Called to be Bad

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 "To me the value is in making sure people know that they are loved and they are created exactly as they are meant to be." 

On this week’s episode of Called to be Bad, I talk with the Theology Queen, Marge Erin Johnson who is a minister, entrepreneur and drag queen. You can read her full bio and see all of her socials in the podcast/youtube description. 

Marge unravels what is Drag, what is Drag church, how/why she started drag during seminary, how drag can be spiritually healing, and why she doesn’t need to reconcile drag with her faith (and why you don’t either). 

Resources: 

Marge/James’s Full Bio: 

Hey there, my fabulous friends! I'm James Admans (they/them). I am a minister, entrepreneur, and drag queen (Marge Erin Johnson, she/her). I am ordained pending call in the United Church of Christ. I graduated from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (unceded homelands of the Lenape Nation) with a Master of Divinity degree in interdisciplinary Biblical studies, social ethics, and queer theology. During my last year in seminary, I was honored to receive the prestigious Malcolm Boyd Veritas Award for my advocacy and social justice work on behalf of the queer and trans community.
I am also the editor of the recently published Beyond Worship: Meditations on Queer Worship, Liturgy, & Theology, a queer worship anthology featuring thirty-three contributions by LGBTQIA2S+ theologians. The book was awarded a 2023 Independent Publishers Bronze Medal in the category of religion.
As my drag alter-ego, Marge Erin Johnson, I lead a vibrant drag ministry, preach, and lead worship. You can connect with me and follow my journey on Instagram (@theology.queen).

Marge’s socials: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theology.queen/
Website: https://www.theologyqueen.com/about
Where to book Marg for Drag Church: https://www.theologyqueen.com/drag-church

Other resources mentioned: 

An article on what is a Drag "thing": https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2019/09/04/Hello-Drag-Things/
The Church of Fabulosity: https://churchoffabulosity.org/

Books: 
The Read Good Church: How Our Church Came Back from the Dead and How Yours Can Too https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/real-good-church-molly-phinney-baskette/1119713837

 

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"You know sometimes people feel suicidal and they don't want to die, they just want to stop hurting..."

In this episode of Called to be Bad I talk with Reverend Michiko Bown-Kai who is a minister in the United Church of Canada. We first talk about why language around suicide matters. Then Michiko shares some of their experience with suicide ideation (or thoughts of suicide) as a child and how that impacted their relationship with God an shaped their call to ministry. Later we talk about resources for those struggling with suicidality and those trying to support them. 

Full bio: 

Rev Michiko Bown-Kai is minister in The United Church of Canada who is passionate about social justice and creative expression. Michiko studied Social Justice and Peace Studies and Political Science at the University of Western Ontario before attending Emmanuel College for their Master of Divinity program. Over the past decade Michiko has engaged in ministry in many forms: as a Sunday School coordinator, program coordination at The United Church’s General Council Office, a youth group leader, an intern minister at East End United Regional Ministry, and most recently as the minister at Glen Morris United Church. Michiko is always excited to learn more about cultures, languages, and nature. You can often find Michiko biking, highland dancing, or befriending as many dogs as possible. 

Resources: 

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Tiny Lantern Suicide Intervention Resources: https://www.tinylantern.net/suicide-intervention-resources

Winnie the Pooh Reference (which may not actually be authentic, but is nice either way): 

https://www.facebook.com/ToughEnoughToCare/posts/it-occurred-to-pooh-and-piglet-that-they-hadnt-heard-from-eeyore-for-several-day/638140393473509/

Zombie References: 

“Race, Oppression, and the Zombie: Essays on Cross-Cultural Appropriation of the Caribbean Tradition” Edited by Christopher M. Moreman and Cory James Rushton

Short Ted Talk Video on Zombies: ”The Dark History of Zombies”  https://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_m_moreman_the_dark_history_of_zombies?subtitle=en

Atlantic Article: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/10/how-america-erased-the-tragic-history-of-the-zombie/412264/

New York Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/31/opinion/a-zombie-is-a-slave-forever.html?smid=fb-share&_r=1&

Michiko Resources: 

Website: https://michikobownkai.wixsite.com/ministry

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/queerkenosis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queerkenosis/

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In this episode of Called to Be Bad I talk with Sarah Werner. Sarah is an editor, writer and pastor living in Columbus, Ohio. You can find Sarah’s full bio in the description. Sarah is the author of the book, Rooted Faith: Practices of Living Well on a Fragile Planet. In this episode we discuss Sarah’s book, in particular the idea of Animism and how it relates to the Christian faith. We talk about how all of creation is alive, including rocks! And how connecting and respecting everything wild around us–is both biblical and beneficial to our daily lives. There is lots of talk of squirrels, birds, and of course chickens. There is special mention of divine pigeons, so watch out for that. 

