Kwok ’n’ Roll

#LiberationTheology #LatinAmericanTheology #PostcolonialTheology #DecolonialFaith #Theology #Christianity #SocialJustice #ChristianThought Is liberation theology still a radical force — or has it been domesticated? Nicolás Panotto, theologian, human rights activist, and director of the civil society organization Otros Cruces, argues that the real gift of liberation theology isn't a set of doctrines but a methodology — and that the second generation has taken that methodology into new territory: queer theology, intersectionality, decolonial epistemology, and the spirituality of social movements. In this conversation, Kwok Pui Lan and Panotto explore: • The transition from the first to the second generation of Latin American liberation theology • Decolonial vs. postcolonial theory — and why the difference matters for theology • The groundbreaking (and underread) legacy of Marcella Althaus-Reid • How civil rights organizing shaped Panotto's theological method • What theologians must do in a time of rising authoritarianism and dehumanization Dr. Nicolás Panotto is a professor at the University of Oldenburg (Germany) and director of Otros Crucos, a Latin American organization working at the intersection of theology, human rights, and social movements. He is based in Chile. Dr. Panotto is the coeditor of Decolonizing Liberation Theologies. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations at the intersection of theology, justice, and the world.

What happens when the people who preach peace practice violence? From the Washington Hilton assassination attempt to the hidden abuses of celebrated religious leaders, Kwok Pui Lan and Mary Hunt ask the hard questions faith communities don't want to face. In this episode of Faithful Provocations, Kwok Pui Lan and Mary Hunt begin with the moral shock of gun violence at the White House Correspondents' Dinner — 2,600 people crouching under tables at the Washington Hilton — and ask what faith demands in response. Was Jesus truly nonviolent? What can the Catonsville Nine, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. teach us now? And what do we do when celebrated religious leaders and activist — John Howard Yoder, Jean Vanier, César Chávez — are credibly accused of abusing women? Mary Hunt names it directly: the "veneer of virtue." If violence is a feminist issue, churches and religious communities must reckon with what she calls "spiritual domestic violence" — harm done in our own spiritual homes.  New episode next Friday.

What does it mean to be the first non-White General Secretary of the world YWCA? How does an African woman break the glass ceiling — not just once, but repeatedly — to lead global organizations and reshape the landscape of Christian theology? Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro from Kenya is one of those rare leaders. She served as the founding coordinator of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, championing African women's voices in theology and driving their work into publication and global recognition. In this conversation, Dr. Kanyoro unpacks what makes African women's theology distinctive: it is contextual, rooted in lived experience, and always addressing the urgent needs of the moment — from women's leadership and HIV/AIDS to the COVID pandemic and now the vital relationship between religion and the environment. She also shares her work in women and philanthropy, channeling resources through foundations that fund innovative solutions to female education, the lack of opportunities, and gender-based violence. Her vision is clear: the older generation of women must hold the ladder steady so the younger generation can climb to new heights — breaking gender inequity and transforming their communities.

Is peace a feminist issue? In the first episode of Faithful Provocations, theologians Kwok Pui Lan and Mary E. Hunt challenge the assumption that men — popes or presidents — speak for all of us on war and peace. As Pope Leo XIV and Donald Trump clash over the Iran war, and the first female Archbishop of Canterbury prepares to visit the Vatican, two feminist theologians ask the questions the headlines aren't asking: What does women's leadership mean for a theology of nonviolence? Should women be drafted? And can the church credibly champion peace when it can't agree on gender equality inside its own walls? In this episode: • Why feminist theology reframes war as a question of faith — not just politics • Women-led Catholic peace movements: Sisters of Mercy, Pax Christi, and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious • The automatic draft registration coming in December — and whether women will be included • Women in the military vs. women's ordination: two kinds of equality, two very different outcomes • Can Roman Catholic and Anglican leaders agree on peace when they disagree on gender? Faithful Provocations is a weekly Friday series hosted by Kwok Pui Lan (Episcopal postcolonial theologian) and Mary E. Hunt (Catholic feminist theologian), exploring urgent questions at the intersection of faith, gender, and justice. 🔔 New episodes every Friday. Subscribe so you don't miss the next provocation.

Is there such a thing as a "just war"? For centuries, Christian theology said yes. Today, the Church isn't so sure. In this conversation, Dr. Kwok Pui Lan discusses with Dr. Kyle Lambelet one of the most urgent questions in Christian ethics: has Just War Theory run its course? Drawing on Catholic teaching from Augustine to Pope Leo XIV, and the growing movement toward nonviolence within the Church, this video unpacks why the framework that once justified military force is now being challenged from within Christianity itself — and what pacifism offers as an alternative. With political leaders invoking Just War Theory to justify military action in 2025-2026, this debate has never been more urgent. What does Christian faith actually say about war? What does it demand? Dr. Kyle Lambelet is a professor of ethics and Director of the St. Nicholas Center for Faith and Justice at Virginia Theological Seminary and the author of ¡Presente!: Nonviolent Politics and the Resurrection of the Dead

