158 – David P. Leong, Author of “Race and Place: How Urban Geography Shapes the Journey to Reconciliation”

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org

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Check out the new(ish) podcast OnRamp


David P. Leong (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is associate professor of missiology at Seattle Pacific University and Seminary, where he also serves as the director of the Global and Urban Ministry minor. He previously served in churches in urban Seattle through ministries focused on community groups and neighborhood involvement. As a scholar and practitioner, Leong examines the theological meaning of the city in an increasingly globalized and urbanized world. At the intersection of intercultural and missiological discourse, he sees the city as a rich context for theological reflection about topics ranging from hip hop and the built environment to multiculturalism and missional ecclesiology. He is the author of Street Signs: Toward a Missional Theology of Urban Cultural Engagement, and he lives in Seattle’s Rainier Valley with his wife and two sons.

We long for diverse, thriving neighborhoods and churches, yet racial injustices persist. Why? Because geographic structures and systems create barriers to reconciliation and prevent the flourishing of our communities.

Race and Place pharmacy reveals the profound ways in which these geographic forces and structures sustain the divisions among us. Urban missiologist David Leong, who resides in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country, unpacks the systemic challenges that are rarely addressed in the conversation about racial justice.

The evening news may deliver story after story that causes us to despair. But Leong envisions a future of belonging and hope in our streets, towns, cities, and churches. A discussion about race needs to go hand in hand with a discussion about place. This book is a welcome addition to a conversation that needs to include both. -From the Publisher


If you liked this episode then you might also like…

121: Shawn Duncan, on Truly Helping those in Poverty, Gentrification, and the Role of the Church

137: Chris Marlow, Author of ” Doing Good is Simple: Make a Difference Right Where You Are”


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OnRamp 010: Crime & Race

Hosted by Kerri Fisher & Shane Blackshear

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

13th (Link to trailer. Watch the film on Netflix)

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson’s Ted Talk

4 Black Lives Matter Myths Debunked | Decoded | MTV News

OnRamp 001: Two Christians Talking About Race

Hi Friend, welcome to On-Ramp.

 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism by Drew Hart

https://hhs.texas.gov/about-hhs/process-improvement/center-elimination-disproportionality-and-disparities


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*links to guest books or other products are affiliate links

148: Shane Claiborne Talks “Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why it’s Killing Us”

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org

shane-claiborne

 

Shane Claiborne graduated from Eastern University and did graduate work at Princeton Seminary. In 2010, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Eastern. His adventures have taken him from the streets of Calcutta where he worked with Mother Teresa to the wealthy suburbs of Chicago where he served at the influential mega-church Willow Creek. As a peacemaker, his journeys have taken him to some of the most troubled regions of the world – from Rwanda to the West Bank – and he’s been on peace delegations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Shane is a founder and board member of The Simple Way, a faith community in inner city Philadelphia that has helped birth and connect radical faith communities around the world. He is married to Katie Jo, a North Carolina girl who also fell in love with the city (and with Shane). They were wed in St. Edwards church, the formerly abandoned cathedral into which homeless families relocated in 1995, launching the beginning of the Simple Way community and a new phase of faith-based justice making.

Shane writes and travels extensively speaking about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus. Shane’s books include Jesus for President, Red Letter Revolution, Common Prayer, Follow Me to Freedom, Jesus, Bombs and Ice Cream, Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers – and his classic The Irresistible Revolution. He has been featured in a number of films including “Another World Is Possible” and “Ordinary Radicals.” His books are translated into more than a dozen languages. Shane speaks over 100 times a year, nationally and internationally.

His work has appeared in Esquire, SPIN, Christianity Today, and The Wall Street Journal, and he has been on everything from Fox News and Al Jazeera to CNN and NPR. He’s given academic lectures at Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Liberty, Duke, and Notre Dame. Shane speaks regularly at denominational gatherings, festivals, and conferences around the globe.

 

Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It’s Killing Us

In this reasoned exploration of justice, retribution, and redemption, the champion of the new monastic movement, popular speaker, and author of the bestselling The Irresistible Revolution offers a powerful and persuasive appeal for the abolition of the death penalty.

