Have you quoted or heard someone quote Ted Lasso? In its second season on Apple TV, this show by the same name concludes on October 8th. Lasso is even showing up in the Christian media as well as sermons often. When asked about how often he quoted Lasso, the Rev. Dr. Joe Clifford, pastor and head of staff of Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, responded, “I hope I’m not talking about it in EVERY sermon, but I’ve mentioned it a couple of times. The Christmas episode was so chocked-full of great theological material. And I loved the episode around self—'You are who you are because of who you are.'” Clifford is quick to point out the show, though rich theologically, may appeal to white folks more than others. Join Joe and Lee for a conversation about all of the above and more. Bring your favorite quotes to share!

The Rev. Dr. Katharine Rhodes Henderson is president of Auburn Seminary, a leadership development and research institute that equips and convenes leaders across the multifaith movement for justice. Rev. Henderson was raised in Louisville, Kentucky during the civil rights movement where she accompanied her parents on civil rights marches and prayed and sang with people of many faith traditions who came together out of moral conviction—all united for justice. In other words, she has been showing up for religious reasons her entire life. As she intentionally steps down this year for over a decade successfully leading Auburn Seminary, where are some places she believes God is calling religious people to show up? Join us for this live conversation with an internationally known speaker who has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, MSNBC, NPR, and more. She was named co-recipient of the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize for her lifelong passion to create spaces for authentic interfaith engagement. She joined esteemed past winners including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.

Much of the contemporary discussion of the religiously unaffiliated has focused on declining religious affiliation among college-educated persons. Very little attention has been given however to low levels of religious affiliation among more socially marginalized populations. The Rev. Dr. Drew Smith will explore these dynamics in the light of pertinent data and scholarship in this live interview with the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty.

How can we reframe U.S. secular holidays In the church? In this episode of Leading Theologically, we are in conversation with the Reverend Dr. James Calvin Davis, author of the 2021 released book American Liturgy: Finding Meaning in the Holy Days of US Culture. Davis, a Christian ethicist and Presbyterian minister, serves as Professor of liberal arts and religion at Middlebury College in Vermont. Learn more about him at jamescalvindavis.com.

The Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty in conversation with the Rev. Brian Ellison. Ellison is executive director of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, a national organization engaging, educating and equipping congregations and councils toward an equity not yet fully realized for LGBTQIA+ people in church and society. He is also stated clerk of the Synod of Mid-America and of Heartland Presbytery. Additionally, he is host/contributor at KCUR, NPR in Kansas City, where he hosts talk shows, moderates community forums, and anchors election night and breaking news coverage. Brian was previously pastor of a congregation for 13 years and lives in Kansas City with his partner, Troy, and their two dogs.

Production Note: Due to streaming quality problems, several gaps were introduced into Rev. Ellison's comments. These gaps have been deleted with the attempt to retain the original intent and focus of the conversation.

Join us for this conversation between the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty and Dr. Grace Kao, Professor of Christian Ethics at Claremont School of Theology. Kao co-edited the 2015 book, Asian American Christian Ethics, and is currently writing an introduction to Asian American Christian Ethics.

You won't want to miss this timely conversation, considering the escalated violence against Asian Americans in the U.S. even as we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Kao, a graduate of Stanford and Harvard is a visiting professor at Loyola Marymount University this academic year.

Join the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty in a conversation with the Rev. Dr. Patrick Reyes about his recently released book The Purpose Gap: Empowering Communities of Color to Find Meaning and Thrive.

Learn more about the Rev. Dr. Patrick Reyes: https://fteleaders.org/about/team

Purchase his new book at https://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/0664266703/the-purpose-gap.aspx

Join the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty for a conversation with the Rev. Laura Mariko Cheifetz about her recently released co-edited book Race in America. Quoted often by others, Rev. Cheifetz wrote for both the Washington Post and CNN in late March 2021 in the wake of the racist mass murders of Asian women near Atlanta, GA

Ellison is a modern-day mystic who invites people of faith to push past systemic problems and access their unique gifts to make a difference in the world and the Church. Ellison’s daily spiritual practice includes seeing, no matter how hidden, and hearing the stories, no matter what they are, of those within three feet of him daily. This beautiful spiritual practice is based on wisdom from a beloved aunt. It is his way of changing the world and invite others to do the same. Now an award-winning pastoral care and counseling faculty member at Emory’s Candler School of Theology, Ellison is also the founder of Fearless Dialogues and author or editor of Cut Dead But Still Alive: Caring for African American Young Men; Fearless Dialogue: A New Movement for Justice and most recently Anchored in the Current: Discovering Howard Thurman as Educator, Activist, Guide, and Prophet

The Rev. Dr. Teri McDowell Ott has been an ordained Presbyterian minister for over twenty years and serves as Dean of the Chapel at Monmouth College.

She and the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty talk about "Risks Privileged People Should Take" in the latest episode of Leading Theologically.