post, April 6, 2022
Have we become disconnected from creation? What should our relationship and engagement with nature look like?
This week, the Cupboard was honoured to speak with Lauren Aldred, a counsellor at the College of New Caledonia. Lauren teaches workshops on Land-Based Healing and Wellness and shared with us stories and reflections from these courses. Much of what Lauren teaches appears to be common sense. However, responses to her work and interest in her classes, demonstrate the need to be reminded that we are in a living and dynamic relationship with all other creation and with the Creator.
We spoke with Lauren about how connection with creation can heal and restore us. We spoke about generosity and reciprocity. We spoke about relationship with land, and about the benefit of noticing even a dandelion growing in a sidewalk crack.
Some Further Resources from Lauren: Safe & Ethical Guideline for Wildcrafting
Good Medicine: Ideas for Supporting Land-based Healing and Wellness During the Pandemic, First Nations Health Authority
If the Land is Sick You Are Sick: An Aboriginal Approach to Mental Health in Times of Drought, Scroll
Materials referenced in this episode: Breaking Brethren, City News
Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed, Discovery Plus
Is God with us? If so, how?
Is God omnipresent and all-powerful? If you have thought about faith at all, then you have considered the tension present in believing in an all-powerful God, present with you, and the difficult, sometimes terrible realities of life. Dr. Monica Coleman is a writer, theologian, and educator who outlines a particular way of addressing the question of God’s presence. In her book, Bipolar Faith, she tells her story of growing up, her story of faith, and her story of trauma and mental health. She does this within the frame of a larger consideration of what it means that God is present in this world, that God is with us.
We won’t give away just what she has to say, we’ll simply say that we hear from Dr. Coleman a spiritual theology that speaks about God’s constant presence in change. Such understanding can be consoling, realistic, and even hopeful.
If you're interested in learning more about process theology, Dr. Coleman offers a course, Process Theology 101.
As we move past the halfway point of the third season of Rector’s Cupboard, we take the opportunity to discuss the origins of the podcast. We go through the story of one particular church fight and what that long ago battle has to do with what Rector’s Cupboard is aiming to do.
The church fight which we speak about is legendary. One small manifestation was demonstrated by a group of people opposed to changes in a particular church. The dissenters would loudly sing alternate songs when hymns that they did not like were being sung in church. That could be fun. Whenever someone has the audacity to begin singing “Majesty” a crew of agitated protestors in the congregation can belt out, “Shine, Jesus Shine” or maybe, “Hopelessly Devoted to You”.
In this episode we outline some parts of what we have called “Hopeful Theology”. We present the idea that the renewal needed in the evangelical (and beyond) church is primarily theological. That is, perhaps concepts that have led to polarization and division, and practices based in fear, ought to be reconsidered. There is a deep history of Christian theology that is not fearful and divisive, and renewal from that tradition could make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and in the future of the church.
Articles Referenced in this episode:
Ritualism Riots – The detailed history of St. George-in-the-East St
All Year Round – The Charles Dickens story about the riots
The marking of the 150th Anniversary of the riots and Archbishop Rowan Williams’ sermon that day
We speak with Rod Wilson about his just released book, “Thank You, I’m Sorry, Tell Me More: How to Change the World with 3 Sacred Sayings”.
Rod Wilson has worked as a psychologist, served as a pastor in three churches, and held multiple roles in theological education, including President of Regent College in Vancouver from 2000-2015. Rod currently works with Lumara Grief and Bereavement Care Society, A Rocha, The Society of Christian Schools in BC, and In Trust Center for Theological Schools, and maintains an international teaching and mentoring ministry.
Rod’s book outlines each of these sayings and then presents very many vignettes of how they function in our lives and relationships. We can’t be human with the other. In Hopeful Christian theology we can’t be healed (or “saved”) without the other. This book reminds us that the way of humility and love is what allows us to most know our humanity and the humanity of every person whose life meets ours. The sacred sayings are most brought to life with those who are closest to us and those most known over years, friends and family. The sacred sayings are hospitable and healing with those who we barely know and with those who are distant from us or different than us.
Rod has a wealth of insight and experience that he brings to this book. He brings also much of the personal and human from his own relationships.
ARTICLE REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE: “For many inside the Freedom Convoy, faith fuels the resistance” CBC, February 15, 2022
TASTING NOTES: This episode we tasted the Bitter Orange Rosemary Cider and Plum Cider from Salt Spring Wild Cider.
The Cupboard hosts speak with Heidi Groot, who grew up in a loving, evangelical family. The loving part is all good and continues to have positive impact for personal, mental, and emotional health. The same might not be said for the evangelical part.
Do you carry some terrible and damaging ideas of God and self that were handed to you in evangelical culture? Heidi speaks with us about her experience, but very many people are able to identify with many aspects of her story. Heidi grew up in the church, left church, went back again and then left again.
This episode demonstrates again that “most people are better than their theology”. Some of the most loving people in Heidi’s life passed on some horrendous views of God and the future. Thankfully, many of those same people have come to find greater alignment between their compassionate character and their religious belief.
Article referenced in this episode: The Language Rules We Know But Don't Know - BBC, September 2016
On this first episode of Rector’s Cupboard for 2022, we present a COVID time capsule. Yet again, we feel like we maybe, perhaps, just might be emerging from the pandemic that has defined much of life in most of the world for two years.
As we listen to people reflect upon their lives during a pandemic, we consider what healing from this time might look like.
Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?
Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast (Sunny Boy, December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology, January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.
What is the church? Who is the church? Does the church play any important role in larger culture? These conversations have an “on the ground” aspect to them and they seek to address larger questions of the place and identity of the Christian church in our society.
In this last episode of our special series Cupboard hosts Todd and Allison speak with David Goa about the church. This conversation offers some hopeful considerations about what the church is/should be/might hope to be. There are some positive, life-giving ways in which to think about the place of the church in the world.
Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?
Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast (Sunny Boy, December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology, January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.
What is the church? Who is the church? Does the church play any important role in larger culture? These conversations have an “on the ground” aspect to them and they seek to address larger questions of the place and identity of the Christian church in our society.
In this sixth episode of our special series we speak with Ken Bell, Chaplain at Broadway Lodge and former Minister at St. Simon’s Anglican Church. Ken shares a thoughtful and hopeful reflection on his own story in becoming a minister. How does the church inspire people to meaningful vocation?
Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?
Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast (Sunny Boy, December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology, January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.
What is the church? Who is the church? Does the church play any important role in larger culture? These conversations have an “on the ground” aspect to them and they seek to address larger questions of the place and identity of the Christian church in our society.
In this fifth episode of our special series we speak with Martin Baxter, Senior Pastor at St. Andrew’s and St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church in North Vancouver. Should we expect the community of the church to actually make a difference in people’s lives. What does it mean to be part of a local church?
Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?
Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast (Sunny Boy, December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology, January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.
What is the church? Who is the church? Does the church play any important role in larger culture? These conversations have an “on the ground” aspect to them and they seek to address larger questions of the place and identity of the Christian church in our society.
In this fourth episode of our special series we speak with Rebecca Simpson, Presbyterian Minister and Director of Spiritual Formation for the Presbyterian Church at the Vancouver School of Theology. Rebecca’s reflections on the church moved towards the place of the minister, particularly for women in ordained ministry.
Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?
Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast (Sunny Boy, December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology, January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.
What is the church? Who is the church? Does the church play any important role in larger culture? These conversations have an “on the ground” aspect to them and they seek to address larger questions of the place and identity of the Christian church in our society.
In this third episode of our special series we speak with Ross Lockhart, Dean at St. Andrew’s Hall in Vancouver. In conversation with Ross we reflect upon the idea of the decline of the church and Christendom and how these may be positive things for Christian faith.
Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?
Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast (Sunny Boy, December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology, January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.
What is the church? Who is the church? Does the church play any important role in larger culture? These conversations have an “on the ground” aspect to them and they seek to address larger questions of the place and identity of the Christian church in our society.
In this second episode of our special series we speak with Nate Collins, Pastor at Hillside Baptist Church, North Vancouver. Nathan’s reflections on the church moved towards considerations of some of the common struggles and questions of vocation for pastors and towards the role of the church in the spiritual growth of its adherents.
Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?
Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast (Sunny Boy, December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology, January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.
What is the church? Who is the church? Does the church play any important role in larger culture? These conversations have an “on the ground” aspect to them and they seek to address larger questions of the place and identity of the Christian church in our society.
In this first episode of our special series we speak with Tim Dickau of the Centre of Missional Leadership at St. Andrew’s Hall. Tim was previously Senior Pastor of Grandview Calvary Baptist Church in Vancouver. Tim highlighted for us a consideration of the place of the church in the larger world, through its presence in particular communities.
