The Millennial Pastor

Welcome to season nine of the podcast! This season, an "honest conversation about disability and the Church" will be hosted by Letiah Fraser. Her guest in this episode is Rachel Baskerville! Here is a little more about Rachel:

Rachel Baskerville is the Community Resource Specialist for Camden County Developmental Disability Resources, also known as the Senate Bill 40 Board, in Camden County.  She pursued a bachelor’s degree in social work from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. Rachel grew up in the St. Louis area and graduated from high school in Platte City, a city just north of Kansas City.  In 2005, Rachel was selected to be a delegate in the Governor’s Council on Disability’s program, the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum.  This program had a huge impact on her life, and she realized she had a passion for helping and advocating for people with disabilities.  Rachel grew up with a belief in God, however she did not attend church on a regular basis as a child.  It wasn’t until her younger sister chose to get baptized, Rachel got more interested in going to church.  More recently, Rachel has been in a more active role in church due to her significant other growing up in the church and wanting to find a home-based church where they live.  She is bringing more awareness of people with disabilities and disabilities in general to the church she and her significant other attends.  Rachel enjoys time with her family, which consists of her parents, 4 sisters and 2 brothers, and her significant other.

Welcome to season nine of the podcast! This season, an "honest conversation about disability and the Church" will be hosted by Letiah Fraser. Her guest in this episode is Darren Calhoun! Here is a little more about Darren:

Darren Calhoun (he/him) is a justice advocate, worship leader, and artist based out of Chicago. He works to bridge connections between people of differing perspectives through story and relationship. Currently, Darren is Digital Pastor at Urban Village Church and serves in multiple capacities with organizations like Christians for Social Action, and Q Christian Fellowship. He also sings with a progressive Christian band called The Many. He’s facilitated workshops and lead worship for local and national gatherings and events. He's a podcast host and producer for online shows that are reaching BIPOC Queer audiences with messages of support and healing. Darren brings with him an intentional focus on communities being inclusive as an authentic reflection of God’s love and justice. Lastly, Darren is an extrovert who loves hugs. Follow him on social media at @heyDarren or through his blog, DarrenCalhoun.com.

Welcome to season nine of the podcast! This season, an "honest conversation about disability and the Church" will be hosted by Letiah Fraser. Her guest in this episode is Dr. Daniel Aaron Harris! Here is a little more about Daniel:

Dr. Daniel Aaron Harris identifies as a cerebral palsy native Memphan, artist, author, actor and activist. As the director and founder of Fallen Walls for 21 years, he encourages and helps people find their vocation inside their location regardless of their ability. He has written 9 Children’s books in a series called Bobby Blue Books on Amazon, most recently is Go Be You Charlie. Other writings include articles, and a play that helps change the narrative of disability. He very recently completed  a doctorate of ministry focusing on disability and vocation at Western Theological Seminary in April 2023. Daniel is an active member of the theatre and film community in Memphis,, helping shape a new landscape for persons with disabilities.

Welcome to season nine of the podcast! This season, an "honest conversation about disability and the Church" will be hosted by Letiah Fraser. Her guest in this episode is Rev. Sarah McKenney! Here is a little more about Sarah:

Rev. Sarah VanderZee McKenney is the Creator and Coordinator of Spiritual Support Program at Stone Belt Arc in Bloomington, IN. Stone Belt Arc is a nonprofit and community based service provider that serves people with I/DD and their families in south central Indiana. McKenney is working on her Doctorate of Ministry (DMin) in Disability and Ministry at Western Theological Seminary in Holland Michigan. She has written articles that can be found in Frontline Initiative and Presbyterians Today , on various topics but centered around the inclusion and belonging of people with I/DD in faith communities and ways to help make that happen. She serves as President of the nonprofit organization Presbyterian, Health, Education, and Welfare Association (PHEWA), which is an umbrella organization that supports various networks that work on justice issues. One of these networks is Presbyterians for Disability Concerns, where McKenney has served as past chair and is still an active member. McKenney is involved in other various organizations such as the Religion and Spirituality Interest Network of American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and Fallen Walls Ministry (which supports people with disabilities in ministerial leadership). Back in 2012 McKenney received her Masters of Divinity and was ordained by the Presbyterian Church USA in 2018. She lives this busy life as a person with Dyslexia and ADD.

Welcome to season nine of the podcast! This season, an "honest conversation about disability and the Church" will be hosted by Letiah Fraser. Her guest in this episode is Rev. Chris Wylie! Here is a little more about Chris:

Chris Wylie Bio

Rev. Chris Wylie (DJ Pastor Rock) is a United Methodist Church Elder, songwriter, vocalist, and activist from Buffalo, NY who uses his music to help support Rolling Nation Network (rollingnation.net) a 501c3 nonprofit organization co-founded with his spouse, Jennelle, to help people in need get wheelchair vans. Common themes for both Chris's music and preaching are justice, liberation, and inclusion for all people no matter the body in which they live. 

Welcome to season nine of the podcast! This season, an "honest conversation about disability and the Church" will be hosted by Letiah Fraser. Her guest in this episode is Rev. Hank Jenkins! Here is a little more about Hank:

Hank Jenkins is an Ordained Deacon out of the Missouri Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, though he currently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee. His primary ministry is as Co-Chair of the Association of Ministers with Disabilities, an organization that seeks to advocate and educate around the needs of people with disabilities within the United Methodist Church while also being a mentor and gathering space for those disabled ministers. Hank has a Doctor of Ministry with a focus on developing resources for denominational leaders to better engage, empower and equip people with disabilities seeking to be in leadership. Hank has also worked in the past as a youth minister in both the Missouri and Oklahoma Annual Conferences. He currently is working on a law degree to continue advocating for the rights of the disabled.

Resources:

The Disabled God

Association of ministers with disabilities  

Welcome to season nine of the podcast! This season, an "honest conversation about disability and the Church" will be hosted by Letiah Fraser. Here is a little more about her:

Rev. Dr. Letiah Fraser was born and raised in NYC and currently lives in Kansas City. She identifies a proud African American woman who lives with Cerebral Palsy. Rev. Dr. Letiah Fraser received her B.S. in Adolescent Education with a concentration in English from Nyack College (now, Alliance University) in NY. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City. In addition, She received her Doctor of Ministry from NTS as well in April 2022. Her focus was on disability theology and spiritual formation.  

Rev. Dr. Letiah  is the pastor of The Open KC, an organizer with the KS Poor People’s Campaign, A National Call for Moral Revival, a hospital chaplain at a local trauma hospital and a disability rights advocate. She  is a contributing writer in the devotional, We Cry Justice; Reading the Bible with The Poor People’s Campaign and has been named one of the 10 Christian Women shaping the church in 2022 by Sojourners.

Join Josiah and Jon as they wrap up season 8 of the Millennial Pastor Podcast.

In this special Millennial Author episode, we chat with Kevin Nye about the process he went through to publish is book. Buy it clicking the link below:

Book link: Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness