Midrash NYC: Recent Episodes
Midrash NYC
EPISODE OVERVIEW
Media depictions would have you believe that Christianity and Islam are vastly more different than they are similar, that the Qur'an is an intolerant text, and that Islam is a violent religion. Sumbul Ali-Karamali vehemently disagrees. At first, her book, The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and that Veil Thing, reads as a primer on the tenets and traditions of Islam, but the truth that exists in the context of its pages is that the rich and ancient religion is so much more similar to Christianity and Judaism than the media would lead you to believe. The book and interview cover a wide range of topics from how much regional culture has shaped Islam (why not every Muslim woman wears a hijab), what Islam thinks of Jesus (they like him a lot), and yes, even jihad (and no, it's not what you think).
Interviewer: Jim Rohner
ABOUT SUMBUL ALI-KARAMALI
Sumbul is an author, speaker, and lawyer who has received degrees from Stanford University, the University of California at Davis, and the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. She has practiced corporate law, taught Islamic law, and been a research associate at the Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law in London. She has been on multiple councils and committees aimed at promoting women’s rights and human rights from an Islamic perspective, has been turned away by CNN for not fitting their picture of a "secular Muslim," and is a devout supporter of the Oxford comma.
EPISODE OVERVIEW
For many of us raised in the Evangelical tradition, we're familiar with what the term "purity culture" means on the surface: teaching children to save their first time having sex until they're married to that one person with whom God had always intended them to be. However, as time went by and the scars began to manifest, we realized what it entailed deeper down: sexual shame, sexual silence, and social and structural hierarchies that overwhelmingly subjugated and victimized young women. In her book, Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free, Linda Kay Klein interviewed a number of women over a 12-year period who were raised in the purity culture movement to get intimate perspectives on the environments that foster it, the damage that comes from it, and ultimately, the healing that can begin when separating from it.
Interviewers: Jim Rohner and Jonathan Williams
ABOUT LINDA KAY KLEIN
Linda Kay Klein is an author, speaker, teaching faculty at Claremont Lincoln University and the President and Founder of Break Free Together, a not-for-profit that uses story exchange to help people release shame and claim their whole selves. Raised in purity culture, she's made it her mission to coach and consult with both people who experience the PTSD-like symptoms that have arisen from purity culture and organizations who are striving to establish a greater good.
EPISODE OVERVIEW
What if our memories are like shells we gather on a beach? According to Casey Tygrett, how we carry and hold onto these memories - both good and bad - is a part of what forms us spiritually. In this interview, Casey discusses his new book, As I Recall: Discovering the Place of Memories in Our Spiritual Life, and explores how memory has shaped our experience with God and spirituality and how there are biblical texts and practices to guide us in bringing our memories back to God for spiritual transformation. As he writes, "memories are the raw material that God can shape into wisdom if we engage our wandering ways with him."
Interviewer: Jonathan Williams
ABOUT CASEY TYGRETT
Casey Tygrett is an author, speaker, podcaster, and pastor from Chicago, Illinois where he is currently the Theologian in Residence at Parkview Christian Church. He also hosts the otherWISE podcast, a place for gathering wise conversations about living well on the journey with Jesus.
EPISODE OVERVIEW
Those who have gone through the process of spiritual deconstruction can attest to the shame and damage that come along with any system or authority that claims with absolute certainty that they speak the mind and will of God. Deconstruction often begins with an "uh oh" moment - a revelation, discovery, or even a simple conversation that leads one to question if everything they've been told is wrong. Pete Enns knows these moments all too well because he's had many of them throughout his decades as a teacher and theologian. He's come to encourage people to embrace uncertainty and imagination when it comes to reading the Bible, yet feeling its trajectory. "The gospel is primary," Pete claims. "The Bible goes along for the ride."
