A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast

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Questions for the Week:

• We live in an age where reviews, scores and ratings are really important to measure success and engagement with a product. For entertainment such as movies, games or even music, there are sites such as rotten tomatoes, metacritic, and open critic which aggregate review scores from across other individual review-oriented outlets to help provide an "overall" perspective on the quality of a product. And we have multiple ways to provide reviews for sellers on Amazon, Ebay and Facebook Marketplace, and our drivers for services like Uber and Lyft. In fact, even customers can be reviewed by sellers to indicate if they were easy to work with. Do/should churches care about reviews? Why or why not? If they should, what sites or platforms should we pay attention to? What type of reviews should matter?
• It is so easy to learn about the personal lives of famous people such as celebrities and politicians. Some people get very invested in these people's lives. Do you think there is any value to learning or knowing about famous people's personal life? Why or why not? | 

Special Guest:
Stephanie Vasquez, Global Language Resources in Spanish, PCUSA

Guest Question:
Language interpretation and accessibility is becoming increasingly necessary in the church. But it isn't always easy or cheap. How do we encourage congregations (and the church as whole) to embrace this? Also, there is a difference between simply translating something and adapting it for an audience. What goes in that process?

Resource Roundup:
Title VI, Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons
Protections for persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
St Jerome
Interpreting and the Church

Contact Stephanie: [email protected]

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Questions for the Week:

• Some people refer to Presbyterians as "the frozen chosen." What does this mean?
• The archbishop of the U.S. military has said that Catholic troops shouldn't be forced to receive the Covid-19 vaccine if they feel it violates their conscience. What are your thoughts on this? Further, do you think this is any different from a religious exemption for vaccination?

Special Guest:
April Martin, Director of Youth Ministries and Associate for Congregational Engagement, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church

Guest Question:
Not all people who work in the church necessarily have a theological or seminary background but still do great work. What are skills that you learned in a non-church related job (ie. another industry or sector) that surprisingly prepared you for church work or ministry?

Resource Roundup:
Unbound Advent Devotional

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Questions for the Day:

• Everyone has their own Thanksgiving traditions. Of course, there are classics like eating Turkey, but there are other traditions unique to each family. How do you usually celebrate Thanksgiving?
• As Thanksgiving rolls around, we've got to talk about Black Friday. Some people really like it as an opportunity to buy stuff at a discount, while others really don't like it. Where do you stand on it? Have you ever participated in Black Friday sales?

Special Guest:
Lauren Rogers, Project Manager for Digital Fundraising, Special Offerings and the Presbyterian Giving Catalog, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Guest Question:
There are so many organizations asking for our money and donations. Why should I give to the church, and the PC(USA) more broadly, over other organizations or partners?

Resource Roundup:
PCUSA's Giving Tuesday Webpage

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Questions for the Week:

• A recent article came out in The Atlantic titled "My Church Doesn’t Know What to Do Anymore" outlining the challenges of churches trying to "return to normal". The author, a rector at an Episcopal Church states that it is actually harder to do church now in 2021 than it was in 2020, in the heart of the pandemic in the US. I find her experience quite relatable. What do you think?
• The latest popular show that people are talking about is "Squid Game" a Korean drama on Netflix. Squid Game shares some similarities with other dystopian themed shows: a bleak outlook on life, people competing for survival in some sort of game or contest, and the powerful using the poor for entertainment. Why do you think this show and these themes are popular? Do the messages these themes convey have any relevance for people of faith?

Special Guests:
Hyeyoung Lee & Kurt Esslinger, Mission Co-workers, South Korea

Guest Question:
I've heard about the terms 한 ("han") and 정 ("jeong") in Korean culture. What do these terms mean and how might they apply to faith?

Resource Roundup:
Three Talks on Minjung Theology
Han & Jeong: Korea's Sadness and Love
A complex feeling tugs at Koreans (Los Angeles Times)

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Simon and Lee have a conversation with the Rev. Dr. Erin Swenson. In 1996 Erin became the first known mainstream minister (Presbyterian, PCUSA) to change sex and remain in ordained office.

Special Guest:
Rev. Dr. Erin Swenson

Guest Question:
What was your experience like maintaining your ordination credentials in the PCUSA while requesting a name change per your gender transition? How have you seen opportunities for transgender individuals in the church (and the ordination process) change during your life? What work do you think remains for the church in terms of justice and equality for transgender and nonbinary inclusion? |

Resource Roundup:
Erin's Website
Beyond Pink & Blue Conference

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Questions for the Week:

• We've all heard the term "guilty pleasure," meaning you like something a cultural consensus says you shouldn't, like Nickelback. The older I get, the less I see the term in that definition, and the more I see it in terms of things I know are problematic, but I still enjoy them. James Bond movies and football leap to mind. The 007 franchise historically has been full of violence, misogyny, vice, and myriad other problematic elements. As the director of the latest Bond flick, Cary Joji Fukunaga, pointed out, Bond has committed sexual assault in some of the older films. But I can still succumb to the escapist action and stunning locations when "Casino Royale" or one of the other 007 classics comes on.
  In the same way, I thoroughly enjoy an afternoon or evening watching football, particularly if my Los Angeles Rams are playing, though I know the sport is rife with intersecting problems including violence, racism, exploitation, and other issues. 
  Is it enough to be aware of the problems with guilty pleasures and keeping them in mind as you indulge, or do you need to purge them from your life? Do y'all have any guilty pleasures you contend with?
• There was a recent article about what the show Ted Lasso could the clergy. What do you think about this? Have you ever watched something and felt like it spoke to your work in the church or ministry? 