The debate between Pope Leo XIV and Trump over the Iran conflict has put American Catholics in a difficult position. Many back the Pope's call for peace — but does that mean we should defer to him on all moral issues? Is Pope Leo XIV progressive on war and peace, yet conservative on gender? And what do we make of JD Vance warning the Pope to "be careful" when speaking on morality? Dr. Kwok Pui Lan speaks with Dr. Mary Hunt — co-director of the Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Rituals and a longtime Catholic feminist activist — to explore the reactions of American Catholics that aren't making it into the mainstream media. Mary articulates feminist concerns about the Pope's positions rarely heard in public discourse. They also discuss Mary's reaction to Archbishop Sarah Mullally's installation as the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion — and her upcoming meeting with the Pope to pray for peace.  

President Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV as  “weak on crime" and too liberal has ignited a firestorm — and Catholics are fighting back. Trump's Truth Social post drew sharp rebukes from Catholic leaders across the country, including three American Cardinals, who called his remarks deeply disrespectful of the Pope — the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. Meanwhile, Catholic members of Trump's own cabinet — Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — were pressed to respond to the clash between the President and the pontiff. Adding fuel to the fire: Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ, drawing even wider condemnation. To make sense of this moment, Dr. Kwok Pui Lan sits down with Dr. Peter C. Phan, Professor of Catholic Social Teaching at Georgetown University. Together they explore: Why Pope Leo XIV — an Augustinian — spoke out against war Augustine's just war theory and its relevance today Why conservative evangelicals see Trump as a messianic figure How some believe the war in Iran is hastening the Second Coming of Jesus

What if everything you learned about God's power is incomplete — or even wrong? In this conversation, Kwok Pui Lan sits down with Thomas J. Oord to explore one of the most provocative questions in contemporary theology: is God truly all-powerful? Drawing on open and relational theology and process theology, they challenge the traditional doctrine of divine omnipotence and ask what it means to reimagine God as one who is deeply relational, responsive, and present in the midst of suffering. In this episode, we explore: • What open and relational theology actually teaches — and why it matters now • How process theology reframes divine power not as control, but as love • Why the traditional view of an all-powerful God struggles in the face of injustice and pain • What a relational God means for faith communities, especially those on the margins • How postcolonial perspectives reshape our understanding of God's power and vulnerability This is theology that doesn't just stay in the academy — it speaks directly to how we pray, grieve, resist, and hope. Dr. Thomas Oord's recent book is A Systematic Theology of Love, vol. 1, God and Creation.

In an era of intense conflict, the intersection of Jewish identity and feminist principles has become a battleground. This video explores the unique challenges facing Jewish feminists — from reinterpretations of scripture to the political weaponization of antisemitism. In this conversation, Dr. Judith Plaskow, a pioneer in Jewish feminist theology, discusses the origins of Jewish feminist theology and why Jewish feminists cannot ignore theological questions. While she has criticized anti-Judaism in Christian feminist thought, she explores the crucial difference between anti-Judaism and antisemitism. She shares how the wars in Iran and Gaza prompted her to rethink Jewish identity, especially during this year's Passover. As one of the co-founders of the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Dr. Plaskow discusses changes of feminist scholarship in religion and the challenges of making the journal fully inclusive — incorporating contributions from women of color and international scholars. A scholar and activist, Dr. Plaskow also reflects on her work supporting incarcerated women and her ongoing commitment to reproductive justice. Dr. Judith Plaskow is the author of Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective.

Why does the Christian Right call the war against Iran a “Holy War” – and what does that reveal about the soul of White Christian Nationalism? In this conversation, Dr. Carter Heyward – feminist theologian, pioneer of lesbian theology, and one of the first women ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church, USA –  breaks down the Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism, including the lust for omnipotence, sin of entitlement, white supremacy, misogyny, capitalist spirituality, domination of earth and its creatures, and violence. Drawing from her book The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism: A Call to Action, Heyward calls Christians to name these sins – and act. She traces the roots of LGBTQ+ theology from the 1970s to today, explores how transgender theology is transforming our understanding of gender and God, and reflects on the historic installation of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury. We also discuss: How Project 2025 is dismantling democratic institutions in the name of Christian governance President Trump’s “king of the world” posture and what it means theologically The future of LGBTQ+ and transgender theology in the Church Heyward’s forthcoming book Cry Justice: Letters to Liberals on the Church and Politics (Fall 2026)

She made history as Canada's first Indigenous female Moderator of the United Church of Canada — and her journey to get there was anything but easy. In this powerful conversation, Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne opens up about her personal story: from struggles with substance use to answering a call to ministry. Her path is one of resilience, faith, and radical transformation — and it has everything to do with why she leads the way she does. She was the first Indigenous woman to serve as moderator of the United Church of Canada from 2002-2025. We dive into the ongoing struggles of First Nations peoples within the Church and in Canadian society at large — and what it truly means to decolonize a faith institution from the inside out. But this conversation goes beyond the church walls. Recorded during the second week of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, United Church members were actively writing to their government and encouraging them to uphold international human rights and humanitarian law. As many Canadians grow increasingly alarmed by the prospect of a military threat from the U.S., faith communities are finding their political voice in new and urgent ways. Rev. Lansdowne shares her exciting new project: “Church-y Conversations,” a Substack newsletter and a forthcoming podcast, “Church-y Conversations for People Who Know Things,” designed to be thoughtful resources for people navigating faith and social witness today. She is also the author of Wearing a Broken Indigene Heart on the Sleeves of Christian Mission.