Interviewers: Jim Rohner and Jonathan Williams
ABOUT PETE ENNS
Pete Enns is an author, biblical scholar, and co-host of the podcast The Bible for Normal People. He's written numerous books about how to change our approach in reading and interpreting the Bible, including "The Sin of Certainty" and "How the Bible Actually Works." His 2005 book "Inspiration and Incarnation" ultimately led to his departure from Westminster Theological Seminary, which ultimately led him to Eastern University. He continues to instruct and inspire people going through faith deconstruction with his talks, blogs, and podcasts. He also has a rescue cat named Marmalade, who makes an appearance in this episode.
EPISODE OVERVIEW The Flint drinking water contamination began in April 2014 and almost six years later, the plaintiffs have not seen one cent of financial compensation from the city, the state, or the private contractors that contributed to the dire situation. For over three years, Corey Stern has been representing more than 2500 children who were poisoned by Flint drinking water and he joins us to discuss his role in the case, what drives and centers him during such long and taxing work, and how he responds to society's changing attitudes towards lawyers on both sides of litigation.
Interviewers: Jim Rohner and Jonathan Williams
ABOUT COREY STERN Corey is currently a partner at Levy Konigsberg LLP and Lead Counsel in the Genesee County Circuit Court, and Liaison Counsel in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan for all plaintiffs in the Flint Water Litigation. He's had a lifelong passion for serving the least of these, especially children who have been injured due to negligence or abuse. In addition to his involvement in Flint, he's also filed action against Bill de Blasio and the NYC Housing Authority for failures around inspections of 178,000 public housing apartments for lead-based paint.
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode, Lenny Duncan talks about what drew him to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America despite it being the whitest denomination in the country. He also talks about how growth is impossible without discomfort, how he sees the fate of Christ reflected in the death of Trayvon Martin, and how, despite history, he is optimistic for the future of radically affirming church.
Interview: Jim Rohner and Jonathan Williams
ABOUT LENNY DUNCAN Lenny is the pastor of Jehu's Table in East New York, where he was called as a mission developer after getting his Master's of Divinity from United Lutheran Seminary. He pays special attention to Black Liberation movements in his work and has directed the two-part documentary Do Black Churches Matter in the ELCA? Unapologetic and outspoken in his beliefs, Lenny speaks truth to power when it comes to dismantling the white supremacy that has been a problem at the heart of the Lutheran Church. He believes in the radical love of Christ, the affirmation of LGBTQIA siblings, and the passionate grace of God.
To purchase Lenny's new book, "Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S.," visit: https://lennyduncan.com/order-dear-church
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this first episode of the relaunch of Midrash NYC, George Mekhail and Jonathan Williams discuss their respective paths to arriving at the divisive decision to make their churches open and affirming of LGBTQIA members and about the consequences of a church's ambiguity around the topic of affirmation.
Interview: Jim Rohner
ABOUT GEORGE George Mekhail has been involved in church his entire life, from growing up in the Coptic Orthodox tradition to serving in pastor roles within Evangelical and Mainline churches. He is currently the Executive Director of Church Clarity, a crowdsourced organization that seeks to verify if a church's stated policy is open and clear on a number of issues from affirmation of LGBTQIA members to women in leadership positions.
EPISODE OVERVIEW: In this episode we're discussing women, work, and faith as we hear from women in leadership at the OPEN Network conference 2016.
PODCAST GUESTS (in order): Marlee Walters, Jen Fisher, Carla Ewert, Mira Joyner, Laura Truax, Lindsay Andreolli-Comstock, Jenny Morgan, Rachael McClair, Laura Buffington, Katie Hays, Cameron Trimble
For more information on "She Is Called: OPEN Conversations for Women in Leadership" visit sheiscalledconversations.com The conference will take place in New York City, at West End Collegiate Church, May 2-4, 2017. Space is limited, so register today!
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode Rabbi Or Rose talks about Hebrew words, the meaning of the high holy days and what we can all learn from the Sabbath
Interviewer: Jen Fisher
ABOUT RABBI ROSE Rabbi Or N. Rose is the Director of the Center for Global Judaism at Hebrew College. He also serves as Co-Director of CIRCLE: the Center for Inter-Religious & Community Leadership Education, a joint venture of Hebrew College and Andover Newton Theological School. Rabbi Rose is the co-editor of Jewish Mysticism and the Spiritual Life: Classical Texts, Contemporary Reflections (Jewish Lights), and the forthcoming My Neighbor's Faith: Stories of Inter-Religious Encounter, Growth, and Transformation (Orbis, Spring 2012).
