For millions of Americans–especially those who have been able to get a COVID vaccination–it truly feels like spring is here. But don’t let the nice weather fool you; the culture wars that have strained our civic bonds are still here, from local churches and classrooms to the U.S. Supreme Court.
This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s radio program and podcast, J. Dana Trent will join host Rev. Welton Gaddy to talk about her recent piece in Religion Dispatches examining the firestorm that was unleashed when Evangelical leader Beth Moore announced that she would be leaving the Southern Baptist Convention. Her decision to depart from the denomination in which she’d built her career and reputation shined a spotlight on the unequal roles played by men and women in Evangelical Christianity and beyond. We’ll talk about the complicated ways that faith, gender and politics are intersecting in our country today.
Next, Welton will sit down with Ross Murray to discuss his new book Made, Known, Loved: Developing LGBTQ-inclusive Youth Ministry. Ross serves as senior director of news and faith initiatives at GLAAD, and now he’s published his first book, We’ll talk about his experiences as a youth ministry leader and what all of us can do to fulfil our responsibility to welcome every member of our community.
Finally, Welton will welcome Rabbi Jack Moline, president of Interfaith Alliance, to talk about the profound changes that have shaped our lives after more than a year of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the challenges of worshiping in community while maintaining social distance to the profound transformation of the Supreme Court, the world we’re emerging back into is different from the one we left behind in countless ways. We’ll talk faith, politics and how the spirit of collaboration and respect can get us through difficult times.
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