Dr. Martin Nguyen is a professor of Religious Studies at Fairfield University in Connecticut. He is a scholar of Muslim theology and Islamic studies. He discusses the roots of U.S. Islamophobia and its impact on the American impression of the Middle East and the war in Iran. Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the hostage crisis, Americans have had negative reactions to the theocratic regime. September 11 further fueled Islamophobia, targeting Muslim individuals and communities. Dr. Nguyen’s book Modern Muslim Theology seeks to show how the Islamic tradition can help contemporary Muslims negotiate their relationships with God, with one another, and with the rest of creation. He belongs to a group of scholars interested in constructive Muslim thought and engaged scholarship, including public speaking, organizing, and empowering Muslim communities. He hopes people will educate themselves about the richness and diversity of Muslim people and recommends the following two books: Islam: A Short Guide to the Faith and Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters. Dr. Martin Nguyen’s books include Modern Muslim Theology: Engaging God and the World with Faith and Imagination

John and Samuel Munayer are brothers and younger Palestinian theologians living in Jerusalem. They have coedited The Cross and the Olive Tree. They shared what life is like living in Jerusalem during the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. The war has disproportionately affected the Palestinian communities because they may not have bomb shelters. John and Samuel shared their stories of how they became interested in theology. They discussed the difference between the theology of martyrdom and the theology of survival. Even as their family suffered from the Nakba (catastrophe) of 1948, they still maintain hope for their people. They hope Palestinian Christians will remain steadfast and faithful to the Gospel, just as the olive trees survive drought and disaster. They admonish the Western churches that root for empire and encourage churches to speak up and see their problems as relating to justice for Palestinians. John and Samuel Munayer’s book is The Cross and the Olive Tree: Cultivating Palestinian Theology Amid Gaza  

Dr. Peter C. Phan is the Ignacio Ellacuria Chair of Catholic Social Thought at Georgetown University and a Vietnamese-American Catholic theologian. In this episode, he shares how his personal experience as a migrant has shaped his theology. In the book Christianity and Migration, Dr. Phan explores the overlap between migration studies and Christian theology. His theology of migration offers new ways of thinking about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit in the age of migration. As a leading Asian American theologian, he encourages the next generation to pay attention to the pastoral care of Asian youths and to the relationship between the state and religion. He also shares his secret to being a prolific and productive scholar and the books he is working on. Dr. Peter C. Phan’s newest book is Christianity and Migration: A Christian Theology of Migration.

Dr. Septemmy E. Lakawa teaches mission studies, trauma theology, and feminist theology at Jakarta Theological Seminary. She interviewed women who have experienced violence and responded to the sexual abuse of Chinese women in Indonesia. To do justice for the abused victims, she urges us to address their ruptured lives and the wounds that remain. She believes that love is still possible for these victims, but it is a kind of ruptured love. She also shares her current research on blue theology to address climate change. Since much has been done on green theology, she wants to research women’s rituals and the sea—including rituals of resistance, healing, and persistence. She is the first female full professor at her school and the author of Compassion and Trauma: A New Imagination of Christian Mission in Indonesian.

Dr. Ralph Basui Watkins is a professor of evangelism and church growth at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. He discusses his forthcoming book, Inclusive Love: Seeing the Black Church in the Rainbow, and his journey of affirming and embracing LGBTQ brothers and sisters. As an acclaimed photographer, he shares his experience creating portraits while honoring each person as created in God's image. His appreciation of Black aesthetics is inspired by Frederick Douglass, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Sojourner Truth. He insists that churches need to learn how to communicate visually, since people spend much time on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media. During Black History Month, he has been posting important books by African American authors on Facebook. He discusses the authors who have influenced him most.

The Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson is the former moderator of the Metropolitan Community Church and a longtime LGBTQ rights activist. She reflects on the political changes that have occurred a year into Trump’s second presidency, especially their impact on the LGBTQ community. She praises the efforts of clergy and faith leaders in Minneapolis for their protest against ICE and their witness to the Gospel. She shares that MCC churches in Florida, together with other progressive leaders, have been out on the streets protesting ICE and discriminatory bills. She discusses the development of MCC in ministering to the LGBTQ community through its 57 years of existence. MCC churches have been growing, especially in Brazil, and MCC churches and groups have been established in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Wilson also shares the spiritual practices that have sustained her as a prophetic leader who breaks barriers.

