Michael Wear joins Angela for a conversation about how we should move forward after the election as grace-filled Christians. Their discussion dives into how to make the most of this moment by offering a positive vision for life: not just fending off the bad but pursuing the good. How can we tap into the grace that God offers each of us to be humble in our interactions and imagine positive possibilities for the future? 

Guest Bio: Micheal Wear is founder, president, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution based in the nation's capital with the mission to contend for the credibility of Christian resources in public life, for the public good. He has served as a trusted resource and advisor for a range of civic leaders on matters of faith and public life for the last fifteen years, including as a White House and presidential campaign staffer. Wear previously led Public Square Strategies, a consulting firm he founded that helps religious organizations, political organizations, businesses and others effectively navigate the rapidly changing American religious and political landscape. He is the author of "The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life," which argues that the kind of people we are has much to do with the kind of politics and public life we will have. Links: - Follow @ccpubliclife on social media and @MichaelRWear on X - Center for Christianity and Public Life: www.ccpubliclife.org - Michael’s book, The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life: https://www.michaelwear.com/spirit-of-our-politics

In this episode of The ProGrace Podcast, Angela recaps some of our previous guests' most helpful advice as we enter the last few weeks of a contentious election season. Hear from Kaitlyn Scheiss, Skye Jethani, Andrew Hanauer, Christy Vines, Amy Peeler, and Laura McAlpine on ways we can prioritize people instead of politics.

Episodes featured: Andrew Hanauer from One America Movement: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2148861711

Kaitlyn Schiess, author and speaker: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2148628778

Dr. Amy Peeler: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2148341917

Skye Jethani: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2148027627

Christy Vines from Ideos Institute: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2147994081

Laura McAlpine: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/new-conversations-about-abortion-the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2147946246

Conversation guide link: https://www.prograce.org/ndod Leaders Cohort interest list: www.prograce.org/groups

Our world seems to become more divided by the day. We are ending relationships over differences in opinion on political matters. How can we restore unity to our families and communities? In this episode, Angela talks with Andrew Hanauer, the President and CEO of the One America Movement, an organization founded by faith leaders to fight toxic polarization, about how faith communities and leaders can work to model unity during increasingly divisive times. In Andrew’s words: “politics will not fill the Spiritual holes in our lives,” but he believes that Scripture holds the answers we seek. Many of us feel that we can have little or no impact on culture or politics, but we have a lot of impact within our communities. Can we work together in the places where we can make an impact and effect meaningful change? How can our faith communities meet our needs so that we do not need to turn to political groups to find our identity? Guest Bio Andrew Hanauer is the President and CEO of the One America Movement, an organization founded by faith leaders to fight toxic polarization. One America supports faith leaders and faith communities to reject toxic forms of division and offer a moral vision that transcends our divisive and disconnected culture. Under Andrew’s leadership, the One America Movement has become one of the largest and fastest-growing organizations combating division in American society, quintupling in size in the past three years. Andrew is a frequent public speaker at houses of worship of all kinds and has represented One America before gatherings of the National Governors' Association, Americorps, Points of Light, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and many more, and podcasts as wide-ranging as Fuller Seminary and Islamic Relief USA. His work has been published or featured by USA Today, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, Salon, the Christian Citizen, and media outlets across the US. When he is not fighting toxic polarization, Andrew is spending time with his family, coaching little league, rooting for the Golden State Warriors and Arkansas Razorbacks, and participating in small groups at his church. LinksDownload the ProGrace Conversation Guide: https://www.prograce.org/about  One America Movement website: https://oneamericamovement.org/ One America Movement Substack: https://oneamericamovement.substack.com/

