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Why does everything feel so heavy right now?

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam name what many of us are carrying: grief. We've talked about the grief of personal loss, but this episode, we dive into grief over a world that feels unstable—seeminglt rife with division, conflict, strained relationships, and the constant churn of social media.

Bishop DeDe reminds us that much of our anger and anxiety is rooted in sorrow. When we don’t acknowledge that grief, it can harden into blame or dehumanization. The invitation instead is to slow down and return to the foundations of our faith: scripture, prayer, humility. We are not God, and we are not responsible for fixing everything.

One surprising theme in this conversation is whimsy. In overwhelming times, small acts of joy—learning something new, creating, laughing, stepping away from the noise—aren’t distractions. They’re stabilizers. They help keep our hearts soft.

The episode also offers practical wisdom for navigating conflict, especially online. Social media rarely changes hearts. Relationships are built through patience, mercy, and restraint. Sometimes faithfulness looks like choosing not to engage.

At its core, this conversation is about tending your soul so that what flows from you is compassion rather than fear. You are not called to save the world. You are called to love within it.

Even now, you are loved, you are blessed—and you can be a blessing.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many 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 does it actually cost to talk about faith right now?

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam take an honest look at how difficult—and necessary—it is to speak about faith in a world shaped by division, polarization, and deeply entrenched opinions. When conversations quickly become debates, and debates become battlegrounds, how do we remain rooted in Jesus?

The heart of this conversation is a call to love with courage. That means approaching difficult dialogue not with a desire to win, but with humility, dignity, and a genuine commitment to understanding. It also means recognizing our own complicity in the brokenness around us. Before we point outward, we are invited to look inward—to examine where fear, comfort, or silence may be holding us back from living the Gospel fully.

Taking up our cross, they reflect, isn’t abstract. It involves letting go of ego, defensiveness, and the need to be right. It requires naming sin honestly—including racism—and refusing to tolerate systems or language that diminish the image of God in others. Faith is not performative; it is transformative. And transformation often begins in personal encounters that challenge us, stretch us, and change our hearts.

Throughout the episode, Bishop DeDe and Adam emphasize that compassion and empathy are not optional extras in Christian life—they are essential. When we engage one another with dignity, especially across disagreement, we embody the redemptive love we claim to follow. Seeking understanding rather than rebuttal becomes an act of discipleship.

This episode ultimately invites listeners to see themselves as agents of change—not through force or argument, but through patient, courageous, Christ-centered love. In a divided world, the witness of our faith may be less about what we say and more about how we love.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many 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 Lent really about? 

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam  reflect on the invitation of Lent and the deep symbolism of Ash Wednesday. Together, they explore repentance not as shame or self-punishment, but as a turning—an intentional return to God marked by honesty, humility, and hope.

The ashes placed on our foreheads are not just a ritual gesture. They are a reminder of our mortality, our fragility, and our need to live with intention. Yet they are also a sign of renewal—a declaration that no matter where we’ve been, God’s love remains present, steady, and ready to help us begin again.

This conversation challenges listeners to examine the authenticity of their faith practices. Are we going through the motions, or are we allowing God to truly shape us? Lent becomes more than a season of giving something up—it becomes an opportunity to grow deeper in compassion, justice, and love of neighbor.

Throughout the episode, Bishop DeDe reminds us that the Church’s mission is not only personal transformation but also communal responsibility: advocating for justice, caring for our neighbors, and engaging in faith conversations that invite rather than condemn.

Lent is not only about penitence. It is about hope—the kind of hope that believes change is possible and that grace meets us exactly where we are.

