Voice of the Turtle

Revisiting Truths & Lies, With Susan Shaw

In Episode 7, host Brian Henderson talks with Dr. Susan Shaw about her journey from cradle-roll Southern Baptist to "Baptist in exile" in the UCC, reflecting on her departure from the SBC over its anti-LGBTQ+ stance and her long commitment to feminist, queer-affirming theology. She traces how white patriarchy, Christian nationalism, and partisan politics have intensified attacks on LGBTQ+ people--especially trans folks. Susan shares some of her own despair, but she finds hope in young queer and trans people. About the podcast: "Voice of the Turtle" is a podcast from the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB), produced in partnership with Good Faith Media. The year 2026 brings some uncertainty for our LGBTQ+ family ... but we’ve been here before. Across eight episodes, we’re going to burrow our way through some of our history and talk to the people who made it ... and are still making it. "Voice of the Turtle" was the name of an LGBTQ+ newsletter produced by Baptists in the late '70s and into the early '80s. Voice of the Turtle's motto was: "Behold the Turtle: It Makes Progress Only When it Sticks Out Its Neck." The podcast will honor the lives of those who courageously stuck out their neck, whether as an ally to or member of the LGBTQ+ community. Season 1 of the podcast, hosted by AWAB executive director Brian Henderson, delivers the following themed episodes: Episode 1: Finding a Home Among Baptists Episode 2: At the Bar Where It All Began Episode 3: Baptist Inclusion in Church & Academy Episode 4: Black Church Welcome & Affirmation Episode 5: How the Baptist Landscape Has Changed Episode 6: A Church Conversation in Canada Episode 7: Revisiting Truths & Lies Episode 8: Black Queer Hermeneutics & Homiletics Join us in April and May as we stick out our necks together to see how courageously we may keep moving forward today. We'll drop a new episode each Thursday, beginning April 9. From the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists, in partnership with Good Faith Media, it's ... "Voice of the Turtle." Listen. Subscribe. Rate. And stick out your neck. About AWAB: The mission of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists is to create and support a community of churches, organizations and individuals committed to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the full life and mission of Baptist churches. The inaugural season of "Voice of the Turtle" is made possible by grants from American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and the Missions Affiliations and Allocations Committee of Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Host / Producer: Brian Henderson. Editor: Cliff Vaughn. Music: Pond5. Episode 7 release date: May 21, 2026. Links: Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists: https://awab.org/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ American Baptist Home Mission Societies: https://abhms.org/ Knollwood Baptist Church: https://www.knollwood.org/ "Finding a Home Among Baptists" book by C. Delane Tew: https://awab.org/book/

A Church Conversation in Canada, With Junia Joplin

In Episode 6, host Brian Henderson talks with Rev. Junia Joplin about her journey from Baptist life in the United States to serving as associate pastor at MCC Toronto, "Toronto’s historic and history-making queer church." Junia traces MCC Toronto’s pivotal role in LGBTQ+ justice, including its long legacy of AIDS ministry and Pride participation. She also contrasts Canada’s legal advances with its ongoing, often unofficial discrimination--especially against trans people. About the podcast: "Voice of the Turtle" is a podcast from the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB), produced in partnership with Good Faith Media. The year 2026 brings some uncertainty for our LGBTQ+ family ... but we’ve been here before. Across eight episodes, we’re going to burrow our way through some of our history and talk to the people who made it ... and are still making it. "Voice of the Turtle" was the name of an LGBTQ+ newsletter produced by Baptists in the late '70s and into the early '80s. Voice of the Turtle's motto was: "Behold the Turtle: It Makes Progress Only When it Sticks Out Its Neck." The podcast will honor the lives of those who courageously stuck out their neck, whether as an ally to or member of the LGBTQ+ community. Season 1 of the podcast, hosted by AWAB executive director Brian Henderson, delivers the following themed episodes: Episode 1: Finding a Home Among Baptists Episode 2: At the Bar Where It All Began Episode 3: Baptist Inclusion in Church & Academy Episode 4: Black Church Welcome & Affirmation Episode 5: How the Baptist Landscape Has Changed Episode 6: A Church Conversation in Canada Episode 7: Revisiting Truths & Lies Episode 8: Black Queer Hermeneutics & Homiletics Join us in April and May as we stick out our necks together to see how courageously we may keep moving forward today. We'll drop a new episode each Thursday, beginning April 9. From the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists, in partnership with Good Faith Media, it's ... "Voice of the Turtle." Listen. Subscribe. Rate. And stick out your neck. About AWAB: The mission of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists is to create and support a community of churches, organizations and individuals committed to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the full life and mission of Baptist churches. The inaugural season of "Voice of the Turtle" is made possible by grants from American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and the Missions Affiliations and Allocations Committee of Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Host / Producer: Brian Henderson. Editor: Cliff Vaughn. Music: Pond5. Episode 6 release date: May 14, 2026. Links: Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists: https://awab.org/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ American Baptist Home Mission Societies: https://abhms.org/ Knollwood Baptist Church: https://www.knollwood.org/ "Finding a Home Among Baptists" book by C. Delane Tew: https://awab.org/book/

