A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast

This week we welcome special guests who open the episode, the youth from the Keep Awake Retreat held at Massanetta Springs Conference Center. Special Guest:Dr. Sarah Leer, practical theologian and youth workerQuestion of the Week: In many church contexts, youth are not empowered because they are deemed to need experience or maturity to be leaders. But regarding many justice issues, especially queer inclusion and affirmation, youth already have questions and have developed thoughts and ideas on what the church should be doing. But they may not be listened to or even asked, even when it comes to their own identity or experience. How do we change this paradigm and build truly inclusive and affirming communities of faith? Sarah's WebsiteFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

Special Guests:Shelia, Sylvia & Melissa Burlock, Authors of My Divine Natural Hair: Inspiration and Tips to Love and Care for Your CrownQuestion of the Week:Women, and especially Black women, face a lot of discrimination for the way they look, dress, and style their hair. What does it look like to embrace one’s natural hair as an expression of a God-given gift? And how do our spiritual beliefs impact our perspective of our own physical attributes such as our hair?My Divine Natural Hair: Inspiration and Tips to Love and Care for Your CrownFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

Special Guest:Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, Founder and President of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem Question for the Day:As a Christian and Palestinian living in the Holy Land, what are the main things you wish Christians around the world knew about the current situation in Israel-Palestine? Rev. Dr. Mitiri Rahab's WebsiteDhar al-Kalima UniversityPCUSA Policy on Israel-PalestineFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

Special Guest:Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, Author of Everything Good about God Is True: Choosing Faith Question of the Day:We often define ourselves and our values by what we are “not”, especially in a politically divided world, such as we are not racist or not conservative. We do the same when thinking about God, saying God isn’t cruel or God isn’t this, or that etc. But this thinking doesn’t actually help give us clarity on who we actually are or who God is. How do reframe our perspective to have deeper understandings of ourselves and God? Everything Good about God Is True: Choosing FaithFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

¡Rosa y Edwin le dan la bienvenida a Flor Vélez-Díaz al podcast de esta semana!En el enlace encontrarás la versión digital de la traducción más reciente del Libro de Orden de la Iglesia Presbiteriana al español que puedes descargar:https://www.pcusa.org/get/resources/resource/1982/For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

Special Guest:Rev. Claire McKeever-Burgett, Author of Blessed are the Women: Naming & Reclaiming Women’s Stories from the Gospels Guest Question:Throughout the centuries of theological discussion, the stories of women in the biblical text have been either ignored or misunderstood, why and how are we to uplift the stories of women in our sacred texts? Blessed are the Women: Naming & Reclaiming Women’s Stories from the GospelsClaire's WebsiteClaire's SubstackFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

*Trigger Warning: episode contains language of sexual abuse*Special Guests:Grace Ji-Sun Kim & Susan M. Shaw, Authors of Surviving God: A New Vision of God through the Eyes of Sexual Abuse Survivors Guest Questions:How can the way we see or understand God contribute to sexual abuse or oppression? Also, how does the experience of abuse impact a survivor’s understanding of God? Surviving God:A New Vision of God through the Eyes of Sexual Abuse SurvivorsFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

Special Guest:Catherine Witte, Former Chaplain & Pharmacist, Indian Health Service, US Public Health ServiceGuest Question:What was your experience working in both health and spiritual care for Native Americans/American Indians? What did you observe about Native and Indigenous experiences with the US health care system?Indian Health Service's Resources on CancerFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

Special Guest:Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, Author of Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Sacred EarthGuest Question:In the modern day of technology, how do we connect with the Earth? How do we encourage people to connect to the Earth who might not have regular access to nature such as people living in urban areas or those who have grown up exclusively in the digital age? Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Sacred EarthJourney to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-BeingFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

This week we welcome...Dr. Jasmine L. Harris, Associate Professor of African American Studies & Program Coordinator of African American Studies, University of Texas at San Antonio, & Author of Black Women, Ivory Tower: Revealing the Lies of White Supremacy in American EducationGuest Question:What institutional and structural changes are needed for Black women to be able to truly be accepted, welcomed and empowered while pursuing higher education?Black Women, Ivory Tower: Revealing the Lies of White Supremacy in American EducationFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

Changes are coming to the podcast! From now on, we will focus more on our guests. You'll get a little banter from us, our conversation with the guest, and then a brief debrief toward the end. Sending love to all of our listeners who have been on this journey with us! Special Guest:Kevin Garcia, Author of What Makes You Bloom: Cultivating a Practice for Connecting with Your Divine Self Question:Sometimes you are just burned out on religion, church or faith. It could be due to trauma, frustration or just being over it. How do we rediscover our spirituality when we reach this point?What Makes You Bloom: Cultivating a Practice for Connecting with Your Divine Self40 Reflections for 40 years of the Commitment to PeacemakingJourney through the Mist: A Spiritually Guided LentKevin Garcia's WebsiteMeditations to Accompany What Makes You BloomFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

This week we talk about AWARDS SEASON and all the things surrounding them.Special Guest (18:07):Rev. Bronwen Boswell, Stated Clerk, PCUSAGuest Question:What do you see as the future of the church? Challenges? Opportunities?Presbyterian Church USA Policy HubFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

Question of the Week:What are your thoughts on using electronic readers like tablets or phones to read instead of print media such as books, magazines or newspapers? Do you use digital methods to read the Bible?Special Guest: (12:30)Cedar Monroe, Author of Trash: A Poor White JourneyGuest Question:We hear about how white supremacy culture harms people of color. But how does white supremacy impact and harm white people, especially poor and low-income whites? Does it impact them differently from whites of higher economic class?Trash: A Poor White JourneyFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

WE are back for 2024! We are excited about what this year will bring for the podcast and for our listeners. Special Guests:Rev. lenny duncan, Author of Psalms of My People:A Story of Black Liberation as Told through Hip-Hop, and Artist, Educator & Media Producer & Joe Davis, Artist, Educator & Speaker (Author of Remind Me Again: Poems and Practices for Remembering Who We Are)Guest Question:What is the relationship between poetry and hip-hop as expressions of Black culture, identity and liberation?Psalms of My People:A Story of Black Liberation as Told through Hip-HopJoe Davis Poetry Remind Me Again: Poems and Practices for Remembering Who We AreFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

We are still on a holiday break, but we will be back next week! Special GuestJamie Bruesehoff, Author of Raising Kids Beyond the Binary: Celebrating God’s Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children Guest QuestionWhat specific gifts or opportunities do faith communities bring to the table in terms of inclusion and acceptance for transgender and gender diverse children?Raising Kids beyond the Binary:Celebrating God’s Transgender and Gender-Diverse ChildrenFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website