LGBTQ Conversations in Local Churches - Part 2: A Conversation with Stan Mitchell
Release Date: 07/12/2023
Unpacking Christian Nationalism with Chaplain Aaron Saufley
Finding Free Podcast
You don't have to be paying close attention to current events to have heard about Christian Nationalism. Christian Nationalist ideas have been swimming in the water of society for centuries but has certainly emerged as a hot topic, especially during this election year. In this podcast, Amy, Craig and Jeff sit down with Aaron Saufley, pastor at Jesus House in Greenville, NC and local hospice chaplain. We break down some of the ideas of Christian Nationalism, give some definitions and talk about how we see this concept impacting society. What is the history behind this...
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Changing Church Culture: A Conversation with Stan Mitchell
Finding Free Podcast
In order for the Church to continue to be God's presence in the world, people must be wiling to dream, think, plan and prioritize differently. Sometimes this means rethinking long-held beliefs or traditional ways of thinking. What does God think of us? And how does “the work of the Church” reflect that? Are we desiring a new way of being the Church, yet still mired in a concept of God that is based on original separation? Stan Mitchell joins us to explore the intrinsic connection between humanity and God that has always been present, and how living into that...
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Changing Church Culture
Finding Free Podcast
It is very common for us at Finding Free to talk a lot about the Church. What are the trends we see happening? What seems to be on the horizon for the Church to tackle? Most especially- we spend a lot of time on what the Church has missed, trailed woefully behind on, or just seemingly flat out ignored. If you could change something about church culture, what would it be? Like snap your fingers and things be different kind of change. Forget the “change curves” and “giving people only as much as they can handle” and “people resist change because they resist losing what...
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Leaving Rapture Theology Behind with Chaplain Megan Joyner
Finding Free Podcast
If you grew up in the evangelical church culture, you are probably no stranger to rapture theology. Maybe you remember hearing detailed stories told about what the end of the world would be like or you may have poured over the Left Behind book series, using it as a map for what was to come. Where did this theology come from and is this the only way to view the “end of the world as we know it?” (If you are now singing REM, you are welcome). If that rings a bell for you (or sounds like a trumpet with some type of being riding in on a white horse) then you will feel right at home...
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Christian Universalism with Chaplain Aaron Saufley
Finding Free Podcast
What if God saves everyone? Christian Universalism (the idea that God will save everyone and the earth somehow in the end) is one theory of atonement that theologians have discussed for centuries. Though the idea of universal reconciliation was the most prominent atonement theory among early Christ followers, after around the 4th century multiple atonement theories began to surface. Penal substitutionary atonement theory (the idea that humans are objects of God’s wrath and destined to eternal torment in hell unless making a personal decision to believe that Jesus’ death on the...
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Who Is Jesus to Us
Finding Free Podcast
The way we think about Jesus impacts the way we talk about faith and how we treat those around us. Who is Jesus to you? Where did that frame of reference come from and has it ever changed? We don’t do a lot of sermon discussion focused podcasts on Finding Free Podcast but there was so much dialogue around Amy’s sermon at Cedarbridge on March 3rd that we wanted to dive a little deeper into this conversation. Our discussion is lively and in our typical style, we laugh a lot as we each discuss, ‘Who is Jesus to Us’! We give each other a safe...
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Holiday Story Time
Finding Free Podcast
Grab your comfiest blankets and a mug of something great and listen to some stories of holidays past. Laugh as Craig talks about the time his grandpa accidentally got sloshed at a family gathering. Giggle as Amy shares her most memorable Christmas present (double AA batteries required). And Jeff has a family "oops" moment that will have you in stitches. And much more! In this episode we share memorable holiday moments from our growing up years. Some are "remember when" stories that have been talked about at family gatherings time and time again....
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Finding Your Free and Feeding Your Soul
Finding Free Podcast
When Craig and Amy started Finding Free Podcast in 2020, they thought a lot about the podcast name. They settled on Finding Free Podcast because they wanted to focus on the freedom and liberation that can come from pushing yourself to break out of the metaphorical places where you feel stuck and bogged down. This podcast was designed to give space to talk about hard topics with authenticity and vulnerability and for the Finding Free listening community to gain strength in hearing and sharing stories of growth. In this episode, Craig, Amy, and Jeff talk about the...
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Faith Deconstruction: A Hard Journey that Challenges the Church to Show Up
Finding Free Podcast
"The next hard road for the Church will be walking with and beside those that are deconstructing their faith, taking it apart either in small bits and pieces or altogether, putting it back together in part or sometimes not at all. The question is, how will the Church show up for people in this space?" ~ Amy Andrews The topic of faith deconstruction can be a hot button issue…but does it have to be? As we grow in faith we often grapple with questions that are no longer satisfied with easy answers. We need more. Sometimes we begin the process of letting go of what no...
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Purity Culture, Sex and the Church - Part 2
Finding Free Podcast
TW: purity culture, rape culture, sexual abuse Explicit Content: Language, Sexual Content - masturbation, orgasm gap, general make-you-blush adult content. In Part 2 we continue the conversation about purity culture and its impacts. We talk more about how conversations about purity and sex can be done better, focusing on dialogue about consent, body autonomy and integrity rather than shame and silence. If you grew up in an Evangelical church in the 1990’s, chances are you were exposed to the purity culture mindset. Though purity culture began with the intention of encouraging teens to...
info_outlineMany organizations operate in shadowed ambiguity, rather than clarity when it comes to who can do what in the organization, and churches are no exception. Unwritten rules are often enforced leaving individuals confused and hurt when they realize the “All are Welcome” slogan really doesn’t apply to them.
Can a woman preach? Will the pastor officiate a same-sex wedding? Will the church hire gay clergy? Can I be baptized and take communion? Churches have the opportunity to be upfront and clear about their policies, theology and practices - and having this information clear and publicly accessible is the kindest and most gracious way to love others.
In this episode we bring back our friend and colleague Stan Mitchell. Stan was founding pastor of Gracepointe Church in Nashville, TN and walked with that church through the process of becoming an open and affirming church in 2015. Stan has since mentored numerous churches and families as they wrestle with their own stories of inclusion. In Part 2 of the LGBTQ Conversation in Local Churches series, Stan gives us his insight on why these conversations are difficult but necessary in local churches.
Music by: Tucker Fry
Web Design & Graphics by: Shannon Cox