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Hey friends! 

Speaking Of Faith, it's time to speak of taking a break. It is time for us to take some time to spend with our loved ones, to go and do things we enjoy. We will be back on September 18th for season five of Speaking Of Faith. 

But until then, I hope that you will spend time with those you love, that you'll have some good time for relaxation and to think about our faith and to share that with one another. And so until then, let's get out there and enjoy our time.

See you soon!

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, some of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

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What is the purpose of church? In a culture where many people describe themselves as "spiritual but not religious," is belonging to a church still necessary?

In this season finale of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam explore why Christian community matters—not because church is perfect, but because none of us are meant to grow in faith alone. Together they discuss how worship shapes us, why healthy relationships help us become more fully ourselves, and how authentic Christian community differs from toxic or coercive expressions of faith.

The conversation also wrestles with loneliness, the temptation to define faith only on our own terms, and the importance of gathering with people who challenge, encourage, forgive, and walk alongside us. Rather than asking, "What do I get out of church?" this episode invites us to consider a deeper question: How does worshiping God together transform who we are?

In this episode:

• Why church is more than a building or a weekly obligation.
• The difference between being "spiritual" and growing through community.
• How healthy Christian relationships help shape our faith and character.
• Why worship is about glorifying God—not simply meeting our own needs.
• How to recognize the difference between authentic Christian community and harmful or toxic expressions of faith.
• Why disagreement, accountability, and even being wrong can become opportunities for spiritual growth.
• How gathering around Scripture, prayer, and worship continually forms us into the people God created us to be.

As the podcast takes a short summer break, Bishop DeDe and Adam also invite listeners to spend time reflecting on their own faith journey and to send in questions and topics they'd like to explore when Speaking of Faith returns this fall.

What role has church played in your life? Share your thoughts and questions—we'd love to continue the conversation when we return in September.

Send us your questions and join the conversation as we continue learning how to speak of faith together.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, some of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

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What do we do when trust is broken? How do we tell the truth without becoming judgmental? And what does forgiveness actually look like when our hearts are still hurting?

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam explore one of the most painful parts of being human: betrayal. Whether it's a broken friendship, wounded trust, disappointment in leaders, or the grief that comes from living in a fractured world, betrayal leaves deep scars that aren't easily healed.

Together, they reflect on what Scripture teaches about truth, accountability, compassion, and forgiveness. Looking to Jesus' encounters with Peter after the resurrection, they ask what it means to offer peace without abandoning healthy boundaries, and why trust remains one of the greatest gifts we can give another person.

This conversation reminds us that following Christ doesn't mean pretending we aren't hurt—it means learning how to carry our wounds with grace, allowing God to transform them without letting betrayal define who we become.

In this episode:

• Why betrayal often hurts more deeply than other kinds of grief.
• The difference between telling the truth and using truth to wound.
• Why trust is a gift—and what to do when that gift is misused.
• How Jesus models forgiveness while still calling people to accountability.
• Why compassion for ourselves is essential when we're carrying grief.
• What healthy boundaries look like after trust has been broken.
• How faith helps us move forward without becoming hardened by our pain.

Where have you experienced betrayal, and what would it look like to seek God's peace without allowing that betrayal to define your future?

If this conversation encouraged you, share it with someone who may be carrying grief or struggling to rebuild trust.

Send us your questions and join the conversation as we continue learning how to speak of faith together.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, some of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

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Who defines who you are?

In a world driven by comparison, constant opinions, and endless pressure to keep up, it can be easy to lose sight of who God created us to be.

This episode on Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam explore what it really means to be self-defined—not in a self-centered way, but by living with intentionality, agency, and an identity rooted in God rather than the expectations of others.

Together they discuss:

• What it means to be self-defined in a healthy, Christian way
• Why comparison steals our peace and our identity
• How faith helps us reconnect with our deepest selves
• The difference between living intentionally and simply reacting to the world around us
• Why saying "I don't know" can be an act of wisdom
• The relationship between personal agency and Christian community
• How people-pleasing, guilt, and "shoulds" can keep us from living authentically
• Why loving your neighbor also requires learning to love yourself
• Practical ways to slow down, reconnect with God, and discover what truly matters

Rather than offering easy answers, this episode invites you into an honest conversation about identity, purpose, and living faithfully in an increasingly noisy world.

What helps you stay grounded in who God created you to be? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Share your reflections in the comments or send us your questions for a future episode.

Send us your questions and join the conversation as we continue learning how to speak of faith together.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, some of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

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Artificial Intelligence is changing the world at a rapid pace—but how should people of faith respond?

This episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam begin an important conversation about AI, technology, and what it means to remain deeply human in a rapidly changing digital age. Drawing from Bishop DeDe's recent pastoral letter on AI and technology, they explore both the promise and the challenges of emerging technologies through the lens of Christian faith.

Together they discuss:

• What Artificial Intelligence actually is—and what it isn't
• How AI differs from human intelligence and human creativity
• Why Christians should be concerned about truth, misinformation, and digital ethics
• The growing challenge of distinguishing reality from AI-generated content
• How technology can both connect and isolate us
• What previous technological revolutions can teach us about this moment
• Why relationship remains at the center of Christian faith
• How people of faith can engage new technologies responsibly without fear
• The importance of maintaining our humanity in an increasingly digital world

Bishop DeDe offers practical guidance for navigating AI with wisdom, curiosity, and discernment while remaining grounded in the Gospel's call to love God and love one another.