The Bible says an eye for an eye. But is the state’s taking of a life true—or even practical—punishment for convicted prisoners? In this thought-provoking work, Shane Claiborne explores the issue of the death penalty and the contrast between punitive justice and restorative justice, questioning our notions of fairness, revenge, and absolution.

Using an historical lens to frame his argument, Claiborne draws on testimonials and examples from Scripture to show how the death penalty is not the ideal of justice that many believe. Not only is a life lost, so too, is the possibility of mercy and grace. In Executing Grace, he reminds us of the divine power of forgiveness, and evokes the fundamental truth of the Gospel—that no one, even a criminal, is beyond redemption.


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Intervarsity Press has an exclusive for Seminary Dropout listeners. Go to ivpress.com/dropout to get 30% off The Broken Way.


If you liked this episode then you might also like…
117: Drew Hart, Author of “Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism”

137: Chris Marlow, Author of ” Doing Good is Simple: Making A Difference Right Where You Are”


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Best of Seminary Dropout: Grace Sandra

 

grace

Back in 2013 I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing writer, blogger, and speaker Grace Sandra.

In the interview we talk about the concept of privilege and racial reconciliation in light of the Gospel. Look to hear more from Grace on Seminary Dropout soon!

Mentioned on the podcast:

Grace’s Blog:
gracesandra.com

Books:
More Than Equals: Racial Healing for the Sake of the Gospel

Being White: Finding Our Place in a Multiethnic World

Outliers

 


Interested in advertising on Seminary Dropout? For rates and information contact me at shane@shaneblackshear.com


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Want to start a podcast but don’t know how?! My e-course will teach you everything you need to know. To get a free lesson and register click here. Use promo code SEMINARYDROPOUT to get 25% off.


If you liked this episode then you might also like…

Seminary Dropout 98: Efrem Smith of World Impact Talks About A Diverse Church and #BLACKLIVESMATTER

Seminary Dropout 89: Carolyn Custis James, Author of Malestrom: Manhood Swept Into the Currents of a Changing World


 

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Seminary Dropout 71: Natasha Sistrunk Robinson on Jesus, Leadership, and Race

natasha-robinson-headshot2_201311231850368631-e1400968587697

Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is a leader, speaker, writer, and anti-human trafficking advocate.

Natasha has studied education in racial reconciliation, prayer and fasting, and biblical justice.

She love’s passionately serving God and his people, bringing Him glory, and pursuing His kingdom work by sharing and living as she puts it ‘in the redemptive power of the cross’. In addition to being a wife and the mother, she’s dedicated her adult life to equipping, nurturing, and empowering a generation of leaders, mentoring and teaching women; and promoting education while serving and uplifting her community.

In this episode we learn:

-about Natasha’s background and her relationship with Jesus when she was young.
-what inspired her to start writing a blog and what made her connect with god at that point.
-what’s the difference between leadership in church versus the secular environment.
-what does Natasha think about church adopting leadership models from business world.
-what perspective on leadership Natasha has as a women of color.
-how Natasha got involved in the cause of anti-human trafficking.
-what role mentoring plays in her life.
-about her new book.
-what is it about her that has struck a cord with people.

Natasha will be a presenter at the upcoming Missio Alliance event Being Truly Human: Re-imagining the Resurrectional Life.


Remember our beloved sponsor for this episode is Deidox Films. If you like the podcast and want to support it then please check out Deidox and tell your pastor, worship leader or whoever organizes your worship gatherings about it.

Deidox produces beautiful, high quality, short documentaries about the real lives of Christians.

deidox

Deidox Films is a 501(c)3 film production and distribution company. They are media missionaries. Their mission is to produce and promote documentary films that help the Church reflect Christ and redeem culture.

Their purpose is to partner with Pastors and Church leaders to help make disciples and fulfill the Great Commission. They do this by creating visual models of faith that provide practical examples of modern day disciples.


