Mutuality Matters

The opinions expressed in CBE’s Mutuality Matters’ podcast are those of its hosts or guests and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of CBE International or its members or chapters worldwide. The designations employed in this podcast and the presentation of content therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of CBE concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. 

In acknowledgment of October being Domestic Violence Awareness month, this special episode of Mutuality Matters features a panel of Created to Thrive contributors who sit down with host Angela and share their thoughts about how the church can help people find healing from the trauma of domestic violence by creating safe spaces for women and families. As leaders, we have an opportunity to preach, teach and model healthy relationships between women and men grounded in respect and mutuality that honors the image of God reflected by both. Guests on today’s episode include Dr. Antoinette Alvarado, Dr. Jeanne Porter-King, and Rev. Johnrice Newton.  

Bio 

Rev. Johnrice Newton, a trained RN chaplain, is the founder and president of Tapestry Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit organization that offers a myriad of programs and services including providing emergency resources for women affected by domestic abuse. She published her book in 2016 titled Healing Voices: Women of Faith Who Survived Abuse Speak Out, Volume 1. 

Dr. Jeanne Porter King is the founder and president of TransPorter Group Inc., a consulting practice that specializes in leadership development, diversity and inclusion training, process facilitation, and influence coaching. She has authored many books including Influence Starts with “I”: A Woman’s Guide to Unleashing the Power of Leading from Within, and Effective Change Around You. 

Dr. Antoinette Alvarado is the co-pastor of Grace Church International, founder and executive director of My Sister’s Keeper Foundation for Women, and president of Targeted Living Coaching & Consulting, LLC.  A dynamic preacher, teacher, and workshop presenter, she is also the author of Run and Not be Weary: The Pursuit of Purpose and Destiny among several other titles.  

Other Reading: 

Created to Thrive: https://cbeinternational.christianbook.com/created-thrive-cultivating-abuse-free-communities/9781939971906/pd/971900?event=ESRCG 

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions on details pertaining to domestic violence. Listener discretion is advised. 

In this episode, hosts Erin and Blake talk with contributing authors, Rebecca Kotz and Annette Oltmans, about their chapters in the new CBE International publication, Created to Thrive: Cultivating Abuse-Free Communities. They discuss how forms of abuse are covert and easy to dismiss while also helping us understand how we can help and not be a fresh source of harm to victims of abuse. Leaders, friends, and those wanting to address abuse will learn a great deal from this episode.  

Be sure to pick up a copy of Created to Thrive and to connect with these other resources from our podcast guests: www.rebeccakotz.com and https://themendproject.com/.  

If you are experiencing domestic violence and would like help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. 

Bios: 

Rebecca Kotz is an advocate, speaker, community organizer, activist, liberation educator, consultant, and writer on sexual politics and feminism. She has worked at various social change and antiviolence organizations in Minnesota. She founded and facilitates a program for convicted male offenders, Men Accountable for Sexual Exploitation. She is currently finishing her master’s degree in social justice at Prescott College in Arizona. Find more of her work at www.rebeccakotz.com 

Annette Oltmans (Founder and chairman of the board of directors of the M3ND Project) is a philanthropist and passionate human rights advocate. She is a survivor. Annette’s personal experiences of recovery and extensive field research into the topics of Original Abuse and Double Abuse® ignited Annette’s passion to found The M3ND Project in 2016. She conceptualized the term Double Abuse® naming the behaviors causing complex trauma (CPTSD) to victim survivors. In addition to this work, she serves on the board of Pepperdine University’s Boone Center for the Family and is a trustee of Northrise University in Zambia. Her writing on the topics of abuse, domestic violence, and bullying, has been published in AACC, Teen Vogue, OC Register, and other publications. 