Maybe the real world is just too upsetting right now. Perhaps we need a pretend world in which to live. Hallmark to the rescue! Cupboard hosts and friends discuss the continuing takeover of Christmas by the advance of movies in which the imperfect exists only to make way for the somewhat sickeningly perfect. Are carefully crafted false worlds another bleak take on humanity, or are they hopeful? There is probably nuance required in answer to such a question, but either way, these movies are POPULAR. Merry Christmas from all of us at Rector’s Cupboard!
Movies we watched on this episode: The Knight Before Christmas
Christmas Inheritance
Articles referenced: Here's why it feels so good to watch those Hallmark holiday movies – NBC News, November 2019
Horrible Hallmark movies have been torturing viewers for 20 years – New York Post, December 2020
How Hallmark Took Over Cable Television – The New Yorker, December 2019
Tasting Notes: This episode we enjoyed two very festive drinks, Cabot Trail Maple Cream and Krupnik Spiced Honey Liqueur from Wayward Distillery, Courtenay, BC.
The existence of the division and hatred in our world is undeniable. Religion is often enlisted to fuel this division and to fuel dehumanization. Many of us have longed for more beautiful, hopeful ways to envision the world, to relate to those with whom we disagree. This episode of Rector’s Cupboard invites us to consider the words and work of one person who is demonstrating a vision of hope and love.
Theology and art and spirituality and philosophy and ethics are often thought of as separate disciplines. In our actual lives, our spirituality, our beholding of beauty, and our desire to live well are experienced together. Artist (and theologian) Makoto Fujimura shows us in visual art, in writing, and in conversation some of what matters most in life. He places before us the call to reflect the image of God in living out a “theology of making”.
Is it possible that Christian faith might be considered beautiful? While so much ugliness has existed in bad religion or distorted theology, the call of goodness and beauty and truth remains. People like Makoto Fujimura help us to hear that call.
Do you attend church? Is church something that you used to attend?
Luke Edwards is Associate Director of Church Development for the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Luke has written a book called “Becoming Church: A Trail Guide for Starting Fresh Expressions”. Luke’s work and writing address the reality that church is changing. The default model of a bunch of people in a big room facing the front which has become a stage is not the only way of gathering. Fresh Expressions helps people who are interested in gathering, but may not be interested in church as we have known it.
We had a great time speaking with Luke and we are grateful for people who have gone up ahead on the trail.
Just a note, this episode discusses domestic violence and spiritual abuse. It might be difficult for some listeners.
If you’d like more resources on domestic violence check out WhenLoveHurts.ca. There are informative articles and services available if you or someone you know needs help.
The Cupboard welcomes Jessica Leslie to tell her story of growing up within a form of the church that could be described as cult-like. Jessica grew up in an expression of religion that was often dominated by fear. She experienced abuse within her own family and then found healing and compassion within a different church. When she became an adult Jessica spent years with YWAM, a Christian missionary group working with young people. She now describes her experience of YWAM as, again, being part of a cult. Jessica has faced more than her fair share of pain and struggle, but she demonstrates strength, compassion, and a sense of joy and life as she tells her story.
Jessica's article referenced in this episode: I Escaped an Australian Cult - The Australian Woman’s Weekly, May 17, 2016
Tasting Notes: This episode we enjoy some wonderful Barrel Aged Amaretto from Sons of Vancouver Distillery in North Vancouver. The Barrel Aged Amaretto is a limited release and is available now.
The Cupboard welcomes back Rev. Dr. Will Willimon. He is a pastor, former Archbishop in the United Methodist Church and the author of, in his approximation, about 100 books. He joins us to speak about his latest book, “God Turned Toward Us: The ABCs of Christian Faith”. It’s a book that covers a wide spectrum of concepts, people and doctrines in Christian faith. Our conversation touches upon a variety of topics from the place of evil and sin in Christian understanding to the purpose of salvation.
We are so grateful for our connection to Will. We love his refreshing ability to speak the truth, regardless of what you may want to hear, and his uncanny ability to upset people both on the right and the left. If you’re bothered by some of what you hear that’s okay. Will doesn’t mind being a little bothersome.
Will's books talked about in today's episode: "God Turned Toward Us: The ABCs of Christian Faith" "Preacher's Dare: Speaking for God"
Our last conversation with Will Willimon.
The Beecher Lectures 2021
For more information on Will Willimon visit www.willwillimon.com
Addressing matters of mental health and wellness often comes in the forms of ideas, tips, diagnosis and treatment plans. While these are all helpful, sometimes most helpful of all is to be reminded that you are not alone, that others have faced similar challenges.
In this episode of Rector’s Cupboard, Markku Kostamo shares his own story of misdiagnosis, struggle, diagnosis and treatment. His willingness to be open and honest demonstrates that many times the parts of our stories that we consider troubling or humiliating or chronic have been encountered by other people as well. We are in good company, with one another, and part of being well is recognizing our own limitations and our own woundedness.
Links referenced Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries
Markku's video (available through Facebook)
Upstate Motels Make a Comeback With an Aim to Captivate - New York Times, September 3, 2021
Gen Z is keeping the faith. Just don’t expect to see them at worship – Religion News Service, September 23, 2021
Oh my days: linguists lament slang ban in London school – The Guardian, September 30, 2021
We open up the Reflector Project Garage for a recording before a studio audience. Our guests are directors at the North Shore Stress and Anxiety Clinic.
We talk about the mental health of individuals and mental health in the larger community. What are the positives and negatives of diagnosis? What does it mean that we can be weighed down by a disproportionate response to a circumstance? Much of our mental health struggle can come from an intolerance of uncertainty. At this time in our lives and in the world, how can we become more aware of the blessings of uncertainty?
For some resources on mental health check out: Dr. Nader's YouTube channel AnxietyCanada BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Kelty Mental Health
Welcome to Season 3 of Rector’s Cupboard. We’re grateful for those who are listening and we are working to put together some thoughtful and engaging material for the third season.
We’re opening this season with an episode looking to provide a place for you to feel some ground beneath your feet in what has been a year and a half of uncertainty and potential change.
What change will actually last after COVID? Will the way we speak with one another be different? Most importantly, what are some reasons for hope right now in a time when many are speaking of impending doom?
It is easy to be more aware of dark clouds on the horizon rather than to be aware of hopeful and positive change. The challenges that we face are real, but so is the possibility of actual progress.
Thanks again for listening.
Links Referenced Axios Future : We’re in for a bumpy couple of decades” - April 10, 2021
The Rise of Therapy-speak, The New Yorker, March 26, 2021
Tasting Notes This episode we enjoyed Railspur No. 2 Wildflower Honey from The Liberty Distillery on Granville Island.
We speak with Samuel Andri (recent graduate, theological education) about life and work and faith. Samuel is engaging and thoughtful and funny. He is one of the people who remind us that one of the best reasons for hope in the world right now is how so many young people live and see the world. We talk about religion, South Park, theology and how to not take yourself seriously.
In this final episode of the second season of Rector’s Cupboard we also speak as hosts about the end (in parts of the world) of COVID 19 as the one consideration overall and about what it might mean to be hopeful in these days.
Good conversations with interesting people. Yehuda Mansell was born in Israel. He teaches at Columbia Bible College and is currently living in community with people who are new to Canada at New Hope Community Services in Surrey, BC. We speak with Yehuda about Job and suffering (his PhD work), about language, about his work on the Downtown Eastside and about the blessing of being a neighbour with those new to Canada.
We also speak about Yehuda’s presentation at a recent inter-faith conference. He was co-author of a paper called, “The Theology of Fentanyl”.
For more information on New Hope Community Services take a look at their website.
Linda Kay Klein has written one of the best books examining the phenomenon of purity culture in the 1990’s (and early 2000’s) within much of Christian religious culture. We are pleased to speak with Linda about her book, about what purity culture was and is, and about its impact. If your growing up included church in the 1990’s then you may well be familiar with purity culture. While Linda Kay Klein describes the American experience, Canadian evangelical culture was also largely impacted by the purity movement. The book “Pure” does not simply castigate the past. Rather, there is understanding of motivation and impact of the movement. Linda Kay Klein describes the negative impact of purity culture on self-worth, morality, and religion. She points to a positive and hopeful way forward.
For more information on Linda, her work, and her organization check out her website.
We speak with John Swinton, Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care, Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
John Swinton has worked in mental health care for many years and is now a professor of theology. He brings together a compassionate understanding of mental health and illness with a hopeful understanding of faith and what it means to live well. What could it look like to know “abundant life” while living with a diagnosis of mental illness? What might it look like to know life to the full amidst ongoing, but undiagnosed struggles around mental health?
Swinton offers a humanizing and hopeful way of seeing the “other”, a way that is non-polarizing and shows how we are in solidarity with others, those of different race, politics, ability and understanding.
The pressure to keep up and to be “compulsively cheerful” in our lives can be debilitating. Swinton shows us the value and beauty of “slowness, gentleness, dependence, vulnerability, un-competitiveness, trustfulness and restfulness.”
Warning: This episode mentions schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and suicide.
