What if the story of Jacob wrestling with God has always been a story about identity, transition, and transformation — and we just didn't see it? In this episode, Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter brings a queer theological lens to Genesis 32, unpacking what happens when Jacob refuses to let go of a divine being until he receives a blessing. At the center of this story isn't just a wrestling match; it's a name change. A transition. A declaration from God: "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel."

These transitions have always been present in Scripture but often go unseen: the stories of Abram becoming Abraham, Simon becoming Peter, Saul becoming Paul — these are stories of transition and transformation. They have always been there.

This episode is for anyone who has wrestled with who they are — and needs to hear that God is with them in the limping, in the transition, and in the resurrection into who they are truly called to be. Happy pride, and we hope you enjoy this little bonus ep!

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Music by Coma-Media Song: Jazzy Abstract Beat_Chops

CCLI License # - 11067347 CCLI Streaming Plus # - 22121889 OneLicense.net # - A-712504 CCS PerforMusic # - PML10767

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion #christianpodcast

The Southern Baptist Convention just voted 6,028 to 2,026 — a 3-to-1 margin — to advance a constitutional ban on women serving as pastors or preaching to their congregations. Dr. Carter and Rev. Blair responded to this news with a theological and biblical analysis of the SBC's arguments, and unsurprisingly, came to a vastly different conclusion.

In this episode, we discuss what the SBC actually voted on, the THREE biblical passages they used to justify their restriction of women in ministry, how reading the passages in Greek changes everything, and argue that the real issue the SBC is concerned about is power, not scripture.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ The SBC Vote 10:00 - Their Arguments 17:00 - Greek Translation 23:00 - Why Do They Make This Argument? 28:30 - Break 29:40 - Feminism and Christianity 37:00 - Blair's Final Message

Show Notes: - SBC Banning Women Pastors: https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptist-convention-evangelicals-women-pastors-7d85ddc4cc13f3c90a05c1ce3de196b3 - SBC Banning Women Pastors 2: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/06/southern-baptist-constitution-ban-women-pastors/ - The Response to SBC Banning Women Pastors: https://abcnews.com/US/southern-baptists-vote-ban-women-pastors-sparks-outcry/story?id=133747095

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Music by Coma-Media Song: Jazzy Abstract Beat_Chops

CCLI License # - 11067347 CCLI Streaming Plus # - 22121889 OneLicense.net # - A-712504 CCS PerforMusic # - PML10767

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion #christianpodcast

Join us this week to celebrate 70 YEARS OF WOMEN'S ORDINATION in the Methodist Church! Rev. Blair and Dr. Carter are joined by their boss, Reverend Molly Vetter, and everyone's boss, Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank, to discuss their experiences during different eras of women's rights in the church. One of the most common hate comments we get is from people claiming that women can't be pastors - so just this once, haters - this one is for you.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Celebrating 70 Years Of Female Ordination 7:00 - Discussion Begins 9:45 - Call Stories 29:00 - Different Eras Of Sexism 38:30 - What Would You Tell Young Folks? 42:00 - Responding To Sexism 54:00 - HOPE

Show Notes: - Why the 1956 vote matters: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/why-the-1956-women-clergy-vote-matters - Resource UMC's Podcast on the 70th Anniversary: https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/utm-70th-ordination-live-podcast

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Music by Coma-Media Song: Jazzy Abstract Beat_Chops

CCLI License # - 11067347 CCLI Streaming Plus # - 22121889 OneLicense.net # - A-712504 CCS PerforMusic # - PML10767

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion #christianpodcast

HAPPY PRIDE! We have another special guest this week: Representative Leigh Finke! The first openly transgender Representative in Minnesota's history, she is a founding member and current chair of the Queer Caucus, and she helped to pass the "Trans Refuge Bill," protecting access to gender-affirming care for Minnesotans.

Leigh Finke is also a practicing Christian, and an author that wrote "Queerfully and Wonderfully Made," a handbook for LGBTQ youth in Christian families. Join us for an incredible conversation on faith, community, and how to build a future that's worth fighting for. AND HAPPY PRIDE!

0:00 - Intro/ Introducing Leigh Finke! 6:00 - Queerfully And Wonderfully Made 15:00 - What Made Christianity Stick? 22:20 - Break 23:45 - Fighting For Gender Affirming Care, And Rights Of Minors 32:00 - Transitioning Is Both Physical And Metaphysical 35:00 - What Does Pride Mean To You? 41:00 - Power Is Obsessed With Trans People 46:20 - Advice For Queer Kids, And Hope 58:00 - Good News!