Other Reading:  

“Are We Continuing to Sideline Women in Conversations about Abuse?” by Katherine Spearing 

“He Made Her Play the Harlot: Judges 19 through the Lens of Domestic Abuse” by Evelyn Sweerts-Vermeulen 

“Monica of Hippo: Influential Church Mother and Domestic Abuse Survivor” by Olivia Brokaw 

On this week’s episode, hosts Mimi and Kim meet with Pauline Hassan Burkey to discuss her journey towards belonging as an immigrant to the United States. As a small child she, her mother, and her baby brother made the journey from a Kenyan refugee camp to San Diego, California, where she first learned to relate to the various cultures in which she was immersed. She also reflects on her mother breaking the Sudanese cultural codes around a woman’s place. Despite criticism from the women in her community, she served as an advocate and community organizer for her refugee community in San Diego, often the only woman serving among all men. Her mother modeled for Pauline how women can be whomever they are meant to be. 

Bio: Pauline is the daughter of South-Sudanese refugees who resettled in the United States in 1994. She grew up in City Heights, a densely populated and vibrant community of immigrants and refugees in East San Diego. She studied Interpersonal and Organizational Communications and Journalism at Azusa Pacific University. She’s worked with refugee and immigrant communities, then moved to fund programs across sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, she and her husband moved to Rwanda to continue working in international development. She is back in the United States and works as a program manager for PICO California, the largest multi-faith community organizing non-profit in California. Pauline married her college sweetheart Kenny. They currently live in Sacramento and recently welcomed their first child. 

Other Reading:  

Which Women Matter to God by Jill Lin https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/mutuality-blog-magazine/which-women-matter-god 

Advocating for Equality Among the Marginalized by Nell Green 

https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/audio/advocating-equality-among-marginalized 

This month on the “Women and Men Leading Together” thread, hosts Layla and Rob speak with Bette Dickinson, an artist, and author who paints a beautiful picture of women and men partnering together in ministry, and of a church that listens to both the mother and father voices of God. Come learn from Bette as she exhorts us to systemic change, intentionally developing women, male advocacy, and elevating the stories of women.   

Bio: 

Bette Dickinson is a prophetic artist, writer, and speaker who invites audiences to connect with God through visual parables of the spiritual journey in her ministry Awakening the Soul. Bette earned her MDiv with an emphasis in pastoral studies and has worked with ministries like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, World Vision, Infinitum, and Kensington Church to awaken the soul through beauty and wonder. Bette and her husband live in Traverse City, Michigan, with their two boys. 

Connect with Bette

Web: www.bettedickinson.com

Facebook: @BetteLDickinson

Instagram: @Bette_Dickinson

Further Reading 

Making Room in Advent by Bette Dickinson 

 https://www.ivpress.com/making-room-in-advent 

More from Bette Dickinson

To subscribe to Bette’s newsletter and receive a copy of her painting of Mary’s Magnificat along with an audio reflection, text justice to 33777.  

On this episode of Mutuality Matters, host Angela sits down with Dr. Yolanda Pierce, dean of Howard University School of Divinity, and author of In My Grandmother’s House: Black Women, Faith, and the Stories We Inherit. Pierce lifts the role of church mothers in the Black church tradition, centering their experiences as they both taught and protected her so that as a Black woman she would survive in this world. Through them, she learned about, “The Divine who has been showing up at the kitchen tables of Black women for a long time.” Listen and learn how a grandmother’s theology carries wisdom strong enough for future generations. Disclaimer: sexual abuse and trauma are mentioned in this episode. Listener discretion is advised.  

Further Reading: 

In My Grandmother’s House Black Women, Faith, and the Stories We Inherit: https://www.amazon.com/My-Grandmothers-House-Stories-Inherit/dp/1506464718?tag=mochaglobal10-20&ascsubtag=srctok-b63e47f7a51c4734&btn_ref=srctok-b63e47f7a51c4734 

Hell Without Fires: Slavery, Christianity, and the Antebellum Spiritual Narrative (History of African American Religions) https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Without-Fires-Christianity-African-American/dp/0813068592/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16ODZ9ZE394DV&keywords=Hell+without+Fires&qid=1663891253&s=books&sprefix=hell+without+fires%2Cstripbooks%2C92&sr=1-1’ 

Bio: 

Yolanda Pierce is a professor and dean of Howard University School of Divinity. She is a scholar of African American religious history, womanist theology, race, and religion, as well as a public theologian, activist, and commentator. Pierce served as the founding director of the Center for the Study of African American Religious Life at the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Her writings have appeared in Time, Sojourners, and The Christian Century, and she is the author of the book Hell Without Fires. Pierce lives in Washington, D.C. 