Things are heating up politically and socially as the United States prepares for a presidential election, and abortion is on everyone’s minds and ballots. You may be feeling overwhelmed, worn out, or stuck. What is Jesus asking us to do when it comes to abortion, and how should we, as Christians, behave during the politically divisive season we are in now?  In this episode, Angela Weszely speaks from the heart about what this tense climate means for us as Christians, how we can engage in a way that makes people feel safe and represents Jesus, and why we should have hope now that God is working in these divisive times. Answering questions from the ProGrace audience, Angela gives insight into frequently asked questions such as what opinion we should hold on abortion as Christians, how and why men should speak on this issue, and more. Show Notes:Matthew 9:9-13 - The Calling of Matthew Luke 19:1-10 - Zacchaeus the tax collector Mark 3:1-6 - Jesus heals on the Sabbath Matthew 26:6-13 - Woman who anointed Jesus’ feet John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Transform Cohort information & registration:  www.prograce.org/groupseBook: www.prograce.org/ebookSubmit your questions and difficult topics by emailing [email protected] 

 In this episode, author and Holy Post co-host Kaitlyn Schiess breaks down what it means to be a politically responsible Christian. As a theologian, Kaitlyn understands both the Biblical importance and limitations of legislation to solve the problems we are faced with, as well as the fine line we must walk between the two. In this conversation, she and Angela break down the questions that many of us have about how to be politically active in a way that respects and reflects our faith, the pull of political parties on our identity, and how to keep our priorities in the right place through it all. What does the Bible say about political involvement? How have past religiously-driven campaigns for legislation solved, or failed to solve, the societal problem they intended to address? Where do Christians belong in political movements and conversations? If you are overwhelmed by constant political messaging, this episode will give you clear direction and answers to some of our most significant political questions. Guest Bio Kaitlyn Schiess is an author, speaker, and perpetual theology student. She is the author of The Ballot and the Bible (Brazos, 2023) and The Liturgy of Politics (IVP, 2020), and her writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The New York Times, Christ and Pop Culture, RELEVANT, and Sojourner. She is a co-host and Senior Editor of the Holy Post podcast, and the host of Curiously, Kaitlyn. She has a ThM in systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and is currently a doctoral student in theology at Duke Divinity School. LinksKaitlyn’s website: kaitlynschiess.comKaitlyn’s new podcast: http://holypost.com/curiously The Ordinance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP7CFMIttGQ 

Andrea Leigh Capuyan, Executive Director of the LPC in the Baltimore/Washington DC metro area and ProGrace Equip learning community member, discusses how her life experience and grace changed how she and her organization operate. Rejecting industry norms and standards, Andrea has allowed her own experience and faith, as well as the ProGrace community and resources, to guide her toward a more empathetic and loving standard of care in her organization. Andrea faced an unintended pregnancy at 25, not at a time in her life in which she felt capable of raising a child. Her own experiences, both good and bad, with religious pregnancy centers impacted her stance on the goals and methods she would later employ as the Executive Director of LPC. Andrea is uniquely qualified to understand the guilt, shame, and panic that her clients experience and has reimagined her organization's response to unintended pregnancy support. She also has a unique story to tell the church about how we can and must treat people more like Jesus does. Guest BioAndrea Leigh Capuyan serves on the board of the Center for Steward Leader Studies, and she is the executive director for the Laurel Pregnancy Center (the LPC) - a local counseling-based ministry with limited medical services for pregnancy support care and helping anyone impacted by reproductive loss, and post-abortion grief. The LPC team is centered on Christ, believing that God meets us in life’s most challenging circumstances. The LPC team is an awesome testimony to the power and hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, reminding us that our story isn’t over, and in situations of life and death, God resurrects and renews. There is always hope. Links:

• ProGrace Equip membership for direct service organizations:  https://www.prograce.org/pregnancy-orgs 
• ProGrace Transform: https://www.prograce.org/groups 
• Center for Steward Leader Studies: https://www.thecsls.org/
• Laurel Pregnancy Center: http://lpcpartners.org/ 

