Stories from the Presbyterian Pew

PCA Teaching Elder and counselor Michael Gembola joins us to talk about the book he co-wrote with Darby Strickland, "When Divorce is Mercy." Darby Strickland is a counselor with the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation. Michael Gembola is the director of Blue Ridge Christian Counseling. Purchase "When Divorce is Mercy". Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Resources from this episode: Is It Abuse? by Darby Strickland Called to Peace Ministries Retreat CCEF Course: Counseling Abusive Marriages with Darby Strickland Becoming a Refuge: Responding to Domestic Abuse in the Church online course with Darby Strickland Leslie Vernick Resources Sheila Wray Gregoire Resources When Divorce is Mercy by Darby Strickland and Michael Gembola One-page flyer for churches to share with members or potential members Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Resources from this episode: The Verbally Abusive Relationship by Patricia Evans Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Here are some resources mentioned in this episode: Dr. Heather Evans Voices of Survivors Project What About the Abused Spouse's Sin? by Dr. Nate Brooks Truth, Trauma, and Redeeming Power Conference To God's Daughters - Pre-release information on Dr. Evans' Book Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

In Part 1, Marguerite shared how confusing her marriage was. Just as she was beginning to get some clarity, she got a letter from her pastor. Did the letter further the clarity or further the confusion? One resource that Marguerite mentioned that was helpful in understanding her marriage is a secular book on abuse called Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft. Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

In Part 1 of Marguerite's story, we focus on one theme - confusion. She didn't view her marriage as abusive, dangerous, or even necessarily bad. It was just ... confusing. In this episode she begins to explain why. Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Here are some of the resources mentioned in this episode: "Conversations from the Presbyterian Pew: PCA Women Equipped to Care" - Facebook group for PCA women. Presbyterianism by Dr. Sean Michael Lucas How can Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew Help Your Church? Flyer for Churches about our free courses Trauma, Truth, and Redeeming Power Conference When Divorce is Mercy by Darby Strickland and Michael Gembola Help[H]er Safeguard [H]er Details Called to Peace Ministries Called to Peace Church Partnership Donate to Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew Donate towards General Assembly 2027 Travel Visit the Presbyterian Pew Shop Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Here are links to some of the items referenced in this episode: Previous episodes on General Assembly and Overtures: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Overtures to the 2026 General Assembly (post summarizing all of this year's Overtures) Highlights of the 2026 General Assembly (timestamped links to each major debate or report) Actions of the Overtures Committee (collection of X live-posted threads about Overtures Committee debates) The "American Cheeseburger" speech by TE Jackson Lee Podcast Episode with Adair Evans, MTW Missionary to victims of sex trafficking in Germany Acapella Singing of Psalm 133 (video from the floor) NEW: Presbyterian Pew Shop Donate to General Assembly 2027 Travel Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Want to discuss the Overtures? Join our free Facebook Group on General Assembly 2026 Resources mentioned in this episode: Presbyterian Church General Assembly 101 (free course from Presbyterian Pew) Overtures to the 2026 General Assembly Polity Matters Podcast Episode on the 2026 Overtures Alliance for Mission and Renewal Round Table Discussion on 2026 Overtures: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 Overtures Library (commentary from four PCA Elders) Eternal Subordination of the Son and CBMW by Rachel Green Miller Stated Clerk's Report on the 2008 General Assembly by L. Roy Taylor A History of the Title Deaconess in Southern Presbyterianism Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Here are some of the resources mentioned in this episode: Presbyterian Church General Assembly 101 (free course from Presbyterian Pew) Report of the Ad Interim Committee on the Directory for Worship Partial Report of the Ad Interim Committee on Christian Nationalism Overtures to the 2026 General Assembly Polity Matters Podcast Episode on the 2026 Overtures Alliance for Mission and Renewal Round Table Discussion on 2026 Overtures: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 (coming soon) Overtures Library (commentary from four PCA Elders) Current Members of General Assembly Committees Article on Overture 56: Protecting Options for Representation Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/