The Distillery

"What would it look like for followers of the Jesus way, for disciples of Christ today, to honor diversity when it comes to brain functioning and mental health? And what would it look like for your church to be a stigma-free zone when it comes to children, teens, young adults, and people of all ages who have neurodevelopmental differences and experience mental health symptoms? And what would it look like for the church to embrace neuroinclusive ministries and celebrate ministers who are neurodivergent? Is the church a safe place when it comes to taking off the mask and letting your neurodiversity show?"This is an excerpt from the highly informative and transformational book Blessed Minds: Breaking the Silence About Neurodiversity. We're discussing that today on The Distillery podcast with its author, Sarah Griffith Lund. You don't want to miss this.From her bio: Sarah Griffith Lund is passionate about loving her family, God, and being part of faith communities. She is an ordained minister and has served as pastor to churches in Brooklyn, NY, Minneapolis, MN, and New Smyrna Beach, FL. Rev. Dr. Lund served as Regional Minister in the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ and as a Vice President for Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN. She holds degrees from Trinity University (BA), Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv), Rutgers University (MSW), and McCormick Theological Seminary (DMin). Rev. Dr. Lund received the Dell Award for Mental Health Education at the 30th General Synod of the UCC. She currently serves as Minister for Disabilities and Mental Health Justice on the national staff of the UCC and as senior pastor of First Congregational UCC of Indianapolis, IN. Rev. Dr. Lund blogs at www.sarahgriffithlund.com. 

What if we've been missing an opportunity to reread biblical poetry to become co-creators or collaborators in the poetic journey? And what if we don't start reading the poem by trying to determine what it means, but instead engage in an open and expansive inquiry into discovering how biblical poetry can speak to us today? We will discuss these questions and more in this exciting exploration of biblical poetry and the book An Invitation to Biblical Poetry, written by Dr. Elaine T. James, associate professor of Old Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary.

What can innovative ministry look like in your context? Are there opportunities for you to directly address the emergent needs of those you are called to serve while also establishing a network of care that empowers people to pursue their long-held dreams and aspirations? Our discussion today is with Dr. Kit Evans-Ford, who is the dynamic, innovative, passionate, and compassionate social entrepreneur who is doing all of this and more. You don't want to miss this.

In the dynamic landscape of religion, culture, and higher education, what should the next future of theological education become? Should it be a further accrual of intellectual and professional skills, or should it also serve to form Christian leaders with a deep, abiding, resilient, generative identity as Christian human beings? Let's talk about it today on The Distillery podcast where we welcome Daniel Aleshire, the inspiring author of Beyond Profession: The Next Future of Theological Education.

What is ableism, and how does ableism relate to racism? And is this important for the church? These questions and more will be answered in our discussion today with Dr. Lamar Hardwick, the author of the new book, How Ableism Fuels Racism: Dismantling the Hierarchy of Bodies in the Church. As a Black autistic pastor and disability scholar, Dr. Hardwick lives at the intersection of disability, race, and religion. And in his book How Ableism Fuels Racism, he helps Christian communities engage in Christian conversations about race by addressing issues of ableism. Listen now to Dr. Hardwick's urgent and insightful message.

To all those who believe their local church can be a vital sign of God's presence in their community, and to those who believe in a right here, right now, in-this-place ministry that seeks to truly meet the needs in your neighborhood, join us as we discuss incarnational mission with the co-authors of the book, Neighborhood Church: Transforming Your Congregation into a Powerhouse for Mission.

Is innovation just a buzzword, or is there something going on with innovation that Christians should be paying attention to? In today's interview, Kenda Creasy Dean takes us on her own journey. A journey that began trying to figure out where young people are finding meaning and purpose. Professor Dean is an ordained United Methodist Pastor and serves as the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary.

What is wrong with the church? How can we fix it? In this interview, we explore what people think is wrong with the church. Guests Blair Bertrand and Andrew Root suggest that the church's problems are not necessarily what we think they are. We'll explore how secularism has shaped our imagination, and we'll explore different ways of thinking about what God is calling congregations to do next. 

What do young Black girls have to teach all of us about God and about living our Christian faith? In today's interview, Khristi Adams explores the unique and invaluable theological insights of Black girls, including their perspectives on scripture, service, suffering, and hospitality. Her new book is titled, "Womanish Theology: Discovering God through a Lens of Black Girlhood."