How the Baptist Landscape Has Changed, With Paul Raushenbush

In Episode 5, host Brian Henderson talks with Rev. Paul Raushenbush about his journey as a gay Baptist minister shaped by congregations like Madison Avenue Baptist and Seattle First Baptist, where radically inclusive, welcoming, and affirming communities showed him “what church could be” and sustained him through ordination. Paul reflects on how seminary education and ministry have evolved toward more practical, multi-faith, and justice-focused formation, and he offers a sharp critique of Christian nationalism as a power grab that distorts religion and threatens genuine religious freedom. Throughout the conversation, Paul returns to themes of courage, interfaith solidarity, and the quiet but firm act of simply being who you are--insisting that queer families and welcoming churches are not "controversial," but faithful witnesses. About the podcast: "Voice of the Turtle" is a podcast from the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB), produced in partnership with Good Faith Media. The year 2026 brings some uncertainty for our LGBTQ+ family ... but we’ve been here before. Across eight episodes, we’re going to burrow our way through some of our history and talk to the people who made it ... and are still making it. "Voice of the Turtle" was the name of an LGBTQ+ newsletter produced by Baptists in the late '70s and into the early '80s. Voice of the Turtle's motto was: "Behold the Turtle: It Makes Progress Only When it Sticks Out Its Neck." The podcast will honor the lives of those who courageously stuck out their neck, whether as an ally to or member of the LGBTQ+ community. Season 1 of the podcast, hosted by AWAB executive director Brian Henderson, delivers the following themed episodes: Episode 1: Finding a Home Among Baptists Episode 2: At the Bar Where It All Began Episode 3: Baptist Inclusion in Church & Academy Episode 4: Black Church Welcome & Affirmation Episode 5: How the Baptist Landscape Has Changed Episode 6: A Church Conversation in Canada Episode 7: Revisiting Truths & Lies Episode 8: Black Queer Hermeneutics & Homiletics Join us in April and May as we stick out our necks together to see how courageously we may keep moving forward today. We'll drop a new episode each Thursday, beginning April 9. From the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists, in partnership with Good Faith Media, it's ... "Voice of the Turtle." Listen. Subscribe. Rate. And stick out your neck. About AWAB: The mission of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists is to create and support a community of churches, organizations and individuals committed to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the full life and mission of Baptist churches. The inaugural season of "Voice of the Turtle" is made possible by grants from American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and the Missions Affiliations and Allocations Committee of Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Host / Producer: Brian Henderson. Editor: Cliff Vaughn. Music: Pond5. Episode 5 release date: May 7, 2026. Links: Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists: https://awab.org/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ American Baptist Home Mission Societies: https://abhms.org/ Knollwood Baptist Church: https://www.knollwood.org/ "Finding a Home Among Baptists" book by C. Delane Tew: https://awab.org/book/

