Inverse Podcast

In light of legendary union organizer Delores Huerta's allegations of abuse at the hands of Cesar Chavez and the collective grieve we all feel as this violence comes to light; in today's episode of Inverse we host Hilary Scarcella for a conversation which explores the intersection of religion, trauma, and sexual violence, emphasizing community accountability, reforming faith communities, and engaging scripture more liberatively. It offers deep insights into how faith traditions can confront their shadow sides and foster safer, more accountable environments. Chapters (00:00:01) - Inverse Interviews Hilary Scarcella(00:02:07) - Anabaptist and the Sexual Abuse of Mennonites(00:07:28) - The Cesar Chavez Sexual Abuse Story(00:18:10) - The problem of child abuse in the Christian Church(00:22:53) - A Week in the Life of Jesus(00:24:26) - Hillary on Her Early Experiences With The Bible(00:29:30) - In the Elevator With Anabaptists(00:33:29) - Contemplating the Life of Jesus(00:39:28) - Oh My God! My 4 Year Old Says Jesus Got Stabbed(00:41:25) - Read the Bible From Your Own Life(00:48:13) - Imagine a World Without Abuse(00:54:44) - Inverse Podcast: A Different Kind of Community(00:56:41) - Community and Sexual Violence(01:02:51) - Vocarious Leadership: The Problem(01:07:42) - The Problem of Power in the Church

In today's conversation we are joined by Zach Lambert (cofounder of the Post Evangelical Collectiv) and explore themes of biblical interpretation, focusing on the pitfalls of literalism and the apocalyptic mindset prevalent in fundamentalist communities. The discussion highlights how these approaches can lead to fear-based religioin and the policing of theological boundaries, particularly regarding women's roles in ministry. Zach W. Lambert is the lead pastor and founder of Restore, a church in Austin, Texas. Under his leadership, Restore has grown from a launch team of five people in 2015 to more than 1,000 members today. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Hardin-Simmons University, a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and is pursuing his Doctorate at Duke Divinity School. Zach is the cofounder of the Post Evangelical Collective and serves on the boards of the Austin Church Planting Network and the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network. Zach and his wife, Amy, met each other in the 6th grade, fell in love at 17, and got married at 21. They love watching live music, discovering local Mexican food places, and playing with their two boys. Chapters (00:00:01) - Interview(00:02:17) - Introducing Restoring the Kingdom(00:06:55) - Jesus on the Cross(00:11:57) - On Being kicked Out of the Southern Baptist Church(00:18:17) - Zach Struggles With The Bible(00:24:09) - The Harmful Lenses of Fundamentalism(00:28:42) - The Four Harmful Lenses of Biblical Literature(00:30:54) - Three Pillars of Flourishing the Bible(00:33:38) - The Widow's Might in Luke 21(00:39:47) - Widow Laying Down Everything for Christ(00:43:07) - Jesus on Legal Hermeneutics(00:47:13) - The Use of Bible Verses to Support Hate(00:52:15) - Stop Stealing Children: Christian theology(00:54:07) - Zach Lambert on The Bible and Public Theology

In this gripping episode, we confront the harsh realities of ongoing ICE operations in Minneapolis, as Doug Pagitt shares his firsthand experiences and insights. Explore the impact of recent events on the community and the urgent need for change. Join us as we discuss the intersection of faith, activism, and the fight for justice in a city at the forefront of national attention.

Karla Mendoza Arana (she/her/ella) is a grassroots theologian, speaker, writer, and artist. She is from Lima, Peru, and has lived in the United States for nearly 24 years. As an Afro-Peruvian woman who continues to face displacement, her work revolves around exploring illegality, citizenship, and Latinindad. Karla is currently a student of Liberation Theologies at Union Theological Seminary in Lenape land, commonly known as New York City. If you don’t find her reading, you’ll find her dancing to Bad Bunny.

A continuation of our conversation with the late Walter Brueggemann.- Brueggemann wasn’t simply a scholar, he was a prophet. This is not hyperbole. This is a precise analysis of his vocation as one who devoted his life to the Sacred Scriptures of a dangerously free God. He was a poet as are the prophets, he would insist. His “prophetic imagination” was shaped by a lifetime of dedication to the texts that demanded of him pathos, lament and a consciousness counter to empire. He was a person of the kind of prayer that undergoes the kind of grace that requires doing justice, and loving mercy and a scholarship from a deep humility before the Scriptures while walking with the God they witnessed to. I will tell my grandchildren of the three days my brother Don and I stayed with Tia and Walter Brueggemann. I will tell stories of how Elaine and Ched Myers introduced me to Walter a few years prior and how I got to have lunch with one of the greatest Hebrew Bible scholars in the world and start a friendship. I will tell of how I got to introduce my mate Jono Martin to Walter and how I snapped a cheeky moment as my friend Traci took a selfie with the Bruggz coz we are giddy fans. I will tell of his humour, humility and indomitable brilliance that was paired with a warm kind curiosity. Unquestionably one of my biggest influences, I’m always reading Walter when preparing for a sermon, and not merely in the Old Testament. I first read Walter at the age of 22 and haven’t stopped. Yet I haven’t come close to reading his over 100 books. I’ve literally led hundreds of people through his “The Prophetic Imagination” and it is in my top 5 greatest books of Christian discipleship. Walter, your life was a blaze with God’s justice and I’m thankful for the ways you set me on fire. Rest in Peace.- Jarrod McKenna