Dr. Raimundo César Barreto from Brazil teaches World Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. He discusses the recent U.S. bombing of Venezuela and the Donroe Doctrine from the long history of American hegemony of the continent. His work focuses on the study of ecumenism in Latin America, not from the top, but from grassroots movements working together to address land dispossession, labor issues, and mass poverty. He calls this base ecumenism. Base ecumenism has contributed to both Catholic and Protestant ecumenical discussions, making it more contextual and grounded in social justice. His books discuss the development of Latin American Christianity in the 21st century, paying attention to popular religion, indigenous experience, the roles of women, and the growth of Pentecostalism. He says that world Christianity has moved away from a Eurocentric interpretation of Christianity to local agency and expressions. The next step is to examine how these local stories are interconnected and mutually influence one another. Dr. Barreto's books include Engaging Coloniality: The Liberative Story of Christianity in Latin America and Base Ecumenism: Latin American Contributions to Ecumenical Praxis and Theology.

Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite is an emerita professor and president of Chicago Theological Seminary. She is a feminist theologian, political commentator, and author of mystery novels. As a long-time public intellectual, she reflects on one year into the second Trump administration and the protests against ICE brutality in Minneapolis. She discusses how clergy and faith leaders bear witness in their nonviolent resistance and how this affects the country. Feminist theology, she says, is more relevant than ever, as toxic masculinity has dominated national discourse and politics. She uses her Substack “No Fear Religion and Politics” and writes mystery novels to spread her ideas about faith, democracy, and feminism. Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite’s mystery novels include When Demons Float: A Kristin Ginelli Mystery and Malice: An Alex Bell Mystery.

Sr. Mary John Mananzan, a Missionary Benedictine nun, is a pioneer in Asian feminist theology. She was a keynote speaker at one of the first Asian theological conferences in Sukabumi, Indonesia, in 1981. An educator and activist, she co-founded GABRIELLA, a federation of women’s organizations in the Philippines, and served as its chairperson for 18 years. She discusses the early beginnings of Asian feminist theology and her awareness of the religious roots of women’s discrimination. As an early member of the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians (EATWOT), she recalls that many male theologians were gender-blind. She shares how women struggled to gain their voices, leading to women’s eruption within the organization. Although women’s organizations and shelters face financial and other difficulties, witnessing women change from being victims to advocates inspires Mananzan to keep on. She hopes that the upcoming generation of Asian feminist theologians will continue to combine theory and praxis and work for the protection of vulnerable women in society. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com    

Yenny Delgado is a Peruvian psychologist and theologian. She is of Native descent and founded Publica Theology, an online public square where faith, ancestral memory, womanism, and politics converge. She also promotes women doing theology in Abya Yala, facilitates dialogues that elevate women’s visions, and encourages theological reflection from womanist and feminist decolonial perspectives. “Abya Yala” in the Guna language means “land in full maturity and land of vital blood.” In the 1970s, activists and theologians with a strong sense of ancestral identity adopted the term Abya Yala as a unified name for the continent, instead of referring to it as Latin America. In November 2025, the first encounter of spiritualities and political theology from Abya Yala took place in Mazatenango, Guatemala. Delgado explains the significance of the development of Abya Yala theology and discusses her doctoral work, which combines research on psychology and theology to help Native peoples heal from trauma and embrace their identities. Publica Theology’s website is https://publicatheology.org. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com  

The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, an Episcopal priest, is Canon in Residence in St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York. At a time when church membership declines in America, Spellers points to the broader trends of disaffiliation from institutions. She interviewed dozens of the Nones, Dones, and Unchurched in San Francisco, Atlanta, the Twin Cities, and New York to find out why they are passing on church. How do they find and create community and a sense of belonging? Do the Dones still miss church? Why are the Millennial and Gen Z generations the loneliest generations? How could their insights help shape the future of the Christian community? You can order the book, request the free study guide, and keep track of Canon Spellers' book tour stops at www.stephaniespellers.com/church-tomorrow. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com  

Dr. Frank M. Yamada is Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). There are about 270 schools in the ATS belonging to evangelical, mainline Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox church families. Over the past several decades, theological education in North America has undergone significant changes. In this episode, Dr. Yamada describes the challenges facing theological schools and the new opportunities supported by the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative funded by the Lilly Endowment. As the Trump administration has issued executive orders and directives regarding higher education, theological schools need to adapt to these changes. The ATS has promoted global engagement for some time due to the shift in Christian demographics to the Global South. Theological education needs to respond to where God’s mission is and where the spirit is moving. ATS has offered spaces for theological educators and administrative staff to develop their leadership skills and capacity in responding to transitional changes. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com    

