A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast

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Questions for the Week:

• What is your experience dating as a church leader/person of faith who is active in the church? 
• What is some of the best and worst advice you've ever received from someone in church? 

Special Guest:
Rev. Dr. Gregory Simpson, Pastor at Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church, Chair of the Environmental & Climate Change Sub-committee of MRTI

Guest Question:
How can we as a society simultaneously work to address issues of global climate change that do not exacerbate or perpetuate other issues and inequalities such as poverty and access to resources? How can this be done in a way that builds community, instead of simply looking for a "quick and easy solution" that disregards potential consequences?

Resource Roundup:

• The Climate Reality Project
• WE ACT
• White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council

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Questions for the Week:

• What is your definition of "success"? How do you think the Christian definition of success differs from the secular definition?
• Sundays are supposed to be "the Lord's day" in which you take a rest and do no work. I've always found this interesting because everyone "rests" in different ways. Further, in the current context in which many people work from home, they may end up working some on Sunday. What are ways that you are able to "rest"? And what really qualifies as "rest"?

Special Guest:
Rev. Sandra Moon, Licensed Attorney & Director of Admissions at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Guest Question:
How do you understand the relationship between the Bible, faith, and the law?

Resource Roundup:
Lousiville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

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Questions for the Week:

• I was confirmed recently in my local Presbyterian Church and have become a member. Suddenly, I am on all of these email lists, being asked to help with things, and biggest of all - being asked how much money I pledge to give over the next year. I'm only in high school. I'd love to give, but honestly don't have much money. How much should I be giving? Are there suggestions for other ways I can contribute? 
• What are your thoughts on tattoos? Can Christians have tattoos? What do you think about the use of Christian imagery in tattoos?

Special Guest:
Laurie Kraus, Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Guest Question:
In the aftermath of natural disasters (or human caused disasters, such as mass shootings), how can I best walk alongside those affected in my community as they mourn, grieve, and try to move forward? Is there something specific that I can offer them as a person of faith?

Resource Roundup:

• Recovering from Un-Natural Disasters: A Guide for Pastors and Congregations after Violence and Trauma
• Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

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Questions for the Week:

• What is one subject/topic that is not taught in schools that you think should? 
• If you could meet any person/figure from the Bible, who would it be and why? 

Special Guest:
Jeffrey Arnold, Executive Director, Association for Presbyterian Colleges and Universities

Guest Question:
I've heard about colleges and universities being associated with specific religious denominations. What does it mean for a college to be associated with the Presbyterian church? What does it mean in terms of the education students get and the approach that schools take?

Resource Roundup:

• Presbyterian Scholarships for Undergraduate Students
• PCUSA Parent Loan Program

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Questions for the Week:

• My question relates to July 4th and worship. What role does patriotic music and symbols of America (i.e. the Flag) have in our worship? 
• At what point does praise for our nation become idolatry? With Independence day on a Sunday this year this issue seems to be even more in your face than usual. 

Special Guest:
Jimmie Hawkins, Director, Office of Public Witness

Guest Question:
Also, in the wake of the attack on the capitol on January 6th, has the flag become a symbol of terror?

Resource Roundup:
Honest Patriotism

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This week, we got a lot of questions about faith based investing! We invited our friends from the Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee to join us on the podcast!

Special Guests:
Kerri Allen
Chair of MRTI, and Representative of the Advisory Committee for Women's Concerns
 
Rob Fohr
Director of Faith-Based Investing and Corporate Engagement & Lead Staff Person for the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI)

Guest Questions:

• Why does the PCUSA engage the companies in which it owns stock?
• How does the way that PCUSA engages companies and communities reflect our Presbyterian values?
• How does the PCUSA’s process/approach compare to other faith-based investors?
• What are some of the common myths or misperceptions about MRTI, faith-based investing, and/or divestment? 

