Podcasts

Many people think that the National Council of Churches is a top-down structure, but it’s really not.  The ecumenical movement is just that: a MOVEMENT, and it’s made up of people who believe that we’re better off focusing on our commonalities more than on our differences.

Today we will talk with Don Anderson, head of the Rhode Island Council of Churches.  Don is one of our most active leaders within this fellowship that we call the ecumenical movement.  In our conversation with Don, we will learn what ecumenism looks like on a more local level.  Don’s enthusiasm is contagious and I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Important links:

• Rhode Island State Council of Churches
• United Church of Christ curriculum: Let’s Talk

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While the nation was focused on the firing of FBI Director James Comey, a few other major news items were swept under the rug.  One of those was a mishap at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, a legacy of the Manhattan Project during World War II.

Today we will talk with Paul Carroll, program officer of the Ploughshares Fund, a foundation concerned with ending the threats posed by nuclear weapons.  I ran across an article about the recent Hanford accident in which Paul was quoted, and thought he would be a perfect guest for us today.  Aside from the looming threat of a new nuclear arms race, the legacy of nearly 80 years of nuclear technology poses its own challenges.

Important links:

• The Ploughshares Fund

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Have you ever considered that riding a bicycle might not be just a good way to exercise and get around town, but it might also be a good spiritual practice?  Biking in the city may seem difficult and even treacherous to some, but author and ecumenist Laura Everett believes biking might be a key to unlocking a new awareness of God in the city.

Today we will talk with Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, and author of “Holy Spokes,” a treatise on finding God in the things we often see as ordinary and profane.  Forgive me if I’m a little too enthusiastic about this topic: I’m an avid bicyclist and a city-dweller, and I’m excited to hear Laura sharing my enthusiasm and taking it to the next level.  As you will hear, finding God in the city is as easy as riding a bike.

Important links:

• Buy “Holy Spokes” at Amazon
• Massachusetts Council of Churches website

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During Ecumenical Advocacy Days, a delegation from the National Council of Churches in Korea came to visit the United States and meet with Senate offices and the State Department.  Their message?  Koreans, from both the North and South, are terrified of war.

In this episode, we will talk with three leaders from the National Council of Churches in Korea about what’s going on in the Korean Peninsula today and how it affects regional and global peace.  You’ll hear about their audacious plans for a permanent peace between North and South, and how powerful interests in the US are making things worse, not better.  With tensions on the rise and nuclear weapons on the table, I think you’ll find this to be one of the more important discussions we’ve had here.  

Important links:

• National Council of Churches in Korea
• NCC (USA) joint letter to President Trump

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April is almost over, but it’s not too late to talk about Second Chance Month.  Even a body as divided as the US Senate unanimously declared April as Second Chance Month, a month to focus on ways to help people pick up their lives again after a period of incarceration.

This week we will talk to Craig DeRoche, Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Public Policy for Prison Fellowship.  Prison Fellowship is promoting April as Second Chance Month, and Craig will talk to us about his organization, the legacy of its founder Chuck Colson, and how the United States can solve its mass incarceration problem.

Important links:

• Craig’s personal website
• Prison Fellowship
• “Highly Functional,” Craig’s book

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The power of the march has been clearly demonstrated over the past few months with huge marches gathering in Washington, DC and New York City.  But the real power has come when those marches take place across all the other cities in America, where a real nationwide movement is demonstrated.  Coming up soon is the People’s’ Climate March, April 29th.

This week we talk to Fletcher Harper from Greenfaith about the march, climate change, and the role of the faith community in solving the biggest challenge facing our planet.  Get our your walking shoes and find the march near you!

Important links:

• Greenfaith
• People’s Climate March
• PCM: Faith Contingent

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In the days leading up to Holy Week, a chemical weapon attack against civilians has taken place in Syria, and the United States has attacked a Syrian airbase in retaliation.  As cable news pundits celebrated the US attack as “beautiful” and “spectacular,” is there a particularly Christian way of viewing the violence in Syria?

In this episode, we will speak with two of the most well-regarded voices in the field of Christian Ethics today.  Dr. David Gushee, professor at Mercer University and President of the Society of Christian Ethics joins us today, as well as Dr. Stanley Hauerwas of Duke University.  You might imagine these two leading thinkers differ on important points, but you’ll be interested to know where they agree.  Get ready for a thought-provoking conversation.

Important links:

• David Gushee’s website
• Stanley Hauerwas’s staff bio

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When we first started this podcast, we took a look at the problems that were occurring in Flint, Michigan, where the water has been unusable for years.  A year later, things are improving, but the problems for Flint’s water aren’t over yet.

This week we’ll talk with Ryan Cumming of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America about Flint, corruption, clean water, and how the churches have made a difference.  Big problems require big solutions, and the churches have a role to play.  I’m your host, Rev. Steven D. Martin.

Over a year ago we recorded a podcast in which we heard about the desperate situation concerning the drinking water in Flint.  Churches were helping in all kinds of ways, including delivering trucks of bottled water and assisting in shelters.  As the crisis dragged on, I’m grateful that several of our NCC member communions got involved in ways that changed the broken systems that created the problem and kept it going.

Important links:

• Ryan Cumming bio

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