John’s books:
Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges
Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship
Materials and links referenced in this episode:
Regent College course, “Dementia: Living in the Memories of God”, May 10-14
VST course, “Living Faithfully With Mental Health Challenges: Why Theology Matters”, July 12-16
VST Public Lecture, “The “Hidden” Side Effects of COVID 19”, July 13
When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God, T.M. Luhrmann
The Bible and Mental Health: Towards a Biblical Theology of Mental Health, a collection of essays from authors including Walter Brueggemann and John Swinton.
We speak with music producer, podcaster, and writer Roy Salmond along with musician and artist Jeff Johnson.
Roy and Jeff have earned their living in the realm of “Christian Music” for decades. They tell us about changes in the industry, about challenges faced in the past and today. We also hear about the importance of friendship in vocational and spiritual endeavour.
To find Jeff's work check out his website and YouTube channel. To find Roy's work check out his website.
Today, April 20, 2021, Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three charges against him in causing the death of George Floyd. We have some brief considerations before the verdict after it had been announced that the verdict was about to be read. This recording includes the judge in the case reading the verdict and some brief prayers by Cole Arthur Riley on her “Black Liturgies” account.
God with us,We thank you for being a God of true empathy, leaving status and security to come near to those you love - a nearness marked by healing, solidarity, and sacrifice. We have traded the fierceness of your empathy that might begin with tears but is also enmeshed with proximity to the hurting and the resolute doing of justice and mercy, even if that justice means loss of comfort and status for us. But keep us from being swallowed by the pain of those we love, that we would learn a compassion that has boundaries - a nearness that is not bondage. Let Empathy lay her head down each night on hope itself, rising with the deep knowledge that restoration is coming. We are the hands and feet of a promise.
Originally published March 26, 2021 @blackliturgies
We welcome David Hayward, known online as the NakedPastor.
David is an artist who formerly was a Pastor of Presbyterian and Vineyard Churches. Over the last 12 years David has been producing art – sketches, watercolours and paintings that have resonated deeply with people questioning their beliefs, deconstructing systems of religion, and looking for hopeful ways of seeing the world.
We speak about how deconstruction can be hopeful. David tells us that while he appreciated his time as a leader in the institutional church, he is able now to be more pastoral, not less.
After speaking with David we felt a sense of gratitude and joy, the blessing of accepting that we don’t have to be anxious about making sure to believe the right things. It is even okay if we don’t believe properly. Our call is always to love one another.
You can find out more about David and buy some of his wonderful art on his website or check him out on any social media platform.
We speak with Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan-Kaplan about how religions can grant blessing to one another. In many religious traditions there is a suspicion around engaging with people of other faiths. Rabbi Laura oversees an inter-religious conference each year. We speak also about philosophy and atheism and how we can have a two-dimensional and unhelpful view of not only other faiths, but of non-faith. How can we honour people who believe differently than we do?
Books and references in this episode:
Mouth of the Donkey, Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan-Kaplan, 2021
Gaslit Nation Podcast
VST Religion & Thoughtful Activism Conference
Books on philosophy recommended by Rabbi Laura:
Plato’s Symposium
The Spell of the Sensuous - David Abram
On this episode of Rector’s Cupboard we spoke with Leah Kostamo about astonishment, conservation, environmentalism, all things outdoors, and how that connects with people and faith. Jesus often used metaphors from creation in his teachings. He used tangible things like dirt and spit to bring healing. Our awareness of the transcendent is often evoked by engagement with the natural world and planting a garden can be prayer.
References in this episode:
Planted, Leah Kostamo
A Rocha Canada
Ecological Footprint Calculator
This episode we enjoyed Evolve Gin from Okanagan Spirits.
The Cupboard welcomes Poet Susan Alexander. Susan has won a number of awards for her writing and sat down with us to talk about the blessings of reading and writing and the power of language. Susan’s poetry invites us to consider what has been lost and what future hope entails.
Books and poets referenced in this episode:
Susan Alexander - Nothing You Can Carry, 2020
Susan Alexander - The Dance Floor Tilts, 2017
Lorna Crozier, God of Shadows, 2018
James Wright, Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy’s Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota, 1990
Sharon Smith has done a PhD looking at spirituality and schizophrenia. She founded an organization called Sanctuary that works with religious communities around matters of mental health, education about mental health, and the removing of stigmas about mental illness and struggle. Sharon is now a Vicar at St. Catherine's Church and a part-time instructor at the University of British Columbia.
We talk about mental wellness, about flourishing and languishing and about how to best care for one another.
Episode Terminology:
Spiritual Bypassing –Shifting done in conversations when topics become uncomfortable. There is a struggle to be with others in their pain so often spiritual platitudes are offered instead. In the context of mental health this can be seen in how things are framed. This has been done in labelling mental health struggles as evil or demonic so as to offer a spiritual solution.
This episode we enjoyed the Salted Lime Lager and Horchata Porter from La Cerveceria Astilleros in the brewery district of North Vancouver.
Our guest Curt Allison has faced this accusation repeatedly in his life of faith. Curt is Minister of Outreach at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church in Vancouver. He directs the Gospel Choir and leads an LGBTQ spirituality discussion group called, The Word is OUT.
We loved speaking with Curt and continue to be compelled by his appreciation of a faith background that often told him he was unacceptable. In our current culture that can be so polarized, Curt demonstrates a love for all people. Curt tells us about his journey from Oklahoma to Vancouver, from “the fundamental fundamentalist” to a much more welcoming faith and a journey through the dark night of the soul to acceptance and hope.
Episode Terminology:
Dark Night of the Soul - 16th Century Spanish Christian mystic John of the Cross used this term to describe the feeling of being cut off from God, from a sense of being alive, from prayers being heard. Dark Night of the Soul has come to refer to a part of the spiritual life that is experienced as barrenness. In more recent times it has been discussed alongside concepts such as depression. In theological terms, the Dark Night of the Soul spoke to the idea that God is unknowable and sovereign and may remove from us the sense of divine presence resulting in a feeling of lifelessness. Similar concepts can be found in the 14th Century work called “The Cloud of Unknowing”.
Exodus Ministry - Exodus ministry (using the metaphor of freedom from slavery in Egypt from the Biblical Book of Exodus) was one manifestation of “ministry” to people who did not fit the culturally and religiously accepted norms in regards to sexuality. These ministries often included a kind of conversion therapy that cast healing as either not being gay anymore or as being able to control and deny such an identity in terms of behaviour. In this episode Curt speaks of his experience in Exodus as actually contributing to his self-acceptance and even as contributing to the awareness that he was not alone in his experience. Many of the leaders of Exodus disavowed the programme including the president of the organization in 2012. The ministry closed in 2013.
This episode was recorded in December 2020, before the events of early 2021 in the United States. Those events offer a clear example of the problem of spin and how words can be used to heal or to harm. All insurrections begin with words. All reconciliations start with the hopeful language of healing.
It was a tremendous privilege to speak with Pádraig Ó Tuama. We spoke about words and language and religion. Padraig read a couple of his poems for us and reminded us of the redemptive and reconciling possibility in words. Religious language can be edifying or destructive. Too often words within religious circles have divided people from one another rather than bringing them together. Hope can come in a poem. A small, but powerful refrain can change your day or your life.
Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet and theologian. He is the host of Poetry Unbound, part of the On Being Project, author of Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community.
If you're interested in starting to read poetry but don't know where to start Pádraig suggests beginning with the following anthologies from Bloodaxe Books: Being Alive, Staying Alive, and Staying Human.
Episode Terminology:
Pedagogy – referring to method or means of teaching, communicating knowledge.
Cupboard hosts review the year that was.
Did we learn anything about humanity this year?
The terrible news was obvious and everywhere in 2020. We talk about what was hopeful, about what was disappointing, about how to see the humanity of the other.
And, remember the priest in Italy who conducted a Facebook live service not knowing that the happy, silly face filters were on? We talk about that too.
Goodbye 2020. Welcome 2021.
Happy New Year from Rector's Cupboard!
Books, articles, and links discussed in this episode:
Italian Priest on Facebook live, YouTube Video, March 25, 2020
New Yorker Cover, December 7, 2020
The Rise and Fall of Carl Lentz, New York Times, December 5, 2020
Our Divided Times are an Opportunity for Empathy. Really. – The Washington Post, December 29, 2020
Not really gathered and really very distanced. Our second annual Christmas Special. This year we look at the Rankin Bass Christmas TV Special called, “The Year Without a Santa Claus”. How could it be Christmas without Santa? What if Santa got sick and sniffly and could not deliver presents? How could it be Christmas if we can’t gather with friends and family?
We’re about to find out.
Cupboard Master Ken Bell makes a lovely “snowball” cocktail for the crew.
Merry Christmas to all!
Referenced in this episode:
Mall Santas – The Washington Post, November 25, 2020
The Cupboard welcomes back David Goa (with a special appearance from his cat). From the context of a consideration of Fathers and Sons, we speak about parental and familial love, about power, about blessing.
You may have had a great relationship with your Dad, or maybe it was troubled, maybe both.
