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A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast

Simon Doong & Lee Catoe·Hosted by Simon Doong and Lee Catoe·332 episodes

ChristianityReligionSpiritualityProgressive ChristianExpert interviewsWeeklyStandalone episodesJustice-mindedMainline church

Welcome to A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast, the podcast where we respond to your questions and comments on issues of faith, social justice and church life. Don't be afraid to write in and ask your question because if it matters to you, it matters to us and it just might be a matter of faith. Whether it be faith in God, faith in others or faith in yourself. We are brought to you by the Office of Faith-Based Investing & Corporate Engagement, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, and Unbound: An Interactive Journal on Christian Social Justice for the Presbyterian Church...

Why listen

A Matter of Faith is a thoughtful Presbyterian conversation show hosted by Simon Doong and Lee Catoe, built around listener questions about faith, justice, church life, and culture. Episodes usually pair the hosts with authors, pastors, activists, and theologians, so listeners get practical ministry questions alongside bigger conversations about race, sexuality, ecology, politics, grief, and spiritual formation. It is a strong fit for progressive Christians, mainline church leaders, and anyone who wants faith talk that stays connected to real social issues.

Series(1)

Episodes

58 min
Jul 16, 2026Episode 296
Sanctuary for the Soul within the Psalms w/ Marty Folsom

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest:Marty Folsom, Author of The Psalms: A Sanctuary for the Soul, Book 1: 1–30Question of the Week:Why do ancient prayers like the Psalms still matter in today's world?The Psalms: A Sanctuary for the Soul, Book 1: 1–30For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 2 min
Jul 9, 2026Episode 295
War and the Military Industrial Complex w/ Ben Daniel

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest:Ben Daniel, Author of Grace Over Guns & Pastor at Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CAQuestion of the Week:We often hear about debates between military force ocassionally being justified compared to true, full pacifism. How are we to navigate this debate as Christians?Grace Over GunsFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr
Jul 2, 2026Episode 294
The Psalms and a Gloriously Disrupted Life w/ Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest:Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, Author of Dangerous Songs: The Psalms and a Gloriously Disrupted Life & Director of Spiritual Formation at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Rochester, MinnesotaQuestion of the Week:People often view the Psalms as scriptures for comfort and consolation. But the Psalms are so much more complex. What do we miss by failing to recognize the full experience that the Psalms depict, which include joy but also grief and struggle?Dangerous Songs: The Psalms and a Gloriously Disrupted LifeFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

49 min
Jun 25, 2026Episode 293
The Spirituality of Motherhood and Parenthood w/ Sarah K. Butterfield

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest:Sarah K. Butterfield, Author, Podcaster & Ministry DirectorQuestion of the Week:Life is so busy for parents, and especially for moms and maternal figures. What does it look like to cultivate spiritual practices in the middle of busy “mom life”? How can spouses and partners support moms so they have time for their own spirituality?Sarah's InstagramSarah's websiteConnect with God QuizLove Like a Mother by Elizabeth BergetFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

44 min
Jun 18, 2026Episode 292
The Wisdom of Jesus w/ Rick Hamlin

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest:Rick Hamlin, Author of Everlasting Jesus: 40 Days of Timeless Wisdom for Modern LivingQuestion of the Week:In today’s busy world full of news and noise, it can be a challenge to actually sit down and read scripture. Then when we finally do, we feel compelled to “get through” the reading to get on to the next thing, without actually absorbing any of Jesus’ teachings. How can we intentionally slow down to truly hear Jesus?Everlasting Jesus: 40 Days of Timeless Wisdom for Modern LivingFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 9 min
Jun 11, 2026Episode 291
Reading the Bible with Love w/ Richard Beck

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest:Richard Beck, Author of The Book of Love: A Better Way to Read the Bible & Professor of Psychology at Abilene Christian UniversityQuestion of the Week:In a polarized and politicized society, people hold very strongly what they believe is "right" or "the truth" when it comes to understanding and interpreting scripture. How can we read scripture together and have productive conversations about it, while navigating these different understandings and dynamics?The Book of Love: A Better Way to Read the BibleGlobal Flourishing StudyFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 8 min
Jun 4, 2026Episode 290
Communing with the Ancestors w/ William H. Lamar IV

