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Queer + Ministry with Fr. Ricardo Avila

Cocktail Theology

Release Date: 11/06/2025

What Do You Mean When You Call Yourself A Christian? show art What Do You Mean When You Call Yourself A Christian?

Cocktail Theology

What do you mean when you call yourself a Christian? Benton and Elane answer that question for themselves while sipping an interesting gin cocktail. Cocktail: Three Of A Kind Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.  

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Queer + Ministry with Fr. Ricardo Avila show art Queer + Ministry with Fr. Ricardo Avila

Cocktail Theology

Elane and Benton welcome their good friend, Father Ricardo Avila—a gay, Latino, Episcopalian priest—to an honest conversation about what it means to be LGBTQ+ and work in ministry. They also enjoy a flight of six different rums! Cocktail: Rum Flight Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.

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O Death show art O Death

Cocktail Theology

Every November, Dia de los Muertos honors loved ones who have passed with both revelry and reverence. African-Americans talk of turning to their ancestors for wisdom and guidance. Yet death remains a difficult thing for most of us to talk about. Elane and Benton chat about death while enjoying a prickly cocktail. Cocktail: Prickly Pear Margarita Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.

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Martyrs show art Martyrs

Cocktail Theology

Benton and Elane chat about what makes someone a martyr, what doesn’t, and why our culture is hung up on martyrdom. Cocktail: Enrico Palazzo Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.  

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How To Fight Cynicism show art How To Fight Cynicism

Cocktail Theology

Cynicism is becoming more and more common among us these days. Elane and Benton discuss ideas for combatting it (hint: awe is a good place to start) while sipping a rum cocktail. Cocktail: Bouteiller Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online. #progressivechristian #spirituality #queerchristian #cocktails #podcast #lgbtq+ #postevangelical #christianlife #cynical #cynicism #awe #wonder

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Is Fat A Spiritual Issue? show art Is Fat A Spiritual Issue?

Cocktail Theology

Does someone’s weight have anything to do with their spirituality? Well…it depends. Benton and Elane talk about body image and how the way we see ourselves—and what we do to sustain or change that—can be a reflection of what’s going on in our relationship with God, ourselves, and others. Cocktail: Midnight Fizz Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.  

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Feel-Better Media For Frustrating Times show art Feel-Better Media For Frustrating Times

Cocktail Theology

Benton and Elane chat about what books they’ve ben reading, what shows they’ve been streaming, and what music has been bringing them life lately. Cocktail: Rum Swizzle Correction: The book Elane mentions should be "Accidental Tourist" by Anne Tyler. Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.

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Forgiveness show art Forgiveness

Cocktail Theology

Elane and Benton talk about the complicated concept of forgiveness—what it is, when to do it, and when not to. Cocktail: Closing Argument Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.

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Antichrist show art Antichrist

Cocktail Theology

If ‘antichrist’ is an adjective describing anything that is antithetical to the way Jesus lived and what he taught, then why is the term being applied to Jesus-followers who are trying to do the work of Jesus (feeding the poor, working for justice, etc)? And: who is “the Antichrist” and why are influencers, pastors, tech billionaires, and politicians on the right talking about him so much these days? Elane and Benton discuss over yummy tiki drinks. Cocktail: Smuggler’s Cove’s Straits Sling Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s...

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In/Of show art In/Of

Cocktail Theology

If you’ve been a Christian any length of time, you’re familiar with the idea that even though we are “in the world,” we are not to be “of the world” (John 15:19, John 17:14-16, Romans 12:2). So what does that mean anyway? We are all obviously in the world, but how “in the world” can we be before we find ourselves being “of the world?” Elane and Benton discuss. Cocktail: Man O’ War Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.   #progressivechristian #spirituality #queerchristian...

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More Episodes

Elane and Benton welcome their good friend, Father Ricardo Avila—a gay, Latino, Episcopalian priest—to an honest conversation about what it means to be LGBTQ+ and work in ministry. They also enjoy a flight of six different rums!

Cocktail: Rum Flight

Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.