David reminds us that gender concepts such as masculine are not to keep us divided and apart, but rather to make us open to the other. Being open to the other calls us to a hopeful and loving engagement with people who are different than us in gender identity, sexuality and belief.
David also presents a powerful reading of what for many has been a terrible story – the story of Abraham and Isaac in the Bible. How are we tempted as parents to see our children through lenses of selfishness rather than through hopeful call of freedom of personality and identity?
We have been blessed, in this life, with the ability to pronounce blessing on others. This is a vocation of parents, also a vocation of each of us in this world.
Article referenced in this episode:
My Son, The Prince of Fashion - Michael Chabon, QC, September 2016
This episode we enjoyed Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Cask Rum.
After Arthur Fonzarelli jumped the shark, there may have been significant episodes of Happy Days remaining, but the end was in sight.
COVID 19 has been part of our world for a year now, but with the recent news of effective vaccines, there may actually be light at the end of the tunnel.
In the meantime, however it feels like we keep receiving the best news at the same time as the worst news. This will end, this pandemic, but before it does there will be a large number of deaths. Right now we are entering what appears to be another lockdown as case numbers spike around the world.
In this episode of Rector’s Cupboard we gather to talk about if we are really, “all in this together”.
This is how we treat each other? This is who we are? - Washington Post, November 2020
Does being human entail emotion, empathy and heart? How might we see the human in ourselves and in others? We speak with Lisa Ruddick (University of Chicago) about literary criticism as an example of the failure to see the human. Can we pay attention in order to see the deeper things? In listening beyond the hollering or viewpoint of the other, perhaps we can see their humanity.
Books and articles referenced in this episode:
When Nothing is Cool article – Lisa Ruddick, The Point Magazine, 2015
The Principle of Charity: Assume the Best Interpretation of People’s Arguments – Effectivology.com
The Tyranny of Merit – Michael Sandel, 2020
Wild Geese poem – Mary Oliver
Episode Terminology:
Bourgeoise – having to do with the middle class; and focused more on materialism, money and possessions
Post Criticism – the “critical mode” is one that has seemed to be the default mode of thinking and evaluating. Post-critical is an attempt to move past this way of understanding.
Post Humanist – sometimes thought of as “technocratic”, post-human means moving past a consideration of the human, the heart, the empathetic
Hyper-Moralism – “an error in moral reasoning in which you extend moral blame to a place that it does not belong.” There is a great deal of hyper-moralism in many fundamentalist movements and expressions
SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE Warning: This episode is political in nature. Depending where you are on the political spectrum you may find this upsetting. We don’t think that we are better than anyone else and we know that not all people share our political viewpoint. If you think that you can’t be a Christian unless you are socially and fiscally conservative, you may want to skip this one.
Have you wondered how so many evangelical Christians have come to support Donald Trump? Good question. Maybe, just maybe they are following a different Jesus. Rector’s Cupboard gets political – kind of. Does the Jesus of the Republican Party look anything like the Jesus of the Bible, the Jesus of history? Turns out, not really. Our guest, Dr. Anthony Keddie outlines how “Republican Jesus” came to be. The origins of this particular Jesus are not quite biblical. Have you wondered how Jesus got to be a gun toting, tax averse, anti-gay crusader? Good question.
Articles, Books, and References:
Republican Jesus - Anthony Keddie
The Politics of Evangelical Identity – Lydia Bean
American Prophets – Jack Jenkins
Inspiration Cube Ad
Episode Terminology:
Tea Party - a populist political movement in the United States that gained momentum during the administration of Barack Obama. It included distrust of elites and experts and got its name from a sense of identifying with the original American protest against British rule. The Tea Party paved the way for much of the populism that finds voice many followers of Donald Trump.
Dominionism (Dominion Theology) - A particular theological (sometimes philosophical) understanding which holds the view that God’s work in the world is expressed through adherents exercising power and control (dominion) in a given culture. Current advocates of dominionism include large parts of Hillsong (music and teaching) and much of the Christian nationalist movement (Franklin Graham, etc.) Dominion theology tends to many problems and excesses. The assumption is that God will work his mission through the exercise of power held by the right people (the dominionists themselves). These people begin to think that it is their call and mission to gain power in the nation and in the world (not exactly reminiscent of the way of Jesus).
William Barber II – Poor People’s Campaign A Pastor and political activist in the United States. Barber’s “Moral Monday” marches and much of his work focus on showing a more fulsome idea of the moral than the sometimes narrow view of right wing Christian understanding.
We speak with Randy Hein about the concept of the sacred and the secular. The division is one that has often proven to be judgmental at best and dangerous at worst. We talk about how this division is one that has been present in the upbringing of many people who had or have familiarity with church. What are some better ways forward?
Books and articles referenced in this episode:
A Secular Age – Charles Taylor
Letters and Papers from Prison – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Episode Terminology:
Dualism - a philosophical consideration that there is a very strong distinction between mind and body. Dualism can lead to a sharp distinction between the physical and the spiritual.
Manichaeism - a form of dualism that draws sharp lines between elevated spirituality and what it considers fallen physical or material. A popular example of Manicaheistic understanding is arguably present in “The Force” from the Star Wars movies.
This episode we enjoyed a selection of donuts from Harmony Donut Shop in North Vancouver.
Coming Up; Friday Oct. 30 - Bonus Episode, Just in time for the American election. "Republican Jesus"
On this episode of the Rector’s Cupboard we welcome two medical professionals who are with patients and families in some of the most difficult and painful times in life. We speak with Michael Boldt and Rosemary Hill about what it is like to work with people in times of sorrow and loss. What can we learn in such times that we often fail to see in times of relative comfort or ease?
We can’t know for sure how we will respond and react at times of great uncertainty or loss in our own lives, but considering how we might see life and humanity and gratitude even in such times can help us in the tumult that comes in each of our lives. What might it meant to be grateful amidst pain and sorrow?
There's a Mississippi Mass Choir song from years ago;
“Teach me to sing at midnight, the same song I sing today. The same song that I sing in the daytime, is the same song I want to sing at night.”
If we can see life even in the darkness, we just might know more of what it means to be fully alive.
When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi
This episode we enjoyed St.Vincent made with gin from Okanagan Spirits.
If you’d like to mix yourself a St. Vincent to sip along with us here’s the recipe:
¾ ounce gin ¾ ounce light cream ¾ ounce Galliano 3 dashes grenadine
Shake all the ingredients together well, with ice, strain into your preferred drinking vessel.
Christian faith often gets confused with moralism. Moralism is not Christian faith. In fact, moralism is a kind of idolatry, the worship of social structures, rules, or hierarchies of gender or race or belief. On this episode of Rector’s Cupboard we speak with teacher and writer Brenda-Lee Sasaki about moralism in the context of Christian universities. Pushing away from moralism is an often necessary step in spiritual growth. Morality is important in every life, but moralism is a death knell to actual faith. Losing religion (moralism posing as religion) can and often does lead to a deepening of faith.
We talk about arbitrary moral codes at religious institutions, why they exist, what they are intended to accomplish and what some of their negative consequences may be. The conversation is intended to be a particular example of the limits of moral codes and statements of faith. If you sign the document about behaviour or belief, does that really seal the deal?
Books and articles discussed in this episode:
Liberty University Article – NYT, August 2020
Pope Francis on “moral rigidity” - AP News, September 2019
After Evangelicalism: The Path to a New Christianity – David Gushee, 2020
I am Not a Godly Woman – Brenda-Lee Sasaki, SheLoves Magazine, March 2019
Jean Vanier Article – Globe and Mail Article, Februarty 2020
A personal reflection on grappling with the legacy of Jean Vanier - The Conversation, April 2020
Tasting Notes:
On this episode we tasted Cardhu 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Apparently, it's smooth with gentle peat, for those whom the gentleness of peat is a deciding factor.
"Reconciliation in the Aftermath” with guest John Radford.
Something has been torn apart. People have been divided from one another. Division is present all around us and it is present in our own lives. We are so easily divided from one another. How might we come together, even with people who hold different views, and goals than our own? Cynical leadership consistently finds the way to use our fears against other people. Hopeful leadership finds ways to call for the recognition of the humanity of each and all for the common good. In this episode we speak with John Radford of Transpectives Mediation. John is a corporate and familial mediator and vocational counselor. He gained his experience working with Desmund Tutu in South Africa during and after Apartheid. For far too long, Christian faith has been distorted and weaponized to keep people apart. John Radford speaks with us about the hope and limits of reconciliation. What does conflict resolution look like? How can absence of conflict at times imply less hope that if conflict were present? John speaks about his experience in South Africa, about the divisions in contemporary society, about Black Lives Matter and about how we can each better recognize the humanity of the other. Here are things that matter in the most pressing geo-political matters and in each of our particular lives.