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest:Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Author of Ancestors: Those Who Bless Us, Curse Us, and Hold Us Question of the Week:In a challenging and polarized world, it is easy to focus only on moving forward and not reflect on our own past and history. What do we miss when we forget to acknowledge and understand our ancestors? How does understanding our ancestors impact how see ourselves, especially as Christians?Ancestors: Those Who Bless Us, Curse Us, and Hold UsFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr
May 28, 2026Episode 289
Debunking Christian Nationalist Myths w/ Warren Throckmorton

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest:Warren Throckmorton, Author of The Christian Past That Wasn’t: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack HistoryQuestion of the Week:What are the myths that Christian nationalism perpetuates? Who do they empower and how do they misrepresent history and scripture? How can we counter this narrative?The Christian Past That Wasn't Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack HistoryFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 6 min
May 21, 2026Episode 288
Technology, Culture, God, and Self w/ Aaron Cline Hanbury

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Aaron Cline Hanbury, Author of Wired for Wonder: Dispatches on Technology, Culture, God, and Self Question of the Week: As technology advances, our world and our lives become more technology driven. Is this a “good” thing in terms of how we interact with the world, each other, and how we understand God and the divine?Wired for Wonder: Dispatches on Technology, Culture, God, and Self For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 12 min
May 14, 2026Episode 287
What Cinema Teaches us About our Faith w/ Jeffrey Overstreet

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Jeffrey Overstreet, Author of Lost & Found in the Cathedral of Cinema and Through a Screen Darkly and The Auralia Thread series, Professor of Film and Creative Writing at Seattle Pacific UniversityQuestion of the Week: We hear that you can experience and find God in the arts. But we also hear how some mediums such as film are more about entertainment or escapism. How can we find God in movies and cinema? How can film help us grow our faith?Lost & Found in the Cathedral of Cinema For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

59 min
May 7, 2026Episode 286
How to Live God’s Radical Welcome as a Family w/ Mihee Kim-Kort

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Mihee Kim-Kort, Author of Seeing and Being Jesus in the World: How to Live God’s Radical Welcome as a FamilyQuestion of the Week: It’s hard to be a parent. Our kids and families have so much going on, it is hard to keep track of all the activities. Amidst the busyness, how can parents find the time to engage their children about justice issues in ways that are age appropriate, but also empowering?Seeing and Being Jesus in the World: How to Live God’s Radical Welcome as a FamilyFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

58 min
Apr 30, 2026Episode 285
What the 'Nones' and 'Dones' Teach Us About the Future of Faith w/ Stephanie Spellers

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Rev. Stephanie Spellers, Episcopal Priest in New York City & Author of Church Tomorrow?: What the 'Nones' and 'Dones' Teach Us About the Future of Faith Question of the Week: We hear a lot about denominational decline and how the "church is dying" because young people are not going to church. But the response often makes it seem like young people are the problem, instead of the church refusing to adapt to new ways of being faith communities. So, why are young people not going to church? What can our churches we learn from this?Church Tomorrow?: What the 'Nones' and “Dones' Teach Us About the Future of Faith Stephanie Spellers' WebsiteFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 1 min
Apr 23, 2026Episode 284
Conversion Therapy...and What We Should Do About It w/ Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, Author of Conversion Therapy Dropout: A Queer Story of Faith and BelongingQuestion of the Week: How can progressive churches counteract the harm being perpetuated by conservative church culture around conversion therapy and disaffirmation of queer Christians?Conversion Therapy Dropout: A Queer Story of Faith and Belonging For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr
Apr 16, 2026Episode 283
Birding as a Spiritual Practice w/ Ragan Sutterfield