To follow more of Rabbi Rose's work, visit www.huffingtonpost.com/author/rabbi-or-rose
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode Sarah E. Cannon, Brandan Robertson and Colby Martin talk about the "clobber" passages about homosexuality in the Bible and share their journeys to reading these Scriptures in a new light.
Interviewer: Ben Grace
ABOUT SARAH, BRANDAN & COLBY Sarah E. Cannon studied Gender Studies at Indiana University, and Theology at Harvard University. She currently serves as Outreach Minister at Methodist Temple in Evansville, IN, where she pursues social justice in the community, with a particular focus on helping folks experiencing chronic homelessness. Her side projects include Still Loved, an organization seeking to bring together open and affirming faith communities in Evansville.
Rev. Brandan Robertson is a noted spiritual thought-leader, contemplative activist, and commentator, working at the intersections of spirituality, sexuality, and social renewal. He is the author of Nomad: A Spirituality For Travelling Light and writes regularly for Patheos, and The Huffington Post.
Colby Martin is a beloved child of God, husband, father, co-pastor of Sojourn Grace Collective, and author of UnClobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality.
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode Lisa talks about how she fell in love with the idea of "Shalom", how it should inform how we live out our faith, and her new book "The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right".
Interviewer: Mira Joyner & Jen Fisher
ABOUT LISA From Ferguson to New York to Germany, Lisa has been leading trainings and helping mobilize clergy and community leaders around shared values for the common good as Sojourners Chief Church Engagement Officer. Through preaching, writing, training, network development, and public witness Ms. Harper engages the church in the work of justice and peacemaking.
To follow more of Lisa's work, visit lisasharonharper.com
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode David talks about his evangelical Christian faith fell apart and how he built his music career through intimate house shows.
Interviewer: Jonathan Williams
ABOUT DAVID David Bazan has never had the answers. His first two solo records, 2009’s Curse Your Branches and 2011’s Strange Negotiations lived inside questions. Questions of politics, of relationships, of addiction, and of God. For anyone looking to art to remove doubt, Bazan is not that refuge. With a catalogue that orbits the darkest corners of the human experience, his songs are the tiny pinprick of light, the first breath coming up for air, the rest stop on a trip with no destination.
To follow more of David's work, visit davidbazan.com
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode Christine Moutier talks mental health, societal stigma, suicide prevention, and how to talk to people who we're worried about.
Interviewer: Jen Fisher
ABOUT CHRISTINE Dr. Christine Moutier knows the impact of suicide firsthand. After losing colleagues to suicide, she dedicated herself to fighting this leading cause of death. As a leader in the field of suicide prevention, Dr. Moutier joined the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in 2013, and has revitalized AFSP’s Education team, re-launched its Loss & Healing department, and expanded AFSP’s support to include those with lived experience of suicide.
To follow more of AFSP's work, visit afsp.org
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode Amy Butler talks politics, social justice, gun violence, and what it is like to be the "first" woman leading an influential organization.
Interviewer: Ryan Phipps and Ben Grace
ABOUT AMY Rev. Dr. Amy Butler, "Pastor Amy," is the 7th Senior Minister at The Riverside Church in New York City. She is the first woman to hold the position of Senior Minister since the church opened 84 years ago. Pastor Amy wonders aloud all the time about: faith, church, living in community, the deep meaning of life, and, everything else, too.
To follow more of Amy's work, visit www.patheos.com/blogs/talkwiththepreacher/
To find out more about "God and Guns" and register visit www.godandguns2016.com
EPISODE OVERVIEW This episode is dedicated to the 15th anniversary of September 11, 2001. Nancy Carbone, founder and Executive Director of Friends of Firefighters, joins us to talk about the continuing impact of the terror attacks on the city, the firefighting force, and the healing art of listening.