Resource Roundup:
Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI)
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)
General Assembly Divestment/Proscription List*
Proxy Voting Recommendations*
*for the latest guidelines please check theMRTI website

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Questions for the Week:

• What are your thoughts on using name tags at church? I know that it is meant to make it easier for visitors feel like they can talk to members, but I'm not sure how I feel about them. 
• My church is a bit behind the times in terms of technology and communications. We have a Facebook page and a barebones website. How do we increase our social media presence, particularly with limited resources?

Guest:
David LaMotte, Author, Singer & Songwriter
https://www.davidlamotte.com/ 

Guest Question:

• I see people in my community and my church who are troubled by various injustices that we see in the world. But I feel like they're also all waiting for someone to come along who has that "special" gift to get changes started and get things moving, and then they'll do something. Am I the only one observing this? And is this the correct approach? Further, I'm a young person who is constantly told to "wait" until I have my skills and my life figured out to participate in any cause for justice. But I don't want to wait. Am I just being impatient?

Resource Roundup: Juneteenth

• Juneteenth
• PC(USA) Anti-Racism Resources
• Belhar Confession 

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Questions for the Week: 

• There was a recent Buzzfeed article describing Millennials as the "burnout generation". As millennials yourselves, what do you think? Did anything in this article resonate with you? If so, how has your church and faith community helped you manage burnout?
•  What do you think it means to be a "man of faith" in today's world? 

Special Guest:
Rebecca Barnes, Coordinator, Presbyterian Hunger Program

Guest Question:
Is becoming a vegan the best way for someone to reduce their carbon footprint and not contribute to climate change and environmental degradation? I understand the desire and commitment, but I'm not sure I agree with the attitude towards others that some vegans adopt. Are there alternative ways for me to change my lifestyle, particularly as a person of faith?

Resource Roundup:
w/ Jennifer Evans, Program Assistant for Partner Grants and Communications

• 2020 PHP Impact Report 
• Presbyterian Hunger Program Post

For Listening Guides, click here!
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A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast celebrates Pride 2021!

Special Guests:
Shelley Donaldson (she|her)
Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, CT

Shanea Leonard (they|them)
Associate for Gender & Racial Justice, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Guest Questions: 

• What does it mean to be a queer person in the church? 
• What do I do when a young person comes out to me? How do I respond in a way that’s helpful rather than creating additional problems? How do I help them navigate our church community, which is generally inclusive and affirming, there are some who are not?

Resource Roundup:

• Office of Gender and Racial Justice
• A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns
• Queerfully and Wonderfully Made
• Welcoming and Affirming: A Guide to Working with LGBTQ+ Christian Youth
• Shelley's Resource List
• PC(USA) Pride Calendar
• Shanea's Pronoun Article

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Questions for the Week:

• As COVID is coming to some sort of end (or, at least, we're acting like it is), I'm finding that I haven't really processed a single darn second of the past 14 months. Case in point: I was listening to an ESPN ""30 for 30"" podcast about when the NBA shutdown for the season on March 11, 2020.  I'm not a big NBA fan but listening to this podcast I nearly start crying. That's when I realized: throughout the pandemic all I was doing was learning, communicating, and making decisions - hundreds and hundreds of decisions. I wasn't actually processing any of it. I was surviving well, but that's it. I'm proud of those survival instincts, but am now lamenting that I never felt the time or space to process in real time (if that's even possible for something like a pandemic).  Has anyone else had this experience of realizing you haven’t process anything until it came crashing in at an unexpected moment? Second, if this is going to be part of our shared COVID experience, then what does it mean for ministry?
• What are your thoughts on stained glass windows?

Special Guest:
Carl Horton, Coordinator, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program 
 
Guest Question:
What are some tips for addressing/navigating conflict in the church? 

Resource Roundup:
Seeking to be Faithful Together: Guidelines for Presbyterians in Times of Disagreement

For Listening Guides, click here!
Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]!
A Matter of Faith website