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Ragan Sutterfield, Author of Watch and Wonder: Birding as a Spiritual PracticeQuestion of the Week: We’ve heard the phrase “finding God in nature.” What are ways that we can connect with God and grow our spirituality that are unique to bird watching?Watch and Wonder: Birding as a Spiritual PracticeFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

55 min
Apr 9, 2026Episode 282
An Asian American Experience with American Christianity w/ Kristin T. Lee

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Kristin T. Lee, Author of We Mend with Gold: An Immigrant Daughter's Reckoning with American ChristianityQuestion of the Week: Immigrant families may (understandably) focus on “fitting in” with the culture, values, or expectations of the country they move to. But what is lost in the process of trying to fit in and “make it” with the new culture in terms of faith and identity?We Mend with Gold: An Immigrant Daughter's Reckoning with American ChristianityFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 4 min
Apr 2, 2026Episode 281
A History of Iran, the US, and Israel w/ John Ghazvinian

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: John Ghazvinian, Author, Historian and Former journalistQuestion of the Week: Considering the recent attacks on Iran by the US and Israel, so much misunderstanding and misinformation is flooding our news and social media feeds. How are we to understand what exactly is happening and what is the historical context that surrounds this devastating event? And how are people of faith to respond?America and Iran: A History, 1720 to the PresentFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 1 min
Mar 26, 2026Episode 280
Discernment in the Early Church and Today w/ John Lewis

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: John Lewis, Author of Discernment in the Early Church and Today: Reclaiming Paul's Vision for Formation and Community BuildingQuestion of the Week: Today’s world and church seem very polarized. But this is not the first time there have been disagreements, tensions, and distrust in our faith communities. What can we learn from early Christian communities and how they overcame barriers and polarization to become a more unified, cohesive community?Discernment in the Early Church and Today: Reclaiming Paul's Vision for Formation and Community BuildingFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

45 min
Mar 19, 2026Episode 279
Three Generations From Slavery to the White House w/ John Wrory Ficklin

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: John Wrory Ficklin, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs & Author of An Unusual Path: Three Generations From Slavery to the White HouseQuestion of the Week: Your book chronicles your family’s history which includes slavery as well as serving in the White House across multiple generations in different capacities such as ranging from the White House butler to Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. What role did faith play in your family’s story?An Unusual Path: Three Generations From Slavery to the White HouseFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr
Mar 12, 2026Episode 278
Grief and What to Say w/ Shelby Forsythia

Send us Fan MailShelby Forsythia, Author of Of Course I’m Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving  | What does it mean to really sit alongside someone in grief and mourning? When talking with someone who is grieving, we hear that people worry about saying the “wrong” thing. Others speak too quickly and fall back on language referencing God or the Bible that could actually be more hurtful than helpful. How do we navigate these dynamics to best support each other? | Of Course I’m Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving Shelby Forsythia's PodcastFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 5 min
Mar 5, 2026Episode 277
Ministry with LGBTQIA+ Youth w/ Cody Sanders

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Cody Sanders, Author of A Brief Guide to Ministry with LGBTQIA Youth, Updated EditionQuestion of the Week: How can and should churches be responding to the attack on diversity and transgender rights in the current political context?A Brief Guide to Ministry with LGBTQIA Youth, Updated Edition Cripping Youth MinistryFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

52 min
Feb 26, 2026Episode 276
The Roots of Horror in Scripture w/ Brandon Grafius

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Brandon Grafius, Academic Dean & Professor of Biblical Studies at Ecumenical Theological Seminary, and Author of Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in ScriptureQuestion of the Week: We often skip the more horrific and scary parts of the Bible to focus on the “good” and uplifting parts. What do we miss out on by doing this? What do the scarier aspects of scripture have to teach us?Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in ScriptureFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

46 min
Feb 19, 2026Episode 275
Reflections on Reading Fiction and Growing in Faith w/ Doug Basler

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Doug Basler, Author of All Swirling and Weaving:Reflections on Reading Fiction and Growing in FaithQuestion of the Week: Christian literature is often focused on academic, intellectual, and non-fiction reading. But how can our faith grow and be challenged through fiction?All Swirling and Weaving: Reflections on Reading Fiction and Growing in FaithFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