Interviewer: Ben Grace
ABOUT FRIENDS OF FIREFIGHTERS Friends of Firefighters is dedicated to addressing the physical, mental health, and wellness needs of New York City’s firefighters and their families. Their ongoing mission is to provide long-term support and services through confidential counseling, wellness services, and other assistance required by firefighters and their families.
To follow more of their work, visit friendsoffirefighters.org
Click here to buy tickets to their 9th Annual Friends of Firefighters Fall Gala on Oct 20.
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode Brian McLaren talks about his own spiritual migration from fundamentalism to a just and generous Christianity, and the four places we should see the transformative kingdom of God breaking in: people, planet, poverty, peace.
Interviewer: Jonathan Williams and Jen Fisher
ABOUT BRIAN Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and a passionate advocate for "a new kind of Christianity" - just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. His brand new book "The Great Spiritual Migration" is released on September 20, 2016 and Brian is one of the keynote speakers for Forefront NYC's "Faith, Culture, Questions" fall series.
To follow more of Brian's work, visit www.brianmclaren.net
To buy tickets and find out more about #FCQ16 visit www.forefrontnyc.com/fcq
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode Kenneth Tanner talks about the power of Eucharist, church iconography and how the the humility and vulnerability of God should inform our worship of violence and gun culture.
Interviewer: Ben Grace
ABOUT KEN The Rev. Kenneth Tanner is pastor of Church of the Holy Redeemer in Rochester Hills, Michigan, where he lives with his wife and seven children. He loves talking about Jesus, the best films of Woody Allen, and making salsa. His writing has appeared in Patheos, Huffington Post, Sojourners, Books & Culture, National Review, Christianity Today, Behemoth, and Real Clear Religion.
He also publishes on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode Jonathan Martin talks about his brand new book "How to Survive a Shipwreck", and dives deep into death, baptism, the South, and the power of failure.
Interviewer: Ben Grace
ABOUT JONATHAN Jonathan Martin is a sacramental hillbilly Pentecostal mystic and the author of How to Survive a Shipwreck and Prototype. He is a product of the "Christ-haunted landscape" of the American south, sweaty revivals, and hip-hop.
To follow more of Jonathan's work, visit www.jonathanmartinwords.com
EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode Jacqui Lewis and Jim Kast Keat talk about the history of Middle Collegiate, social justice, an evolving faith and why it's important to let go of fear.
Interviewer: Jonathan Williams, Jen Fisher and Ben Grace
ABOUT MIDDLE COLLEGIATE Middle Collegiate Church is a celebrating, culturally diverse, inclusive and growing community of faith where all people are welcomed just as they are as they come through the door.
To get more info about Middle Collegiate Church, visit www.middlechurch.org.
To follow more of Jacqui's work, visit www.jacquijlewis.com
To follow more of Jim's work, visit www.jimkastkeat.com
In this episode Derek talks about his book "Disarming Scripture: Cherry-Picking Liberals, Violence-Loving Conservatives, and Why We All Need to Learn to Read the Bible Like Jesus Did" unpacking how Jesus and Paul read the Biblical text.
Interviewer: Travis Eades
ABOUT DEREK Derek Flood is an artist, writer, and a longtime voice in the post-conservative evangelical movement, focusing on wrestling with questions of faith and doubt, violence in the Bible, relational theology, and understanding the cross from the perspective of grace and restorative justice.
To get more info about Derek, visit therebelgod.com
In this episode Justin tells his story of growing up gay as a Southern Baptist kid and talks about the debates and diversity within the Gay Christian Network.
Interviewer: Jonathan Williams, Ryan Phipps, Travis Eades, Jen Fisher & Ben Grace
ABOUT JUSTIN Justin Lee is the founder of the Gay Christian Network (GCN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians and the author of the book Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate
To get more info about Justin, visit justinlee.co
In this episode Ryan Meeks and David Lunsford of Eastlake Community Church in Seattle tell their story about becoming fully inclusive and talk about our relationship to our bodies, unhealthy habits of faith communities and how, for a time, the practice of their lives was better than their theology.
