The Green Lectionary Podcast

Our gues for this episode is Rev. Dr. Xavier Johnson. Dr. Johnson teaches in the areas of homiletics and Black Church studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. His research interests converge at the intersection of clergy leadership, black religion, social justice, and preaching. He is also the homiletician-in-residence for the EcoPreacher program hosted by Creation Justice Ministries in partnership with Lexington Theological Center in Kentucky and The BTS Center in Portland, ME. 

My guest is Rev. Hugh Hollowell. Hugh is the author of the new book "Food isLove". He is a writer, community organizer, and pastor of Open Door Mennonite Church. 

We are joined by Rev. Caleb Cray Haynes. Caleb is a board member of Creation Justice ministries, a co-founder of Nazarenes for Creation Care, host of the Eco_Christian Podcast and author of newly released book "Earthbound Christian: Flourishing Within Limits in an Age of Infinite Growth" 

We are joined by Revs. Jonah Overton and Josh Scott.  https://www.zaomke.org/ https://www.gracepointe.net/

We are joined on this episode by Rabbi Yonatan Neril.  Rabbi Yonatan Neril founded and directs the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, which reveals the connection between religion and ecology and mobilizes faith communities to act on climate change. In 2024 Yonatan co-organized a faith and ecology video campaign with Nas Daily, which received nine million views. He authored the bestselling book Eco Bible: An Ecological Commentary on the Hebrew Bible. He speaks internationally on religion and ecology, including at the World Economic Forum in Davos, multiple UN climate conferences, and the Parliament of World Religions. In December 2023 he initiated and co-organized the first-ever Faith Pavilion at a UN climate conference (COP28 in Dubai), which included 70 sessions with 325 speakers. Yonatan has also co-organized twelve interfaith environmental conferences in the U.S. and Israel. Yonatan is a member of the World Economic Forum's Faith In Action working group. Raised in California, Yonatan completed his M.A. and B.A. from Stanford University where he conducted research on renewable energy in India, and on genetically modified corn in Mexico. He received rabbinical ordination in Israel and lives with his wife, Shana, and their two children in Jerusalem. He enjoys hiking and being in nature.

In this episode we are joined by Cr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda.    Check out the first two books of the "Building a Moral Economy" series and the online toolkits that accompany the series at https://www.buildingamoraleconomy.org/.    1. How have you read Isaiah 11 in the past? Have you ever considered where creation is in the text, or how it is acting?    2. Cynthia and Derrick see the earth in verse 9 of Isaiah 11 as both a library and a teacher of God's wisdom. Have you ever considered the earth as a library of wisdom? As a teacher? If so, what have you learned? If not, how do you intend to approach the earth's cache of wisdom?   3.. Cynthia mentions that her western audiences can usually identify the injustice of our current economic system, but usually feel there is nothing to be done about it.  What do you think of your nation's economy? What can you observe about your local economy?    4..  Isaiah Chapter 11, introduces a radical image in which Lion and Lamb cease to be predator and prey, and become bosom buddies. How does this image stretch your imagination regarding what is possible? What ways can you imagine your economy, global, naotional, or local,  

Today, my guest is Rev. Dr. Lisa Graumlich.    Rev. Dr. Lisa Graumlich stands at the crossroads of science and spirit in humanity's most critical hour. She champions the urgent need for robust and transparent science in our climate crisis. As a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Ecological Society of America (ESA), and Past President of the American Geophysical Union, she wields decades of climate research to understand our changing planet.   Ordained as an Episcopal deacon in 2004 and serving at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Tucson, Arizona, Graumlich bridges the worlds of rigorous science and sacred calling. She is building bridges between faith and reason communities as we forge an equitable, sustainable Earth where all people thrive.   Her career dedication to understanding global climate change now serves a sacred mission: awakening both scientific and spiritual communities to our shared responsibility for creation's future."       Discussion questions 1. The love of creation is central to conservation. How can formal and informal learning be structured so that it invites people to learn about and engage with creation in ways that strengthen promote empathy and bonds of care between human beings and the more-than-human creation? 2. In reference to the passage Matthew 24:36 – 44, the speakers encourage attitudes of watchfulness, awareness of the interconnectedness of creation and preparedness as ways of living in these ecologically challenged times. In your context, how do you stay watchful and in what ways can you support collective preparedness? 3. Putting on the armor of light is an act of resistance against overwhelming despair and hopelessness. What thoughts come up for you in regards to creation, considering the level of ecological crisis predicted if people don’t change, as you reflect on how our biblical ancestors ‘put on the armor of light’ in their darkest times? 4. The concept of non-linear (faith based) values stood out as a response to the overwhelming non-linearity of the current ecological crisis. How does the understanding of theologians and faith leaders as pivotal to the healing of the earth affect your confidence as a person of faith, and what are the ways faith leaders need to change in order to partner with science and lead in this crucial moment?