This episode celebrates the 20th anniversary of the publication of my book Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology. When I published it in 2005, I did not plan on writing a book on postcolonial theology. It was only from hindsight that I realized that I was using postcolonial theory to scrutinize some of the assumptions of feminist theology. After the book was published, I was glad to see that colleagues in America, Asia, and Europe have used and taught the book. It has influenced different fields, such as theology, biblical studies, and practical theology. To celebrate the 20th anniversary, I invited several former students to share how the book has impacted their work. They are Dr. Boyung Lee, a practical theologian from Korea; Dr. Shari C. Mackinson, a womanist ethicist; Dr. Lama Htoi San Lu, a Kachin feminist theologian from Myanmar; and Ms. Asia Lerner-Gay, a doctoral student from Emory University. I am very grateful for their contributions. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Deanna Ferree Womack is Associate Professor of history of religions and interfaith studies at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. In this episode, she discusses how missionary discourses and stereotypes about Islam and Muslims contributed to the rise of American Islamophobia in the late twentieth century. In addition to texts, she examines the portrayals of Muslims in postcards, photos, and material culture in Protestant missionary archives. She points out why previous studies have often neglected the gender dimension, focusing on texts written by men and theological arguments. She shows that the missionary women have participated in discourse about Islam through children’s books and material culture. As a scholar of Middle Eastern Christianity, she sheds light on Muslim-Christian relations and helps us understand tensions and conflicts in the Middle East. She points out how Christians can reach out to their Muslim neighbors and build strong communities.   Dr. Deanna Ferree Womack's book is Re-Inventing Islam: Gender and Protestant Roots in American Islamophobia   Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com    

Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ernst-Auga is a German Protestant theologian and a scholar of cultural and religious studies. She is also the President of the International Association for the Study of Religion and Gender. In this episode, she discusses how she uses postcolonial, postsecular, and queer perspectives to study religion and gender across different contexts. As Christian nationalism has grown, she explains how nationalist ideology constructs a “proper family,” based on heteronormality and patriarchal authority as the foundation of a nation. Women’s bodies become the symbol of purity and reproductive obligation. Neo-nationalism promises a return to a mythic past of moral clarity and racial homogeneity. Christian nationalism is tied to whiteness, patriarchy, and state power. But religious performances can also subvert this formation, such as Black liberation theology and queer activism. In the U.S., scholars of gender and religion respond to religious fundamentalisms and postcolonial and postsecular debates. In Europe, scholars work in a more secular, anti-clerical context and are influenced by poststructuralism, Marxism, and existentialism. Religion is generally ignored, and scholars have only recently engaged postcolonial approaches. As 2025 comes to an end, she shares her reflections on changes in world politics over the last year and highlights what religion scholars must pay attention to. Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ernst-Auga’s book is An Epistemology of Religion and Gender Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock is a noted Asian American feminist theologian, activist, and world authority on moral injury. She was Senior Vice President for Moral Injury Recovery Programs at Volunteers of America. In this episode, she explains what moral injury is and the difference between moral injury and PTSD. She describes how moral injury affects her family, especially in her relationship with her father, who came back from the Vietnam War as a different person. Churches and faith communities can help people with moral injury by organizing supportive and non-judgmental groups. She says that traditional atonement theories are not helpful and explains it through the lens of moral injury. As a pioneer in Asian American theology, she uses the concept of interstitial integrity to describe multilayered, complex identities that defy simple characterizations of victims and oppressors. Many Asian American scholars have cited the concept to discuss their own identities. As a longtime activist, she says people need to form coalitions to resist the Trump administration's policies. She sees hope in the fact that more and more people are fighting back and resisting. Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock’s coauthored book Soul Repair: Recovering from Moral Injury after War. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com  

Bishop Ian T. Douglas is the retired Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and the former Agnes Dun Professor of Mission and World Christianity at the Episcopal Divinity School. With Kwok Pui-lan, he has coedited Beyond Colonial Anglicanism (2001) and Living Postcolonial Anglicanism (2025). In this episode, he discusses the historical backgrounds of these two books. In the past two decades, we have increasingly seen postcolonial Anglican structures and realities across the Anglican Communion. Yet, the postcolonial Anglican church is always a church becoming. As the Anglican demographic has shifted toward the Global South, the Anglican Communion is increasingly polycentric. Douglas has participated in many commissions and council meetings of the Anglican Communion. He argues that we can’t use a politics of containment to uphold authority and instead must celebrate differences among churches, including racial, cultural, and linguistic differences. Ian T. Douglas’s book Living Postcolonial Anglicanism Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com  