 

If you liked this episode then you might also like…

Seminary Dropout 34: Eddie Byun

Seminary Dropout 35: Brian Fikkert


 

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Seminary Dropout 57: JR. Briggs, Author of ‘FAIL: Finding Hope & Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure’

jr

J.R. Briggs serves as Cultural Cultivator of The Renew Community a Jesus community for skeptics and dreamers in Lansdale, PA – a suburb of Philadelphia, which he helped start. He is the founder and director of Kairos Partnerships an initiative that partners with leaders, pastors and church planters during significant kairos moments in ministry. As part of his time with Kairos Partnerships, he serves on staff with The Ecclesia Network and Fresh Expressions U.S. In addition to these responsibilities he speaks regularly, writes, coaches pastors and church planters and consults with Christian colleges, non-profits, mission agencies, churches and other Christian organizations.

affiliate link

“J.R. Briggs has something to say to pastors about our American obsession with ‘success.’ He holds to the Jesus-endorsed notion that those in ministry are called to faithfulness, not success, and that sometimes faithfulness takes the peculiar form of failure. Fail dares to tell the truth and will bring much-needed clarity and comfort to a multitude of ministers who, though faithful, have drunk from the bitter cup of failure.” -Brian Zahnd

 

 


 

One announcement I forgot: Father Factor: American Christian Men on Fatherhood and Faith
will be available in 4 days!


 

If you liked this episode then you might also like…

Seminary Dropout 46: ‘Slow Church’ Authors Chris Smith & John Pattison

5 Ways To Be Unsatisfied With Your Church


 

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Seminary Dropout 030: Drew Hart on Race, the Church, Anabaptism & Black Theology

Listen in iTunes

Drew, along with pastoral ministry, is also a PhD student at Lutheran Theological Seminary drewhartat Philadelphia in Theology & Ethics. His research is focused on the intersection of Black theology and Anabaptism. Drew regularly speaks at churches and conferences, confronting racism, systemic oppression, and violence, while continually pleading with Christians to take a stand. Drew is committed to a life that struggles to take Jesus seriously while following him into the world.

Find Drew online at…
twitter.com/druhart
&
drewgihart.com

Some of the books Drew mentioned in the podcast:

      

Seminary Dropout 007: Grace Biskie

grace

Welcome to the Martin Luther King Jr Day episode of Seminary Dropout.

To start off the show I say thank you to those who have given me feedback in the last weeks. It really does mean a lot to me.

My interview this week is with Grace Biskie. Grace is a blogger and speaker, and is working on her first memoir.

In the interview we talk about the concept of privilege and racial reconciliation in light of the Gospel.

The Epilogue:

MLKJR

After this interview, Grace and I were talking and she asked when this episode would be published. I told her I would publish one the next Monday and then publish hers two weeks after that. I didn’t realize when I said that, that it would be Martin Luther King Jr day. So I didn’t plan this, but I think it’s pretty cool that it panned out that way.

Two years ago when Kate and I had just moved to Austin, we were looking for a church home. On the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr day we visited two different churches, one in the morning and one at night that would eventually become our church home. We caught two of the best sermons I’ve ever heard that day, they were both about the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr.

On that day I listened to the words of his “I Have a Dream” speech with new ears, and the word that kept coming to mind when I heard it was “Christ-like.” You see Jesus didn’t come and say “here are a set of rules you need to follow, I don’t care if you like them or if you like me, but you need to follow through with them.” No, he came for the hearts of men & women, not just demanding that we go through the motions of morality.

When I listened to the I have a dream speech that day, I noticed something. Although he rightly spoke about equality on a governmental level, he didn’t stop there. If he had he wouldn’t have said things like:

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.”

“…one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.”

When I heard those words again for the first time, I realized, he didn’t just want laws to force us to treat each other fairly, he wanted us to love each other.

 

Mentioned on the podcast:

Grace’s Blog:
gabbingwithgrace.com

Twitter:
@gabwithgrace

Books:
More Than Equals: Racial Healing for the Sake of the Gospel

Being White: Finding Our Place in a Multiethnic World

Outliers