Links and articles referenced in this episode:
New Yorker Article on the history of Christianity and white supremacy. A consideration of how Christians have sometimes been the first to stand for division rather than reconciliation. Of course there are also many examples of Christians who have demonstrated the call to bring people together. We include this article out of a desire to come to terms with the reality that our history of faith has so often terribly failed to live up to its highest call of love. This is a consideration of Christianity in the United States. There are similar considerations in Canada in terms of race relations.
Belching and jackhammering 'bad neighbour' earns rebuke from B.C. judge, CBC, August 2020
Desmond Tutu Clip
CNN Cornel West Clip -Be sure to listen to Cornel West speaking with Anderson Cooper on the day of the funeral of George Floyd. West offers a beautiful, hopeful (and realistic) depiction of Christian faith.
Episode Terminology:
Apartheid: State sponsored segregation in South Africa from the early 1900’s through he early 1990’s. The word means “apartness” in Afrikaans. Apartheid was a political system that maintained the division of white and black. It meant that that the small minority of white people controlled the levers of government and the economy and property rights. Desmund Tutu is an Anglican Bishop who led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as Apartheid was dismantled. Nelson Mandela was jailed during Apartheid and later became President of South Africa.
Ngiyakubona: “I see you” in Zulu
Tasting Notes:
This episode we enjoyed two bourbons from Okanagan Spirits: BRBN Bourbon-Style Corn Whiskey and BLK BRBN Cask Strength Bourbon-Style Whiskey.
Welcome to Season 2 of The Rector’s Cupboard.
Many of us have not lived through times like those we are living in now.
It might not even be possible yet to survey the landscape. When uncertainty and unprecedented occasion confronts us, we can never be quite sure when we can start counting the losses, when we can begin to rebuild. Rector’s Cupboard is about hopeful gospel, hopeful faith. We aim to make a difference for listeners. We hope that we help you to see a faith and worldview that is good news for ALL people, those who share the faith and those who don’t. It is arguably true that we have not faced a time when compassion was more necessary. We can make a difference in the world by seeing the humanity of all people and then by acting in light of such vision. Our second season will be looking at topics in ways that can give us hope. We will consider suffering and loss. We will look to shine a light on the cruelty of the prosperity gospel. We will talk with an Intensive Care Doctor about physical and spiritual need times of great crisis. We will speak with people who do not believe what they used to in terms of faith. We will talk about community in non-religious societies. We will speak about reconciliation with a local mediator who worked with Desmond Tutu in South Africa. That and much more.
Season 2, episode 1 will be released on Friday September 11. Thanks for listening.
Recently CNN ran a short documentary series simply called, “1968”. This was a year of great civil unrest, of protests over the Vietnam war, of civil rights protests and of the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. We are living a year that might soon become a one word title for a documentary series, “2020”. There is a pandemic, there is protest in the United States unlike that seen since 1968. This episode of Rector’s Cupboard is the conclusion of a three part series called, “2020: Annus Horibilis; How did we get here?”. The intention of the series is to look particularly at matters of religion and faith and how they have contributed to some of the cultural upheaval we are living through. This concluding episode seeks to offer some insight into how we got to a place where “Black Lives Matter” could be considered a controversial statement. What is being protected? What are people afraid of losing? What do we have to gain? We speak with Dr. Willie Jennings of Yale Divinity School. Dr. Jennings outlines the concept of “whiteness” and tells us what it has to do with the protection of the status quo. We speak about a positive vision of change and about some of the current incidents and circumstances in the United States particularly. It might be tempting to despair, but even in turbulent times, there may well be reason for hope. We are grateful to Dr. Jennings for taking the time to speak with us. The series ends with a scriptural reflection (a devotion) and a prayer from Dr. Jennings. Our intent is that this will send us into the summer, a summer unlike we’ve lived before, with purpose and with hope. May God bless you and keep you and may you seek to love all people.
Episode Terminology:
Empire and Diaspora: Dr. Jennings uses these terms to outline two competing ways of being in the world. Empire is the way of the dominant, the powerful. Diaspora is the way of the scattered, the cut-off, those who are far from power. True faith, even true humanity is found in the dynamic between the two more than it is on one or the other. In relation to the book of Acts (discussed in the episode); Empire is Roman and Diaspora is Jewish, but then Diaspora is faced with the question of including Gentiles in the community and takes on some of the excess of Empire.
Self-Determination: Means pretty much what you might think, but in the context of this conversation, it is considered as a negative. We cannot be truly human apart from others. We are called to join with others and always called to join across the lines of division that we create.
Whiteness: a central concept for the episode. Whiteness is more about power and control than it is about colour. Dr. Jennings points out that whiteness is not biological. It is a system of domination by people of European descent. A way of seeing and a way of being seen. This is why the first question is not “are you a racist”, but instead, “how have we all been impacted by our socialization in a racist culture?” We have all been impacted by whiteness and Christianity has too often been dominated by whiteness.
Pedagogy: Dr. Jennings and Jason Byassee both work in the field of academics, graduate theological school. So, a word like “pedagogy” is part of their world. Pedagogy refers basically to how we learn or acquire knowledge and ideas. For example, in the United States (and around the world) there has been a pedagogy of whiteness from which people develop views of themselves and of other people. Each school and family and church has a pedagogy, a way of imparting learning and knowledge.
Romance of Orthodoxy: This just refers to a love of a status quo and “proper way of believing” particularly among some religious people.
Charismatic Movement: Charisma (from the greek word) - movement, attracted towards, “charismatic movement” refers particularly to a lively expression of Christian faith that is given to exuberant outward expression in worship, prayer, emphasis on supernatural signs, etc. Often associated with the Pentecostal movement.
Prosperity Gospel: A distortion of Christian theology that works as a kind of transaction between people and God. If you have enough faith then … If you worship properly then … If you believe properly then… Dr. Jennings calls the prosperity gospel “mercantile” because it acts as a kind of exchange as in God will be bound to give you health or wealth if you just say and believe the right things. Prosperity gospel in the end erases the divinity of God by negating God’s sovereignty (freedom) and the humanity of people by brutally condemning those who are suffering as somehow having brought it on themselves. It’s no surprise that prosperity gospel has found its way to the White House with some of Donald Trump’s most powerful “spiritual advisors” coming from this distortion of Christian faith.
Books and articles discussed in this episode:
Caught up in God - Christian Century, May 2020
Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible, Dr. Willie Jennings
White Fragility, Robin D’Angelo
The Slave Ship: A Human History, Markus Redeker
The Third Reconstruction: How a Moral Movement Is Overcoming the Politics of Division and Fear, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
Religious Nationalism in the United States.
We speak with Katherine Stewart, author of “The Power Worshippers”. Katherine Stewart’s work has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, the American Prospect, the Atlantic, and other publications. She is the author of The Good News Club, an investigation of the religious right and public education.
From the book:
“Perhaps the most salient impediment to our understanding of the movement is the notion that Christian nationalism is a “conservative” ideology. The correct word is “radical”.
“This movement pretends to represent the past and stand for old traditions. But in reality it is a creature of present circumstances and is organized around a vision for the future that most Americans would find abhorrent.”
You may have heard the names, James Dobson, Franklin Graham, Ralph Reed. These are just a few of the influential personalities in the movement of Religious Nationalism in the United States. This movement has had strong impact on the evangelical church in the United States. Religious Nationalism assumes that one particular branch of Christian understanding and those attached to it, should be in power politically and culturally. Donald Trump could not have risen to the office of the president without the support of Christian nationalists.
Katherine Stewart has spent years investigating the movement. She has attended conferences and church conventions. She has visited the “Museum of the Bible” and the “Creation Museum”. Her book is a thorough look at how the movement began, how it is about politics and power more than it is about faith. To understand how we got to where we are at in 2020, it helps to understand this current manifestation of religious nationalism.
Books and articles referenced in this episode:
The Power Worshippers The Good News Club How a Data-backed Christian Nationalist Machine Helped Trump to Power - The Guardian, March 2020 Bill Barr Thinks America is Going to Hell - The New York Times, December 2019 Why Trump Reigns as King Cyrus - The New York Times, December 2018
We speak with author Matthew Avery Sutton about his book American Apocalypse.
The book is a detailed account of the rise of evangelicalism in the United States. Our consideration is to examine how we got to the religious and political landscape current with Donald Trump being embraced by a large majority of evangelicals. What is the movement about? Where did it originate? How did it move from the cultural and political fringe to the Oval Office?
Closer to home, what is the history of some of the central beliefs of the evangelical faith? Many people who grew up hearing about end times, the rapture, the sacred/secular divide and the so-called dangers of public education are not necessarily aware of where the beliefs originated. It is a little too simplistic to say that they came from the Bible. They actually came from one particular interpretation of the Bible that was imposed upon all manner of things including world history, political leadership and cultural expression. Much of the movement was (and in some cases still is) homophobic, xenophobic, misogynistic, and even racist. Some would want us to point out here that there was (and is) much good as well, but that seems strange to say after a statement like the above.
It is not an attack to mention that in regards to the central tenet of evangelical fundamentalism, those who espoused it were, to say it bluntly; wrong. For years and for decades they maintained that, “Jesus is coming again soon.” Very soon. Right away.