We are joined by Dr. Garrett Andrew. You can read his writing at www.garrettjandrew.substack.com

Our guest for this episode is Debra Rienstra, professor of English at Calvin University and author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth.

In this episode for the second week of the Season of Creation, we are joined by Marqus Cole, Organizing director of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light. 

This episode is for the first week of the Season of Creation and features Robin Lewis, director of climate equity for Interfaith Power and Light DMV, and Rev. Dr. Kip Banks, senior pastor of East Washington Heights Baptist Church in Washington D.C. 

Here in part two we’ll hear from Ryan Cullumber, director of living coasts ministry in Newport Beach California, Logan Jackson, Pastor at Newbegun UMC in Elizabeth City, NC, Rev. Dottie Yunger, director of Maine’s state aquarium, and we’ll conclude with a short homily from Rev. Dr. Garrett Andrew.

June is ocean month and we’ve decided to do something a little different for the podcast. In this two part series you will hear voices of people who deeply care about the ocean and deeply love the Church. They are ministers and laypeople, scientists and enthusiasts, all sharing their joy around God’s marine creation.   We’ve centered our conversations around four questions: when have you experienced God at the ocean? What can the ocean teach us about faith? What biblical texts would you use to preach about the ocean? And finally why should preachers talk about the ocean this month?   In part one, you’ll hear from Rachel G. Jordan, author of the newly released book “Does the Ocean Have a Soul?”, Robert Sluka, a scientist with A Rocha International, Blair Nelsen, Executive director of WaterSpirit, a spiritual ecology nonprofit, and Dan Vermeer, a faculty member of Duke University

Our guests are Bishop Jennifer Baskerville Burrows Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis and Brian Sellers Petersen a coach and consultant who focuses on agrarian ministry, churchland stewardship, and creation care. and coordinator of Good News Gardens

We are joined by Rev. Sam Chamelin, farmer/gardener, and pastor of St. Mary’s UCC in Westminster MD, and Rev. Shannon Weston,  Leadership Coach, Coach Trainer, and church consultant

We are joined by Rev. Josh Scott, pastor of GracePointe Church in Nashville, TN and author of the forthcoming book "Cross Examined: Reading the Bible in Times of Division" and Caroline Hiler, Master of Divinity student at Duke Divinity School and CJM intern. 

Our guests today are Dr. Wylin Wilson, associate professor of theological ethics at Duke Divinity School and author of the newly released book Womanist Bioethics: Social Justice, Spirituality and Black Women’s Health and Avery Lamb, Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries.    

Our guests are Dr. Xavier Johnson and Rev. Melanie Mullen

Our guests today are Rev. Grace Pritchard Burson and Rev. Daniel Wolpert.    The Rev'd Grace Pritchard Burson is a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada, serving the parish of All Saints by the Lake in Dorval, Quebec. She is also a certified birth doula, writer, guerrilla gardener, and theologian of compost. She lives by the St. Lawrence River with her teenage son, on the ancestral territory of the Kanien'kéha:ka.   Daniel Wolpert, a healer and student of the spiritual life, worked as a research scientist, psychologist, farmer, and teacher, before earning his Masters of Divinity degree at San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS). Co-founder and former Executive Director of the Minnesota Institute of Contemplation and Healing, he has taught in the fields of psychology and spiritual formation in numerous settings around the world. A writer and a spiritual director, he has also played key roles in developing environments for contemplation and spiritual leadership, helping to build or restore monasteries, theological schools, and retreat centers across North America. Author of multiple books on the spiritual life, his most recent work is “Looking Inward, Living Outward: The Spiritual Practice of Social Transformation” (Upper Room 2024). When not on the road, he lives in Seattle spending as much time with his grandson as possible.

Our guests are Rev. Dr. Leah Schade, associate professor of preaching and worship at Lexington Theological Seminary and  and Rev. Grey Maggiano , Rector of Church of the Nativity in Raleigh NC.

