Do Justice

Songs about the end of the world and stuff.  [Actually] we have a great conversation about ways churches in North America can think about their relationship with creation in a new way through the music offered in the Climate Vigil Album created with The Porters Gate.

Climate change can feel heavy and dark. The Climate Vigil is a project to bring prayer and light to the topic. Global participants met during COP21 in Glasgow to sing and pray for creation.  Isaac Wardell and Peter Fargo are guests.

Show Notes:

The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the podcast represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church.

In 1995, Jonathan Maracle, a Mohawk from Tyendinaga Territory in Ontario, Canada, decided not to sing Amazing Grace at the Sacred Assembly in Ottawa, as he had been asked. What he didn’t know was that listening to the Spirit in that moment would inspire a band and ministry that would shape the rest of his life [and the church.]

Show Notes:

The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the podcast represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church.

We welcome Dr. Kenny Wallace to the show.  Kenny is an African American Choctaw Pawnee from the United States living in Canada. He teaches nationally and internationally about multi-ethnic worship with his organization Kingdom Reflections Multi-Ethnic Worship Ministries and today he unpacks with us how multi-ethnic worship can shape our spiritual imaginations.

Show Notes: 

The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the podcast represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church.

It’s a party! The Do Justice podcast has new partners and friends. Joyce Borger and Katie Roelofs with CRCNA Worship Ministries join us to set up the focus for this season: how worship can orient our hearts toward justice.

P.S.  Throughout this season you may hear our producers names' Megan and Victoria come up.  They're on each call to make sure that the sound quality etc. is great for your listening ears.  

Show Notes:

The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the podcast represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church.

In the final episode of Season 4, Edgar Aguilar, senior researcher with La Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa, or the Association for a More Just Society in Honduras joins us. Edgar shares how organizations and communities advocating for Covid-19 vaccine equity have resulted in increased vaccination rates in Honduras. Chris and Edgar also talk about running—(Edgar likes running to be present in the moment; Chris likes running to the fridge for pizza)—and how work toward increased integrity in the energy sector can help meet both immediate and long-term needs for people in Honduras.

(Note for our English-speaking listeners: the abbreviation “ASJ” is pronounced “a” (ah) - “s” (EH-say) - “j” (HOH-ta) in Spanish.)

Show Notes:

The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the podcast represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church.

Dena Nicolai, chaplain and refugee support mobilizer with the Christian Reformed Churches of British Columbia, shares the simple starting place for much of her engagement with people who have been refugees: joining them for a cup of coffee and saying “tell me how you’re doing.” Dena and Chris also talk about the ministry of sharing in lament, the importance of advocating ‘with’ and rather than ‘for’, and how the advocacy of faith communities and sponsors alongside newcomers changed government policy to provide a more “full” welcome for refugees in Canada.

Show Notes:

The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the podcast represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church.

In this episode, Kyle Meyaard-Schapp, vice president of the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) shares how he got involved in climate advocacy as a Christian - including the middle-school humor nickname for the lake near the town where he grew up! Kyle and Chris also talk about lament as a necessary component of hope, how to encourage folks wherever they are on their justice journeys, and taking the long view when it comes to bringing about change.

Show Notes:

The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the podcast represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church.

Julia Beazley, Director of Public Policy for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, tells the story of the survivors, church communities, and policy makers who advocated to instate Bill C-36 into law. Chris and Julia also talk about the responsibility to stop treating people in vulnerable circumstances like the problem and address the systemic problems that make people vulnerable.

Show Notes:

The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the podcast represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church.

You don’t have to be a history geek to appreciate the vintage vibes in this episode! Susan VanLopik, Director of Program Excellence with World Renew joins Chris Orme to look at the broad overview of how (and how long) the CRCNA has been involved in working toward justice throughout its history. Chris and Susan talk about words from a 1973 report to Synod that still pack a punch today and Susan shares the powerful stories that inspire her (and all of us) to keep working toward justice for the long haul. (Sadly, we never get the details about Susan’s finger tattoos. Maybe next time.)

Show Notes:

The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the podcast represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church.

Our colleague Cindy Stover joins Chris Orme to geek out about the word “shalom” and set the groundwork for our next season exploring the intersections of charity and advocacy.

The Reformed family is a diverse family with a diverse range of opinions. Not all perspectives expressed on the podcast represent the official positions of the Christian Reformed Church.