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Bishop DeDe is taking a short break for rest and renewal—and she invites you to do the same! While she’s away, enjoy a “Best Of” series featuring some of the most meaningful episodes of Speaking of Faith with Bishop DeDe. Revisit conversations that inspire, challenge, and encourage us to live and speak our faith in daily life.

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 this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam open up about the messy, beautiful work of discerning God’s call. They talk about why discernment is less about having all the answers and more about living the questions—with prayer, patience, and community. From wrestling with self-doubt to finding hope in uncertainty, this conversation reminds us that every person has a calling, and we discover it best when we walk the journey together.

Highlights:

• Why discernment is a journey, not a destination
• The role of community in testing and shaping our callings
• How to face confusion, doubt, and even being wrong
• Why talking honestly about faith matters now more than ever
• The gift of hope that comes from yielding to God’s will

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Faith Conversations

01:21 Understanding Discernment

03:41 The Nature of God's Call

09:59 Community and Discernment

14:02 The Role of Discernment in Daily Life

19:31 Navigating Uncertainty in Discernment

28:07 Maintaining Faith Through Challenges

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 and Adam get real about “calling”—what it is, how we find it, and why it’s not always a straight path. They talk about living authentically, leaning on community, and staying faithful when things don’t go as planned. From the joy of saying “yes” to your gifts to the heartbreak when dreams shift, this conversation is an honest, hopeful look at how God calls us—sometimes in ways we never expected. Plus, they tackle a listener’s question about starting a second career in ordained ministry, proving that it’s never too late for a new chapter.

Highlights:

• What “calling” really means—and how to recognize yours
• Why authenticity and community make all the difference
• How to handle disappointment when plans change
• Faith and resilience in life’s unexpected turns
• A real-life question about second careers in ministry

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Speaking of Faith

00:55 Understanding Calling

02:17 The Nature of Calling

04:08 Authenticity in Calling

07:15 The Dynamic Nature of Calling

09:34 Responding to God's Call

13:14 Navigating the Work of Calling

17:54 Dealing with Failure in Calling

23:16 Listener Question: Second Careers in Ministry

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 and Adam dive into the story of women’s ministry in the church—past, present, and future. From personal stories to hard truths about church history, they reflect on how far we’ve come since the first women celebrated the Eucharist 50 years ago—and how far we still have to go. With honesty and hope, they talk about God’s call on every life, the ongoing struggle for justice and inclusion, and why open conversations about faith matter more than ever.

Highlights:

• 50 years since women first presided at the altar—what that means today
• Real stories that shaped their views on women’s ordination
• How justice, inclusion, and calling go hand in hand
• The importance of listening to Scripture and each other with open hearts
• Why your story matters—and how sharing it can change lives

Chapters:

00:00 Celebrating Women's Ministry in the Church

03:06 Personal Journeys and Perspectives on Ordination

05:48 Justice and Inclusion in Ministry

12:03 Historical Context of Women's Roles in the Church

18:01 Current State and Future of Women's Ordination

20:55 Encouraging Conversations on Faith and Inclusion

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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Join Bishop DeDe and Adam as they explore the idea of holiness. This episode delves into the meaning of holiness, its roots, and how it manifests in our daily lives. Discover how holiness is not just a religious term but a call to wholeness and completeness in our personal and communal lives.

Take a listen and then reflect on your own experiences of holiness and how they have contributed to your sense of wholeness. Share your thoughts and continue the conversation with us.

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

This episode of Speaking Of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam explore the multifaceted nature of love, especially how it relates to faith and relationships. They dive into the biblical perspective of love we find in 1 Corinthians 13, discussing its characteristics and the challenges of embodying true love in everyday life. The conversation emphasizes the importance of love as an action verb, the role of prayer in cultivating love, and the necessity of forgiveness in relationships. Ultimately, they invite listeners to reflect on their understanding of love and its implications in their lives.

Takeaways

• Love is often confused with desire or other emotions.
• 1 Corinthians 13 provides a profound overview of love.
• True love is challenging and requires effort.
• Love should be unconditional and not based on recompense.
• We often masquerade selfishness as love.
• Prayer can help us align with God's love.
• Forgiveness is essential in loving relationships.
• Love is a lifelong journey of growth.
• We must set boundaries while still offering love.
• Understanding love requires humility and self-reflection.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Love and Faith

02:38 Exploring 1 Corinthians 13

05:24 The Challenge of True Love

08:26 Love as an Action Verb

10:57 The Complexity of Love in Relationships

13:38 The Role of Prayer in Loving Others

16:39 Forgiveness and Letting Go of Grudges

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 this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam get into what is means to hope. They explore the significance of hope in the context of faith, its grounding in scripture, and its relevance in personal struggles. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community and the challenges faced in a complex world. Through engaging discussions and listener questions, they encourage a deeper understanding of hope as a vital aspect of spiritual life.

