A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast

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Questions for the Week:

• What makes A Matter of Faith "A Presby Podcast"? What specifically makes your podcast Presbyterian? Is it having lots of Presbyterians on the podcast? Is it because it is produced by offices in the PCUSA? What does it even mean to be Presbyterian?
• Whenever you start something new there is often the initial "difficulty" period before things start to get easier. For example, when you first start exercising or playing a sport, you are often very sore or tired for the first few weeks until your body adjusts. Similarly, when learning a language, you have to build a base vocabulary before you are able to understand much of anything. What has been your experience with "trying something new" and overcoming the initial challenges? How do you think this applies to the church and faith community?

Special Guest:
Robert Hoggard, Associate Director of Advancement for Academic and Student Affairs, Rochester Institute of Technology

Guest Question:
Our country's education system needs a serious overhaul. Students that attend underfunded and lower performing schools also lack access to other development and professional opportunities. And of course, there are issues of racism and economic class divisions. How can the church be a voice for change and take action to reform the education system at all levels and provide better access and opportunities for everyone?

Resource Roundup:
Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It)
Rochester Regional Health Youth Apprenticeship Program
TriHealth School to Work Program
PCUSA's Educate a Child Initiative

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Pregunta de la semana:
¿Qué es la eco-teología? ¿Qué significa ver nuestra relación con la Tierra, entre nosotros y con Dios a través de este lente?

Invitada:
Rvda. Dra. Neddy Astudillo, Coodinador por la Comunidades Latinas y grupos en Latino America, GreenFaith

Recursos:
GreenFaith

La Historia del agua embotellada
The Story of Bottled Water
GreenFaith/Viviendo el Cambio (en español)
Red Presbiteriana para el Cuidado de la Creación

Si desea profundizar un poco más en qué es eco teología y las diversas formas en que podemos contribuir para cuidar de la creación:

Encuentro: Año nuevo, Tierra Nueva.
Primera sesión: Herramientas bíblico teológicas para el ministerio ambiental en la iglesia
Segunda sesión: Con la mano en el arado, organizando nuestras comunidades de fe para el ministerio dl cuidado ambiental

Guía de acción climática para su congregación y comunidad. 
Presbyterian Church USA, Presbyterian Mission Agency, 2020. 

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Questions for the Week:

• There has been a lot of talk in the news about the current debate in Congress about voting rights laws and changing the use of the filibuster. What is going on with this and why does it matter for people of faith?
• I know we don't always talk about money and financial investments in the church. But the recent craze about cryptocurrency, bitcoin, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has me thinking. These are all marketed as opportunities for someone to make a lot of money by investing early when these currencies aren't worth anything and then selling it later to make a big profit. But as outlined in the Washington Post, this isn't something that only "young, White 'Bitcoin bros' are trying to get in on. Increasingly, more people of color are turning to cryptocurrency because they are locked out of the traditional financial industry. What are your thoughts on cryptocurrencies? Do you think the church should have a position on this issues or on financial guidance?

Special Guest:
Rev. Dr. Neddy Astudillo, Latinx and Latin America Organizing and Training Coordinator, GreenFaith 

Guest Question:
What is eco-theology? What does it mean to view our relationship with the Earth, each other, and with God through this lens?

Resource Roundup:
GreenFaith

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Questions for the Week:

• There are many examples of major sports stars being stubborn about getting COVID-19 vaccines. As reported over the Christmas holidays, Antonio Brown an NFL player, is being allowed to play again after being discovered to have a fake vaccine card. And in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets are allowing Kyrie Irving to play on the team despite their policy and the NYC policy about vaccination requirements. Irving has refused to be vaccinated and the team needed more good players so they decided to activate him. These actions demonstrate that at the end of the day sports really does seem to be about winning and money. What do you think?
• What podcasts do you all listen to (other than your own)? What genres and subjects do you enjoy hearing about and where do you see the faith community going in terms of the podcast space?

Special Guest:
Jan Edmiston, General Presbyter, Presbytery of Charlotte

Guest Question:
In times of difficulty, such as the pandemic, political division, and an increasing awareness of various injustices, it can be so easy to draw inward, and focus on ourselves and not be present with those around us. Why is it important to be present with others and do you have any guidance on how to do this effectively?

