Shameless Theology: Queer Feminist Latine Decolonial Faith

Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:09 The Weight of Authority & Releasing the Burden That Was Never Yours

Today’s episode opens with the restless energy of a storm moving across the Philippines and turns quickly toward a deeper reflection on authority–how it’s granted, how it’s abused, and how it can be reclaimed for healing. Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) traces their own path into ministry, shaped by a desire to understand what scripture truly says about Queer and Trans people and to question why certain leaders are allowed to define holiness, sin, and belonging. They offer a response to the question many have asked: “Who are you to speak for God?”  Reverend Sex shares the practice of a reverse altar call, where LGBTQIA+ people return the burden of shame the church placed on them—releasing what was never theirs to carry and receiving a blessing in exchange. It becomes a moment of collective truth‑telling, apology, and the beginning of repair. This love letter closes with a meditation on what spiritual authority is for: not to control or condemn, but to name harm honestly and help communities heal. Reverend Sex invites both faith leaders and those who’ve been wounded by them into a shared work of transformation, ending with a prayer for courage, accountability, and the blessing of laying down what was never ours to hold. 01:41 Typhoon Winds and the Weight of Authority 02:28 Why I Became a Pastor 03:57 Who Gets to Speak for God? 04:39 Conversations with Queer Immigrants 07:22 “Who Are You to Speak for God?” 08:55 A Historic Queer Mass in Manila 09:45 The Reverse Altar Call 12:24 Returning the Burden That Was Never Ours 14:35 What Authority Is For 16:18 A Prayer for Healing and Accountability Hosted by Reverend Sex [http://reverendsex.com] (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce [http://www.soulforce.org/]), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage [https://soulforce.org/teosinverguenza-en/] or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation [https://soulforce.org/donate/]. https://soulforce.org/donate/ [https://soulforce.org/donate/] FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith [https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/]: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ [https://soulforce.org/podcast/]

Shameless Theology S2:09 Living in the In-Between: The Wonder of Faithful Liminality w/ Dr. Arelis Benítez Pt. 2

In Part Two of our conversation with Dr. Arelis “Aly” Benitez, we continue exploring the lived realities of Spiritual Violence, white Christian Supremacy, and the survival strategies that emerge when communities demand that we split ourselves to stay safe. Rev. Alba Onofrio leads the conversation into a discussion of stubbornness as a spiritual virtue that can keep us connected to God even when church teachings are full of hypocrisy and contradictions. We discuss the value of learning to navigate liminality and how code‑switching becomes a form of wisdom and self-protection for those living at the intersections of multiple identities. Together, we explore the concept of Spiritual Terrorism and how fear, surveillance, and the threat of punishment shape the lives of undocumented families, Queer and Trans people, and anyone whose existence challenges the boundaries enforced by church or state. Aly shares how she learned to see herself as “bent but unbreakable,” and how healing becomes possible when we have language to name the harm and access to communities that accompany us through the work of questioning, discerning, and reclaiming our wholeness. Arelis Benítez, PhD (ella/she) serves as Assistant Professor of the Practice of Religion, Psychology, and Culture, and Director of Field Education at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Grounded in Chicana feminist theory and Mesoamerican wisdom, her scholarship reimagines pastoral theology, cultivating identity formation, cultural engagement, and spiritual care as pathways of transformation in theology and praxis. Hosted by Reverend Sex [https://soulforce.org/alba/] (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce [http://www.soulforce.org/]), this podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful, while centering dialogue on Queer, Trans, and feminist theology. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities.  FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith [https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/]: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/     Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage [https://soulforce.org/teosinverguenza-en/] or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation [https://soulforce.org/donate/]. https://soulforce.org/donate/ [https://soulforce.org/donate/]

Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:08 Sacred Before Legal: Pride, Love, Faith, and Belonging

In this Pride‑season love letter from Manila, Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) reflects on officiating a quiet, deeply intimate wedding for a Queer and Trans couple in a country where their love cannot be legally recognized. Their story, two women who dated in college, drifted apart, and reunited nearly twenty years later, opens into a reflection on the midlife Queer awakening so many people experience after years of fulfilling family and societal expectations. Reverend Sex shares the many kinds of unions they’ve been asked to bless: couples rejected by their churches, undocumented partners seeking spiritual recognition, political and survival‑based marriages, and Queer families building home in unconventional ways. Each story affirms that love is sacred long before the state acknowledges it. The episode turns to the scriptural story of Ruth and Naomi as a Queer love story—two women who choose each other against all expectations, whose vows form the foundation of modern wedding liturgy. Reverend Sex explores how all of us read scripture through our own lenses, and how Queer people have always been part of the biblical lineage.  01:45 An Evening Love Letter from Manila 02:07 A Quiet Wedding in a Country Without Marriage Equality 03:03 The Pattern of Midlife Queer Awakening 4:26 When the Church and State Say No 07:10 Blessing the Loves the Church Rejects 9:07 Ruth and Naomi: A Queer Love Story in Scripture 14:28 Queer Lineages in the Story of Jesus 15:43 Reading the Bible Through Our Own Lenses 20:20 A Pride Prayer for All Who Seek Themselves in Scripture Hosted by Reverend Sex [http://reverendsex.com] (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce [http://www.soulforce.org/]), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage [https://soulforce.org/teosinverguenza-en/] or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation [https://soulforce.org/donate/]. https://soulforce.org/donate/ [https://soulforce.org/donate/] FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith [https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/]: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ [https://soulforce.org/podcast/]