Takeaways

• Hope is not wishful thinking; it is a belief in the possibility of achieving the highest good.
• Faith and hope are interconnected; our faith feeds into our hope.
• Hope is essential for healing and living a purposeful life.
• Our hope should be grounded in God's love and justice.
• Living out our faith means treating others with love and respect.
• Christianity is about a relationship with God and others, not just beliefs.
• We must navigate the complexities of faith in a world that often misrepresents it.
• Hope is the evidence of things not seen, guiding us in our daily lives.
• We are all called to be agents of healing and grace in the world.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Faith Conversations

01:20 Exploring the Role of Hope in Faith

04:54 Scriptural Foundations of Hope

08:48 Hope and Mental Health

11:16 Engaging with Questions on Hope

13:35 Living Out Christian Faith in Society

19:02 Communicating Faith Without Being a Jerk

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 this episode of Speaking Of Faith, Bishop DeDe and Adam explore what it means when we talk about faith, discussing its personal nature, the role of doubt, and the importance of articulating one's beliefs. They emphasize the significance of scripture in understanding faith and the challenges of maintaining belief in an intangible God. The conversation encourages listeners to engage in discussions about faith, reflect on their personal journeys, and recognize the presence of God in daily life.

Takeaways

• Faith is often difficult to articulate, yet essential to discuss.
• Personal experiences shape our understanding of faith.
• Doubt is a natural and sacred part of faith.
• Scripture provides a foundation for understanding faith.
• Faith is an internal relationship with a higher power.
• Engaging with others about faith can deepen understanding.
• The busyness of life can distract us from recognizing God's presence.
• Bold faith requires humility and openness to questioning.
• God's love and grace surpass our doubts and fears.
• Faith is a journey that invites continuous exploration.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Faith Conversations

02:39 Understanding Personal Faith

05:22 The Nature of Faith and Doubt

08:13 Scriptural Insights on Faith

11:10 Navigating Faith in Daily Life

13:53 The Challenge of Bold Faith

16:33 Engaging with the Intangible

19:13 Concluding Thoughts on 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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Summary

In our first Listener Questions Edition, Bishop DeDe and Adam take on only listener submitted questions about our spiritual lives. The questions range from the importance of discussing faith openly, the nuances of Bible translations, the impact of guilt and shame on one's spiritual journey, and how to reconcile the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. This episode is a totally off-the-cuff discussion with Bishop DeDe where she doesn't know the questions in advance, and you get real answers about the need for curiosity, humility, and grace in understanding and practicing faith.

Takeaways

• We need to practice speaking about our faith.
• Curiosity and humility are essential in faith discussions.
• Different Bible translations serve different purposes.
• Guilt and shame can hinder our relationship with God.
• God's grace is more important than our sinfulness.
• Sin is a communal experience, not just individual.
• The liturgy invites us into a transformative experience.
• It takes time to heal from past experiences with faith.
• Understanding scripture requires humility and prayer.
• God's love is constant and unconditional.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:54 Understanding Bible Translations

07:20 Navigating Guilt and Shame in Faith

12:58 Reframing Sin and Liturgy

18:08 Reconciling the Old and New Testament

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

This episode, Bishop DeDe and Adam discuss compassion fatigue, its impact on individuals and communities, and the importance of self-care and boundaries in maintaining emotional well-being. They explore how compassion fatigue manifests in the church and society, emphasizing the need for individuals to refill their emotional reserves to effectively care for others. The conversation also touches on the significance of community support and the necessity of reaching out when feeling isolated or unseen.

Takeaways

• Compassion fatigue is a real and significant issue.
• Self-care is essential for maintaining the ability to care for others.
• Feeling overwhelmed by the world's problems can lead to compassion fatigue.
• It's important to acknowledge and feel our emotions.
• Setting boundaries helps prevent compassion fatigue.
• Engaging in spiritual practices can rejuvenate our spirits.
• Community support is vital in combating feelings of isolation.
• Reaching out to others can help alleviate feelings of being unseen.
• Taking breaks from news and social media can help recharge our emotional batteries.
• Compassion begins with caring for ourselves. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Compassion Fatigue
02:38 Understanding Compassion Fatigue
05:25 The Importance of Self-Care
08:09 Compassion Fatigue in the Church
11:09 Navigating Compassion Fatigue
13:36 Responding to Suffering
16:25 Finding Community and Support

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.