53 min
Feb 12, 2026Episode 274
Sacred Curiosity w/ Britney Winn Lee

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Britney Winn Lee, Author of Sacred Curiosity: Wondering Our Way Toward WholenessQuestion of the Week: Today’s society is very busy and also very polarized. How do we maintain spiritual and intellectual curiosity in dark times or amidst busy schedules?Sacred Curiosity: Wondering Our Way Toward Wholeness For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

59 min
Feb 5, 2026Episode 273
How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities w/ Andy Hale

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Rev. Dr. Andrew Hale, Author of Mending the Fracturing Church: How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving CommunitiesQuestion of the Week: How can churches and faith communities healthily navigate conflict and tension in this time of polarization? Further, why does conflict in our churches feel so much more personal than conflicts with other members of our communities?Mending the Fracturing Church: How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving CommunitiesFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

52 min
Jan 29, 2026Episode 272
Seeking Simplicity, Connection, and Repair in a Broken World w/ Betsy Shirley

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Betsy Shirley, Editor-in-Chief of Sojourners. Sojourners is publishing Light for the Way: Seeking Simplicity, Connection, and Repair in a Broken WorldQuestion of the Week: What does it mean to be spiritually resilient when facing major issues in today’s world, such as division, climate change, and Christian nationalism? How do we become resilient and also share that with others?Light for the Way: Seeking Simplicity, Connection, and Repair in a Broken World SojournersFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

52 min
Jan 22, 2026Episode 271
The Desert Elders w/ Lisa Colón DeLay

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Lisa Colón DeLay, Author of The Way of the Desert Elders: How the Wisdom of Ancient Christians Sustains Us TodayQuestion of the Week: Ancient Christians lived and journeyed through deserts, a context that many Christians today do not have. How did the desert inform ancient Christians understanding of faith and God and how can their perspective help us today?The Way of the Desert Elders: How the Wisdom of Ancient Christians Sustains Us Today Spark My Muse PodcastLisa's Youtube ChannelFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

58 min
Jan 15, 2026Episode 270
How to Interpret the Bible for Yourself and Others w/ Jennifer Garcia Bashaw and Aaron Higashi

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Jennifer Garcia Bashaw and Aaron Higashi, Authors of Serving Up Scripture: How to Interpret the Bible for Yourself and OthersQuestions of the Week: What are some key things we should have in mind when reading and interpreting Scripture? How do we respond when someone else has a vastly different interpretation or understanding?Serving Up Scripture: How to Interpret the Bible for Yourself and OthersFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

49 min
Jan 8, 2026Episode 269
Jesus on the Road and Lent w/ Cynthia Campbell and Christine Coy Fohr

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guests: Cynthia Campbell and Christine Coy Fohr, Authors of Meeting Jesus on the Road: A Lenten Study; Cynthia is a retired Presbyterian pastor and retired seminary president, and Christine is pastor at Harvey Browne Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KYQuestion of the Week: How can we connect the spiritual themes and aspects of Lent to our physical bodies? Why does this matter and how can it help us better understand Jesus’ life and grow our relationship with God?Meeting Jesus on the Road: A Lenten StudyFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 1 min
Jan 1, 2026Episode 268
Liberating Feminine Wisdom from Christian Patriarchy w/ Angela J. Herrington

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Angela J. Herrington, Spiritual Coach & Author of Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods: Liberating Feminine Wisdom from Christian PatriarchyQuestion of the Week: What are examples of how Christianity perpetuates patriarchy? How can women resist and overcome these traditions and attitudes? Further, how can others (especially men) be allies in empowering women and dismantling these patriarchal practices?Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

48 min
Dec 25, 2025Episode 267
Weaving New Ritual w/ Lucy Waechter Webb & Nicole Bauman