Black Church Welcome & Affirmation, With Cliff Matthews

In Episode 4, host Brian Henderson talks with Rev. Dr. Cliff Matthews, Jr., the pastor of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a member of AWAB's Board of Directors. Cliff shares how Saint Luke became a "whosoever church" through a painstaking, congregational process that led to one of the most inclusive welcome statements in the Black Baptist context. Drawing on his work as a pastor, licensed clinical therapist, and practical theologian, Cliff also reflects on the liberative hermeneutic of the Black church, as well as the way internalized homophobia and "but the Bible says" narratives harm queer Black Christians. He also names the costs and gifts of this journey: some lost members, profound spiritual renewal, growing numbers of baptisms, and a community learning to be "Saint Luke proud" as it supports queer seminarians and models a more expansive vision of God's love. About the podcast: "Voice of the Turtle" is a podcast from the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB), produced in partnership with Good Faith Media. The year 2026 brings some uncertainty for our LGBTQ+ family ... but we’ve been here before. Across eight episodes, we’re going to burrow our way through some of our history and talk to the people who made it ... and are still making it. "Voice of the Turtle" was the name of an LGBTQ+ newsletter produced by Baptists in the late '70s and into the early '80s. Voice of the Turtle's motto was: "Behold the Turtle: It Makes Progress Only When it Sticks Out Its Neck." The podcast will honor the lives of those who courageously stuck out their neck, whether as an ally to or member of the LGBTQ+ community. Season 1 of the podcast, hosted by AWAB executive director Brian Henderson, delivers the following themed episodes: Episode 1: Finding a Home Among Baptists Episode 2: At the Bar Where It All Began Episode 3: Baptist Inclusion in Church & Academy Episode 4: Black Church Welcome & Affirmation Episode 5: How the Baptist Landscape Has Changed Episode 6: A Church Conversation in Canada Episode 7: Revisiting Truths & Lies Episode 8: Black Queer Hermeneutics & Homiletics Join us in April and May as we stick out our necks together to see how courageously we may keep moving forward today. We'll drop a new episode each Thursday, beginning April 9. From the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists, in partnership with Good Faith Media, it's ... "Voice of the Turtle." Listen. Subscribe. Rate. And stick out your neck. About AWAB: The mission of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists is to create and support a community of churches, organizations and individuals committed to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the full life and mission of Baptist churches. The inaugural season of "Voice of the Turtle" is made possible by grants from American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and the Missions Affiliations and Allocations Committee of Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Host / Producer: Brian Henderson. Editor: Cliff Vaughn. Music: Pond5. Episode 4 release date: April 30, 2026. Links: Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists: https://awab.org/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ American Baptist Home Mission Societies: https://abhms.org/ Knollwood Baptist Church: https://www.knollwood.org/ "Finding a Home Among Baptists" book by C. Delane Tew: https://awab.org/book/

Baptist Inclusion in Church & Academy, With Cody Sanders

In Episode 3, host Brian Henderson talks with Rev. Dr. Cody Sanders, who reflects on his journey as a queer Baptist minister, including how finding explicitly queer-affirming church spaces transformed his sense of vocation and belonging. Cody reframes conversation away from defending LGBTQ+ inclusion and toward asking what churches can learn from queer and trans people. He names visibility, ongoing education, and courageous public solidarity as key commitments for churches today. Lastly, he invites faith communities to "wade, swim and dive" into deeper risk-taking for justice together. About the podcast: "Voice of the Turtle" is a podcast from the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB), produced in partnership with Good Faith Media. The year 2026 brings some uncertainty for our LGBTQ+ family ... but we’ve been here before. Across eight episodes, we’re going to burrow our way through some of our history and talk to the people who made it ... and are still making it. "Voice of the Turtle" was the name of an LGBTQ+ newsletter produced by Baptists in the late '70s and into the early '80s. Voice of the Turtle's motto was: "Behold the Turtle: It Makes Progress Only When it Sticks Out Its Neck." The podcast will honor the lives of those who courageously stuck out their neck, whether as an ally to or member of the LGBTQ+ community. Season 1 of the podcast, hosted by AWAB executive director Brian Henderson, delivers the following themed episodes: Episode 1: Finding a Home Among Baptists Episode 2: At the Bar Where It All Began Episode 3: Baptist Inclusion in Church & Academy Episode 4: Black Church Welcome & Affirmation Episode 5: Black Queer Hermeneutics & Homiletics Episode 6: A Church Conversation in Canada Episode 7: Revisiting Truths & Lies Episode 8: How the Baptist Landscape Has Changed Join us in April and May as we stick out our necks together to see how courageously we may keep moving forward today. We'll drop a new episode each Thursday, beginning April 9. From the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists, in partnership with Good Faith Media, it's ... "Voice of the Turtle." Listen. Subscribe. Rate. And stick out your neck. About AWAB: The mission of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists is to create and support a community of churches, organizations and individuals committed to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the full life and mission of Baptist churches. The inaugural season of "Voice of the Turtle" is made possible by grants from American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and the Missions Affiliations and Allocations Committee of Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Host / Producer: Brian Henderson. Editor: Cliff Vaughn. Music: Pond5. Episode 3 release date: April 23, 2026. Links: Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists: https://awab.org/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ American Baptist Home Mission Societies: https://abhms.org/ Knollwood Baptist Church: https://www.knollwood.org/ "Finding a Home Among Baptists" book by C. Delane Tew: https://awab.org/book/