Interviewer: Ben Grace
ABOUT EASTLAKE Eastlake is a church for the rest of us, an inclusive Christian community where faith is less about a story to be believed as it is a life to be lived. What we share is a growing awareness that life is gift and what we do with it matters!
To get more info about Eastlake, visit eastlakecc.com
MUSIC The soundtrack to this episode is "Together In This", a song written by David Lunsford. You can listen to the full track and buy it at Bandcamp.
In this episode Austin Channing Brown discusses racial justice, why the scripture can sometimes be complicit in racism, why the term "White Supremacy" might be more prevalent than we think and why there is hope for reconciliation between the majority and minority groups here in the US.
Interviewer: Jonathan Williams
ABOUT AUSTIN Austin is a Resident Director and Multicultural Liaison for Calvin College by day and a writer by night. She is passionate about the work of racial justice and reconciliation, especially as modeled and led by women.
To get more info about Austin, visit austinchanning.com
In this episode Audrey Assad talks about suffering, art, converting to Catholicism and her new record of hymns and original songs called "Inheritance". Interviewer: Ben Grace
ABOUT AUDREY Audrey Assad is the daughter of a Syrian refugee, an author, speaker, producer, and critically lauded songwriter and musician. She releases music she calls “soundtracks for prayer” on the label Fortunate Fall Records, which she co-owns with her husband.
To get more info about Audrey and hear her new record, visit audreyassad.com
In this episode Doug Pagitt talks about the history of church movements in the USA and why younger generations are looking for a just and generous expression of Christianity.
Interviewer: Jen Wills Fisher
ABOUT DOUG Doug Pagitt is a pastor, author, speaker, Ultra-Marathoner, goodness conspirator and possibility evangelist.
To get more info about Doug, visit dougpagitt.com
ABOUT OPEN OPEN is a collective of Post-Evangelical, Progressive Evangelical, Non-Denominational and Free-Church tradition churches, organizations, leaders and networks seeking to embody an ecosystem for a '"Just and Generous Progressive Evangelical expression of faith in the United States."
To get more info about OPEN, visit theopennetworkus.org
In this special Holy Week episode the Forefront staff met to discuss our faith backgrounds and personal journeys in Holy Week. We also reflected on our last year of wrestling and growth, talking about how the liturgical calendar and the conversation around midrash has shaped us.
Interviewers: Jonathan Williams, Ryan Phipps, Travis Eades, Mira Joyner, Jennifer Fisher, Marlee Walters, and Ben Grace
ABOUT FOREFRONT Forefront Church is an interdenominational faith community dedicated to cultivating a just and generous expression of the Christian faith in New York and around the world.
To get more info about Forefront, visit our website, forefrontnyc.com
MUSIC The soundtrack to this episode is "I've Wondered at the Cross", a song written by Ben Grace about Good Friday. You can download it for free this week at Noisetrade.
In this episode our friend Rabbi Dan returns to teach us how to use midrash to explore the meaning of Biblical texts. Listen in as members of our community learn to read midrash together and explore the theology of the Old Testament book of Job.
ABOUT RABBI DAN Rabbi Daniel M. Bronstein, Ph.D., is a scholar and educator who teaches at Hunter College and the 92nd Street Y in New York City. His dissertation, "Torah in the Trenches," examines the rabbinical military chaplaincy during World War II. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his family.
To learn more from Rabbi Dan, read some blog posts here
In this episode Rob Bell, Senior Pastor Jonathan Williams, Creative Pastor Ben Grace, and Graphics Director Ryan Jones, discuss Rob's new book, How to Be Here, and why our giant risks, failures, and successes are the times when life is best lived. This is for anyone who wants to try something new and creative but needs an extra kick in the pants. Enjoy.