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guests: Rev. Lucy Waechter Webb and Nicole Bauman, Facilitators of Weaving New Ritual: a year long community of practice for people with White Christian lineage to reclaim ritual fluencyQuestion of the Week: How can white Christian descendants relate to their spiritual lineage? What does this look like and why does it matter for broader, collective liberation for both white Christians and Christians of color?Weaving New RitualFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

50 min
Dec 18, 2025Episode 266
Fatherhood, Faith, and Relationship w/ Patton Dodd

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Patton Dodd, Author of The Father You Get: And the Ones You Make, Believe In, and BecomeQuestion of the Week: Is it really possible to have or to be an “ideal” father? What would that look like? How is our understanding of fatherhood informed by our experiences with our own fathers?The Father You Get: And the Ones You Make, Believe In, and BecomeFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

56 min
Dec 11, 2025Episode 265
Joy to the World w/ Robert Boak Slocum

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Dr. Robert Boak Slocum, Author of Joy to the World!Devotions for Advent, Christmas, and EpiphanyQuestion of the Week: What does it mean to find comfort and hope in the season of Advent, Christmas and then Epiphany? This time can be joyful but also challenging, for example if people have lost family members or are experiencing difficult life circumstances.Joy to the World!Devotions for Advent, Christmas, and EpiphanyShort Video Excerpts/Presentations about Joy to the World!:Advent 1, Joy to the World!: Prepare the Way!Advent 2, Joy to the World!: Keep Awake!Advent 3, Joy to the World!: Leaping for JoyAdvent 4, Joy to the World!: Mary’s YesJoy to the World!: ChristmasJoy to the World!: EpiphanyFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 6 min
Dec 4, 2025Episode 264
Missionary Kids and White Evangelicalism w/ Holly Berkley Fletcher

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Holly Berkley Fletcher, Author of The Missionary Kids:Unmasking the Myths of White EvangelicalismQuestion of the Week: What do the stories and experiences of missionary kids teach us about the issues with white evangelicalism and the missionary model of spreading the Gospel? Additionally, what unique challenges do children raised in missionary families experience?The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White EvangelicalismFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

57 min
Nov 27, 2025Episode 263
Trans Advent w/ Zayn Silva & Avery Arden

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Zayn Silva and Avery Arden, Writers for Unbound's Trans Advent Devotional. Zayne is Digital Minister at Middle Collegiate Church, Avery is also a board member for More Light PresbyteriansQuestion of the Week: As we approach Advent, what does it mean for us right now and what does it mean for your own identity as trans?Trans AdventFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

53 min
Nov 20, 2025Episode 262
A Conversation with Britain's First Black Woman Bishop w/ Rt. Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: The Rt Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover and Bishop in Canterbury, Author of Girl from Montego Bay: The Autobiography of Britain's First Black Woman Bishop Rose Hudson-WilkinQuestion of the Week: How have you seen God in your journey to becoming Britain’s first Black woman bishop? How was your faith challenged and how did your understanding of God grow? Given your experience, what do you see for the future of the Church regarding gender and racial inclusion and empowerment?Girl from Montego Bay: The Autobiography of Britain's First Black Woman Bishop Rose Hudson-WilkinFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

49 min
Nov 13, 2025Episode 261
Transforming Churches into Trauma-Informed Spaces w/ Julia Matallana Freedman

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Julia Matallana Freedman, Author of Sanctuary of Healing: Transforming Churches into Trauma-Informed Spaces, Recently Ordained in the Episcopal TraditionQuestion of the Week: Churches can unfortunately be places where people have to “put on a face” and pretend like their lives are good and they do not have issues. How can churches and faith communities transform from that and become sanctuaries where people can heal from trauma? How do we create these spaces in ways that are intentional and welcoming?Sanctuary of Healing: Transforming Churches into Trauma-Informed SpacesNational Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Support Group GuidelinesFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

59 min
Nov 6, 2025Episode 260
Rootedness & Home w/ Christy Berghoef

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Christy Berghoef, Author of Rooted: A Spiritual Memoir of HomecomingQuestion of the Week: Throughout our lives, our faith is challenged and then grows. What did it mean for you to go back to a place you called home but with a different worldview and faith than the one you were raised in? How do we redefine ourselves when returning to places we call home?Rooted: A Spiritual Memoir of HomecomingChristy's Substack: Pictures of the Secret Garden Christy's Substack: Pictures of the GreenhouseFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

54 min
Oct 30, 2025Episode 259
Self-Discovery and Reclaiming Your Narrative w/ GG Renee Hill

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: GG Renee Hill, Author of Story Work: Field Notes on Self-Discovery and Reclaiming Your NarrativeQuestion of the Week: We make sense of the world around us and ourselves through stories. But we often treat these stories, especially the stories we tell about ourselves, as fixed and unchanging. This can lead to cycles of self-sabotage and not liking oneself. How can we change our perspective so these stories are more flexible and dynamic?Story Work: Field Notes on Self-Discovery and Reclaiming Your NarrativeFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 8 min
Oct 23, 2025Episode 258
Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America w/ Alex Thornburg and Ted V. Foote Jr.

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guests: Alex Thornburg and Ted V. Foote Jr., Authors of Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America: A Guide to Reclaiming the Good News of God's Grace Question of the Week: Member of progressive and mainline denominations have shifted away from words like "missionary" and "evangelize" because of the rise of conservative Christianity and Christian nationalism. Is it possible to reclaim or reimagine these terms in ways that are not problematic and true to our own understanding of faith? Can we define ourselves by our own values, rather than simply pointing at the "other side" and claiming not to be like "those Christians"?Being Presbyterian in a Dysvangelical America: A Guide to Reclaiming the Good News of God's GraceFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

54 min
Oct 16, 2025Episode 257
Souvenirs of the Holy w/ Laurie M. Brock

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Rev. Laurie M. Brock, Author of Souvenirs of the Holy: Encountering God through Everyday ObjectsQuestion of the Week: There’s a saying that “you can find God in everything.” In a time of consumerism and emphasis on possessions, how can we as Christians navigate searching for God in objects and things without being too materialistic?Souvenirs of the Holy: Encountering God through Everyday Objects Podcast: Lectionary HacksFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

56 min
Oct 9, 2025Episode 256
Family Devotionals and Biblical Conversation w/ Jessica Miller Kelley

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Jessica Miller Kelley, Author of Growing in God's Love:A Family DevotionalQuestion of the Week: It is so important for families to read Scripture together and wrestle with big questions. But it also can be difficult. How can families do this in ways that are honest but also appropriate for all family members of different ages and experiences?Growing in God's Love:A Family DevotionalFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

58 min
Oct 2, 2025Episode 255
Guns, Politics and White Evangelicals w/ William J. Kole

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: William J. Kole, Author of In Guns We Trust: The Unholy Trinity of White Evangelicals, Politics, and FirearmsQuestion of the Week: How can we address gun violence in the US when some Christians are fusing their faith with the right to bear arms? How do we have intentional conversation about this issue that is actually productive, rather than talking in echo chambers or only engaging in divisive and politicized debates that ultimately go nowhere?In Guns We Trust: The Unholy Trinity of White Evangelicals, Politics, and Firearms For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

59 min
Sep 25, 2025Episode 254
Christian Nationalism and the Seven Mountains Mandate w/ Matthew Boedy

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Matthew Boedy, Author of The Seven Mountains Mandate:Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy DemocracyQuestion of the Week: What is the Seven Mountains Movement and what role are churches playing in advancing its agenda? How can progressive Christians resist and counteract this movement?The Seven Mountains Mandate:Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy40% Discount Code: 7MCASTFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

55 min
Sep 18, 2025Episode 253
Reading the Voices of Marginalized Peoples w/ Patty Krawec

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Patty Krawec, Author of Bad Indians Book Club: Reading at the Edge of a Thousand Worlds and Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our FutureQuestion of the Week: In a society where historical narratives reinforce colonial dominance, especially in textbooks and popular media, how can the stories of marginalized peoples be elevated to allow for better understanding of culture, history, and what it means to be in relationship with one another? Bad Indians Book Club: Reading at the Edge of a Thousand Worlds For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

