Nov 19, 2019
In this episode two innovative spiritual leaders and thinkers, Brian McLaren and Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon, have an intimate conversation beginning with the story of their conservative Christian upbringings, ending with their visions of the future of American Christianity. Co-hosts, Rajeev Rambob and Bonnie Rambob, ask for insights on faith, doubt, belief, Christian identity and secular Christianity. Have you ever heard of secular Christianity? Well, it’s a thing. Listen to learn more about these fascinating and inspiring visionaries and their evolving faith.
Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a faculty member of The Living School, which is part of the Center for Action and Contemplation, and he co-leads the Common Good Messaging Team, which is part of Vote Common Good. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and a leader in the Convergence Network, through which he has developed an innovative training/mentoring program for pastors, church planters, and lay leaders called Convergence Leadership Project. He works closely with the Wild Goose Festival, the Fair Food Program‘s Faith Working Group, and Progressive Christianity. His most recent joint project is an illustrated children’s book (for all ages) called Cory and the Seventh Story and his upcoming writing projects include The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey (Fall 2019) Faith After Doubt (Spring 2021), and Do I Stay Christian? (Spring 2022).
Penny Nixon has been the Senior Minister of the Congregational Church of San Mateo (CCSM), United Church of Christ, since 2007. CCSM is a vibrant, progressive spiritual community of over 600 members and in 2017 received the MLK award from the county of San Mateo. A community leader and political activist, she has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work in both San Francisco and San Mateo, the most recent being named 2019 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 22. She also is Director of the SMC Solidarity Cohort, which is a group of 30 interfaith clergy engaged in addressing the most pressing social needs in San Mateo County.
MORE ABOUT BRIAN MCLAREN & REV. DR. PENNY NIXON
To learn more about the Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon and hear her sermons go to her church’s website, Congregational Church of San Mateo
And for Brian McLaren you can visit his website, follow him on Twitter or pick up one of his many books.
RELEVANT LINKS
From Our Conversation with Brian McLaren & Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon
- Congregational Church of San Mateo (Penny’s Church)
- Brian McLaren (Author, Speaker, Activist)
- Liberation Theology
- Feminist Theology
- Ecofeminism
- Alan Wilson Watts (British writer who interpreted and popularised Eastern philosophy for a Western audience)
- Marcus Borg (American New Testament scholar and theologian)
- The Scofield Reference Bible
- Phyllis Tickle (American Author)
- Get There Early: Sensing the Future to Compete by Bob Johansen (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link)
- Woodstock (Music Festival held August 1969)
- Gretta Vosper (An ordained minister of the United Church of Canada who is a self-professed atheist)
- A Secular Age by Charles Taylor (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link)
- The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature by C. S. Lewis (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link)
- Washington Redskins name controversy
- Did Christopher Columbus Seize, Sell, and Export Sex Slaves? (Snopes Article)
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IRENCAST HOSTS
Rev. Allen O’Brien, MAT | co-founder & co-host | allen@irenicast.com
You can connect with Allen (@RevAllenOB) on Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, GoodReads, & LinkedIn.
Rev. Bonnie Rambob, MDiv | co-host | bonnie@irenicast.com
You can connect with Bonnie on Facebook and at Parkside Community Church-UCC
Pastor Casey Tinnin, MTS | co-host | casey@irenicast.com
You can follow Casey on Twitter and Facebook, or you can check out his blog The Queerly Faithful Pastor or loomisucc.org
Jeff Manildi | co-founder, producer & co-host | jeff@irenicast.com
Follow Jeff (@JeffManildi) on facebook, instagram & twitter. You can also listen to Jeff’s other podcast Divine Cinema.
Rev. Rajeev Rambob, MCL | co-host | rajeev@irenicast.com
You can follow Rajeev on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
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CREDITS
Intro and Outro music created by Mike Golin.
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