The Weight

Many believe that the Church’s traditional teachings on marriage condemn LGBTQ+ Christians to a life without love. How can we broaden our view of same-sex love, kinship, and commitment? Eddie and Chris are joined by Eve Tushnet, author of Gay and Catholic: Accepting My Sexuality, Finding Community, Living My Faith and Amends: A Novel. Eve identifies as an openly lesbian woman who has chosen a life of celibacy within the Catholic Church, and for some, her story may seem like a contradiction. Faithful to historical Catholic tradition, Eve writes primarily for gay Christians and anyone who wants to make the churches more welcoming for gay and lesbian members. In this episode, she discusses the harm the church has caused to LGBTQ+ Christians, what we learn from scripture regarding same-sex friendship, and healthy approaches for creating inclusive environments within the church.Order Eve Tushnet’s book Gay and Catholic here.I'm Gay, but I'm Not Switching to a Church That Supports Gay Marriage Read Eve Tushnet’s articles in America Magazine here:https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/eve-tushnet Check out Guiding Families of LGBT+ Loved Ones here.Follow Eve Tushnet on Twitter:https://twitter.com/evetushnet

Where words create division, art creates a new space to broaden understanding. Our creativity draws us nearer to God and gives us a channel to process a wide range of experiences, from hope and joy to pain and suffering. In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Jonathan Kent Adams, a queer artist based out of Water Valley, Mississippi. After exploring multiple faith traditions throughout childhood, high school, and college, Jonathan has found a place of freedom within the beauty of art both within Christianity and outside of it. They talk about cultural masculinity and conformity, the challenges of coming out both internally and externally, and finding God as a place of consistent safety.After the Orlando Pulse Shooting in 2016, Jonathan Kent Adams created a tribute to tell the victims’ stories. View his tribute here:http://www.jonathankentadams.com/a-tribute-orlando-shooting

We can’t have a conversation about sexuality without talking about the human body. Christians have disregarded the body as separate from spirituality, and culture has devalued the body through objectification. All in all, when we talk about a theology of the body, the conversation tends to have a negative spin. In a moment when Christians are known more for what they are against than what they are for, what do traditionalists stand for when it comes to the body and sexuality? Chris and Eddie are joined by Dr. Tim Tennent, President of Asbury Theological Seminary and author of For the Body: Recovering a Theology of Gender, Sexuality, and the Human Body. Dr. Tennent stands for honoring our bodies’ unique design and purpose. He views the body as not just a biological category, but a theological category as well. He talks to Chris and Eddie about the differences between protestant liberalism and evangelical reductionism regarding same-sex marriage and gender reassignment, his view of the balance between inclusion and transformation within the church, and what the incarnation of Jesus Christ means for Christians.Follow Dr. Tennent on the web:https://timothytennent.com  Purchase For the Body: Recovering a Theology of Gender, Sexuality, and the Human Body here:https://www.amazon.com/Body-Recovering-Theology-Sexuality-Resources-ebook/dp/B086BT8HT3 Follow Dr. Tennent on Twitter:https://twitter.com/TimTennent 

Over the past several years, the conversation around human sexuality has stirred up deep division and tension within the United Methodist Church. Arguments over policies and rules have left little room for embracing each others’ humanity with compassion and grace. What does it mean for the church to honor the weight of individual experiences and perspectives? How can church leaders and congregants lead in love and humility while navigating complex issues?Chris and Eddie are joined by Adam Hamilton, pastor of Church of the Resurrection, the largest United Methodist church in the country. Hamilton’s book Making Sense of the Bible explores the most controversial questions Christians ask while interpreting scripture, including issues of sexuality and gender. Hamilton believes context is necessary to understanding the character of God, and he challenges us to consider what is lost in translation. He talks to Eddie and Chris about how to be guided by an ethic of love, how his position on sexuality has changed over the years, and ways we can argue ethically without shutting each other down.Follow Adam Hamilton on the web:https://www.adamhamilton.com Follow Adam Hamilton on social media:https://www.facebook.com/PastorAdamHamilton https://www.instagram.com/revadamhamilton/ Check out Adam Hamilton’s book Making Sense of the Bible here:​​https://www.adamhamilton.com/books/item/9780062234988 Learn more about Church of the Resurrection here:https://cor.org 

Healthcare institutions are an essential part of a community’s fabric, and each healthcare facility has a civic responsibility to each member of its community. At this moment in history, our nation’s healthcare system is facing insurmountable challenges with COVID-19 cases spreading rapidly among citizens, in addition to the PTSD and fatigue experienced among hospital staff. To help us gain a greater understanding of the healthcare system’s nature right now, we decided to bring in one of the top healthcare professionals in our community to provide his expertise and perspective. In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Michael Ugwueke, President & Chief Executive Officer at Methodist Le Bonheur Hospital. Driven by a deep passion for individuals to thrive, Ugwueke desires a more proactive approach to spending and preventative care. They discuss Ugwueke’s role as a minority executive in healthcare, the social determinants of health, and the role of the healthcare system in the health of the community.

