In this episode, Fred interviews Progressive Christian Pastor Josh Scott https://www.joshscott.co/ , author of Parables: Putting Jesus's Stories in Their Place, and Cross - Examined: Reading the Bible in Times of Division.

Josh (he/him) has been a pastor for more than two decades. He currently serves as the Lead Pastor at GracePointe Church https://www.gracepointe.net/ in Nashville. The focus of his work is reimagining, reframing, and reclaiming faith through a Progressive Christian lens. You can read his latest thoughts at https://www.joshscott.online/. He lives near Nashville with his wife, Carla, and five kids.

#progressivechristianity

#postevangelical

#religioustrauma

#christiannationalism

#lgbtqchurch

In this episode, Fred interviews Executive Director of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians: Brian Ellison.

https://www.covnetpres.org/

Brian Ellison has served since 2012 as Executive Director of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, leading its mission of strengthening the Church through equipping and engagement, advocating and educating for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the Church’s life and leadership.

Brian also serves as stated clerk of the Synod of Mid-America. He has served previously as pastor of Parkville Presbyterian Church (near Kansas City, Missouri) and as stated clerk of Heartland Presbytery. He has previously served the national Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in numerous roles, including as moderator of the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment and the Stated Clerk Review/Nomination Committee. His writing on matters of faith and theology has appeared in numerous church and independent publications. A graduate of Harvard University and Princeton Theological Seminary, Brian also is host/contributor at NPR affiliate KCUR-FM. He and his partner, Troy Lillebo, live in Kansas City with their two dogs, the recalcitrant Willoughby and the dopey Sage.

Brian is available for working with congregations, councils and groups of interested Presbyterians about inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people, fostering and navigating difficult conversations, organizing and advocating for transformation, and on the Covenant Network of Presbyterians and its mission. Contact him at brian@covnetpres.org.

Helpful Resources from this Episode:

1. God and the Gay Christian - Matthew Vines: https://a.co/d/aUyGsxo

2. Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church's Debate on Same-Sex Relationships - James V. Brownson: https://a.co/d/7THPlNT

3. The Bible's Yes to Same-Sex Marriage: An Evangelical’s Change of Heart - Mark Achtemeier: https://a.co/d/ci0SlpD

4. Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgendered Christians - Austen Hartke: https://a.co/d/iLfYsNi

In this episode, Fred interviews author, pastor, and political director of Vote Common Good: Robb Ryerse.

https://www.robbryerse.com/

https://www.votecommongood.com/

https://www.thegospelaccordingtodonaldtrump.com/

After pastoring in fundamentalist churches for a decade, in 2006, Robb and his wife Vanessa co-founded Vintage Fellowship in Fayetteville Arkansas. He retired from pastoral ministry in 2021.

Robb is the Political Director of Vote Common Good.

​Vote Common Good urges religiously-motivated voters to use the common good as their primary voting criterion. Vote Common Good trains Democratic candidates to speak authentically about their faith and about how political issues are connected to progressive faith.

​In 2018, Vote Common Good went on a 31-stop bus tour urging religiously-motivated to help flip the House. In 2020, Vote Common Good went to all 50 states asking people to bring change to politics through faith, hope, and love.