Our guests this week are Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo and Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter   Rev. Dr. Shannan Vance-Ocampo   Shannan is the General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Southern New England and has served in ministry in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since 2001 in both congregations and mid-councils. Her ministry has been focused in both congregational settings and those of social justice ministry both internationally and domestically. She is an avid gardener, growing food and perennials. Five years ago she became “mom” to four (which are now six!) ridiculous backyard chickens alongside the other inhabitants of the ever-growing habitat she is cultivating.    In 2024 Shannan completed her Doctor of Ministry degree which focused on the intersection of ecology and ministry. Her research project was centered on clergy and how they can best be resourced theologically, spiritually and with practical skills for ministry during our time of climate crisis. Prior to this work, she completed a fellowship with GreenFaith and has trained in clergy coaching. She is currently working on a book on eco-spirituality and leadership.    Shannan and her husband, Juan Gabriel Ocampo Valle, live in Albany, New York and continue to maintain a family home in his home country of Colombia.    Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter’s research, teaching, and activist interests are in Black, Womanist, and Environmental ethics, with a particular focus on race, food, and nonhuman animals. His publications include “Race, Animals, as a New Vision of the Beloved Community” in Animals and Religion (Routledge, 2024), The Spirit of Soul Food (University of Illinois Press, December 2021), and “Blood in the Soil: The Racial, Racist, and Religious Dimensions of Environmentalism” in The Bloomsbury Handbook on Religion and Nature (Bloomsbury, 2018). In them, he explores the intersectional oppressions experienced by people of color, non-human nature, and animals. Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Race at Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Lead Pastor of The Loft at Westwood United Methodist Church, and he is also on the board of directors of Farm Forward, an anti-factory farming non-profit. He is married to Dr. Gabrielle Carter, a small animal veterinary oncologist, and while their son Isaiah is not a doctor of any sort, he definitely believes he is more intelligent than his parents.

We are joined by Rev. Anna Woofendedn, Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Northampton, MA and Avery Davis Lamb, Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries

Our guests for the third week of Advent are Rev. Karen Mann, pastor of Sojourners United Church of Christ in Charlottesville, VA and Jerusha Neal, Assistant professor of Homiletics at Duke Divinity School and author of the new book "Holy Ground: Climate Change, Preaching, and the Apocalypse of Place" 

Our guests today are Rev. Nicole Diroff, associate director at the BTS Center in Portland, ME and  Rev. Derek Miller, rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City Maryland.

For this episode for the first Sunday of Advent, we are joined by Pamela Dolan, Rector at the Episcopal Church at St. Martin in Davis, California and Ben Yosua-Davis, Director of Applied Research at The BTS Center in Portland, Maine. 

For the finale of the Season of Creation, we are joined by Debra Reinstra, author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelter, Ordinary Wonders and the Healing of the Earth and Douglas Kaufman, executive director of the anabaptist climate collaborative

Our guests are Norman Wirzba, professor of Christian Theology at Duke Divinity School, and author of many books including the forthcoming "love's Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis" and Wilson Dickinson, faculty at Lexington Theological Seminary and author of several books including "Singing the Psalms with My Son: Praying and Parenting for a Healed Planet". 

Our guests are Rev. Dr. David Latimore, director of the Betsy Stockton Center for Black Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary and Dr. Ellen Davis, Professor of Bible and Practical Theology at Duke Divinity School.

Our guests are Allen Ewing Merrill, the Executive Director of the BTS Center an organization whose mission is to Catalyze spiritual imagination with enduring wisdom for transformative faith leadershipin Portland, ME and Rev. Shannon Weston, a Leadership Coach and Coach Trainer, giving rise to hope-filled resilient leaders in the church and nonprofit worlds.

Recorded at the Wild Goose Festival, guests Josh Scott, Karen Mann, and Justin Cox.    If you are looking for a resource for the Revised Common Lectionary, check out this article by Leah Schade. 

Creation Justice Ministries co-executive directors Karyn Bigelow and Avery Davis Lamb join Derrick Weston to discuss Job 38 and Ocean month. 

For this Earth Day episode, the staff of Creation Justice Ministries (Karyn Bigelow, Avery Davis Lamb, and Derrick Weston) look at Psalm 23 through the lens of Creation Justice. 

For this Easter Sunday episode, we are joined by Debra Rienstra, author of Refugee Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth, Josh Scott, pastor GracePointe Church in Nashville TN and author of the forthcoming book Context: Putting Scripture in its place and Karyn Bigelow, co-executive director of Creation Justice Ministries.

For this Palm Sunday episode, we are joined by Rev. Katy Steinberg, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Daytona Beach, Joshua Long, Congregational organizer for Interfaith Power and Light D.C, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Avery Davis Lamb, co-executive director of Creation Justice Ministries. 

For this episode we are joined By Dr. Ellen Davis, professor of Bible and Practical theology atDuke Divinity School,  Wilson Dickinson, author of Singing the Psalms with My Son and The Green Good News,  and Debra Rienstra, author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth. 

In this episode for the fourth Sunday in Lent, we are joined by Dr. Ellen Davis, professor of biblical studies at  Duke Divinity School, Dr. Jerusha Neal, professor of homiletics at Duke Divinity School, and Dr. Mark Biddle, dean of faculty at Sophia Seminary. 

This is a preview of the episode that will go live this Friday featuring Drs. Ellen Davis, Jerusha Neal, and Mark BIddle

In this episode we look at a text for the third Sunday in Lent. We are joined by Dr. Jerusha Neal, homiletics professor at Duke Divinity School, and Rev. Doug Kaufmann, Executive director of the Anabaptist Climate Collaborative. 