Offering a testimony creates space to witness to God’s real and present hope in the world. Testimonies are necessary elements to spiritual development in adolescents as they are navigating their own journeys of faith. However, for many Christians, sharing a testimony can be an intimidating practice and a source of comparison. Personal testimonies offered on a Sunday morning or at a church camp tend to follow a three-step pattern: one was lost, one found Jesus, and now one’s life is changed. How can we view testimony in light of our past experiences and current experiences? How do we help adolescents build a faith language that helps them gain confidence in their identity?In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Dr. Amanda Drury, associate professor of practical theology at Indiana Wesleyan University. Dr. Drury defines a testimony as “a story we tell where Jesus pops up.” She believes that our testimonies are shaped by small, everyday moments and that they make space for every person from every background to be heard. Dr. Drury challenges us to broaden our definition of testimony in terms of past, present, and future storytelling. She talks to Eddie and Chris about the importance of building a faith language, the power of narrative and story in therapy, and how to display appropriate vulnerability when telling your story.Purchase Dr. Drury’s book Saying Is Believing: The Necessity of Testimony in Adolescent Spiritual Development hereLearn more about the Scripture Squared App here:https://appadvice.com/app/scripture-squared/1491075049 

We all have a deep desire to belong and to be understood. As we move through different stages of life and different cultural realities, we are constantly navigating what it looks like to live into our most authentic selves. For teenagers, this process carries a lot of insecurity and awkwardness, which can stir up anxiety in pastors, youth ministers, and church leaders. How can we faithfully equip young people with a strong sense of identity and purpose, given to them by God? How can we help young people gain a better understanding of their unique stories?In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Dr. Andrew Root, professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary. Dr. Root has written a series of books revolving around Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age, and his book Faith Formation in a Secular Age specifically examines the church’s hopeful attitude that a “youthful spirit” will save the church. Root speaks to the power of testimony, confession, and storytelling to help teenagers and young adults navigate their own complicated stories. Root challenges us to greater curiosity and stronger questions that will benefit not only the lives of young people, but the church as a whole.Follow Dr. Andrew Root on the web:http://andrewroot.org Check out Dr. Andrew Root’s books here:http://andrewroot.org/books/ Follow Dr. Andrew Root on social media:https://www.facebook.com/andrew.roothttps://twitter.com/RootAndrew 

Broad historical and cultural changes have shifted traditional life scripts from generation to generation. Over the past several decades, the changing nature of families and work has made a significant impact on the role of religion, particularly in teenagers and young adults. While many young people have embraced religion as a part of their lives, sociologists and pastors have observed a compartmentalized version of faith rather than a rich solid ground for growth in love and grace. What factors make the idea of church-going less plausible or less attractive in our modern society? Where can true, meaningful change happen in the lives of young people?In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Dr. Christian Smith, the William R. Keenan Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame and author of Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation. Dr. Smith’s work examines the variety of reasons that individuals and communities are religious, as well as the impact of the family institution on traditional religious beliefs. Dr. Smith talks to Eddie and Chris about a general form of faith called “moralistic therapeutic deism,” the structures of society and culture that have made transitions challenging for young people, and the expectations that parents have for church congregations.Learn more about Dr. Smith's work here:https://christiansmith.nd.edu Check out all of Dr. Smith’s books hereOrder Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation here:https://www.amazon.com/Handing-Down-Faith-Religion-Generation/dp/0190093323 Read more about The National Study of Youth and Religion here:https://youthandreligion.nd.edu 

Our lives are full of unexpected changes, difficult transitions, and painful crises. In the midst of these realities, we all experience moments when it seems like we have no control and all hope is lost. Some of us may descend into apathy and numbness, and some of us may enter into “fix-it” mode to attempt a solution. How can we abandon our inclination to be passive and wait for God to intervene? What steps can we take to sustain hope during our trials?Frank Viola’s recent book, Hang On, Let Go: What to Do When Your Dreams Are Shattered and Life Is Falling Apart, gives practical advice to anyone who has found themselves in a hard, dark place. Shaped out of Frank’s own pain and struggles, Hang On, Let Go offers a roadmap for experiencing transformation that points back to God’s love. He joins Eddie and Chris to discuss the difficult questions about human suffering, the gifts of presence and empathy, and the importance of perspective.Resources:Follow Frank Viola on the web:https://frankviola.org Order Hang On, Let Go here:https://frankviola.org/hangonletgo/ Check out Frank Viola’s other books here:https://frankviola.org/books/ Listen to The Insurgence Podcast from Frank Viola here

Innovation and imagination are crucial to partnering in God’s redemptive purpose both locally and internationally. In this episode, Eddie is joined by Fred Curry, Executive Director and Founder of Rice & Beans Ministry (RABMIN). After visiting Costa Rica on a mission trip, Fred formed a connection with the community there and began to use food as a way of opening the door to deep conversations and long-term relationships. Since then, RABMIN has opened a branch in Brazil, and soon the ministry will serve victims of natural disasters in the United States. Fred’s ministry work focuses not on measures of success or growth, but how to sustain members of a community right where they are. He talks to Eddie about how to be a faithful “first responder” in missions, bridging gaps with those who aren’t comfortable in a church setting, and the importance of relationships over results.Learn more about RABMIN’s work in Costa Rica here:https://rabmin.org/our-missions/costa-rica/ Learn more about RABMIN’s work in Brazil here:https://rabmin.org/our-missions/brazil/ Follow RABMIN on social media:https://www.facebook.com/RiceandBeansMinistries https://www.instagram.com/rabmin/https://twitter.com/rbmin