Practicing Gospel Podcast

Campus Minstry with Daniel and Sarah Patiño PGE 113

Because of our nation’s commitment to capitalism and the desire to be technologically advanced and leaders in the global business market, across the political and theological spectrum, most parents are interested in and committed to having their children go to college/university. Those students are also enculturated into valuing and wanting to go to college/university. And because of the extensive increase in remote learning, around 61% of students in the United States enroll in college following high school.  Also, because of the global economy, and because the colleges/universities in the United States are some of the best in the world, large numbers of international students seek to attend colleges/universities here. While things are continuously changing on college campuses, and while there are adults who attend college later in life, or those who attend after serving in the military, or those who attend graduate school, a constant for the majority of the  population of colleges/universities, including international students, is the post-high school 18-24 year old student. For that age group who choose to attend college on a campus, it commonly means leaving home and relying on themselves for a myriad of decisions for the first time. Developing the self-discipline to navigate those decisions is a part of the maturing process. Having some sort of community to assist and provide support in this maturing process helps. For those students who have a religious faith, a campus ministry, commonly sharing the same faith as the student, provides that community and support. Because there is a constant in the student population related to age, there is a constant in both psychological and faith development. That provides a constant of experience in campus ministry over the years. However, due to challenges never faced by previous generations, campus ministry currently being provided on college/university campuses across our nation has substantively changed. My guest for this episode are here to help us understand those challenges and changes and to help give a deeper insight into campus ministry as it is happening now in our nation. Sarah and Daniel Patiño lead the Seek Christian Community at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, or Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, Virginia. Both Daniel and Sarah are graduates of Virginia Tech. To learn more about the Patiños and their ministry, visit www.vtseek.org. [https://vtseek.org/] The intro and outro music for this episode is from a clip of a song called ‘Father Let Your Kingdom Come’ which is found on The Porter’s Gate Worship Project Work Songs album [https://theportersgate.bandcamp.com/releases] and is used by permission by The Porter’s Gate Worship Project [https://theportersgate.bandcamp.com/releases].

Theology in the Capitalocene with Joerg Rieger PGE 112

In this episode I speak with Professor Joerg Rieger [https://www.joergrieger.com/] about his book, Theology in the Capitalocene: Ecology, Identity, Class, and Solidarity [https://www.amazon.com/Theology-Capitalocene-Identity-Solidarity-Dispatches-ebook/dp/B09RQ1S6QV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FK7QKSISKO88&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.guqYqRCq28GOZLmh2hdxwae5Iv5xUhtr1rb9BU1AA_E.YPulXDK3I86NuFESkak7DMaDCb9WBbIAsfdmR0RoPNY&dib_tag=se&keywords=Theology+in+the+capitalocene&qid=1771102992&sprefix=theology+in+the+capitalocene%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1]. Professor Rieger explains why the term, “Capitalocene” should be used instead of the term “Anthropocene.” He helps us understand what is happening because of the Capitalocene, especially as it negatively impacts in a new way many of the issues relating to social justice–issues such as global warming, classism, racism, sexism. queerism, and labor. He also outlines the way theologies and religions have negatively contributed to the development of the Capitalocene. However, Professor Rieger provides us with alternatives and offers us ways to respond. He also believes that both theology and religion have a role in moving us more positively forward. In order to bring the alternatives Professor Rieger offers to address the capitalocene into concrete action, he established the Wnedland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice.The Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice [https://www.religionandjustice.org/] is an interdisciplinary program located at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Its focus is on issues of justice that arise at the intersection of religion, economics, and ecology. Founded in 2019 and supported by a generous gift from Barbara Wendland [https://www.religionandjustice.org/blog/barbara-wendland-legacy], the mission of the program is to develop resources and opportunities for students, scholars, clergy, and activists to envision and create a more just and sustainable world for all. Professor Joerg Rieger is Distinguished Professor of Theology, The Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair in Wesleyan Studies, and the Founding Director of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice. The intro and outro music for this episode is from a clip of a song called ‘Father Let Your Kingdom Come’ which is found on The Porter’s Gate Worship Project Work Songs album [https://theportersgate.bandcamp.com/releases] and is used by permission by The Porter’s Gate Worship Project [https://theportersgate.bandcamp.com/releases].