Show Notes: - Leigh Finke: https://www.leighformn.com/ - Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens- https://www.beamingbooks.com/store/product/9781506465241/Queerfully-and-Wonderfully-Made - Trans Theologian Austin Hartke: https://austenhartke.com/ - The Pryde: https://www.lgbtqseniorhousing.org/the-pryde-full

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Music by Coma-Media Song: Jazzy Abstract Beat_Chops

CCLI License # - 11067347 CCLI Streaming Plus # - 22121889 OneLicense.net # - A-712504 CCS PerforMusic # - PML10767

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion #christianpodcast

This week, we are honored to be joined by the one and only Dr. Abdul El-Sayed! As he loves to remind us, Dr. Carter is from Michigan, and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is currently running in a three-way Democratic primary to be Michigan's Senator against Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow. If he wins, he would not only be an unprecedented Progressive voice in Congress, but he would also be the first Muslim Senator in United States History.

Dr. El-Sayed has also been vocal about how his religious views are part of his holistic philosophy - shaping his time growing up in America and the way he is committed to loving his neighbors. You guys have been asking for some more interfaith collaboration on the podcast, and we felt that there was an incredible opportunity for some interfaith religious construction here. Spoilers... Dr. Abdul El-Sayed totally blew us away.

(disclaimer: this interview was recorded the week of May 17th, so our political discussions focus on last week's news cycle)

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Introducing Dr. Abdul El-Sayed 5:00 - How Christians Can Fight Islamophobia/ How To Build A Better Society 8:00 - Successful Muslim Progressives 12:30 - Is Being Progressive Radical or Religious? 16:30 - What Gives You HOPE? 20:35 - Dr. Abdul's Medical Experience and Medicare For All 25:00 - The Black Church 29:00 - How To Support Abdul 32:00 - Break 33:00 - Post Interview Freak Out/ Debrief 44:00 - "Rededicate 250" 1:08:40 - Good News!

Show Notes: - Find out more about Abdul: https://abdulforsenate.com/ - San Diego attack: https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/18/us/live-news/san-diego-islamic-center-shooting - Green Nobel Prize: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D7tWNrETNQXfIYUu17qjgj3k2QB_IpRsF45skAHlvZo/edit?tab=t.0 - Rededicate 250- https://freedom250.org/celebration/rededicate-250-a-national-jubilee-of-prayer-praise-and-thanksgiving - RNS News Review of Rededicate 250- https://religionnews.com/2026/05/17/trump-allies-lead-thousands-in-prayer-to-rededicate-america-to-god-on-national-mall/ - The Convocation Unscripted- https://convocation.substack.com/

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Music by Coma-Media Song: Jazzy Abstract Beat_Chops

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion #christianpodcast

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was born from the Black church. It wasn't just a political achievement — it showed the world the courage and resilience of Black people, the theology of the Civil Rights Movement, and the conviction that loving your neighbor means protecting your neighbor's voice. SCOTUS gutting it isn't just unconstitutional — it's un-Christian.

In this episode, we're breaking down the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais and what it means for democracy, racial justice, and American Christianity. It's just Julia, Dr. Carter, and Westley today - so get ready for a crazy one! No punches pulled - even Jesus showed that leaning into our holy anger is sometimes what we need.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Southern Baptist AI Chatbots 4:45 - The VRA Being Gutted 17:00 - John Roberts and the Civil Rights Era 24:00 - The Black Church 38:00 - Break 40:00 - Jesus' Thoughts? 49:30 - What To Do With SCOTUS

Show Notes: - AI "Faithbot" : https://www.christianpost.com/news/imb-sees-over-600000-people-use-ai-tool-faithbot.html - Montgomery and Selma protests: https://alabamareflector.com/2026/05/16/thousands-attend-protests-in-selma-and-montgomery-for-voting-rights/ - Supreme Court Ruling: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/supreme-court-louisiana-vra-callais/ - Timeline of the Voting Rights Act: https://www.naacpldf.org/voting-rights-act-history-timeline/

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

We are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Melissa Borja this week, to discuss her new podcast "One Million Neighbors!" The podcast follows the story of the largest refugee resettlement in American history - when Midwestern Christians resettled "One Million Neighbors." Obviously, this is very relevant to our current immigration panic, so we dive deep into the strange role that Christians have played here - and what our theology tells us to do next.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Golden Trump Statue 8:00 - "Tax The Rich" is a Slur? 11:15 - Introducing Melissa Borja 16:00 - One Million Neighbors 28:30 - Americans and Missionaries 38:00 - Coastal Elitism vs. Midwestern Coalition Building 44:00 - Matthew 25 50:00 - Refugee Resettlement is Culturally Beneficial 57:30 - Immigrants vs. Migrants vs. Asylum Seekers 1:05:00 - Good News!

