Rector’s Cupboard Podcast

Fear and Abuse, Hope and Compassion within Religious Culture with Jessica Leslie

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.

God Turned Toward Us with Will Willimon

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

Mental Health: A Personal Story with Markku Kostamo

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 

Mental Health and the Blessings of Uncertainty With Dr. Rami Nader and Dr. Michael Papsdorf

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 AnxietyCanadaBC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Kelty Mental Health

Hope At A Time Like This

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.

Vocation and the Future with Samuel Andri

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.

”Won’t You Be My Neighbour?” with Yehuda Mansell

Good conversations with interesting people. Yehuda Mansell lived 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.

Purity Culture in Church Circles: A Conversation with Linda Kay Klein

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. 

Hope in the Midst of Crisis and Mental Health Challenges with Dr. John Swinton

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.

"Christian Music" with Jeff Johnson and Roy Salmond

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.