Special Guest:
Sue Rheem, Presbyterian Representative to the United Nations, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations

Guest Question:
I recently learned that the PC(USA) has an office at the United Nations. Why? What does this office do? Does the UN really listen to the church and the faith community?

Resource Roundup:
Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations Facebook Page

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CORRECTION: “Descended into hell” not Lord’s Prayer - but Apostles Creed.

Questions for the Week:

• Do you believe in ghosts?
• Halloween is an interesting subject in the church. Some churches and faith communities swear that Christians should not celebrate or participate in Halloween. Other churches love Halloween festivities and actively hold events for it. Why do you think this is the case and will it ever change?

Special Guest:
Michael W. Waters
Founder and Lead Pastor of the Abundant Life African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas, TX & award-winning author, activist, and social commentator

Guest Question:
In the church, we often don't know how to talk about tough issues, especially with children. We either assume they can't handle the truth or that they don't have any real power to make change so we don't engage them. How do we engage children about tough issues and empower them to think more and responsibly take action? Are there examples of media (books, films, arts, etc.) that do this?

Resource Roundup:
Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip
For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World
Something in the Water: A 21st Century Civil Rights Odyssey

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**This is a special episode of A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast**

Rev. Dr. Margaret E. Towner is known to many as the first woman ordained Presbyterian minister.  Margaret was ordained on Oct. 24, 1956. This month she will celebrate the 65th anniversary of her ordination. Join Simon and Lee as they have an amazing conversation with Marg.

Guest Question:
What was your experience becoming the first ordained woman Presbyterian minister? How have you seen opportunities for women in the church (and the ordination process) change during your life? What work do you think remains for church in terms of justice and equality?

Other works from Margaret:
This Far by Faith
Margaret Towner Reflects (Presbyterian Historical Society)
Newspaper clipping of article, "First Woman Minister: Syracusan Sets Precedent in Presbyterian Church" 

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Pregunta de la semana:
En el pasado año, hemos leído noticias alarmantes sobre el aumento de la violencia contra las mujeres, especialmente durante la pandemia. Al leer las noticias sobre dos feminicidios ocurridos en Puerto Rico en el mes de mayo y las noticias que salieron en la prensa sobre las protestas de organizaciones que pedían acciones concretas del gobierno, no se escuchó mucho en los Estados Unidos continentales sobre esto.

Anfitriones invitados:
Rvdo. Edwin González-Castillo, Associate for Disaster Response in Latin America & the Caribbean, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Rvda. Rosa Miranda, Associate for Hispanic/Latino-a Intercultural Congregational Support, Office of Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries

Invitada:
Rvda. Dra. Marielis Barreto, Pastor at Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana en Aguada, Puerto Rico

Edwin Gonzalez-Castillo, Asociado para Respuesta en Desastres para Latinoamérica y el Caribe; Rev. Rosa Miranda, Asociada para el Apoyo Congregacional Intercultural Hispano/Latino & Rev. Dr. Marielis Barreto, Pastora de la Primera Iglesia en Aguada, Puerto Rico

Recursos:
Señales de Alerta de Abuso
National Domestic Violence Hotline (Español): 1-800-787-3224
Oficina de La Procura de Las Mujeres
Paz para la mujer

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Question for the Week:
In the past year, we’ve read alarming news on the rise of violence against women, especially during the pandemic. Reading the news about two particular femicides that occurred in Puerto Rico in the spring and news reports shared about protests happening and organizations asking for concrete actions from the government, not much was heard in the continental US about this. In fact, one could argue not much is said in general about the topic and about the response of the church to these evils. Being that this is Domestic Violence Awareness month, could you share what we, as a church, are doing to raise awareness about gender-based violence and violence against women to bring about, support or engage in long-standing change?

Special Guest Co-Host:
Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, Educator, Ruling Elder & Past Co-Moderator of the 223rd General Assembly

Special Guests:
Rev. Medeline Alvarez, Presbiterio del Noroeste in Puerto Rico

Courtney Hoekstra, Associate for Advocacy Committee Support in the Presbyterian Mission Agency | Gender-based violence in Puerto Rico |

Resource Roundup:
PC(USA) Statements:
Statement on Gender-Based Violence in Puerto Rico (English)
Statement on Gender-Based Violence in Puerto Rico (Español)
Report on Gender & Leadership in the PC(USA) version 1
Report on Gender & Leadership in the PC(USA) version 2

PC(USA) News Stories:
Presbyterians in Puerto Rico seek an end to domestic violence (English)
Violencia Domestica en Puerto Rico
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) stands with churches in Puerto Rico speaking out against femicide
La Iglesia Presbiteriana (EE. UU.) apoya a las iglesias de Puerto Rico que protestan contra el feminicidio

PC(USA) Reports & Resources:
Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations
Office of Public Witness
Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns

Domestic Violence Resources:
National Domestic Violence Hotline (English): 1-800-787-3224
National Domestic Violence Hotline (Español): 1-800-787-3224
PC(USA) helpline for cases of abuse involving church leaders: 866-607-7233

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