What You'll Take Away From This Episode:

• Lent invites reflection and intentional living
• Repentance means turning back to God with honesty and humility
• Ashes symbolize both mortality and renewal
• Authentic faith practices lead to genuine spiritual growth
• Hope is central to Lent—not just penitence
• The Church is called to advocate for justice and care for neighbors
• Conversations about faith should be inviting, not condemning
• God’s love is constant, always offering a fresh start
• Community strengthens and sustains our spiritual journeys
• Engaging in honest dialogue deepens understanding and faith

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many 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 special episode of Speaking Of Faith, Bishop DeDe welcomes Iyad Qumri, the owner of Qumri Pilgrimages, an independent, “on-the-ground” pilgrimage guide in the Holy Land, offering fully immersive experiences rooted in deep local knowledge and pastoral care. You can learn more about Qumri Pilgrmiages by visitng https://www.iyadqumripilgrimages.com/

Born and raised in Jerusalem, Iyad’s life and family are deeply woven into the fabric of the Holy Land. It is where he was educated, where his family continues to live, and where he met and married his wife, Simone. Their two sons, Sami and Rami, were also born there, and today the family works together, hand-in-hand, in the pilgrimage ministry.

Bishop DeDe and Iyad invite us into a discussion about Bishop DeDe's recent pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Iyad shares what pilgrimages to the Holy Land entail, and what life is like for Arab Palestinian Christians in the region.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many 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 does it mean to speak about faith when the world feels fractured, loud, and increasingly polarized?

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam  wrestle with the challenges of naming Christian belief in a time marked by deep division and fear. When conversations about faith quickly turn into point-counterpoint debates—or weapons meant to prove who’s right—how do we remain rooted in the way of Jesus?

Bishop DeDe reflects on why talking about faith can feel risky right now, especially when self-righteousness often replaces humility and curiosity. Rather than arguing our way to truth, she invites listeners to begin somewhere deeper: with repentance—a willingness to change our minds, examine our assumptions, and let Jesus reshape how we see the world.

This episode calls us back to the practices that ground and transform us: scripture, prayer, and honest self-reflection. Before we rush to act or react, we are reminded that lasting change begins within. Only when we do the inner work can our outward actions reflect compassion, dignity, and love—especially toward those we disagree with.

In a divided world, this conversation offers a faithful reminder that the call of Christianity is not to win arguments, but to follow Jesus with humility, courage, and hope.

Takeaways

• Speaking openly about faith can feel risky in today’s polarized climate
• Repentance invites us to change our minds and hearts, not defend our egos
• Humility and curiosity are essential for meaningful conversation
• The urge to be right often leads to dehumanization and fear
• Jesus calls us away from self-righteousness and toward understanding
• Scripture and prayer must ground our responses to division
• True transformation begins with inner work before outward action

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many 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 invites listeners into a powerful reflection on fear, grief, justice, and courage—and what it means to speak truth to power when the stakes feel high. Drawing on the image of “shouting down the bear,” Bishop DeDe names the reality that fear is often loud, intimidating, and paralyzing—but faith calls us not to retreat, but to speak, pray, and act anyway.

The conversation explores how faith shows up in moments of grief and uncertainty, particularly when injustice feels overwhelming. Bishop DeDe reflects on the necessity of grounding ourselves in prayer first, allowing grief to teach us rather than harden us, and then finding the courage to speak honestly and act faithfully in the world.

Central to this episode is the call to rehumanize one another, especially those we disagree with. Language matters. When we dehumanize others, we cut ourselves off from empathy, compassion, and the ability to see Christ in every person. True repentance, Bishop DeDe reminds us, is not about shame or self-flagellation—it is about changing our minds and hearts so we can live differently going forward.

This episode challenges listeners to consider how faith shapes not only what we believe, but how we respond to fear, injustice, and one another. Shouting down the bear is not about winning an argument or being right—it’s about becoming holy, faithful people who trust that God’s strength meets us when we act with courage and compassion.

Key Themes & Takeaways

• We are called to pray first, then speak, then act
• Grief can open us to deeper understanding rather than closing us off
• Speaking honestly about faith can foster mutual understanding
• Repentance means changing our minds and choosing a new way forward
• Our Baptismal Covenant calls us to seek and serve Christ in all persons
• Dehumanizing language prevents empathy and healing
• Compassion is essential when addressing injustice
• Justice and dignity must always go hand in hand
• Faith gives us strength to face fear and speak truth
• It’s not about being right—it’s about becoming holy

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many 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 moments of uncertainty, fear, and moral tension, where do we turn for guidance?