Dr. Traci C. West is Professor Emerite of Christian Ethics and African American Studies at Drew University Theological School. She is known for her scholarship and activism around gender-based violence, particularly against Black women. In this episode, she uses the lens of gender-based violence to examine the moral compass of the U.S. society. She shows how public morality has shifted when sexual violence and abuse are not disqualifying factors for people who hold high positions in government, including the presidency. As a Christian ethicist who has done research work internationally, she discusses the challenges of learning from and standing in solidarity with global activists as a citizen of the U.S. At a time when American imperialism is on the rise, Dr. West encourages the upcoming generation of ethicists and activists to use an intersectional approach and combine theory with praxis, paying attention to institutional, personal, and intimate violence. Dr. Traci C. West's book Solidarity and Defiant Spirituality Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Cody J. Sanders is a queer Baptist minister, pastoral theologian, and Associate Professor of Congregational and Community Care Leadership at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Previously, he served as pastor of Old Cambridge Baptist Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In this episode, he responds to the taking away of trans rights and the Supreme Court decision not to reconsider the legality of same-sex marriage. He argues that the affirming of LGBTQ people by churches is only the first step. Churches must publicize LGBTQ stories and learn from how LGBTQ lives have become sources of theological wisdom. Despite the rejection and violence LGBTQ Christians have experienced, they have been practicing faith at the margins of religious communities. Dr. Sanders shares why he wrote the first book on the intersection between religious and spiritual narratives and LGBTQ suicide and interviewed LGBTQ people who had attempted suicide. He analyzes the stories that came out from the survivors and learned about their inspiring refashioning of Christian faith and queer theology. In our precarious times, churches and faith communities must take risks to stand in solidarity with this marginalized community in the public square.   Dr. Cody J. Sanders’s books include Christianity, LGBTQ Suicide, and the Souls of Queer Folk and A Brief Guide to Ministry with LGBTQIA Youth Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com        

Julian Davis Reid is the founder of the ministry Notes of Rest®, which invites the weary into the rest of God practiced in the Bible and Black music. He is a musician, speaker, writer, and a Black artist-theologian of Chicago, who graduated from Candler School of Theology. In this episode, he discusses his upbringing in the church, immersed in both Black and classical music. He has studied and appreciated contemplative spirituality in the Black tradition, influenced by the works of Barbara A. Holmes, Howard Thurman, and Barbara L. Peacock. Reid has released the album Vocation, which includes the single “Moan.” He plays a short excerpt in the episode. In addition to music, Reid has published chapters in books and is writing a book, Notes of Rest. His Substack newsletter is entitled “Julian’s Notes.” Julian Davis Reid’s Website His Substack Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Sharon A. Suh is a professor of Religious Studies at Seattle University, a practicing Buddhist, and a yoga teacher. In this episode, she shares why she edited the book Emergent Dharma, inviting Asian American Buddhist scholar-practitioners to share their practices. American Buddhist scholarship has focused on white Buddhist communities. This book intervenes by introducing the lives and practices of Asian American women. Suh has also published Occupy This Body: A Buddhist Memoir, in which she discusses eating disorders, family dynamics, and trauma. She discusses the journey behind writing this moving book. She teaches yoga through a trauma-informed lens, helping women of color reconnect with their bodies. As we face uncertain and anxious times, Suh discusses how Buddhist practices can nurture a spirituality of resilience. Dr. Sharon A. Suh's books Emergent Dharma and Occupy This Body Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com  

The Right Revd Humberto Maiztegue Goncalves is the bishop of the Meridional Diocese of  in the southern region of Brazil and a professor of the Bible. The Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil is a progressive church that ordains women to the priesthood and welcomes LGBTQ+ people. In this episode, the bishop introduces the history and mission of the church, the influences of liberation theology and decolonization, and the Brazilian Book of Common Prayer published in 2015. He discusses the United Nations’ climate conference COP30, which will be held in Belem, Brazil, in November 2025, as well as his reactions to the changing relationships between Brazil and the U.S. and China. One of the issues the Brazilian church faces is the role of Mary in the Christian faith. The bishop discusses his collaboration with the community in the publication of a book on Mary. He also comments on the proposed changes of Anglican structures to make the Anglican Communion more responsive to our times. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com  

Dr. Lisa Isherwood teaches at the University of Wales Trinity and Saint David, and she is a prolific writer and leader on queer theology, feminist theology, and body theology. She and Hugo Córdova Quero coedited the pioneering book The Dare Primer on Global Queer Theologies, with 21 contributors from around the world. In this episode, she shares how this volume came about and her forthcoming book coauthored with Quero, entitled Global Queer Theologies: Intercontextual and Interreligious Perspectives. She discusses the rise of right-wing politics and Christian nationalism in the world and how queer and feminist theologians might address this urgent situation. In a lively exchange, she shares what she has learned from postcolonial theology and her hope for liberative and progressive theologians in the future. Dr Lisa Isherwood’s The DARE Primer on Global Queer Theologies and Global Queer Theologies: Intercontextual and Interreligious Perspectives Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com    

Dr. Carlos Mendoza-Álvarez, a street theologian in Mexico City, has taught theology in the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico. He discusses how his decolonial theology is informed by the marginalized and the survivors of violence and oppression. As a novice of the Dominican Order, he visited  Chiapas in southern Mexico and learned about the indigenous peoples’ struggles, wisdom, and hope. His decolonial theology brings theologians into dialogue with the voices of the vulnerable and those in the peripheries. His book Resurrection as a Messianic Anticipation discusses eschatological anticipation for the Kingdom of God through the memories and grief of survivors. He also discusses Mexico’s response to the escalating conflicts between the U.S. and Latin American countries. As a seasoned theologian and activist, he shares his hope in the solidarity of the global people’s movements and the importance of learning from the wisdom of survivors in our critical time. Dr. Carlos Mendoza-Álvarez’s book: Resurrection as a Messianic Anticipation Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com  