Web: yolandapierce.com 

Twitter: @YNPierce 

Facebook: /ynpierce 

On this week’s episode of Mutuality Matters, hosts Blake and Erin bring on guest and author, Mallory Ellington, to talk about the fall issue of Mutuality Magazine, “The Problem of Porn: Women, Men, Intimacy, and the Church.” With Erin and Mallory both contributing articles to this issue, the three discuss pornography, patriarchy, and other orbiting topics that are addressed in the magazine. This episode mentions issues of porn addiction, sexual violence, and struggles with sexual sin. Listener discretion is advised.  

Get a digital copy of the magazine here: https://www.cbeinternational.org/publication/mutuality-blog-magazine/current-print-issue 

Bio  

Mallory Ellington is currently working as a prison GED instructor at Walker State Prison. She received her master of theological studies from Asbury Theological Seminary. She writes about the theology of the body, spiritual anthropology, and other topics that interest her. In her spare time, she loves sharing a cup of coffee with friends and chipping away at her ever-growing reading list. 

Other Resources: 

“Preaching Porneia” by Matthew Norman 

“Is This Safe to Drink? Thoughts on Our Thirst for Intimacy” by Erin Moniz  

Read more from Mallory Ellington: https://www.malloryellington.com/ 

On this episode of Mutuality Matters, hosts Mimi and Kim speak with Dr. Médine Moussounga Keener, coauthor of Impossible Love: The True Story of African Civil War, Miracles, Hope Against All Odds, Reconciliation for Africa, and Loved: Women Who Found Hope and Healing in Jesus. Médine believes that the Spirit of the Lord is at work in the world, and for those of us sensitive to the Spirit’s work, she shares how God can work in us to free people from oppression seen in sexism, racism, and classism. She illustrates the truth of these claims through stories from her own lived experience as a war refugee and scholar, as well as from her research and reflections shared by her many friends around the world.  

Bio: 

Dr. Médine Moussounga Keener (PhD, University of Paris) explores her life as a war-refugee, translator, scholar, author, and wife. Passionate about serving abused women in Africa, especially women at risk. Originally from Congo Brazzaville, Médine lived as a war refugee for eighteen months and worked as a translator first in Brazzaville and later in the US. Addressing her experiences of war and reconciliation, Médine has published articles in Dictionary of African Christian Biography, Africa Study Bible, and other articles on women in Africa. Medine coauthored with her husband, Dr. Craig S. Keener, Impossible Love: The True Story of an African Civil War, Miracles and Hope Against All Odds, a story of her war experience and her romance with her husband Craig. They also coauthored Reconciliation for Africa, a booklet on ethnic reconciliation currently used in many African countries. With Sue Russell, Médine co-authored Loved: Women Who Found Hope and Healing in Jesus.   

Other Reading 

Mary Slessor of Calabar: Biography of a Christian Woman; A Scottish Presbyterian Missionary in Africa by W.P. Livingstone 

Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation by Miroslav Volf 

About William Shepherd: Among Kings: The Amazing Adventures of the Congo’s African American Livingstone and the Courageous People who Toppled King Leopold II by Joey O’Connor 

Learn more about Hulda:  

https://www.cbeinternational.org/content/women-scripture-and-mission#hulda 

“Women Prophets in the Old Testament,” Priscilla Papers, by Christine Marchetti, April 29, 2018. https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/priscilla-papers-academic-journal/women-prophets-old-testament 

“What is this Woman Doing Preaching in My Bible?” in Mutuality by Sara Ronnevik, October 13, 2014. https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/mutuality-blog-magazine/what-woman-doing-preaching-my-bible 

This month on the “Women and Men Leading Together” thread, Rob and Layla speak with Sarah Cowan Johnson, ministry leader, and recently published author of Teach Your Children Well. From navigating unconscious biases to dealing with miss-titling, from egalitarian parenting to The X-Files, Sarah sheds light on what flourishing mixed-gender partnerships look like, both in the context of ministry and in the home! 