PODER Emma with Alan Luis Ramirez PGE 111

I confess to being guilty of what I have observed in most others who, like me, were born, raised, and continue to live in the United States. I take my citizenship for granted. I vote in all major elections, pay my taxes without much complaint, respect and am thankful for government and law enforcement officials, show up for jury duty (although I have never been selected for a jury), and abide by the law. But, I, like most, do little else relating to my citizenship. I don’t go to and speak at town meetings, see little benefit from protests, or believe any effort to write my elected officials (especially those I didn’t vote for) will have any impact. For most of my life, I have believed I have very little power to confront those in power or to create change. I have been wrong! Most leading scholars of democracy and advocates for democracy all agree that individual citizens, who take their citizenship seriously and organize, have the power to hold government officials on all levels accountable, to have them address our concerns and issues that are important to us, and to create change. There are different ways of organizing and different tools for helping with organizing, but the act of organizing and using that organizing is a vital means of creating change and to making our democracy work and thrive. In this episode, I speak with Alan Luis Ramirez about his involvement with and efforts in such an organizing effort. La Milpa [https://www.colaborativalamilpa.org/about] is an umbrella organization under which is PODER Emma [https://www.poderemma.org/]. Emma is a community is West Asheville, North Carolina. Alan Luis shares with us an understanding of the fullness of this organizing effort. It creates local change and empowerment, economic and employment options and opportunities, and cultural and citizenship dynamics. It is exciting and inspiring and should be imitated, like all such efforts, so that these efforts and the change they create can increase. Alan Luis is a resident owner of Sourwood Mobile Home Co-op, a member of PODER Emma’s Cooperative Development Team and the Director of Mutual Aid (Casa de Ayuda Mutual). The intro and outro music for this episode is from a clip of a song called ‘Father Let Your Kingdom Come’ which is found on The Porter’s Gate Worship Project Work Songs album [https://theportersgate.bandcamp.com/releases] and is used by permission by The Porter’s Gate Worship Project [https://theportersgate.bandcamp.com/releases].

Doing Democracy with JoAnn McAllister PGE 110

This episode is my third interview on democracy. In this episode my guest and I will be discussing the Movement Action Plan or MAP model for organizing social movements that enable a group of citizens to create change in our culture and in our country through changes in our national, state, and local governments. This model is outlined in the book, Doing Democracy: The MAP Model for Organizing Social Movements [https://www.amazon.com/Doing-Democracy-Organizing-Social-Movements/dp/0865714185/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1N6BS31J3UH3U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4LwCZ-ev5_yym94o1pf1UQ.oX6THdRHWoFsg5sa_qn9fKrbAxrLY8TYlyv9vMmRyM0&dib_tag=se&keywords=doing+democracy+the+map+model&qid=1758548965&sprefix=doing+democracy%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1] by Bill Moyer, JoAnn McAllister [https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/faculty/joann-mcallister], Mary Lou Finley, and Steven Soifer. Bill Moyer is not to be confused by the famous journalist and television personality, Bill Moyers with an ’s’ on the end of his last name. Bill Moyer, the originator and developer of the MAP model for social movement organizing, was for over forty years a social change activist, community organizer, and educator. Alas, Bill passed away in 2002, but the co-authors of the book are still very much alive, and Dr. JoAnn McAllister [https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/faculty/joann-mcallister] has graciously agreed to be my guest for this conversation. Dr. McAllister is an interdisciplinary social science educator and researcher. Her work is grounded in a systems perspective and focuses on the role of culture in shaping individual and social beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Her focus is on understanding how these shape our perceptions and actions, and applying these concepts can help us to understand contemporary social problems.  She believes that in knowing our own story and learning to listen to the stories of others we can collaborate more effectively to promote positive social change. She has worked with many non-profits, community organizations, and government agencies in the development of education programs related to criminal justice, at-risk youth, and the environment. She is the co-author of Doing Democracy: The MAP Model for Organizing Social Movements written by Bill Moyer (2001) and has been engaged in numerous activities to create positive social change over the years, including Anti-War, Sanctuary, Food Security, and Environmental groups. She is working on a new project and book, Still Doing Democracy: Finding Common Ground and Acting for the Common Good. Her current focus is on training engaged citizens, community advocates, and social change activities to develop more effective collaborative skills to further positive social change. The intro and outro music for this episode is from a clip of a song called ‘Father Let Your Kingdom Come’ which is found on The Porter’s Gate Worship Project Work Songs album [https://theportersgate.bandcamp.com/releases] and is used by permission by The Porter’s Gate Worship Project [https://theportersgate.bandcamp.com/releases].

