In our final episode of season 6, we are pleased to speak with Angela Reitsma Bick, editor of Christian Courier and co-author of the newly released book Blessed Are the Undone, which explores faith deconstruction in the Canadian context.

Angela joined us while in Vancouver on the national tour for the book, and we talked about why so many people in Canada are stepping away from church—and how we might begin to understand, rather than fix, that reality. Blessed Are the Undone doesn’t rush to offer answers or prescriptions. Instead, it makes space for grief, honesty, and a deeper look at the fractures that often go unnamed in church life.

This conversation invites us to consider how listening—really listening—to those who’ve walked away can become a kind of faithfulness in itself. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next season!

This is our third and final instalment of our series with Orthodox theologian and friend of the Cupboard, David Goa. This series has focused on the topic of fundamentalism, how it is expressed within the church, from several sides. If you haven’t listened to the first two episodes in this series, we’d encourage you to go back and take a listen to them before diving into this conversation.

In today’s episode, Todd and David speak of the challenge that encountering the living God presents to fundamentalism and how this challenge is hopeful for those professing Christian faith. Discussing the work of William Cavanaugh in his recent book, The Uses of Idolatry, we consider how encountering the living God is fundamentally unmanageable. This unmanageability can be experienced as distressing and fearful for people as it can be at odds with that which we assume is certain, is foundational, that which we may hold sacred. But in this place, we can come to understand the presence of God rather than our presumptions about God.

We hope that you have found challenge and encouragement, perhaps, hope in these conversations. Thanks for listening.

If you’d like to explore these ideas more, we invite you to read the books that these conversations have largely centred around.

Minds Wide Shut: How the New Fundamentalisms Divide Us, Gary Saul Morson and Morton Shapiro, 2021

Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers of the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter, Gary Saul Mortson, 2023

The Uses of Idolatry, Williams T. Cavanaugh, 2024

This is the second of three conversations we had with friend of the Cupboard, David Goa, on the topic of fundamentalism. If you haven’t listened to part one, we’d encourage you to do so before diving into this conversation.

In this conversation, Todd and David consider the question, If not fundamentalism, than what? David observes that our capacity for conversation, particularly with those with whom we have profound disagreement, has shrunk, exacerbating the polarization that many feel.

How can we relearn this critical skill? How can we relearn to see the Other as human rather than issue or stance? How can we reach across the divide in love rather than push away in fear?

As David says, this is small, slow work, and it is always particular. But it is vitally important work.

You have likely heard, and perhaps said, that we live in a world that is very polarized. Too often, communities of faith have contributed to this polarization rather than offered help or healing to a divided world.

David Goa has been, and continues to be, a formational voice for Rector’s Cupboard and for the work of Reflector Project.

David has been running Philosopher Cafés in his home province of Alberta, Canada around the topic of “The New Fundamentalisms and How They Divide Us.” He has drawn from the work of Gary Saul Morson and Morton Schapiro in describing how openness to the other person is a more hopeful and faithful way of living than being closed and fundamentalist.

Saul Morson refers to a notion that he calls the “congregation of the blessed.” This is the idea that anyone and anything outside of a particular group becomes seen as suspect or even evil, “Where people belonging to one faction (or faith, or denomination) feel that they are not just in a particular party, but are part of the congregation of the blessed, fighting demonic forces.”

David and I recently had three conversations about the new fundamentalisms and the possibility of finding a better way forward in faith, belief and worldview. Part one of this series considers how fundamentalism, rigidity and suspicion of others can be unfortunately understood as faithful when it is actually fearful.

David Goa is a thoughtful and helpful guide through a consideration of how our faith and worldview might grow up past a kind of spiritually adolescent fundamentalism.

Those in Christian circles have likely spent many a Sunday morning sitting in a pew (or, perhaps, a more comfortable seat) listening to someone preach. While the length of sermon or its place in a service may vary from denomination to denomination, or pastor to pastor, the act of hearing the Word of God preached regularly is part of the Christian tradition.

We were please to speak to Mark Glanville about this topic. Mark is a pro at sermons, quite literally. Having spent much of his career preaching sermons as well as teaching classes on the subject, he has decades of broad experience from which he draws.

Mark is an author, podcaster, Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership, and jazz pianist. We spoke to Mark about his latest book, Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Communities, which came out this spring. This book is a guide of sorts for those new to sermon writing as well as those who are wanting to find a fresh and new approach to the task. Our conversation touched on the holistic nature of sermon writing as well as how it can be approached in the post-Christian world many communities of faith find themselves in. It is hopeful and beautiful and worth reading, even if you don’t happen to be a pastor yourself.

You can check out Mark’s many projects on his website, which has links to his books, podcast, and social media. If you’re in the Vancouver area, we highly encourage you to check out Mark's book launch for Preach in a New Key, coming up May 23, at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church. This unique event includes art, storytelling, and Mark’s jazz trio.

Today is Good Friday.

We often, on Rector’s Cupboard, refer to what is happening in the world, the news, politics, culture.

In Christian faith, Good Friday is always more than news of the week. It is at the heart of the faith.

The reflection is intended as an invitation to spiritual contemplation. What does it mean that Jesus was alone on Good Friday? What does “Christ Alone” entail?

Wherever you are at, in terms of faith and belief, may you know God’s presence and blessing and hope this Easter weekend.