Dr. Sharon D. Welch is a scholar and activist and a former Provost of the Unitarian Universalist’s Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. A seasoned activist, she was involved in the women’s movement, peace movement, and direct activism for decades. She has worked with the Chicago League of Women Voters, the Social Enterprise Alliance, and the Community-Based Learning Collaborative, among other organizations. In this episode, she discusses what she has learned from Indigenous leaders such as Carol Lee Sanchez and Robin Wall Kimmerer, Hong Kong lawyer and democracy fighter Benny Y. T. Tai, social scientist Stanley Deetz, and Unitarian Universalist pastor Joseph Santos Lyons about social transformation, deliberative or generative democracy, and quiet generators of liberation. She offers advice to activists and scholars of the upcoming generation as they prepare to lead us into the future. Dr. Sharon Welch’s book: After the Protests Are Heard Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com  

Dr. Vincent Lloyd is a professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University. He researches and teaches about the philosophy of religion, religion and politics, and race. In this episode, he discusses his two forthcoming books: Political Theology Reimagined and What Is Political Theology? While political theology in the past has engaged with the works of Carl Schmitt, Giorgio Agamben, and Jacques Derrida, cutting-edge scholarship in the field employs queer theory, critical race theory, and decolonial theory, etc. Lloyd explores the intersection between political theology and Black theology and discusses the book on race that he is co-authoring with Jonathan Tran. Pope Leo is a famous alum of Villanova University. Lloyd shares his hopes for the new Pope and how political theology can deepen our understanding of the relationship between religion and politics, contributing to the pursuit of justice. Dr. Vincent Lloyd’s books: Political Theology Reimagined and What Is Political Theology? Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com  

Dr. Tina Pippin teaches the Bible and Religion at Agnes Scott College, a women’s college in Decatur, Georgia, USA, and she will be the president of the Society of Biblical Literature in 2026. In this episode, she discusses her new book The Actual Jesus, which investigates the portrayals of Jesus in films, novels, popular media, and AI. She recalls her training in biblical studies as a graduate student in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary before its takeover by the fundamentalists and the development of Jesus research in the past few decades. The field of biblical studies has greatly expanded with the addition of women, racial and ethnic minorities, formerly colonized people, and LGBTQ persons. She offers examples of her pedagogy relating the Bible to global affairs and social concerns in her community. She also discusses her hope for future biblical scholarship. Dr. Tina Pippin’s book The Actual Jesus Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Antonio Alonso is the Director of Catholic Studies at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. He composed the responsorial psalm for the first Mass Pope Francis celebrated in the U.S. in 2015. A Latin Grammy-nominated composer, he discusses the difference between composing liturgical music versus secular music. He began writing music as a teenager and is the author of over 200 published compositions and arrangements. He reflects on Pope Francis’ legacy and his hopes for Pope Leo as the first pope from the U.S. Dr. Alonso is also an award-winning scholar, whose works focus on worship and ritual practices. He discusses his book Commodified Communion: Eucharist, Consumer Culture, and the Practice of the Everyday Life and is working on a second book on changes in material Catholicism in the wake of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Dr. Antonio Alonso’s book: Commodified Communion Pope Francis in US Holy Mass Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com      