Billy Graham, for over 60 years, never stopped declaring that he was convinced that Jesus was returning within a couple of years. Even if such declarations get it right eventually; that would be a record of 1500 wrong to 1 right, or 375 wrong to 1 right, however you want to count.
The whole system was built upon this apocalyptic way of thinking and it is not so much that they were wrong just about that, it is that they then built religious, cultural and political understanding on top of this central mistake that has come to dominate much of what people are told is now “Christianity”.
Maybe it’s time to grow up a little theologically.
Matthew Avery Sutton books: American Apocalypse Double Crossed Billy Graham was on the wrong side of history - The Guardian, February 2018
This episode we enjoyed Heck Yeah lemon iced tea pale ale from Beere Brewing Co. in North Vancouver.
Three Episodes, "Annus Horribilis, 2020 Horrible Year, How Did we Get Here?" Each episode will examine a particular area of faith and culture. First: the history of evangelicalism, with Matthew Avery Sutton Second: religious nationalism in the United States, with Katherine Stewart Third: the connection between Christianity and white supremacy, with Willie James Jennings These episodes can go a long way in helping us move past some negative or fearful ways of seeing things and open up the way for a more hopeful, positive faith. Our three guests have written and spoken extensively in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, New York Times, Christian Century, and appeared on multiple media outlets. We are grateful that they were interested in speaking with us. Will it take courage to listen? Not really. But we're hoping that listening shakes you up a little to move towards better ways of seeing things and better ways of seeing people.
with Jason Byassee and Andria Irwin
Every single one of us has had to embrace technology in ways that we hadn't before during this pandemic. We sit down with Jason Byassee and Andria Irwin. Jason and Andria are completing a book about technology and the church. We speak with them about how the things that we make make us, about attention span, about community. What is a mature way to speak about technology being mindful of its cost and limitations while still grateful for how it help us?
Jason Byassee - Vancouver School of Theology
Andria Irwin - Highlands United Church
In this episode our tasting is a Bourbon Blood Orange Wheat Ale from Bridge Brewing Company.
This episode was recorded on May 25, 2020 before the news of the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.
Todd, Allison, Amanda and Cupboard Master Ken get together (distanced, of course). We ask each other, for your consideration; Why would people argue over wearing masks? We look at the ways people respond in times of danger or crisis. An upcoming book by Rutger Bregman seeks to show that for the most part people help one another. What does this say about human nature? What are the implications for faith? We argue that there is a better way to relate to people than to start with the assumption that people are basically bad. Noting that there are instances of oppression, hate and even evil in the world, we consider the concepts of fear and division.
The tasting for this episode is a Rose Wine from the Okanagan in BC called Diabolica. Fitting for this episode’s conversation. Check out Diabolica Wines here
Rutger Bregman review – Times of London
The Guardian article - Regarding shipwrecked boys
The New York Times article - Regarding encounter in Central Park
Book discussed, Marilynne Robinson, “The Givenness of Things”, particularly the chapter “Fear”
The Cupboard welcomes Archbishop Melissa Skelton (Diocese of New Westminster, Province of BC and Yukon). We speak about the place of the church in a “Post-Christendom” world. Archbishop Melissa has had vocation in business and in the church. She has worked as a brand manager for Procter and Gamble and has also worked with Tom’s of Maine.
In her vocation in the church she has worked at Trinity Church in Manhattan and at St. Paul’s in Olympia, Washington. Currently Archbishop Melissa is also Rector at Christ Church Cathedral on Burrard and Georgia in downtown Vancouver.
Host banter about a great NYT article (clink here to read it) on a restaurant closure in New York City.
The Cupboard welcomes Kevin Miller. Kevin is an author and documentary filmmaker. He recently directed “J.E.S.U.S.A.”
View the trailer here
Kevin says that he writes books that make kids laugh and films that make adults angry. We speak with him about his recent film which delves into the conflation of some Christian groups in the United States with a form of militarism and nationalism. The documentary is not polemic, but rather offers a thoughtful look at biblical interpretation and misinterpretation. While the challenges are real in terms of distortion of Christian faith, there are many reasons to hope for better, more loving expression.
We highly recommend that you purchase or rent the documentary. The first 8 to 10 minutes are pretty tough to take, but stay with it, better expressions of faith are to follow.
Episode Terminology:
Epistemology: The theory of knowledge. Has to do with how we know what we know.
Nationalism: Generally the concept of one particular nation (usually one’s own) as being better than other nations. Nationalism breeds protectionism in terms of immigration, etc.
Religious Nationalism: The conflation, the coming together of nationalism with a particular religious perspective. Christian nationalism in the United States implies that the nation would be better off if conservative evangelical Christians were in power.
Polemic: oppositional, an attack on something.
Books, articles, and websites discussed in this episode:
J.E.S.U.S.A. film
Kevin Miller
Article on the mimetic theory and René Girard, CBC, 2016
Paul Vasquez video, 2010
This episode we enjoyed two ciders, Hail Mary Rosé Cider and Jackpot Dry Craft Cider, from local cider makers, Windfall Cider.
"Discovering God in the Rearview Mirror. Knowing the Hopeful Future in Christ.”
We speak with Rev. Dr. Will Willimon from Duke Divinity School in North Carolina. Will speaks with us about the surprising character of God, the concept of vocation and the hopeful reminder that Christian faith is about the future.
Will has written far too many books to list. He has preached at the National Cathedral in Washington DC and he once sued former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. We feel a kindred spirit with Will because he upsets people on both the political right and the political left.
Even better than that, he demonstrates a deep love for humanity with a willingness to admit the reality of our foibles and ridiculousness.
“I feared boredom more than heresy. They said nasty things about Jesus. Nobody ever said he was dull.”
For more information about Will and his work, visit www.willwillimon.com.
Books referenced on this podcast:
Stories
Accidental Preacher
On March 16 of 2020, just before the orders were issued to stay home, The Rector's Cupboard gathered as small group at Township 7 Winery in Langley, BC.
Sitting in view of a vineyard on a beautiful day in the shadow of a pandemic, we spoke with author and speaker Brad Jersak about a better way of faith.
Brad has written a number of books (see some links below) and has become a help to many “exvangelicals”. In a recent book he pointed out that perhaps the “crisis of faith” that many are so quick to mention in religious circles is not on the part of younger people who are walking away, but rather on the part of those who have handed down a faith that can so often be divisive, misogynistic, fearful and anti-gay.
We speak with Brad about the differences between deconstructing faith and bulldozing faith and about more helpful metaphors such as renovation of faith and belief.
More information about our guest, Brad Jersak, his books and his blog can be found at his website https://bradjersak.com
We're grateful to our host, Jason Ocenas and Township 7 Vineyard and Tasting Room. Township 7 can be found here: https://township7.com
The Cupboard gathers this episode with Allison and her mom, Esther; Catherine and her mom, Carol.
This episode is a bit of a different format as we bring together two moms and their daughters to talk about life, faith, and growing up in what would be considered conservative Christian homes. What was positive about it? What wasn’t helpful? There is much to be said about what it was like raising children within that framework and what it felt like growing up in it. We would suggest grabbing a cocktail, or a cup of tea, and probably some tissues as you listen.
This episode was recorded at Deep Cove Brewery back in February 2020, a very different time, and you can certainly hear it in our voices. Although a different time there is much discussed that transcends our current circumstances and can speak into how we relate to each other in our families and faith communities.
Deep Cove Brewery – www.deepcovecraft.com
Mid-April is a good time to release this episode of the Cupboard that was recorded on January 22nd, 2020. A hosts only episode in which we talk about helpful truths, terrible sorrow and some of the best most ridiculous things ever.
You can hear in our voices the “time before” the 2020 pandemic. How different do things sound already? You can hear pointed out the emptiness of the “prosperity gospel” that continues to be a blight upon the theological landscape in our time of pandemic and is beginning to directly cost lives.
Perhaps best of all, you can hear life and hope, even as we talk about Paris Hilton cooking lasagna. You might do well to enjoy the video yourself right now, it’s in the notes below.
Hosts; Todd Wiebe, Ken Best, Allison Williams, Ken Bell and Producer Rick
Enjoy the episode.
Recorded at Woods Spirit Co. in North Vancouver
https://www.thewoodsspiritco.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayImIgdgLEI
This episode, Rector's Cupboard speaks with Jeff and Susan McSwain about sanctification and spiritual growth.
In evangelical circles, sanctification has often been more about self than it has been about God. As a theologian, Jeff outlines a healthier view of sanctification from the theology of Karl Barth (and from Christian Scripture). The concept is that as we are justified in Christ, so we are sanctified in Christ, not of our doing. This means that we are not better than anyone, not divided from anyone by our faith.
We talk about this idea in general and in the context of the work and vocation of Jeff and Susan at Reality Ministries and North Street Neighbourhood.
