Rector’s Cupboard Podcast

No God Forsaken People, No God Forsaken Places with Tim Fretheim

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?

Most People are Better than their Theology with David Goa

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.

Christmas Special

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 Concept of The Hopeful Gospel with Ross Lockhart

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.

From Soldiers to Midwives: How the Metaphors we Use in Christian Mission Impact our Understanding of Faith and Witness with Jenn Richards

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.

Your god ain’t no God at all! with Dr. Jason Byassee

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”

With All our Heart, but None of our Mind with Dr. Richard Topping

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.

Best and Worst of Worship “Like a Rose Trampled on the Ground” with Carolyn Arends and Spencer Capier

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.