Dr. Keun-joo Christine Pae teaches religion and ethics, and women and gender studies at Denison University in Ohio. In this episode, she discusses transpacific imagination in theology and ethics, and her field research on spiritual activism in Korea. As a coeditor of Searching for the Future in the Past: Reclaiming Feminist Theological Visions, she explains why feminist theology continues to be a critical tool for women-identified and gender-minoritized people to overcome violence and oppression. She helps us understand the growth of Christian Zionism in Korea, pointing to the literal interpretation of the Bible and anti-communism, as well as growing Christian nationalism in the country. As an Episcopal priest and a scholar, she discusses how churches can be involved in the pursuit of social justice. Dr. Kuen-Joo Christine’s book: A Transpacific Imagination of Theology, Ethics, and Spiritual Activism Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Anthony Reddie became the first professor of Black Theology at Oxford University in its nearly 900-year history. Born in the U.K. to immigrant parents from Jamaica, Reddie describes racism in the British church and society and how black theology developed in Britain since the 1990s. He argues that Black theology in the U.K. is inseparable from British colonial history and must adopt a postcolonial stance. He offered the first course on Black theology, focusing on James Cone, at Oxford in 2023. He directs the Center of Black Theology at the Regent's Park College and works with churches and organizations to deconstruct whiteness and develop decolonial theological education and pedagogy. He will publish Living Black Theology in the fall of 2025. Dr. Anthony Reddie's book Living Black Theology Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Loida I. Martell is Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky. She was trained in veterinary medicine before pursuing a career in theology. In this episode, she discusses the development of Latina theology and the challenges to theological education. As one of a handful Latina in leadership positions in theological education, she looks back at her career and encourages churches and schools to value the contributions of Latinas. She is about to retire in the summer of 2025 and shares how she treats the classroom and school as a pastorate and offers advice to the upcoming generation. Dr. Loida Martell's book Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim is a writer, theologian, and professor at Earlham School of Religion. This episode discusses her forthcoming book Earthbound: God at the Intersection of Climate and Justice. She shares her experience of participating in the World Council of Churches and ecumenical conversations on the environment and climate justice for many years. She was in Assisi, Italy when Pope Leo XIV was elected. Her group went to Rome and witnessed the pope’s first speech from the balcony of St. Peter Basilica. She shares her excitement about the new pope and hopes that Pope Leo will be involved in environmental issues, as Pope Francis was. Dr. Kim also describes the journey of writing her book Invisible, which discusses the invisibility of anti-Asian racism because Asians are not black, and their concerns are often overlooked. She presents a theology of visibility in the final chapter of her book. Dr. Grace Kim's book Earthbound Dr. Grace Kim's Madang Podcast Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Mona West, a leading queer biblical scholar and Metropolitan Community Church pastor, discusses how the Trump administration policies seek to drive a wedge in the LGBTQI+ community. Citing from the work of Judith Butler, she cautions that the LGBTQI+ community must learn to listen to and stand in solidarity with one another. She recalls the beginnings of queer biblical scholarship and her coedited volumes, Take Back the Word and The Queer Bible Commentary. As a senior pastor and leader in the MCC for many years, she recalls how MCC contributes to theological education and becomes a home for LGBTQI+ Christians. She discusses issues MCC wrestles with in terms of sexism, racism, and the wider acceptance of queer people in church and society. She encourages younger LGBTQI+ people to respond to the call to ministry, saying that we live in a time of change and need courageous people who can make a difference. Dr. Mona West's book, The Queer Bible Commentary Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Russell Jeung, a professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, was a co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, which documents anti-Asian racist incidences during COVID-19 and beyond. In this episode, he discusses what prompted him to start Stop AAPI Hate. He combines his scholarship on Asian American studies with his long-time activism on behalf of the Asian American community. He shares his experience studying Asian ethnic and multiracial churches and how he grew up in a fundamentalist Chinese church. He wants to witness to Jesus, who was an immigrant, an incarcerated, and who cares for those at the margins. His work for Stop AAPI Hate prompts him to stand up in solidarity with other racial and ethnic groups who face deportation and discrimination. His book At Home in Exile documents how living in a poor refugee neighborhood in Oakland, California, helps him understand God’s grace and forgiveness. Russell Jeung’s At Home in Exile Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Teresa L. Smallwood is a public theologian and Academic Dean at United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia. She discusses her book Public Theology and Violent Rhetoric Examined in a Queer Womanist Critical Ethnography. Before studying theology, Dr. Smallwood was a criminal defense lawyer for over two decades. She shares her reflections on the pushback against affirmative action and DEI programs, as well as the "No Kings" protest. As a veteran scholar and activist, she offers advice to young people who want to fight for social equality and human dignity. Dr. Teresa Smallwood's book  Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Kwok Pui Lan started her podcast Kwok ‘n’ Roll in February 2025 and produced 20 episodes. She teams up with SueAnn Shiah, a Taiwanese American songwriter, podcast producer, and filmmaker, to discuss what to consider if you want to start a podcast. They discuss the content and structure of the podcast, the editing and technical aspects, and distribution and promotion. No, you don’t need fancy equipment to start. You can begin with your cellphone and what you have! SueAnn Shiah is available for consultation, and you can reach her at her website. SueAnn Shiah’s website Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Joerg Rieger is a distinguished professor of theology and directs the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. He revisited the book Christ and Empire, which he published 18 years ago, and discussed the concept of Capitalocene. He emphasized how capitalism has created not only economic inequity but also caused disastrous impacts on the climate and environment. He explained why we need global social movements to counteract right-wing policies and shared how Europeans are viewing recent U.S. political changes. Joerg Rieger Website  Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

SueAnn Shiah, a Taiwanese American podcast producer and filmmaker, discusses the challenges of growing up as a queer person searching for a spiritual home. She is a seminarian preparing for ordination in the Presbyterian Church USA. She shares her vision of combining her career in music and ministry. She has produced the album “A Liturgy for the Perseverance of the Saints” to help people who struggle with the church to find new meaning in faith. To learn more about Taiwan, she bicycled around the island after college, capturing the people she met and producing the documentary “HuanDao,” which was screened at the Ithaca Pan Asian American Film Festival. Website of SueAnn Shiah Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com

Dr. Gina A. Zurlo teaches at Harvard Divinity School and has published the pioneering book Women in World Christianity using interdisciplinary, sociological, and historical approaches. She is also the author of Global Christianity and coauthor of World Christian Encyclopedia. In this episode, she talks about how she started doing quantitative analyses of world Christianity, a male-dominated field. She explains how AI can enable us to ask questions about world Christianity that have not been broached before. Dr. Zurlo also shares her current research projects: women's history in the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians, and power, violence, and resistance in world Christianity. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X Website www.kwokpuilan.com