This episode opens with a host conversation recorded at about week 3 of the COVID lockdown. If you want to skip to the McSwain interview, it starts at 35:23
But hey, you’ve maybe got some time these days to listen to the whole episode. The host conversation is not sombre or depressing. We speak realistically, but hopefully about what we are facing right now.
Jeff and Susan are the founders of Reality Ministries, in Durham, NC (founded 2007). Reality Ministries fosters friendships amongst people of all abilities marked by mutuality, authenticity and the reality of Christ’s love for all.
Susan currently serves as the Executive Director. Jeff is the Theologian in Residence. He has published various articles and two books, Movements of Grace: The Dynamic Christo-Realism of Barth, Bonhoeffer and the Torrances (2010), and most recently ‘Simul’ Sanctification: Barth’s Hidden Vision for Human Transformation (2018).
Keen to stay at the interface between systematic theology and practical ministry, in the last ten years Jeff and Susan have helped plant a new church and launch the North Street Neighborhood, an intentional community (17 houses) near downtown Durham where people of various abilities share life together.
Episode Terminology:
Systematic Theology: The academic discipline of theology with the perspective that theology can be divided into areas of particular study. The study of the Holy Spirit, the study of salvation, etc.
The Patristics: Often called Desert Fathers. Considered to be early influencers in Christian thought and teaching.
Sanctification: The area of theology having to do with moving from sinfulness to discipleship/wholeness. Follows from justification, being made right; sanctification implies a being made whole. For Jeff McSwain (among others) sanctification is a divine effort rather than a human effort.
Articles, books, and links referenced in this episode:
Jeff’s Website
Reality Ministries Website
ABC news story on North Street Neighbourhood
Harvard Business Review Grief Article, March 2020
New York Times Article, April 2020
CNN Video - Churches stay open, April 4, 2020
The Plague - Albert Camus, 1947
John Swinton book – Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship, 2016
The Road to Now Theology podcast episode with Jeff and Susan McSwain
This episode of “The Rector’s Cupboard” was recorded in late January 2020.
The Cupboard welcomes guest David Jennings. David is a corporate lawyer in Vancouver and a lay theologian and student. David is a leader within the Presbyterian Church in Canada and Chairs or sits on the Board of many organizations including Image Journal and The Vancouver School of Theology. David is a philanthropist who encourages and facilitates thoughtful theological conversation and supports the arts and the artistic expression of Christian faith.
In this episode we talk with David about the concept of Christian Universalism. We do this by speaking about a recent book by David Bentley Hart. The book is entitled, “That All Shall Be Saved” and it makes the argument from Christian Scripture and history that the proper Christian eschatological (how things end) understanding is that in the end, no one is condemned to eternal punishment or torment.
If you like your hell, that is, if you are convinced it is entirely un-Christian to believe in anything other than eternal damnation (Hart calls you an “infernalist”) then listen to this episode only if you are okay in engaging with thought and interpretation that is different than yours. Then again, you want people who don't agree with you to listen to you sometimes.
If you have struggled with trying to reconcile a God of love, as shown in Jesus Christ, with the idea of eternal damnation for anyone at all, then listen expectantly.
We hope that you know by now, Rector’s Cupboard seeks to have conversations of hopeful faith and theology. You may never have even known that there have been Christians, since the dawn of Christian history who have held to a view different than the infernalist view.
David Jennings is clearly one of those in our time. You don’t have to agree with all that is said. We don’t have to agree with all that is said. We are convinced about the hopeful conversation and no longer impressed with the fearful calls of “Danger! Danger!”
Enjoy!
Episode Terminology:
Orthodox Spectrum: The range of ideas and interpretations considered valid.
3 Transcendentals: 3 things that are often thought to communicate the divine, the higher than – goodness, beauty and truth.
Limited atonement: The interpretation that the sacrifice of Jesus has led to the salvation of some people (those who have chosen to believe it).
Universalism: Wide variance of aspects to universalism, basically that in the end; all things will be redeemed, made new.
Materials referenced in this podcast:
Aaron Rodgers clip
That All Shall Be Saved, David Bentley Hart
Image Journal
This episode we enjoyed a flight of beer from House of Funk Brewing in North Vancouver.
As we traveled to record an episode of the Cupboard, we listened to our Prime Minister advise that "If you can stay home, stay home". So maybe we won't be gathering for some time. At least not in person. We are in the midst of, at the beginning of, the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Already we are used to the terms, "social distancing", "self-isolating", "flatten the curve". On March 16, 2020 we talk about how we are feeling, how so many are feeling. If hope is real, we will long to know hope even in uncertain times. We will know hope, even in uncertain times. Best to you and to those you love as you live through this crisis. It's a time like we've never lived before. And as so many are saying, "we're all in this together". National Geographic article discussed in the episode; https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/reference/european-history/plague-doctors-beaked-masks/
The Cupboard is joined this week by guest Dr. Lynn DuMerton. We speak with Dr. DuMerton about her work helping moms who struggle with addiction and judgment and fear, to bond with their young children. Lynn helps run the Sanctuary programme at Union Gospel Mission. The programme works with moms and their children aged 0-6. Through a consideration of this programme and a consideration of Lynn's previous work on "tragic optimism" we look at how fear can come to motivate so much of our thought and action. Tragic optimism (having a sense of hope even in circumstances of suffering) is marked by a number of factors including acceptance that we will face difficulty, and that such sorrow or suffering is not fairly manifest. We consider self-transcendence, the concept that we often find hope in the process of helping others, in the perspective of seeing their pain. Lynn mentions, that in her work helping moms bond with their children, it is important to help remove fear as a motivator. She points out that healthy bonds cannot be established if the child is scared of the parent. Have we grasped this yet as a theological concept? Why do we often think that being scared of God is a good thing? How can we work out better theological concepts and healthier bonds in our spiritual lives? We begin the episode with a consideration of Covid 19 fear around the world. The article we discuss can be found at: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/coronavirus-canada-stockpiling We speak with Lynn about a hockey programme in a First Nations community in Manitoba. For information about this programme follow the link below: https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/hockey-survived-peguis-first-nation-home-team-heroes/ This episode of the Rector's Cupboard was recorded at North Point Brewing in North Vancouver. https://www.northpointbrewing.com
The Cupboard welcomes guest Dr. Hillary McBride.
Dr. McBride is a Psychotherapist, and host of the CBC Podcast "Other People's Problems" and the Liturgists Podcast.
We speak with Hillary about purity culture, scrupulosity, mental health and body image, changing views from one generation to the next.
How is it that when religious culture becomes fearful or controlling or strict, so often the first location of control is over women's bodies? Purity culture has hurt men as well as women, often preventing people from taking steps of maturity and life. The cycle of ignorance, fear, and shame has done terrible damage to so many women and men. Dr. Hillary McBride in her work and in her podcasts and books, offers a better way of understanding, a better way of speaking and even more promisingly, a way of hope.
Episode Terminology:
Gnosticism: A philosphical/religious way of seeing the world. For our purposes in this episode the basic consideration is that gnosticism presents a spiritual/earthly (or physical) division. Much of the New Testament is written in contrast and opposition to gnostic thinking which said that Jesus could not have been divine because he had a physical body. The inferior way of seeing the physical also led to some extreme actions as seeing the body as degraded led some to think that any form of expression, including sexually was fine as the body was degraded anyway.
Purity Culture: The emphasis/idolatry of sexuality (particularly female sexuality) in some religious circles that led to expressions such as “chastity vows”, etc. This was the conflation of morality and even spirituality to focus upon sexual behaviour (particularly female sexual behaviour).
Platonic Thought: From the philosopher Plato, related to gnosticism, Plato presented a spiritual/physical distinction that elevated the spiritual and denigrated the physical. Much of what is considered “christian” is actually platonic as this way of thought pervaded Biblical interpretation and teaching.
Jung – (Carl Jung): A branch of psychology, therapy coming to emphasize talk therapy, often a consideration of the conscious and the subconscious together.
Original Blessing: Corollary to “original sin”. Some Christian teachers and writers are emphasizing not that we are bad, but that we are blessed. In most cases this is not to deny that we do wrong or that we sin, but that the emphasis is on blessing instead of badness.
Divine Immanence: God’s presence is often considered to be expressed in transcendent ways, ways that are above human, spiritual, other than human. The other reality of the presence of God is expressed in immanence, in the here and now, in the physical. Transcendent can mean “far away”, Immanent can mean “close to us”.
Many thanks to our recording host House of Funk Brewing, located in North Vancouver, BC.
Rector's Cupboard episode hosts: Todd Wiebe, Allison Williams, Brett Ziegler.