Read Bishop DeDe's Pastoral Letter on AI and Technology and join the conversation as we continue exploring what faithful discipleship looks like in a changing world: https://cnyepiscopal.org/2026/06/11/pastoral-letter-on-ai-and-technology/

Send us your questions and join the conversation as we continue learning how to speak of faith together.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, some of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

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What are we actually doing when we worship?

Why do Episcopalians follow a liturgy? What is the purpose of the Eucharist? Why do we say the Nicene Creed, pass the peace, and gather around the table week after week?

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam explore how worship shapes us, forms us, and draws us deeper into relationship with God. Together they unpack the journey of Episcopal worship—from the opening procession to being sent back out into the world—and how every part of the liturgy is designed to renew, heal, and transform us.

They also discuss:

• What liturgy is and why it matters
• How worship helps us move beyond ourselves and toward God
• The connection between the Trinity and our worship practices
• The purpose of the Nicene Creed, prayers of the people, confession, and the peace
• The rich theology found in the Episcopal Church's Eucharistic prayers
• Why the Eucharist is central to Christian life and faith
• The mystery of Christ's real presence in Holy Communion
• How gathering around the table shapes us into the Body of Christ

Whether you're new to liturgical worship, a lifelong Episcopalian, or simply curious about how worship forms faith, this conversation offers an invitation to see Sunday worship with fresh eyes.

Send us your questions and join the conversation as we continue learning how to speak of faith together.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, some of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

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What do Christians really mean when we talk about the Trinity? Why has this doctrine inspired centuries of debate, mystery, wonder, and even fear? And what does the Trinity actually reveal about God, relationship, and ourselves?

In Part 2 of our Who Do We Say God Is? teaching series, Bishop DeDe and Adam continue their exploration of the nature of God by diving into one of Christianity’s most complex and sacred mysteries: the Trinity.

This conversation unpacks the foundations of Trinitarian theology while also making space for questions, uncertainty, curiosity, and grace. Together, they explore how the Trinity is less about having all the “right answers” and more about entering into a deeper relationship with God.

Topics include:

• What Christians mean by “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”
• The “economic Trinity” and how the Church has understood God through history
• Why the Trinity is rooted in mystery rather than certainty
• The difference between faith and facts
• How fear and control shape the way we talk about God
• Relationship as the center of Christian faith
• Why mystery matters in Christianity
• How our understanding of God affects how we understand ourselves
• The role of humility, curiosity, and doubt in spiritual growth
• Why Trinity Sunday can feel intimidating — even for clergy

The episode also explores themes of creation, redemption, the Holy Spirit, orthodoxy, and the importance of giving ourselves permission to wrestle honestly with faith.

Whether you’ve spent years in church or are still figuring out what you believe, this episode invites you into a conversation about the God who is always bigger than our understanding.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, some of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

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In this new teaching series, Who Do We Say God Is?, Bishop DeDe and Adam begin by exploring one of the most mysterious and often overlooked persons of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit.

As Pentecost approaches, this conversation invites listeners into Scripture, history, theology, and personal reflection as they ask deeper questions about who the Holy Spirit is, how Christians have understood the Spirit throughout history, and what it means for our lives today.

The episode explores the Spirit’s presence from the opening verses of Genesis through Pentecost and beyond, unpacking the movement from Ruach (Hebrew), to Pneuma (Greek), to Spiritus (Latin), and how language, translation, and history have shaped Christian understandings of God.

Bishop DeDe reflects on the Holy Spirit as the living, creative force of God moving through creation, wisdom, renewal, and everyday life. The conversation also wrestles honestly with questions of gender, imagery, and how our experiences influence the way we understand God.

Together, Bishop DeDe and Adam discuss:

• Why understanding the Holy Spirit starts with returning to Scripture
• Ruach, Pneuma, and Spiritus: how language shapes theology
• The role of gender in Christian history and our understanding of God
• Why the Holy Spirit can feel harder to understand than the Father or Jesus
• The gifts and fruits of the Spirit and how they shape our lives
• How the Spirit continues to heal, renew, and guide us today
• Why humility is essential when speaking about God
• What it means to cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit in daily life

This episode opens the door to a larger conversation on the Trinity while inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences of God’s presence.

As Bishop DeDe asks throughout the episode: What aspect of God resonates most deeply with you—and how might knowing God more fully help you understand yourself as God’s beloved?

Join the conversation and prepare for the next installment as Who Do We Say God Is? continues with a look at the Trinity and the “economic Trinity.”

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, some of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

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In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam continue their series on cultivating peace by exploring an unexpected path: creativity. What if creativity isn’t about being “good” at art, but about reconnecting with ourselves, one another, and God?

From knitting and cooking to gardening, writing, music, and even unexpected creative outlets born from grief, this conversation explores how creating can help us process anxiety, tell ourselves the truth, and find peace in difficult seasons.

Together they reflect on creativity as part of our identity as people made in the image of a Creator God, and how creating for the sake of creating can become an act of healing, prayer, and connection.

In this episode:

• Finding peace through creativity and expression
• Why creativity isn’t just for artists
• Creativity, grief, and reconnecting with ourselves
• What it means to be co-creators with God
• Cultivating peace within so we can offer it to the world

How do you create? And how might creativity become a path toward peace in your own life?

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, some of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

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Who do we say God is?

It’s one of the oldest and most important questions of faith. In this upcoming three-week series, we’ll explore God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the mystery of the Trinity together.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, some of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.