Sarah’s Bio: 

Sarah Werner is an editor, writer and pastor living in Columbus, Ohio. She is the Communications Coordinator for Central District Conference in the Mennonite Church USA and the leader of Olentangy Wild Church. She teaches ecotheology and biblical studies courses at PATHWAYS, a theological education program affiliated with the United Church of Christ. She has a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a PhD from the University of Florida in Religion. In her free time she enjoys wandering in the woods and backyard bird watching. Click HERE for her blog.

Resources Mentioned: 

Sarah’s Book: 

Rooted Faith: Practices for Living Well on a Fragile Planet https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513813165/rooted-faith/

Other books: 

An Altar in the World: A Geology of Faith by Barbra Brown Taylor  

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=altar+in+the+world&hvadid=409960988344&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1017117&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14373506741575625760&hvtargid=kwd-11416552781&hydadcr=24657_11410751&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_97d507hy7p_e

Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology  by David Abram 

https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Animal-Cosmology-David-Abram/dp/0375713697

Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Sacred Earth by Randy Woodley

https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Rooted-Hundred-Reconnecting-Sacred/dp/150647117X

When God was a Bird: Christianity, Animism, and the Re-Enchantment of the World by Mark I. Wallace https://www.fordhampress.com/9780823281312/when-god-was-a-bird/

Poem: 

“A Summer Day” by Mary Oliver

Who made the world?

Who made the swan, and the black bear?

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean—

the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—

who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

—Mary Oliver

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“We don’t have the tools necessary to talk about God…” 

Today’s episode is co-hosted with Dr. Malinda E. Berry who you may recognize from an episode of Called to be Bad named Toxic Secrets. 

Dr. Malinda and I had the privilege of hearing Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney speak on her prolific work in the world of Bible translation using gender expansive language. 

Rev. Dr Wil Gafney is the author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church Years A and B and,Year W, a stand alone volume (Church House Publishing), Volume C of the Lectionary is due in 2024–i believe in July–this month actually. Good timing. 

Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne (Westminster/John Knox), a commentary on Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah for the Liturgical Press Wisdom series, Daughters of Miriam: Women Prophets in Ancient Israel 

You will find her full bio on her website linked below. 

Resources: 

Dr. Wil Gafney’s website: 

https://www.wilgafney.com/

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"While I was processing my gender, my biggest fear was that I would come out as trans and then be like, 'oh wait, actually no...'"

In this episode of Called to be Bad Podcast I talk with  Jenna Reyanne Martin (she, her) a trans woman who is active in her Mennonite Church (the same church where I am pastor). We get to hear her story of understanding her gender and coming out as trans. We dig into how "trans-ness" disrupts social scripts and colonial society. Jenna gives advice to churches who are striving to be more inclusive. If you stay to the end Jenna recites the CTBB intro by memory! 

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"Sadly some of my colleagues thought I was evil, the administration thought I was evil, a small percentage of my students thought I was evil...."

In this episode of Called to be Bad I talk with Scott Okamoto who is a writer, musician, and podcaster. Scott writes about his experiences as a Japanese American who leaves religion while teaching English at a conservative evangelical university in his book, Asian American Apostate.

This episode is hilarious–well Scott is hilarious, and we get to hear all sorts of funny, sometimes sad, sometimes ridiculous stories of Scott’s time as a “bad professor”. It is fun and poignant and I hope you enjoy. 

Resources: 

Where to find Scott: 

Website: https://www.rscottokamoto.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rsokamoto/

Chapel Probation Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-okamoto

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"White people act as if racism doesn't hurt them, but it does."

In this episode of Called to be Bad I talk with Darryl Heller and Ben Bouwman about reparations. Darryl is professor of women and gender studies at Indiana University South Bend and is the director of the South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center. Ben pastors at Walnut Hill Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana.

Darryl and Ben provide definitions for reparations and Darryl talks about how reparations is a process, not a one-time-event. We discuss biblical models of reparations and how learning history is key to prevent future harm.

Resources:

On Reparations:
Movement for Black Lives Reparations Now Toolkit and Vox Podcast on Reparations (4 episodes)

http://www.walnuthillmennonitechurch.com/reparations.html

Books Mentioned:

Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair by Duke L. Kwong, Gregory Thompson
http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/reparations/402211

Babel by R.F. Kuang
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57945316

My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem
https://centralrecoverypress.com/product/my-grandmothers-hands-racialized-trauma-and-the-pathway-to-mending-our-hearts-and-bodies-paperback

Dr. Darryl Heller's Work: 
"Dr. Darryl Heller discusses revised Police disciplinary Matrix":
https://www.abc57.com/news/dr-darryl-heller-discusses-revised-police-disciplinary-matrix-06-18-20

"More than a March and a Speech: Civil Rights History in the US": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cFH2_Vc_eY&ab_channel=SMCCenterfortheStudyofSpirituality

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"So my sexuality was like, 'here's how you're supposed to be: you're supposed to be heterosexual, you're supposed to be submissive, you're supposed to be excited any time he is excited. You're not really allowed to say no, or if you say no...say yes next time.'" 