Books and articles discussed in this episode:
Hillary McBride's website
Harvey Weinstein Article - NYT, January 2020
Pastor Eaten by Crocodile (not an alligator as Todd said) - Snopes, 2017
9th Grader Expelled - NBC News, January 2020
Ben Greenfield Article – Times of London, January 2020
Mothers, Daughters, and Body Image: Learning to Love Ourselves as We Are - Hillary McBride, 2017
Embodiment and Eating Disorder - Hillary McBride, 2018
Shameless – Nadia Bolz-Weber, 2019
Beyond Shame – Mattias Roberts
You are Your Own – Jamie Lee Finch
Come as You Are – Emily Nagoski
The Purity Myth – Jessica Valenti
The Cupboard welcomes Tim Fretheim, retired Chaplain at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital at Colony Farms in Coquitlam, British Columbia.
One of the tenets of Hopeful Theology is that there are no God forsaken places, there are no God forsaken people. Tim Fretheim has worked with some of the most difficult and troubling “cases”. The Psychiatric Hospital at Colony Farms houses people with psychiatric illness including people who have been deemed not criminally responsible, yet in need of incarceration.
Tim has written on the relationship between hospitality and mental illness.
We speak with Tim about having hope in a place that many people would rather not think about at all. How does religion and culture so often dehumanize people? What do we do with and for people who have done terrible things?
A Conversation with David Goa.
At the All Saints of North America Orthodox Monastery in Dewdney, BC we gather to speak with David Goa. David has said things to us like;
"My goal is to convert evangelicals to Jesus" and "Most people are better than their theology".
We talk about a lot of things with David;
- conversion and faith
- recent events in Iran
- the Orthodox understanding of judgment
- the nature of truth and how being contentious for truth is a tell that truth has not been tasted
Take your time with this one, or maybe listen a couple of times. David speaks deliberately and at times even slowly, but there is so much in what is being said. Enjoy!
David Goa is a lecturer, speaker, writer, museum curator, etc. He grew up in Canadian Prairies among Norwegian Pietists/Evangelicals.
He became part of the Orthodox tradition of Christian faith in his adult life.
David regularly teaches on hopeful relationship between Christianity and Islam.
Track down David's books, other writing, lectures and his own podcast at www.davidgoa.ca.
Books and articles referenced in this podcast:
The Christian Withdrawal Experiment - The Atlantic, January 2020
The Christian Responsibility to Muslims - Lectures by David Goa, 2014
For The Life of the World – Alexander Schmemann
After Atheism - CBC mini series, 2014
Episode Terminology:
Desert Fathers: In the Christian tradition, leaders who pre-figured the monastic movement. Often thought of as hermits (many were actually quite engaged in culture) the Desert Fathers (and Mothers) quit the cities of the day for what is now the Egyptian and Syrian desert where they lived often alone. They became sought after for their spiritual wisdom and were referred to as Abbas and Ammas.
Religious ideology contrasted with actual faith: Religious ideology describes a way of seeing the world and often a way of explaining everything. Faith is something that is lived. Ideology is what leads people within religious or political systems to ask questions like “what is our stance on this?”
Vatican II: The Second Vatican Council was held from 1962-1965. It was a gathering of Catholic leaders to determine the statements and beliefs and practices of the church moving forward. Some consider its conclusions “too liberal”, others see Vatican II as overly conservative in regards to gender, leadership, birth control, etc. A “pre-vatican II” Catholic often describes someone who wishes for the church “as is used to be” in terms of practice and religious and social stance.
Vladika: Means shepherd, a term of somewhat relational or familial authority used in the Orthodox faith.
World Council of Churches: A gathering of Christian churches across denominational lines. WCC became part of what is known as “ecumenism”, religious understanding shared beyond denomination.
The Christian East (Orthodox expression of faith): Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, etc. - the “Orthodox Church” existed before the Catholic Church. The first church division was this and not the Protestant Reformation.
Dogmatic Theology/Systematic Theology: David speaks of the Orthodox expression of faith as not having a dogmatic or systematic theology. This means that the faith cannot be understood by a set of religious suppositions, but rather can only be expressed as something that is lived. Faith is not something described by a “statement”, but rather something that is lived in relationship. This moves towards what David Goa calls the “theology of the spiritual life”
Christian Patrimony: David uses the term in speaking of our common humanity. The idea is that Christian faith best expressed sees all of humanity as part of the family.
This episode we tasted Prospector Canadian Rye Whiskey from Odd Society Spirits, a small batch distillery in Vancouver, BC.
Friends of the Cupboard gather in the Advent Season.
We talk about the Rankin Bass Christmas specials, particularly the weirdest ones.
We consider together how consternation about how people might be getting Christmas wrong turns Christmas into its opposite.
Christ came as "Good news of great joy for all people." Christmas might be a mess, but it is a mess that God counted worth redeeming.
Hosts Todd, Keith, Ken, Allison, Producer Rick, Special Guests: Showrunner Amanda, Tech and Game Support Gavin.
Merry Christmas to all!
Introduction to The Rector’s Cupboard
Introduction to the concept of The Hopeful Gospel
Guest: Ross Lockhart
St.Andrew’s Hall, UBC etc. etc. etc.
Ross has extensive experience in pastoral ministry across denominations. He leads the Centre for Missional Leadership and is truly a funny guy. He has travelled the world, but keeps finding his way back to Ireland. Oh, and a note that is great for podcasting – Ross is perhaps the best dressed professor or minister in town.
Guest: Jenn Richards, Regent College
Jenn has recently completed a fantastic Masters Project at Regent College. We speak with Jenn about how most of our metaphors for witness and mission are traditionally masculine and even military in nature. ‘Strategic planning, penetrate the culture” that kind of thing.
There is so much more in the Bible than that. How would taking up a broader range of metaphor even in conversation, contribute to a more hopeful understanding of mission?
Articles and books discussed in this episode:
Jennifer Gunter Article - The Guardian, September 2019
George Carlin “Baseball and Football”
To Alter Your World: Partnering with God to Rebirth our Communities – Michael Frost and Christiana Rice, 2017
This episode we were hosted at JJ Bean Coffee Roasters.
Guest: Dr. Jason Byassee
Do you recoil when your Christian faith is presented in a manner that is oppositional or polarizing? It has become almost caricature in the United States, but just about everywhere in history and geography, Christian faith has been easily given to fights and battles to one group against another. Why is this? Is there a better way?
Jason has been a professor at Duke Divinity School and has worked in Pastoral Ministry. Jason is a journalist and author who has written extensively on topics ranging from popular culture to the Trinity.
We speak with Jason around the topic of polarization in the Christian Church and around the topic of Christian faith being expressed against the world. With Jason we look at examples of Hopeful Faith and cultural engagement that point to a better way of understanding and practice.
Episode Terminology: Rowan Williams: Former Archbishop of Canterbury (2002-2012). prolific writer, take a look at series, “Being Human”, “Being Christian”, “Being Disciples”
Thomas Merton (1915-1968): Trappist Monk, theologian, writer, social activist. Much to read, including, “New Seeds of Contemplation”, particularly the chapter, “The Moral Theology of the Devil”
Guest: Dr. Richard Topping
Do we have to dumb it down to talk about faith? Quick statements, punchy slogans and elevator pitches. What would happen if in general, we valued intellectual engagement in Christian faith. Maybe saying, “I don’t understand that” is a commentary not only on the ability or inability of the presenter to speak clearly and simply, but also a commentary on the short attention span or lack of intellectual devotion of the hearer.
Or is that too harsh?
Dr. Richard Topping joins us to discuss Christian Education in general and Theological Education specifically. Can we invite even a small number of people (whether they are students or not) to commit to the intellectual aspect of faith?
What are the costs of such a commitment? What are the benefits and joys?
Dr. Topping is Principal at Vancouver School of Theology. He has been instrumental in moving the School forward, in building a new campus and in engaging thoughtful, gifted professors and teachers to the institution. Also, he has a wonderful ability to remember some excellent stories from days of pastoral ministry and from theological debate and discussion.
Guests: Carolyn Arends and Spencer Capier
Best and Worst of Worship “Like a Rose Trampled on the Ground”...But not at all like a rose trampled on the ground.
Everyone knows what is best about worship and music in church. Everyone knows what is worst. Is it possible to engage in worship regardless of best or worst?
Carloyn and Spencer join us to talk about worship and music in Christian faith.
Why is music and worship both engaging and infuriating? And why is it that what can be engaging for me can be infuriating for you?
What is hopeful about worship? How can music and singing be an essential expression of Hopeful Gospel?
Carolyn is an accomplished musician who has recorded albums and toured extensively.
She is currently also the Curriculum and Spiritual Formation Director for Renovaré, a ministry of spiritual formation and education founded by Richard Foster.
Spencer is a crazy talented musician who has also recorded multiple albums. He has toured with Carolyn and has been a key part of programmes such as Pacific Theatre’s Christmas Presence. Spencer is also a Teacher at West Vancouver Highschool. He teaches super smart and interesting things like Philosophy and History of Knowledge. Currently Spencer also works to help on labour matters for teachers in West Vancouver. Also – Board Games, Spencer loves Board Games.
Carolyn Arends
Renovaré
Contemporary Christian Music Industry Article – CNN, October 2019
This episode we tasted Limoncello from The Woods Distillery.