Brueggemann wasn’t simply a scholar, he was a prophet. This is not hyperbole. This is a precise analysis of his vocation as one who devoted his life to the Sacred Scriptures of a dangerously free God. He was a poet as are the prophets, he would insist. His “prophetic imagination” was shaped by a lifetime of dedication to the texts that demanded of him pathos, lament and a consciousness counter to empire. He was a person of the kind of prayer that undergoes the kind of grace that requires doing justice, and loving mercy and a scholarship from a deep humility before the Scriptures while walking with the God they witnessed to. I will tell my grandchildren of the three days my brother Don and I stayed with Tia and Walter Brueggemann. I will tell stories of how Elaine and Ched Myers introduced me to Walter a few years prior and how I got to have lunch with one of the greatest Hebrew Bible scholars in the world and start a friendship. I will tell of how I got to introduce my mate Jono Martin to Walter and how I snapped a cheeky moment as my friend Traci took a selfie with the Bruggz coz we are giddy fans. I will tell of his humour, humility and indomitable brilliance that was paired with a warm kind curiosity. Unquestionably one of my biggest influences, I’m always reading Walter when preparing for a sermon, and not merely in the Old Testament. I first read Walter at the age of 22 and haven’t stopped. Yet I haven’t come close to reading his over 100 books. I’ve literally led hundreds of people through his “The Prophetic Imagination” and it is in my top 5 greatest books of Christian discipleship. Walter, your life was a blaze with God’s justice and I’m thankful for the ways you set me on fire. Rest in Peace.- Jarrod McKenna

Internationally acclaimed writer and journalist Stan Grant – winner of three Walkley Awards and four Asian Television Awards - joins Dr Drew Hart and Pastor Jarrod McKenna in conversation on his new book, a theological meditation as Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi Aboriginal man, called Murriyang: Song of Time. Stan Grant is a Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi man. He is a public intellectual who has worked as a journalist, presenter, filmmaker and author. In his journalism he has reported from more than 80 countries, won three Walkley Awards, a Logie Award and four Asia TV Awards. As a writer he has published seven books including the bestselling Talking to My Country, which won the Walkley Book Award. In 2016, he was appointed to the Referendum Council on Indigenous recognition. In 2018, he was appointed Professor of Global Affairs at Griffith University. The full-length documentary film The Australian Dream won the2019 AACTA Award for Best Feature Documentary and the 2019 Walkley Documentary Award. In 2020, he became the International Affairs Analyst at the ABC and the Vice-Chancellor's Chair of Australian-Indigenous Belonging at Charles Sturt University. From 2022-23, Grant hosted the ABC's current affairs panel program Q+A.

In this deeply reflective episode, Drew Hart and Jarrod McKenna welcome Jenai Aumin, a Filipina American writer, artist, and author of Othered: Finding Belonging with the God Who Pursues the Hurt, Harmed, and Marginalized. Drawing on her experience in church leadership, trauma-informed training, and studies in behavioral health and spiritual formation, Jenai shares her journey of healing and rediscovery of faith after betrayal within a faith community. The conversation unpacks her book Othered, which offers insights on navigating spiritual trauma, healing wounds inflicted in the name of faith, and finding hope and belonging. Jenai discusses her evolving understanding of God, the role of scripture in addressing pain, and her use of a trauma-informed hermeneutic to reframe biblical narratives. This episode invites listeners into a vulnerable and healing dialogue about faith, resilience, and the courage to reclaim spiritual identity after loss. With honesty and compassion, Jenai's story is a testament to the power of grace, self-discovery, and community.

In this compelling episode of the Inverse Podcast, hosts Drew Hart and Jared McKenna welcome back Richard Crane, former professor of theology, attorney for employee rights, and author of the new book God's Apocalyptic Insurrection: A Salvation Theology for Evangelical Reckoning. Together, they explore the intersections of faith, justice, and scripture, unpacking how the Bible can be used to liberate or oppress. Richard discusses his lifelong commitment to tethering social justice to biblical theology, reflecting on his early experiences with faith, his evolution as a scholar, and the transformative power of scripture. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating justice within Christian traditions often mired in historical entanglements with racism, patriarchy, and predatory capitalism. Highlighting passages from the Gospels, Crane offers insights into Jesus' mission to heal and liberate, interpreting these acts as divine insurrection against systemic evil. The episode challenges listeners to consider what it means to live out a justice-oriented faith and to embody a theology of liberation in a world shaped by oppression. Join the conversation for a thought-provoking discussion on theology, justice, and the transformative work of faith.

Rev. Andrew Wilkes, Ph.D, is a political scientist, the co-pastor of the Double Love Experience Church in Brooklyn, and the former executive director of the Drum Major Institute. His latest work is Plenty Good Room: Co-Creating An Economy of Enough for All. He is the co-author, with spouse Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes, of Psalms for Black Lives and the author of Freedom Notes: Reflections on Faith, Justice, and the Possibility of Democracy. His work and voice have appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, and Sojourners, among other outlets. He serves on boards for the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York, The Black Mountain School of Theology and Community, and the Institute for Christian Socialism. A graduate of Hampton University, Princeton Theological Seminary '10, and the Coro Foundation's Fellowship in Public Affairs, Dr. Wilkes recently completed his PhD in political science from the CUNY Graduate Center.