A SERIES OF JUST AND GENEROUS CONVERSATIONS

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" visit sheiscalled.com

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

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

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

In this episode David talks about how his evangelical Christian faith fell apart and how he built his music career through intimate house shows.  Warning: This episode contains some explicit language.

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

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

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.talkwiththepreacher.com

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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, Jen Wills 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

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 discusses his 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, and 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 and 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.