53 min
Sep 11, 2025Episode 252
The Student Debt Crisis w/ Jamal Watson

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Jamal Watson, Author of The Student Debt Crisis: America’s Moral Urgency, Executive Editor of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, and Professor and Associate Dean at Trinity Washington UniversityQuestion of the Week: Student debt is one of the less talked about justice issues of our time. But conversations often don't focus on the root of the issues that make college so expensive and unaffordable. How can we make higher education more financially accessible, especially for Black and brown students?The Student Debt Crisis: America’s Moral UrgencyPCUSA provides student loan support and guidance for public service loan forgiveness (PSLF) through a partnership between the Office of Financial Aid for Service and the Board of Pensions. To register for the service and find out if you are eligible for free student loan coaching, visit pcusa.org/loanassist.For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

49 min
Sep 4, 2025Episode 251
Preparing for Advent with Jesus' Family Tree w/ Kara Eidson

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Kara Eidson, Author of The Advent Tree: Meeting Jesus in God's Big Story & Pastor of Oskaloosa United Methodist and McLouth United MethodistQuestion of the Week: When we talk about Jesus, we focus on what he did during his life and ministry. But we don’t spend much time talking about his ancestry and family history. How can looking at Jesus’ family history enhance our understanding of what it means to be a Christian and a follower of God?The Advent Tree: Meeting Jesus in God's Big StoryFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr 3 min
Aug 28, 2025Episode 250
Protest, Activism, and Justice in the University w/ Jonathan Pulphus

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Jonathan Pulphus, Author of With My People: Life, Justice, and Activism Beyond the UniversityQuestion of the Week: Young people and students often are at the forefront of social movements and community organizing. What are the most effective ways that students can organize to push for social change? Are there gifts that students possess that make their movements unique compared to those organized by older adults?With My People: Life, Justice, and Activism Beyond the University Weprayfreedom.orgFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

1 hr
Aug 21, 2025Episode 249
Liturgies and Rituals from the Freedom Church of the Poor w/ Liz Theoharis and Charon Hribar

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guests: Liz Theoharis and Charon Hribar, Editors of We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from the Freedom Church of the Poor Question of the Week: What are the roles of prayers, rituals, and liturgies in movements and efforts to abolish poverty? What are emotional, spiritual, and practical ways they enhance these efforts?We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from the Freedom Church of the PoorFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

50 min
Aug 14, 2025Episode 248
Telling Stories of Sadness, Grief, Trauma and Pain w/ Jeff Munroe

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Jeff Munroe, Author of Telling Stories in the Dark: Finding Healing and Hope in Sharing Our Sadness, Grief, Trauma, and Pain & Ordained Minister in the Reformed Church of AmericaQuestion of the Week: People use the phrase “finding meaning in suffering” when talking about tragic, traumatic or difficult experiences. Some find the phrase very accurate or applicable to their lives. Others find it problematic. Is it possible to find meaning or learnings in the difficult times in our lives without losing ourselves in the darkness?Telling Stories in the Dark: Finding Healing and Hope in Sharing Our Sadness, Grief, Trauma, and PainReformed JournalFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website

56 min
Aug 7, 2025Episode 247
Surviving the Looming Retirement Crisis w/ Jonathan Grimm

Send us Fan MailSpecial Guest: Jonathan Grimm, Licensed Investment Advisor & Author of The Future Poor: How Families and Communities Can Join Together to Survive the Looming Retirement CrisisQuestion of the Week: What is the retirement crisis that we are likely to face in the United States? What is the role of churches in trying to address it and ensure a good retirement safety net for our communities?The Future Poor: How Families and Communities Can Join Together to Survive the Looming Retirement Crisisthefuturepoor.comWhat’s Up With Money?! Podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify) Fernbridge Advisors For Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! A Matter of Faith website