For this episode we are joined by Joshua Scott, Pastor of GracePointe Church in Nashville, TN and Avery Davis Lamb, co-executive director of Creation Justice Ministries. 

In this episode we discuss a text for the first Sunday in Lent. This episode features Debra Rienstra, author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth and Mark Biddle, Hebrew scholar and Dean of Faculty at Sophia Seminary. 

This episode we look at a text for Ash Wednesday as we start the Lenten season.  We are joined by Katy Steinberg, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Daytona Beach and Wilson Dickinson, author of Singing the Psalms with My Son: Praying and Parenting for a Healed Planet. 

We look at a text for the fourth week of Advent. Our guests are Dr. Brent Strawn, professor of Old Testament at Duke Divinity School, Dr. Melissa Jackson, faculty member of Sophia Seminary, and Joelle Novey, director of DMV interfaith Power and Light

For this episode for the third Sunday of Advent, we are joined by Rev. Dr. Leah Schade, professor of preaching and worship at Lexington Theological Seminary, Katy Steinberg, pastor of First Presbyterian church of Daytona beach, Joshua Long, congregational organizer for Interfaith Power and Light , DMV, and Avery Davis Lamb, co-executive director of Creation Justice Ministries

We look at a passage for the second week of Advent from the Revised Common Lectionary. For this episode we are joined by three guests.  Wilson Dickinson, author of the recently released Singing  the Psalms with My Son: Praying and Parenting for a Healed Planet, Mark Biddle Hebrew Scholar and Dean of the faculty at Sophia Theological Seminary, and Karyn Bigelow, co-executive director of Creation Justice Ministries. 

The Green Lectionary returns with new episodes for the Advent season! This week, we look at a text from week one of year B in the revised common lectionary, Mark 13:24-37.    We are joined by. Ched Myers. Ched is an activist theologian who has worked in social change and radical discipleship movements for more than 45 years. He is author of more than a half dozen books including Watershed Discipleship: Reinhabiting Bioregional Faith and Practice We're also joined by Debra Rienstra, professor of english at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan and author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth   We look at a text from week one of year B in the revised common lectionary, Mark 13:24-37. 

This episode looks at a passage for the final week of the season of creation. Our guests are  Wilson Dickinson, author of the recently released Singing  the Psalms with My Son: Praying and Parenting for a Healed Planet, Debra Rienstra, author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth, and Rev. Katy Cuthill Steinberg, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Daytona Beach and co author of Wholly Leading: Thoughts, Meditations, and Practices for Whole Self Leading.   You can learn more about this and other programs of Creation Justice Ministries at www.creationjustice.org

A conversation on a text for the fourth week of the season of creation with a focus on creation justice.    Guests panelists:    Dr. Mark Biddle is the Dean of faculty of Sophia Seminary, a reimagined vision for theological education and a Hebrew scholar who has written seven books and over forty articles on the Hebrew scripture.   Rev. Dr. Garrett Andrew is the pastor of Nipomo Community Presbyterian Church in central California, an award winning preacher and co-author of Peace Be With you: Tools and Thoughts to Guide You from Anxiety to Serenity.   This episode was recorded at Ring Lake Ranch in DuBois, Wyoming. Learn more about them at www.ringlake.org.    You can learn more about Creation Justice Ministries at www.creationjustice.org    

We look at a passage for the third week of the season of creation.    For this episode we are joined by three guests:  Rev. Dr. Leah Schade, professor of preaching and worship at Lexington Theological Seminary and author Creation Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and The Pulpit Debra Rienstra, English professor at Calvin University and author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth  and Rev. Josh Scott, lead pastor of GracePointe Church in Nashville and author of Bible Stories For Grown Ups: Reading Scripture With New Eyes.    www.creationjustice.org  

A conversation on a text for the second week of the season of creation.  Our guests are Rev. Dr. Garrett Andrew, pastor of Nipomo Community Presbyterian Church and author of Peace Be with You: Tools and Thoughts to Guide You From Anxiety to Serenity Karyn Bigelow, co-executive director of Creation Justice Ministries.  and Doug Kaufmann, executive director of the Anabaptist Climate Collaborative 

Recorded at the Wild Goose Festival (https://wildgoosefestival.org/).  The panelists for this episode are Katy Cuthill Steinberg, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Daytona Beach and Founder of The Missing Peace,  Debra Rienstra, English professor at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI and author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth   Josh Scott, lead pastor of GracePointe Church in Nashville, TN and author of Bible Stories for Grown Ups: Reading Scripture with New Eyes   The Green Lectionary is a production of Creation Justice Ministries. You can learn more at creationjustice.org.