Bio: 

 Sarah Cowan Johnson is a ministry trainer, consultant, and coach who works with church planters, pastors, and ministry leaders across the United States. She leads seminars for parents on family discipleship to help their children walk in the way of Jesus. She served with the Evangelical Covenant Church as an executive pastor and previously was a staff trainer and an area director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She is the cohost of The People of the Way podcast. Her book, Teach Your Children Well, was published this month by InterVarsity Press, and she and her husband have two sons and live in Providence. Find more from Sarah at her website, sarahcowanjohnson.com. 

Other Reading 

The Spiritually Vibrant Home, by Don Everts 

Call Me Mother in Anglican Compass by Tish Harrison Warren 

“Parenting as Partners” by Kathy Nesper 

“Created for Life Together: Partnerships Between Men and Women Are Part of God’s Design” by Ruth Haley Barton 

In this episode, host Angela sits down with Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney, Bible scholar, episcopal priest and the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. They discuss the importance of gender expansive Bible translation, which incorporates contextual consideration and raises the presence of women and feminine imagery that have been traditionally overlooked or underrepresented. Focusing on her latest work, A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church: Year W, she discusses how using gender expansive language enriches the reading, hearing, and application of the Biblical text. This lectionary also focuses on using explicit feminine God-language as a means of expanding our view and understanding of God. Words matter because they have the power to create or eliminate barriers to inclusion.  

Guest Bio:  

Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney can be followed at www.wilgafney.com.  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wil.gafney    

Twitter: @WilGafney 

Resources:  

A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church: https://cbeinternational.christianbook.com/womens-lectionary-the-whole-church-year/9781640651623/pd/65162X?event=ESRCG 

Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne: https://cbeinternational.christianbook.com/womanist-midrash-reintroduction-women-torah-throne/wilda-gafney/9780664239039/pd/239039?event=ESRCG 

“She Is in Bitter Distress”: A Womanist Ethic of Advocacy: https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/mutuality-blog-magazine/she-bitter-distress-womanist-ethic-advocacy 

Women in higher education must navigate a world that is not regularly friendly to them as mothers or as experts in their disciplines. When these professionals are in Christian universities, there are problems that emerge which require greater scrutiny of claims to be “family-friendly,” and how we treat female professors. Dr. Deshonna Collier-Goubil is the co-editor for Power Women: Stories of Motherhood, Faith, and the Academy, which is a multi-authored collection from Christian women in higher-ed. Enjoy learning about why this book and these intersections are important for women and those of us who operate outside of higher-ed. Christians have an opportunity to re-shape cultural spaces that do not prioritize Christian values and learning from these contributors is a significant start.   

Pick up your copy of Power Women here: https://cbeinternational.christianbook.com/power-women-stories-motherhood-faith-academy/9780830853069/pd/853069?event=ESRCG 

Bio  

Dr. Deshonna Collier-Goubil, is the interim dean for the School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences at Azusa Pacific University. She has a holistic perspective of the criminal justice system, those who interact with the system (victims, offenders, communities), and the challenges the criminal justice system faces in today’s rapidly changing climate. Collier encourages her students to think critically and ethically about the criminal justice system, challenging them to study the system from differing perspectives while maintaining a core principle of integrating their faith with their career goals. Her research interests include race and crime, gender and crime, and prisoner re-entry. She has a PhD from Howard University in Sociology with a Concentration in Criminology, Race, Class, & Gender Relations. Her dissertation is titled, “A Spatial Analysis of the Effects of Neighborhood Deprivation and Foreclosures on Domestic Violence.” She has also served as a fellow for the National Institute of Justice and the College Board as a Social Justice Fellow. She is a co-editor of the book, Power Women: Stories of Motherhood, Faith, and the Academy. 

Other Reading:  

Power Women: Stories of Motherhood, Faith, and the Academy  

Nancy Wang Yuen and Deshonna Collier-Goubil, eds.  

“Watershed Moments? Reexamining the Barriers Facing Women in the US and UK Church” by Katie Christine Gaddini 

“The Workaholic Mom?” by Susan Harris Howell 

“Brokering Peace: Egalitarian Theology Meets the ‘Mommy Wars’” by Sa