Rector’s Cupboard Podcast

Not in Spite of, but Because of Faith with Rev. Michael Coren

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 ChristEpiphany: 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.

Replay: The Power Worshippers with Katherine Stewart

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 WorshippersThe Good News ClubHow a Data-backed Christian Nationalist Machine Helped Trump to Power - The Guardian, March 2020Bill Barr Thinks America is Going to Hell - The New York Times, December 2019Why Trump Reigns as King Cyrus - The New York Times, December 2018   

A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies with Dr. James K. A. Smith

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.

Inquisitions and Hopeful Theology; A Conversation About Ivan Illich with David Goa

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.

Listeners Dare with Rev. Dr. Will Willimon

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.”

Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries with Daniel Whitehead and Dr. John Swinton

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 VermouthGarnished with a slice of orange peel
 
Amaro Spritz
2 oz Amaro3 oz ProseccoTopped with soda water and garnished with an orange wedge

Host Only: Arts and Culture Panel

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 GemstonesShamelessDerry GirlsOnly Murders In the BuildingSomebody SomewhereLate Night with Seth MeyersHillsong: A Megachurch Exposed
Movies:
Everything Everywhere All At OnceTurning RedEncanto
Books:
The School for Good Mothers – Jessamine ChanWe Don’t Know Ourselves – Fintan O’TooleThe Hobbit – J.R.R. TolkienButcher, Blacksmith, Acrobat, Sweet – Peter CossinsThis Here Flesh – Cole Arthur RileyRun Towards the Danger – Sarah PolleyHomegoing – Yaa Gyasi

”What is a Woman?”: Christianity, Motherhood and Gender Roles with Brenda-Lee Sasaki

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 gin1 - 1.5 oz peach schnapps1 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
 

Land-Based Healing and Wellness with Lauren Aldred

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

Bipolar Faith with Dr. Monica A. Coleman

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.