Resilient Agriculture Interview 3 with Dr. Laura Lengnick PGE 109

This episode is my third interview with Dr. Laura Lengnick about her book, Resilient Agriculture [https://www.amazon.com/Resilient-Agriculture-Second-Cultivating-Changing/dp/0865719500/ref=sr_1_1?crid=185A1SGUS6J5F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.F6pufCNp9bYqA8m3MsSC81Tw5f_5M6jT-TLwvFw7Bb35ZJMtXXsvtiVFNE5BbTXhryoWhqJX49yU8qag5dvtyw.qUIMXqkStrc3RLFE-hAZa1uU2WVhU_Xpsww5o9wmm04&dib_tag=se&keywords=resilient+agriculture&qid=1753710812&sprefix=resilient+agr%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1]. In my blogspot for the second interview, at the request of Dr. Lengnick, I clarified that the discussion in the second interview was recorded in June of 2024 before the impact of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina toward the end of September, 2024, and was not a response to that event. However, Dr. Lengnick agreed that at a time which allowed for recovery and healing, some reflection about Resilient Agriculture in light of the event of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina was important and appropriate. Particularly important for that reflection includes Dr. Lengnick’s understanding of the concept of “bouncing forward” rather than “bouncing back” or “building back better.” That time, nearly one year after the Hurricane Helene event, has come. So I welcome back Dr. Laura Lengnick. Dr. Lengnick is the author of Resilient Agriculture: Cultivating Foods Systems for a Changing Climate [https://www.amazon.com/Resilient-Agriculture-Second-Cultivating-Changing/dp/0865719500/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1N55XTXEX3OIE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SdBlaGvFDMs2b7dZ7_yRgLDBa8b2L-eZ8NVOBY1NwO8YuOIkjri5-mT2Nnm07zuTf0Gplsbn7fI7odIDEQ54awDOXknCd6oG-gBxL1Xhd6SVFMNhFEWxg_7u23s7_JddZgj5lzsslFztBDUJoGnCs5ulrSyEJBrgeM6DSnR6IhxgxXWzUiyYjXKYqS1rmwgoBdQin8KvO1_JBI8z8cQpDNbyJ3GufrDhGbWH_nSWPlA.qV6VkUBDdS6DoHVe-klWqkYCtoO8zpAq6mt_w7e8Gek&dib_tag=se&keywords=resilient+agriculture&qid=1727197476&sprefix=resilient+agr%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1]. This book will be the basis for these interviews. Laura is the founder and principal of Cultivating Resilience [http://cultivagingresilience.com/] which works with organizations of all kinds to integrate resilience thinking into assessment, operations and strategic planning. Trained as a soil scientist, Laura has 30 years of experience as a researcher, policymaker, educator, activist, and farmer. She has broad federal policy expertise gained through work as a U.S. Senate staffer, a USDA-ARS researcher, and a lobbyist advocating for sustainable agriculture in the U.S. Congress and was a lead author of the 2013 United States Department of Agriculture’s report, Climate Change and Agriculture in the United States: Effects and Adaptation. You can learn more about Cultivating Resilience and Laura here: cultivatingresilience.com [http://cultivatingresilience.com/] In this interview a reference was made to effort called Regenerative Agriculture. Dr. Lengnick sees that effort as providing tools for Resilient Agriculture, but believes that that the work she and others are doing with Resilient Agriculture goes beyond Regenerative Agriculture. You can learn more about Regenerative Agriculture here: commonground.org [https://commongroundfilm.org/woody-harrelson-says-climate-doc-common-ground-makes-him-no-longer-hopeless-for-the-future-2/] kissthegroundmovie.com [https://www.imdb.com/find/?q=regenerative%20agriculture&ref_=hm_nv_srb_sm] The intro and outro music for this episode is from a clip of a song called ‘Father Let Your Kingdom Come’ which is found on The Porter’s Gate Worship Project Work Songs album [https://theportersgate.bandcamp.com/releases] and is used by permission by The Porter’s Gate Worship Project [https://theportersgate.bandcamp.com/releases].