Interviewers: Jonathan Williams, Ryan Jones, Ben Grace
ABOUT ROB Rob Bell is a bestselling author, international teacher, and highly sought after public speaker. His books include The New York Times bestseller Love Wins, along with What We Talk About When We Talk About God, The Zimzum of Love, Velvet Elvis, Sex God, Jesus Wants to Save Christians, Drops Like Stars. At age 28 he founded Mars Hill Bible Church in Michigan, and under his leadership it was one of the fastest-growing churches in America. In 2011 he was profiled in Time Magazine as one of their 100 most influential people. Rob was featured on Oprah’s 2014 Life You Want Tour and has spoken at events all over the world. He and his wife Kristen have three children and live in Los Angeles.
To get more info about Rob, visit his website, robbell.com
In this episode, Nikki and her band (David Lerner, David Phillips & Stephen Waddy) talk about cultural assumptions, racial tension, Black Lives Matter and how the church should be leading the conversation on racial reconciliation. Interviewers: Jonathan Williams, Ben Grace
ABOUT NIKKI Nikki is a songwriter, speaker, worship leader coach, and co-author of the book Worship Together: In Your Church As In Heaven. She currently serves as the Worship Director at Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia, MD, an intentionally multicultural church serving over 4,000 people each week.
To get more info about Nikki, visit her website, nikkilerner.com
In this episode, Peter talks to us about the nature of God, philosophy, and "Atheism for Lent." Listen to him talk about this cleansing ritual and how he’s opened it up this year. Interviewers: Ryan Phipps, Marlee Walters, Ryan Jones, and Ben Grace
ABOUT PETER ROLLINS Peter Rollins is a provocative writer, philosopher, storyteller and public speaker who has gained an international reputation for overturning traditional notions of religion and forming “churches” that preach the Good News that we can’t be satisfied, that life is difficult, and that we don’t know the secret.
To get more info about Peter or to join him on "Atheism for Lent", visit his website, peterrollins.net
What is midrash? In this episode, our friend Rabbi Dan helps us understand the Jewish process of midrash. Together we unpack why this word represents the kind of conversations we're having on this podcast. Interviewers: Jonathan Williams & Jennifer Fisher
ABOUT RABBI DAN Rabbi Daniel M. Bronstein, Ph.D., is a scholar and educator who teaches at Hunter College and the 92nd Street Y in New York City. His dissertation, "Torah in the Trenches," examines the rabbinical military chaplaincy during World War II. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his family.
To learn more from Rabbi Dan, read some blog posts here
In this episode, our friend Frank Schaeffer talks with us about his fall from the religious right and how marriage, art, and life has taught him to embrace the paradox. Warning: This episode contains some explicit language. Interviewer: Jennifer Fisher
ABOUT FRANK Frank Schaeffer is a bestselling author, movie director, blogger, speaker, artist, father of three, grandfather of five, and a survivor of both polio and an evangelical/fundamentalist childhood.
To get more info about Frank, visit his website, frankschaeffer.com
In this episode, our friend Mike McHargue talks severing the corpus callosum, embracing his atheism, and Jesus washing his feet on the seashore. Interviewers: Jonathan Williams, Ryan Phipps, Travis Eades, and Marlee Walters
ABOUT MIKE Mike McHargue (better known as Science Mike) is an author, podcaster, and speaker focused on the science behind spiritual experiences. Mike lost his faith via atheism as an adult, but rediscovered God in cosmology and neuroscience–a journey that lead to his life's mission: helping people reconcile their faith with modern science.
To get more info about Mike, visit his website, mikemchargue.com.
In this episode, our good friend Mike McHargue talks about science, faith, and losing his religion. Interviewers: Jonathan Williams, Ryan Phipps, and Travis Eades.
ABOUT MIKE Mike McHargue (better known as Science Mike) is an author, podcaster, and speaker focused on the science behind spiritual experiences. Mike lost his faith via atheism as an adult, but rediscovered God in cosmology and neuroscience–a journey that lead to his life's mission: helping people reconcile their faith with modern science.
To get more info about Mike, visit his website, mikemchargue.com.