Shameless Theology S2:08 Beyond the Binary: Embracing Queerness within Faith w/Dr. Arelis Benítez Pt.1

What happens when the place that taught you God’s love also teaches you to divide your spirit from your body—and to call your body the problem? In this week’s episode, we bring you Part One of our conversation with Dr. Arelis “Aly” Benítez, a beloved friend, colleague, and one of the people whose encouragement and editorial insight helped shape the book at the center of this season. Years ago, Aly joined us on TSV in Spanish to where she spoke publicly about her identity for the first time. Today, she reflects on that moment’s significance and emotions it still brings forward. Aly shares her story as a Queer daughter of Mexican migrant parents raised within the Seventh‑day Adventist tradition, and how the church’s teachings split her soul from her body long before she had language for sexuality. She describes the liminal space of being undocumented, the fear of losing community, and the impossible contradictions placed on Queer people who are told to love God while denying themselves. Together, we explore how spiritual violence and religious abuse take shape not only in doctrine, but in the internal fractures they create—fractures that can lead to profound spiritual and emotional harm. We discuss the survival strategies that helped her endure: theological imagination, resistance, and the deep knowing that God had never abandoned her, even when her church did. This episode mentions suicide. If you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of self harm or suicide, please reach out for help. Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by texting or calling 988. The Trevor Project offers 24/7 support for LGBTQ+ young people through text: 678-678, phone: 1-866-488-7386, or chat: www.thetrevorproject.org [http://www.thetrevorproject.org]  Join us next week for Part Two, where we continue this powerful conversation with Aly and trace the path from survival toward healing and community. We’ll explore topics like cognitive dissonance, getting comfortable with liminality, code switching as a survival skill, and stubbornness as a spiritual asset.  Arelis Benítez, PhD (ella/she) serves as Assistant Professor of the Practice of Religion, Psychology, and Culture, and Director of Field Education at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Grounded in Chicana feminist theory and Mesoamerican wisdom, her scholarship reimagines pastoral theology, cultivating identity formation, cultural engagement, and spiritual care as pathways of transformation in theology and praxis. Hosted by https://soulforce.org/alba/Reverend Sex [https://soulforce.org/alba/] (Rev. Alba Onofrio - http://www.soulforce.org/Executive Director of Soulforce [http://www.soulforce.org/]), this podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful, while centering dialogue on Queer, Trans, and feminist theology. Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces. This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities.  FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith [https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/]: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/       Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage [https://soulforce.org/teosinverguenza-en/] or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a https://soulforce.org/donate/donation [https://soulforce.org/donate/]. https://soulforce.org/donate/ [https://soulforce.org/donate/]

Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:07 Trans Baptism and The Church of the Queerly Beloved in Asia

In this sunrise love letter from Manila, Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) reflects on a weekend of Queer spiritual courage during the first-ever Culto Cuir in Asia—and Soulforce's first Deaf-centered Culto Cuir. As the city wakes, they recount the power and tenderness of the Trans baptism and name‑change ceremony, a ritual born in Ecuador and now carried across continents as a sacred act of reclamation. They share stories of those who stepped forward—some revealing their true names for the very first time, others affirming identities they’ve lived into for decades. Each baptism becomes a moment of wrestling and blessing, echoing the biblical lineage of name changes and the story of Jacob becoming Israel. Reverend Sex describes the trembling bravery of each person who came forward, hearts pounding, asking to be witnessed, affirmed, and blessed in the fullness of who they are. From the sacred water gathered across years of global Queer ministry to the choices of where each person receives their anointing—forehead, throat, heart, hands—this episode honors the beauty of Queer and Trans people claiming themselves in community. It is a meditation on courage, belonging, and the holy work of becoming. 01:45 A Sunrise in Manila 02:36 Culto Cuir Arrives in Asia 03:59 A Deaf-Centered Pride Celebration 04:43 The Origins of Trans Baptism 05:43 Claiming Our Names, Claiming Our Lives 08:56 Biblical Lineages of Renaming 13:30 The Sacred Water and the Anointing 16:15 The Blessing of Becoming 17:13 Witnessing Courage in Real Time 20:19 A Prayer for the Brave Hosted by Reverend Sex [http://reverendsex.com] (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce [http://www.soulforce.org/]), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for. The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years. Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage [https://soulforce.org/teosinverguenza-en/] or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation [https://soulforce.org/donate/]. https://soulforce.org/donate/ [https://soulforce.org/donate/] FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith [https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/]: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/ Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/ [https://soulforce.org/podcast/]