In this episode of Called to be Bad I talk with Jo Lloyd Johnson, a woman who grew up in a fundamentalist Christian commune in California. She shares her story of how her understanding of sex changed from one of shame to one of healing in her memoir, "Silenced in Eden". We talk about how to define sex/virginity, how much sex is wrapped up in shame within Christianity, and how having premarital sex with her now husband helped Jo heal her relationship with her body.  

Resources: 

Books: 
Come As You Are: The Surprising New  Science that will Transform Your Sex Life 
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Come-As-You-Are-Revised-and-Updated/Emily-Nagoski/9781982165314

Virgin: The Untouched History by Hanne Blank 
https://goodreads.com/en/book/show/225909

The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You've Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended https://baremarriage.com/great-sex-rescue/

Love Wins by Rob Bell https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40721873-love-wins

The organization Jo mentioned that funds EMDR for SA Survivors:  
Louder Than Silence 
https://www.louderthansilence.org/

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"And the fact that 80 or 85% of the mineral needed to power the green economy, needed to build our electric cars, our solar panels, etc., are located on or near Indigenous lands..."

In this episode of CTBB I talk with Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler about what it would look like to participate in "holistic decolonization" work. Can we re-imagine how we relate to one another and creation outside the frameworks of capitalism, white supremacy, and "extractive practices". How would it change our planet if we adopted an Indigenous cosmology and relationship to one another? I say this every time...but this is a good one folks.

Guest bios:

Sheri Hostetler cofounded the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition in 2014 and continues to serve on the steering committee. She is the cohost of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery podcast with Sarah Augustine. She was also one of the founders of what is now called Inclusive Mennonite Pastors, a coalition of pastoral leaders seeking LGBTQ+ justice in the church. She has been the lead pastor of First Mennonite Church of San Francisco since 2000. Her writing has appeared in Anabaptist World, Mennonite Quarterly Review, Leader magazine, and more, and her poems appear in A Cappella: Mennonite Voices in Poetry. She is a graduate of Bluffton College and the Episcopal Divinity School. She is trained as a spiritual director and a permaculturist, and lives with her husband Jerome Baggett and their son Patrick on an island in the San Francisco Bay. She comes from a long line of Amish and Mennonite settler farmers.

Sarah Augustine, who is a Pueblo (Tewa) descendant, is cofounder and executive director of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition. She is also the cofounder of Suriname Indigenous Health Fund (SIHF), where she has worked in relationship with vulnerable Indigenous Peoples since 2005. She has represented the interests of Indigenous community partners to their own governments, the Inter-American development bank, the United Nations, the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the World Health Organization, among others. She cohosts the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery podcast with Sheri Hostetler and is the author of The Land Is Not Empty. She serves in a leadership role on multiple boards and commissions to enable vulnerable peoples in Washington State to speak for themselves in advocating for structural change. She and her husband Dan Peplow and their son live in the Yakima Valley of Washington.

Resources:

"So We and Our Children May Live" https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513812946/so-we-and-our-children-may-live/

The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery: https://dismantlediscovery.org/

The Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dismantling-the-doctrine-of-discovery-podcast/id1570638562
 

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“I could spend hours and days looking for a particular book, and not infrequently I discover I have more than one copy, I’ve discovered not only doubles, but triples, and in the worst case four copies of the same book on my shelf.”

In this episode of CTBB I talk with professor, polyglot, and book/word-lover, Paul Keim. We hear Paul’s opinions on the name of the podcast, stories of how he fell in love with language and books, why he loves memes, why reading/collecting books is elitist, and how it is the “knowledge-keeper’s” responsibility to share what they learn. It is a full, meandering, nerdy, and fun episode. 

Guest Bio: 

Paul Keim is professor of Bible, religion and classical languages at Goshen College. He received his Master of Divinity in theological studies from the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart. After completing several years of service and study with the Mennonite Central Committee in Poland and England, he went on to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he received a doctoral degree in near Eastern languages and civilizations. He taught for over 20 years at Goshen College and as a sessional adjunct at AMBS. Prof. Keim recently retired from Goshen College. Having taught on an adjunct basis at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary for many years, he was Visiting Professor of Biblical Studies and Chair of the Bible Department during the 2021-22 year. He is now Coordinator of student services at AMBS. He is currently writing a commentary on the Book of Job for the Believers Church Bible Commentary series.

References: 

Krister Stendahl, “Why I Love the Bible”: https://bulletin.hds.harvard.edu/why-i-love-the-bible/

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