A special episode.

We speak with John in studio, hear him reflect on some of his work and the personal nature of some of the songs. John also performs some of the songs for the assembled gathering.

Enjoy!

A quick note, the “this book” that Todd references toward the beginning of the episode is John’s 2016 book, Becoming Friend of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship.

It might be that being a full-time pastor is now untenable. It is a job that pulls in so many directions that it becomes virtually impossible. One of the things that can help is accepting that for pastors, spiritual energy often comes from outside of the church in which they work.

We speak with Matthew Brough, a Presbyterian pastor in Winnipeg, who is also an author and podcaster. Matthew has written books on spirituality (Let God series) as well as five fantasy/adventure books for kids (Del Ryder series). Oh, and he runs a small publishing business.

Matthew speaks to us about the challenges and benefits of a multi-vocational life, giving us a picture of how pastoral life might function in the future.

If you’re interested in Matthew’s work, check out his website. You can find links to his writing, podcast, and how to connect with him there. Enjoy!

We are pleased to speak to the Ven. Dr. Rob James (which he said we could shorten to Rob), about his latest publication, 50 New Testament Stories for Storytellers, a new illustrated, beautifully illustrated we might add, children’s Bible. Rob is an Associate Professor and the Director of Anglican Studies and Formation at the Vancouver School of Theology. He also holds six degrees from five universities and has many years of experience as an Anglican perish priest. Rob speaks to us about his approach to telling biblical stories to kids (and adults) through the lens of storytelling, incorporating visuals and participation as he goes.

There are important questions to be asked about how we speak to children about faith and how we tell kids the stories of the Bible. Often this telling has been experienced as reductionist or moralizing. Rob does neither of these things. He helps to bridge the gap between biblical scholarship and storytelling in this book and is a resource that we heartily recommend for those wanting to find hopeful, new, and interesting ways to bring the stories of the Bible to children. 50 New Testament Stories for Storytellers is available now.

A quick recording note, you may notice that our interview with Rob has a distinct cathedral-like echo. Unfortunately, we did not record our conversation with Rob in a cathedral, although that would have been cool, but we hope it isn’t a distraction as you listen. Enjoy!

In the 20th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells His followers what power is like in the kingdom of God. He says that real greatness is servanthood and that we ought not aim to “lord it over” others.

There is a movement in the United States, and in many countries around the world, that apparently utterly rejects Jesus’ way of power. This movement, called Christian nationalism, is a parasite upon Christian faith that is proudly taking up a crusade against anything and anyone deemed as opposition or enemy. Though it uses the language of faith, it is not about faith. It is about the accumulation of power. Donald Trump is held up by Christian nationalists. Vladimir Putin argues that the invasion of Ukraine is an exercise of upholding Christian values against ungodly enemies. We are of the opinion that many well-meaning Christians have fallen into listening to voices of Christian nationalism.

Christian nationalism is perhaps the biggest present threat to democracy. Christian nationalism is not Christian. It is a form of idolatry, a worship of power. We are not alone, at Rector’s Cupboard, in feeling that if we want to speak a hopeful faith, a faith that reflects the love of God in Jesus for all the world, then we will speak against Christian nationalism.

We are pleased to welcome back to Rector’s Cupboard Katherine Stewart to speak about her new book, Money, Lies, and God. The book has just been released this week. We were privileged to read it before publication and spoke with Katherine early in January. Money, Lies, and God is a frightening book to read as it describes real threats to democracy. There is hope and humour in it as well as Katherine Stewart tells us about her interactions with Christians who hold a hopeful faith and as she narrates visits to many religious and political rallies.

Katherine’s previous book, The Power Worshippers was adapted into a documentary by Rob Reiner. It is called God and Country and is available through Apple TV and other platforms.

Having interviewed Katherine about two of her books, we are pleased to welcome her for an in-person event in Vancouver on April 28. Details will be available on our website and the Rector’s Cupboard social pages so keep an eye out for registration details coming soon.

There are a lot of terms, institutions, and people mentioned in our conversation with Katherine Stewart. You may want to avail yourself of some googling, but we have put together a short glossary to help with listening.

Pluralism – The idea that people who are different in belief, life style, etc can coexist in a society peacefully.

Sectarian – Usually divisive ideology based on political or religious difference. It is typically expressed in hard line stances and by an unwillingness to work with or tolerate differing opinions

Kleptocracy – A form of government structure in which leaders use political power to amass wealth from the general population

Theocracy – A form of government structure which is based on or run by a particular religious system/belief

Charter Schools/Voucher System – In our conversation with Stewart these are used within an American framework. Charter Schools are alternate schools requiring no tuition that are run, to some degree, under a local school board, but tend to offer different types of programming or structure than a typical public school. The Voucher System allows for funds allocated to public education to be used for alternate educational systems, such as homeschooling, or tuition for private schools (which may be religious or not)

The Great Awakening – A series of religious revivals that took place between the early 18th century and 1960’s. These movements have typically been defined by a focus on making religion personal.

Historical Jesus – A picture of Jesus that is based on an academic study, considering historical and cultural context, of the person of Jesus rather than a religious interpretation.

The Good News Club, Katherine Stewart, 2012

The Power Worshippers, Katherine Stewart, 2020

God & Country (documentary), 2024

The Givenness of Things, Marilynne Robinson, 2015