A New Day

Daniel Silliman's Hopeful New Day Builds on Evangelicalism's Better Imaginations

Daniel and Bekah talk about the possibility of an evangelical future without Trumpism, not by burning it down and starting over, but by looking into history and finding the missed opportunities and the better stories that died on the vine because no one nourished them. When he's not editing news (including Bekah's work) for Christianity Today, Daniel is writing about evangelicalism as social religious movement. Daniel doesn't let Bekah write anybody off, but instead asks whether the imagination and infrastructure of evangelicalism could be directed toward a better future.  Daniel is the News Editor for Christianity Today. His book, Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and A Faith is available here: https://www.eerdmans.com/Products/7935/reading-evangelicals.aspx And his paper "An Evangelical is Anyone Who Likes Billy Graham" is available here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/church-history/article/abs/an-evangelical-is-anyone-who-likes-billy-graham-defining-evangelicalism-with-carl-henry-and-networks-of-trust/A9BC642AE7A7EA90236EC053B8354440 Music is by the talented and kind Rex Daugherty. https://www.rex-daugherty.com/

Sandi Villarreal's Compassionate New Day Nurtures More than One Spiritual Home

Sandi and Bekah really just convene to chat, but end up talking about the different ways we search for spiritual homes —from Sandi splitting the difference between Catholicism and evangelicalism to become a Lutheran, to Bekah's fear that there will be no more Meal Trains. Sandi was, at the time of this podcast recording, Editor in Chief of Sojourners, a magazine that has helped many progressive Christians find their new home. She is now an editor with Texas Monthly, where she will be bringing that same nuanced and compassionate eye to stories about the Lone Star state.  Follow Sandi on Twitter: @Sandi  Sandi mention's New York Magazine's Power Trip podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cover-story/id1594675355 And, as usual, our friend Rex Daugherty, whose music we hear in the intro and outro: https://www.rex-daugherty.com/

Alex Bailey's Equitable New Day Invests in the Souls of Black Kids

Alex and Bekah discuss the spiritual investments we make in our kids, and how we need to make sure that holistic development is equitable. They touch on the importance of Black leadership, and the need for both integrated schools AND dedicated Black retreat and empowerment opportunities.  Alex is one of the founders of Black Outside, a nonprofit dedicated to reconnecting Black youth to the outdoors.  Read more about Black Outside here: https://www.blackoutside.org/ And here's Lamont Joseph White, who Alex refers to in the episode: https://lamontjosephwhite.com/ And here's Rex Daugherty, who graces us with his theme music! https://www.rex-daugherty.com/

In Jenna DeWitt's Affirming New Day, You Don't Have to Get Married or Want Sex

Bekah catches up with Jenna DeWitt, whose Twitter presence and blog, Invisible Cake Society [https://invisiblecakesociety.com/], explores the many facets of queerness, faith change, and all the ways people can feel unseen. She joins the pod to talk about how queer identities fit into the church, and how they are currently pushed to the edges in a lot of ways. Jenna is a wealth of information for those at various points in coming out or becoming affirming, especially if that includes an active faith component. She doesn't shy from the tough conversations, here on the podcast, or on Twitter, where you can follow her @Jenna_DeWitt  Intro music by the marvelous Rex Daugherty [https://www.rex-daugherty.com/]

Layton Williams-Berkes's Embodied New Day Embraces Tension, Not the Need to be Right (CW: discussions of pregnancy loss)

Layton and Bekah, who have been friends on Twitter for a while without ever hearing one another's voices, chat about releasing the need for certainty, and what our bodies teach us when they refuse to conform to the narratives we once believed about what it means to be "blessed." As Layton prepares to welcome her first child, she reflects on that journey, along with continuing to embrace queerness in that process.  Layton is the author of Holy Disunity: How What Separates Us Can Save Us. This is her website: https://laytonewilliams.com/ Intro and outro music by the marvelous Rex Daugherty [https://www.rex-daugherty.com/]