In this episode, Angela talks to Christian Pregnancy Center COO Kristen Lonberger of Living Alternatives about their center’s desire to treat their clients in a way that is congruent with their faith. They discuss how the practices of traditional pregnancy centers can make women feel shame and guilt, and how the staff at Living Alternatives has worked to ensure that their practices are both ethical and representative of Jesus.  Guest Bio Kristen Lonberger is Chief Operations Officer for Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center; a faith-based non-profit organization that serves Illinois and Indiana. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Olivet Nazarene University and is working on her Master's in Organizational Leadership. Kristen seeks to empower others and is driven by the purpose of helping people step forward into freedom and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. In addition to her role at Living Alternatives, Kristen is the Director of Family Ministries at Christ’s Community Church of the Nazarene in New Albany, IN. Kristen is an avid reader and plant lover; she has been married to her husband, Dr. Carlos Lonberger, since 2003, and they have four sons together. Living Alternatives is committed to providing excellent care, compassionate support, and honest information to those facing pregnancy decisions through authentic relationships that display grace, honor life, and foster community. All services, resources, information, and emotional support are offered at no cost to the client. LinksProGrace Equip membership for direct service organizations: https://www.prograce.org/pregnancy-orgs  ProGrace Transform: https://www.prograce.org/groups  Living Alternatives: https://livingalternatives.org/  More thoughts on grace from Phillip Yancey: https://philipyancey.com/q-and-a-topics/grace

In this episode, Angela discusses her recent experience participating in the National Day of Dialogue (NDOD) 2024. The event taught practical tools for having more constructive conversations. She explains the ABCs of Constructive Dialogue and how she learned to use them to increase understanding. She also recounts a time she used these skills in conversation with someone who held opposing views and how the conversation resulted in understanding, empathy, and even friendship. This episode will give you the hope and encouragement to navigate this election year and grow your faith in these divisive times.

Show Notes:

• Download our FREE resource guide here: https://www.prograce.org/pl/2148165368
• Ground Rules for Justice-Centered Conversations
• https://www.uraction.org
• https://www.nationaldayofdialogue.com

Guest: Dr. Amy Peeler To have new conversations about abortion, we need to step inside people’s stories. Women specifically can sometimes wonder where they can find their place in the story of God's family. We’re celebrating this season of Advent by exploring how the coming of Jesus to reconcile God and humanity begins with a pregnancy story. Join Angela and her guest, Dr. Amy Peeler, the Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College, a priest in the Episcopal Church (USA), and the author of Women and the Gender of God (Eerdmans, 2022). They unpack the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, through the lens of her pregnancy experience. And they walk through the deeper truths this story illustrates about God's compassion and equal value for both the woman and the child. How can He hold His plan for the Son to become human and Mary’s agency in that plan without contradiction? As we celebrate Christmas, we sit with this reality of God's intention for Mary’s place in the salvation story.

Links:

• Women and the Gender of God by Dr. Amy Peeler - https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802879097/
• Amy references the painting: Mary consoles Eve by Grace Remington
• Referenced Prayer:(Book of Common Prayer, Rite II, Prayer B, p. 368) We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

Guest: Lisa Fields, Founder and CEO Jude 3 Project

Experiences, hurt, and trauma always filter how we receive information. So, if we ignore people's lived experiences, we miss the opportunity for connection that leads to transformation. In this episode, Angela sits with Lisa Fields, Founder and CEO of The Jude 3 Project, about the importance of having conversations around divisive issues like abortion and racial divides in the church. They discuss the need for Christians to model their approach after Jesus, not politics, and to listen to others' experiences with empathy and understanding. They also emphasize the importance of humility, recognizing our participation in the problem to foster compassion and reconciliation. Overall, the conversation highlights the need to receive the grace of God, to give grace to others, and how open dialogue to address these complex issues within the church is necessary to connect with the next generation.

Links:

• Donations: Give Now at https://www.prograce.org/give Courageous Conversations 2023 is available on demand https://www.courageousconvos.org/ 
• AND Campaign https://andcampaign.org/
• Book: Mere Apologetics by Alister McGrath