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam engage scripture as a living resource for navigating hard times—particularly as they relate to immigration, refugees, and the ways society chooses who is worthy of dignity and care. Rather than treating scripture as abstract or theoretical, this conversation invites listeners to wrestle honestly with how faith shapes our responses to real-world suffering.

Bishop DeDe reflects on the moral conflicts present in our current moment and names them as spiritual questions, not just political ones. Scripture, she reminds us, consistently calls God’s people to resist fear, remember their own histories, and act with compassion toward the stranger and the vulnerable. When we ignore those calls, it reveals something about the health of our spiritual lives.

This episode challenges listeners to consider how deeply their beliefs are shaping their actions. Faith is not meant to stay safely inside our churches or personal prayer lives—it compels us outward, toward justice, peace, and love of neighbor. Grounded in scripture and strengthened by community dialogue, this conversation offers a faithful way forward in times that feel heavy and divided.

Key Themes & Takeaways

• Speaking about faith invites us to live out what we claim to believe
• Refugees and immigrants are to be treated with dignity and respect
• Society’s moral conflicts often reveal deeper spiritual struggles
• Scripture offers clear guidance on how we are called to treat others
• Loving our neighbor is central to the Christian life
• Faith should move us to advocate for justice and peace
• Remembering our own immigrant histories shapes our response to others
• Fear must not dictate how we treat our neighbors
• Engaging scripture is essential for faithful, informed action
• Honest community dialogue helps deepen understanding and growth

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many 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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Speaking Of Faith is taking a brief two-week break while Bishop DeDe travels to the Holy Land on pilgrimage. During this pause, we invite you to continue reflecting on the hopes, dreams, and intentionality discussed in our recent New Year’s episode and to carry forward the commitments of the Baptismal Covenant we’ve just completed exploring together.

While in the Holy Land, Bishop DeDe will meet with the Archbishop of Jerusalem, listen to stories, and be present with those who are suffering—carrying the prayers and support of this community. She looks forward to returning with stories and reflections so the conversation can continue.

Make sure to send in your questions and comments during the break to help Speaking Of Faith continue to be a living conversation rooted in curiosity and hope.

Be blessed, be a blessing, and Happy New Year!

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many 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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Summary

As the calendar turns and a new year begins, Bishop DeDe and Adam reflect on what it means to step into 2026 with intention, honesty, and hope. This episode invites listeners into a thoughtful conversation about endings and beginnings—what we carry forward from the past year, what we need to release, and how faith shapes the way we move into what comes next.

Together, they explore how intentional living is not about grand resolutions, but about clarity, truth-telling, and small, faithful practices that shape our daily lives. Healing, they note, often begins when we name what is real—our hopes, fears, wounds, and longings—and when communities create space that is safe enough for that truth to be spoken.

This episode also centers the importance of community in spiritual growth. Faith is not something we live out alone, and the journey into a new year is strengthened when we are supported by others who are willing to walk with us. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the story they want their lives to tell and to make intentional choices that align with that vision.

As Bishop DeDe reminds us, time will pass whether we engage it thoughtfully or not. The invitation of 2026 is to live with purpose, grounding our faith not only in belief, but in practice.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many 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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Summary

In our final episode on the Baptismal Covenant, Bishop DeDe invites us to explore the complexities of faith and vulnerability. The conversation emphasizes the importance of striving for justice and peace among all people, encouraging a deep reflection on personal beliefs and relationships with others. Bishop DeDe highlights the challenges of living out these principles in daily life, advocating for humility and a commitment to change as essential components of faith.

Takeaways

• We often speak about faith with uncertainty.
• Vulnerability in discussing faith leads to greater understanding.
• The baptismal covenant is foundational to our beliefs.
• Striving for justice and peace is a challenging commitment.
• Striving begins internally, with our thoughts about others.
• Repentance is necessary for striving for justice.
• Faith is fundamentally about relationships.
• We must respect the dignity of every human being.
• Striving for justice includes all people, not just those we agree with.
• Living out faith requires humility and a willingness to change.

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