Resource Roundup:
The White Privilege Conference - March 9-12, 2022

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Questions for the Week:

• Orlando, up until last year was home to "The Holy Land Experience", a theme park (shocker for Orlando) where people could come and relive the life of Christ and other Biblical stories. HLE has been sold recently and is soon to be demolished, but I still drive by it on the interstate and it still turns my stomach a bit. I know that it's not the only religious theme park in the United States that operates at a profit, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on these theme parks, museums, and other tourist traps that use faith to draw people in and make a profit. 
• We know you like to talk about the latest hit shows and movies on the podcast. Over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, one of the latest movies folks are talking about is the Netflix movie Don’t Look Up. The movie is a satirical comedy about the end of humanity due to a comet crashing into earth. The film has had people talking about it not actually being “funny” because the way it depicts politics and society is actually very on point. What are your thoughts? | 

Special Guest:
DeEtte Decker, Social Media Relations Strategist, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Guest Question:
We've all seen toxicity on the internet particularly on social media in comments feeds. People will make mean comments that don't have anything to do with the original post just to be a "troll". Often they are criticizing the person or the organization that made the post or content for the sake of expressing their own view point. Does anyone have guidance about how to handle these situations with grace?

Resource Roundup:
Catch the Matthew 25 Livestream on the PCUSA's Facebook Page

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Over the past several months, we have received many questions about the conflicts in Israel-Palestine. So, we decided to dedicate our Epiphany episode to our Palestinian siblings. This conversation is within the context of our Christian siblings asking for support from churches around the world. Palestinians have been calling for solidarity since 2009 when they issued Kairos Palestine as a confessional Christian document. Listen, learn, and move into action.

Special Guest:
Noushin Framke, Justice Activist

Resource Roundup:
Focus: Palestine
Israel Palestine Mission Network
Israeli ‘apartheid’ is antithetical to our values, Chicago Episcopalians say, by nearly 3 to 1
Why Palestine Matters, The Struggle to End Colonialism
Institute for Middle East Understanding
Foundation for Middle East Peace
Churches for Middle East Peace
Permissions to Narrate

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¡Presentamos un nuevo podcast en español!

Invitado especial:
Rvdo. Rafael Lemos Viana

Pregunta:
Sabemos que las personas tienen distintas formas de celebrar la Navidad y en nuestros países tenemos diversas tradiciones. De hecho, en algunas culturas la Navidad no termina ese día. ¿Cómo celebras la Navidad?

Permission given by Eliud to use audio. 

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This is a very special episode!! We are joined by our special guests Rosa Miranda, Edwin  González-Castillo, and Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri to talk about holiday traditions! And we are introducing the SPANISH EDITION to A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast, Una Cuestión de Fe! Join us on the last Thursday of each month for episodes! 

Special Guests:
Rosa Miranda, Associate for Hispanic/Latino-a Intercultural Congregational Support, Office of Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries

Edwin  González-Castillo,Associate for Disaster Response – Latin America and the Caribbean, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, Regional Liaison to the Caribbean with Presbyterian World Mission, Co-Moderator 223rd GA (2018)

Guest Question:
I know people have different Christmas traditions and celebrations. In fact, in some cultures, Christmas doesn't really end on Christmas day. How do you celebrate Christmas and do you know anyone who can talk about this? | Spanish podcast

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SIMON AND LEE want to wish each one of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Sending love and joy to you and yours!

Questions for the Week: 

• What is your favorite part of advent and why?
• Everyone has different memories of Christmas. Some memories we cherish and others maybe were difficult. What are some of your most memorable Christmas memories?

Special Guest:
SANTA!!!

Santa's Favorite Stories:
"My Christmas Miracle" by Taylor Caldwell
"Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus"

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Questions for the Week:

• When people think of church, they probably think of a traditional sanctuary with pews facing the pulpit and a cross at the front of the room. But there are other interesting and creative arrangements and settings for church. What are some of the other arrangements that you have experienced and what did you think of them?
• Let's talk about people in customer and service oriented jobs like waiters and delivery folks. I feel like these jobs are under appreciated and underpaid. Based on a recent Washington Post opinion piece written by a waiter, I'm correct. What are your thoughts? How does the way we treat people in these jobs relate to our faith?

Special Guests:
Rev. Ashley DeTar Birt & Rick Ufford-Chase, Co-Directors of the Center for Jubilee Practice

Guest Question:
What are your thoughts on how the Church should do reparations? Should every congregation implement reparations in the same way?

Resource Roundup:
Healing Haunted Histories: A Settler Discipleship of Decolonization
Center for Jubilee Practice

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