In this episode of InVerse Podcast, we hear from Dr Byron Smith.
Byron has fifteen years’ experience in pastoral ministry with local churches, and received honours degrees in theology, philosophy and literature. His PhD in theological ethics (University of Edinburgh) focused on emotional responses to climate change in the context of Christian identity. Byron has repeatedly put his body where his faith is and been involved in nonviolent direct actions against new coal projects and in support of people seeking asylum.

Rev Dr Munther Isaac (PhD, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies) is the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College in Palestine and director of the “Christ at the Checkpoint” conference. He is also pastor of Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. He is the author of “From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth: A Christ-Centered Biblical Theology of the Promised Land”, “The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Hope and Lament” and “Christ and the Checkpoint: Blessed are the Peacemakers”

On this episode of the InVerse Podcast join us as we discuss with Safina Stewart and Gershon Nimbalker from CommonGrace.org.au the upcoming vote on 14th October to change Australia’s constitution to recognise First Nations Peoples and establish a Voice to Parliament.

Safina Stewart is a proud Wuthithi and Mabuiag Island woman who grew up cross-culturally in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Safina is passionate about culture, education, the arts, justice and faith and is Common Grace's Relationships and Storytelling Coordinator. Safina lives with her family in regional Victoria on the lands of the Bunarong people.

Gershon Nimbalker is the National Director of Common Grace and founder of Sojourners Social Change Consultants. He has more than 15 years of experience working in advocacy, policy and research, as well as leading and growing grass roots movements to campaign on issues of social justice. Gershon lives on the lands of Awabakal peoples in Newcastle, NSW with his young family.

In this episode of our series 'InVerse's Own: Voices From Our Community', we hear from Larissa Minniecon, Raisera McCulloch & Hannah Chapman as they explore how Indigenous women re-write, re-name and re-member our stories in a hostile environment, in the context of the [Australian] Referendum [on recognising the First Nations Peoples of Australia in the Constitution and establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament].

Noam Chomsky calls bestselling journalist Antony Loewenstein’s new book a “record of how ‘the light unto the nations’ became the purveyor of the means of violence and brutal repression from Guatemala to Myanmar and wherever else the opportunity arose”. Join us in conversation with Antony Loewenstein about the modern nation state of Israel, technology, militarisation, colonialism and how the Jewish and Christian Scriptures are [ab]used to support the business of dehumanisation & occupation.

“Walking the Red Road in an effort to decolonize and contextualize the Way of Jesus.”
Join us for Sarah Quint! Sarah a citizen of the Mattaponi Nation of Tsenacommacah, Turtle Island (present-day eastern Virginia, USA). Her and her partner, Steve, pastor Monroe City Church in Monroe, MI (Potawatomi territory). She is a mother of two amazing boys, River and Reed. Sarah is a self-diagnosed nemophilist, because of her love for the forest, with a passion for plant knowledge and foraging. With the help of her Elders and the Great Spirit, Sarah has been walking the Red Road in an effort to decolonize and contextualize the Way of Jesus. These efforts have led to crafting songs in her Tribe’s traditional tongue, connecting to the land, creative writing, and oral storytelling. As she works towards reconnection in all 7 directions, Sarah is passionate about inviting others who feel disenfranchised along the way. She is proud to represent the long line of First Nations relatives who have been good hosts on their land. She is a board member of Monroe Puente, a nonprofit that works to make sure immigrants and migrant workers receive the welcome, dignity, and connections that they deserve. Wholeness to Sarah is when all creation has the freedom to live out their God-given purpose around the sacred hoop of life. Her daily prayer is, “May the Circle Be Unbroken.”

We’re continuing on with our latest series; Liberating Liturgies: Formation To Undo Domination. This week our guest is Terrance Hawkins.

Terrance Hawkins is a follower of Jesus, a father, a son and practitioner of the Black Radical Church Tradition, and a life-long resident of Winston-Salem, NC. He has built in solidarity with his community as an organizer, pastor, and an artist for close to two decades. Terrance is the co-founder of a collective of local activists called the Drum Majors Alliance, the founder/director of Lit City (a youth development initiative), & currently serves as the co-director for the School of Love—an alternative spiritual community and cohort geared towards cultivating rhythms of radical discipleship. He co-authored the book “Liberating Church: A 21st Century Hush Harbor Manifesto.”

In this series, we explore the witness of communal spiritualities that have provided an embodied Christ-like counter story to Christendom’s accommodation to domination, empire and colonisation.

Much like our “Nonviolent Atonements” series, alongside exploring with surprising people how the Scriptures can turn our world upside down.

Join us in this special episode as we delve into the heart and soul of our incredible community. Inverse Podcast proudly presents "Inverse's Own: Voices From Our Community," where we turn the spotlight on members of our Inverse family. In this instalment, we're honoured to hear from Tamice Spencer-Helms.

Tamice Spencer-Helms (she/her) has a passion for working with young adults and seeing them grow into themselves and thrive. In 2018 Tamice established the nonprofit Sub:Culture Incorporated, which seeks to remove social and economic barriers for black college students. An experienced scholar-practitioner, Tamice holds a Master of Arts in Contextual Outreach and Leadership from Wheaton College as well as a Masters of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological seminary. In her over 15 years of campus work, Tamice has served as the Director of Student Experience and Engagement at Virginia Union University, Associate Area Director of HBCU Planting and Strategy and has taught numerous undergraduate courses and workshops. Tamice is a Hip-Hop head, a true crime/documentary enthusiast, a pizza lover, and a coffee addict. Tamice lives in Richmond with her spouse Ellison and daughter Harlym.

Much like our “Nonviolent Atonements” series, alongside exploring with surprising people how the Scriptures can turn our world upside down, this season we are also exploring “Liberating Liturgies: Formation to Undo Domination”. In this series, we will explore the witness of communal spiritualities that have provided an embodied Christ-like counter story to Christendom’s accommodation to domination, empire and colonisation. And we are kicking off with truly one of the contemporary greatest spiritual leaders, our mate Rev Dr Otis Moss III.

Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III is senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. He is a preacher, activist, author and filmmaker with an eye toward justice and equality, as evidenced through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rev. Dr. Moss is ordained in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the United Church of Christ. With civil rights advocacy in his DNA, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III built his ministry on community advancement and social justice activism. Dr. Moss is part of a new generation of ministers committed to preaching a prophetic message of love and justice, which he believes are inseparable companions that form the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Dr. Dennis R. Edwards is currently Dean and Vice President of Church Relations at North Park Theological Seminary, after having previously been Associate Professor of New Testament. He’s the author of 1 Peter in the Story of God Bible Commentary series (Zondervan), What is the Bible and How Do We Understand It? (Herald Press), Might from the Margins: The Gospel’s Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice (Herald Press), along with several academic essays. Dennis has been married to Susan Steele Edwards since 1982. They are the parents of four children and grandparents of five.

Dennis has three decades of urban pastoral ministry experience. He most recently served as senior pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, MN. Prior to that, he was the founding pastor of Peace Fellowship Church in Washington, DC; associate and then lead pastor of Washington Community Fellowship on Capitol Hill (Washington, DC); and founding pastor of New Community Church in Brooklyn, NY.

Dennis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering (Cornell University) and has been a high school science and math teacher. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree in Urban Ministry (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) as well as a Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees in Biblical Studies (Catholic University of America). Dennis enjoys baking, playing his flute and saxophone, as well as weightlifting and cycling—as much as his body will let him.