Show Notes: - Check out One Million Neighbors: https://www.axismundi.us/podcasts/one-million-neighbors - Politics is for Power by Eitan Hersher: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Politics-Is-for-Power/Eitan-Hersh/9781982116798 - Billionaire says "tax the rich" is a slur: https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/06/business/mamdani-taxes-real-estate - The Trump Gold Statue: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/05/11/donald-trump-gold-statue/90029751007/ - UK emissions at 150 year low: https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-emissions-fall-2-4-in-2025-as-coal-hits-400-year-low/

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

Raise your hand if you've had a clip from James Talarico come across your page in the past year 🤚 We've been following this race closely, and now that he won the Democratic nomination, we have a lot of thoughts. His unique use of Christianity and Christian language in politics has set him apart. It's brought a lot of momentum, but it's also brought a lot of hate - even from the president. We're here to adress this question - Why is the Right so afraid of James Talarico?

Timestamps: 0:00 - Cold Open/ Come To Our Baseball Game! 1:29 - Intro/ The World 5:00 - Why Do They Hate Talarico? 30:00 - Of Course Race Is A Part Of This 33:20 - Jasmine Crockett 43:30 - Break 45:00 - Trevor Noah On Religious Imagination 1:02:00 - The Audacity Of Hope 1:12:40 - Good News!

Show Notes: - Baptist News On Talarico - https://baptistnews.com/article/why-are-evangelicals-freaking-out-over-james-talarico/ - Religion Unplugged on Talarico - https://religionunplugged.com/news/james-talarico-and-the-struggle-over-christianity-in-us-politics - Trevor Noah on Religion - https://lizbucar.substack.com/p/what-if-trevor-noah-is-right-about - The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggeman - https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506449302/The-Prophetic-Imagination - Imagining Argentina by Lawrench Thornton - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/178530/imagining-argentina-by-lawrence-thornton/ - Beloved by Toni Morrison - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/117647/beloved-pulitzer-prize-winner-by-toni-morrison/ - Mills drops out - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/30/janet-mills-maine-senate-dropout-00899664

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

After the newest assassination attempt, we noticed that the manifesto of the perpetrator had a lot of Bible references. Between this, the Trump admin's use of the Bible to justify violence, and the new trend of abusive men bringing their bibles to court, we wanted to speak on violence, nonviolence, and where Jesus fits in all of it.

Show Notes:

- The manifesto: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXpoVeOE5sk/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

- Erica Chenowith: Why Civil Resistance Works: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/why-civil-resistance-works-the-strategic-logic-of-nonviolent-conflict_erica-chenoweth_maria-j-stephan/3292394/item/26513110/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_new_condition_books_high_14637440387&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=545679999522&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=14637440387&gbraid=0AAAAADwY45iwsuDihZsb4ADJDPDwD0CZ9&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2MbPBhCSARIsAP3jP9x1VoRUqR9jDTeQ2xRir0ZN09Cf_5On32MExb4wmliEsdsHv36JDWkaArFxEALw_wcB#idiq=26513110&edition=7970609

- Russell Brand can't find a passage in the bible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QCIqF7K3lE

- Gerlyn Henry on the abusive man to Christian pipeline: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVjLmdzDSEC/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

- Guatemala stops oil drilling in the Maya Biosphere Reserve: https://peterschulte.org/good-news/guatemala-maya-forest-rewilding-oil-fields/

- Rhinos Return to Uganda: https://peterschulte.org/good-news/uganda-rhino-reintroduction-wild-kidep

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

As Americans, we tend to focus a lot on an American perspective - so this week, we are blessed to be joined by a friend who is helping to provide a wider angle! Jonty Langley is co-host and founder of the Beer Christianity podcast, as well as editor of S(h)ibboleth Magazine. Jonty joined us from across the pond to talk about The American Imperial Boomerang, how leftism and Christianity intertwine, and what to understand about America's role in the wider world.

Show Notes: - AOC Quote: "I thought that fascist takeover attempts were going to be architected by evil geniuses. I was not expecting how unearned, nepotistic, mediocre and just dumb so many of the people architecting this were going to be" - Shibboleth Magazine: https://shibbolethmag.com/ - Beer Christianity Podcast: https://www.beerchristianity.co.uk/ - Hope Without Optimism: Terry Eagleton https://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/4948/ - Greenbelt Festival- https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/ - The North Sea Energy Network: https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/north-sea-states-aim-worlds-largest-energy-hub-major-offshore-wind-investment-plan

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion