Spiritual Misfits Podcast

Meeting Ground

If you’ve ever felt on the fringes of Christian faith this is a safe space for you. Your questions, doubts and hopes are all welcome here. We’re creating conversations, affirmations, meditations and other resources to support you on your spiritual journey and let you know that even if you feel like a misfit, you don’t have to feel alone.

read less
Religion & SpiritualityReligion & Spirituality
ChristianityChristianity

Episodes

Sally Longley on violence, silence and Ignatian spirituality
Oct 19 2024
Sally Longley on violence, silence and Ignatian spirituality
In this episode Sally Longley shares her journey from a belief in violence to embracing pacifism and Ignatian spirituality. Sally shares her experiences in South Africa during apartheid, her theological studies, and the transformative power of silence and imagination in spiritual practice. The conversation delves into the complexities of nonviolence, the role of anger and grief, and the importance of silence in modern life, emphasizing that true transformation often requires confronting uncomfortable truths. In this conversation, Will Small and Sally explore the significance of rest, silence, and contemplative practices in a chaotic world. They discuss the essential nature of patience in love, the importance of creating inclusive communities, and the role of spiritual direction in navigating crises of faith. Sally emphasizes the power of deep listening and the need for spaces where individuals can come as they are, fostering a sense of belonging and connection.Connect more with Sally's work here: https://www.longley.com.au/Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com
Scott Erickson (Scott the Painter) is creating a visual vocabulary for the spiritual journey
Oct 5 2024
Scott Erickson (Scott the Painter) is creating a visual vocabulary for the spiritual journey
Hello fellow misfits, friends, humans of all kinds! An absolutely delightful conversation awaits you with Scott Erickson. He’s a painter, author, performance speaker. His instagram bio says ‘Curator of awesomeness’. And I think that’s absolutely accurate. We had a great chat about Scott's creative process, the role of visual art In forming how we see the world and the paradoxical nature of life, creativity and spirituality.TWO OTHER GREAT THINGS TO TELL YOU ABOUT:1. The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide recently launched! A free set of videos, podcast episodes, suggested practices and more available on our website, spiritualmisfits.com.au. Great for your own process, also great for discussing with friends.2. Future Church Conference tickets are live! January 28th next year. A day of misfits and fringe dwellers asking what kind of Church would we actually want to stick around for, advocate for, work for? And how do we make that happen? You can get an exclusive Spiritual Misfits discount right now. $10 off if you book a ticket using the discount code SPIRITUALMISFITS. Connect more with Scott Erickson: https://www.scottericksonart.com/Follow Scott on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottthepainter/Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com
Jason John on sex, evolution and a poem you’ll never forget
Sep 14 2024
Jason John on sex, evolution and a poem you’ll never forget
Jason John is a fascinating human being with a very interesting story doing very interesting things. He’s an ordained minister in the Uniting Church, has a PhD in zoology and is, amongst other things, a ‘forest chaplain.’In this conversation we talk about evolution, sexual ethics, eco-faith communities and poetry.At the end of this episode Jason shares a couple of his poems — which in my opinion are brilliant. One of the poems in particular uses strong language that you may not want to listen to with kids around. Or if you’re the kind of person who potentially may be offended by some strong language, you’re also welcome to not listen to it. In my opinion it is an excellent piece of art, that provokes some great questions around language and offence and patriarchy and divinity, and we do unpack some of that briefly afterwards. That poem starts at around 53 minutes. Everything before then is great if you want to listen that far and then tap out. Of course, you’re also welcome to skip straight to the juicy bit if you are now desperate to hear strong language. In our conversation we talk about one of Jason’s books, called ‘Christian Sex Today’, which Jason has very generously made free for listeners of the pod. What a top guy! Listen to the episode, download his book and then send him a warm message of gratitude.Learn more about Jason and his work: https://ecofaith.org/Get Jason’s book ‘Christian Sex Today’ FREE!https://ecofaith.org/freebiesPassword: SpiritualMisfitsWant to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com
Amy Kenny: 'My Body is Not a Prayer Request'
Sep 7 2024
Amy Kenny: 'My Body is Not a Prayer Request'
Amy Kenny, author of 'My Body Is Not A Prayer Request,' joins Will for a discussion about disability justice and ableism in the church. She shares her experiences of being prayed over for her disability to be erased and the harmful treatment she received in the church. Amy emphasizes the importance of recognizing the image of God in disabled bodies and reframing our understanding of healing and curing. She challenges the ableist language, assumptions, and practices that exist in churches and calls for a more inclusive and holistic approach to faith. The conversation explores the themes of inclusivity, disability in scripture, and creating communities that fully receive the gifts of all members. Amy Kenny shares her journey of accepting and being proud of her disabled identity and how her theology has evolved to embrace disability. She emphasizes the need to move beyond tolerance and charity towards celebrating and learning from disabled individuals. Amy also discusses the importance of unlearning ableism, creating cultures of access, and developing a community care network for disabled members. The conversation concludes with final thoughts for both disabled and non-disabled listeners.Amy's website: https://amy-kenny.com/Amy's book: 'My Body is not a Prayer Request'Keywordsdisability justice, ableism, church, disabled bodies, healing, curing, image of God, inclusive faith, inclusivity, disability, scripture, theology, identity, acceptance, pride, ableism, access, community care, unlearning, celebrationChapters00:50Introduction and Background of Amy Kenny04:02Feeling Like a Spiritual Misfit08:00Encountering Jesus in Unexpected Places11:03The Harmful Ableism in the Church17:40Reframing Our Understanding of God and Disability31:54Reshaping Conceptions of God for Inclusivity38:18Moving Beyond Tolerance to Fully Receiving Gifts44:11Developing a Community Care Network for Disabled Members48:43Architecting Life and Community for Co-Flourishing50:47Learning from and with Disabled Individuals58:29Embracing Divine Identity as Disabled IndividualsWant to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com
Racial injustice and the Church with Nathan Tyson, Radhika Sukumar-White and Liesl Homes
Aug 17 2024
Racial injustice and the Church with Nathan Tyson, Radhika Sukumar-White and Liesl Homes
Hello good people, Welcome to the third conversation in our five episode mini-series with UME’s Pulse team. Over the last two weeks we’ve explored generational divides and climate crisis, eco anxiety and the like.  This week another big conversation. What does it mean to keep faith in a world of racial injustice? Are people of faith in Australia today able to honestly grapple with racism in our history and our present moment? Why does it seem like the church is often no better than the rest of society in this regard? And what might it look like to continue the work of decolonising Christianity and creating anti-racist faith spaces? This is a big conversation — so much bigger than this podcast episode — but here to spark some of your thinking around these questions I’m joined by Nathan Tyson, Radhika Sukumar-White and Liesl Homes. Watch this episode on Youtube here.Download the accompanying discussion guide here. Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com
Navigating eco-anxiety, finding ways forward with Joyce Tangi, Karina Kreminski & Jono Row
Aug 10 2024
Navigating eco-anxiety, finding ways forward with Joyce Tangi, Karina Kreminski & Jono Row
Hello again good people!This is the second in our series of 5 collaborative conversations hosted by Spiritual Misfits and the Uniting Mission and Education Pulse team, exploring major challenges in our world today and the kind of faith that doesn’t shy away from them or just respond with unhelpful platitudes.And this week we’re delving into a huge topic. If faith doesn’t have something to say about climate crisis, about eco anxiety, about what it means to care for and advocate for this one planet that we have — then, what good is that faith? On the other hand, how might our spirituality and the Christian tradition help ground us — literally reconnect us to the ground beneath our feet. That is what Joyce Tangi, Karina Kreminski and Jono Row join me to discuss in this episode. You can watch the full filmed conversation on YouTube here if that’s your jam, you can also download our accompanying discussion guide to use in your context.Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com
Karen Pack on starting loved and restoring the erased
Jul 20 2024
Karen Pack on starting loved and restoring the erased
The Reverend Dr Karen Pack is a religious historian, ordained Christian minister, Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant, and current President of Spiritual Care Australia. For over twenty five years she has been engaged in training pastors, chaplains, leaders and teachers in Australia, North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Her doctoral research explored the marginalization and erasure of women and LGBTQ+ Christians from religious histories in Australia.In this conversation, Karen shares about the kind of faith she grew up with and the deep sense of calling she had from a young age. She then shares about losing her employment at a Bible College after coming out as a queer woman, in a relationship. We then discuss what she found on the other side of that experience, and the way she continues to live out her sense of calling in the world. Karen also shares about her doctoral research into the erasure of women and LGBTQI+ folks in the recorded histories of Christianity in Australia. This is a vulnerable, moving, challenging and deeply important conversation, and a gift to all who take the time to listen. Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com
Thomas Jay Oord on 'God After Deconstruction'
Jul 13 2024
Thomas Jay Oord on 'God After Deconstruction'
In this conversation, Will Small, Thomas Jay Oord, and Becca De Souza discuss open and relational theology, the challenges of suffering, and the process of deconstruction and reconstruction in faith. They also touch on the topic of LGBTQ+ affirmation within religious institutions. Thomas shares his personal journey from a classical theist position to open and relational theology, emphasizing the importance of understanding God's power as love. The conversation explores the need for a faith that embraces doubt and uncertainty while still providing comfort and meaning. They also discuss the role of certainty in children's faith development and the importance of allowing space for questioning and exploration. They explore the idea that salvation is not just liberation from pain, but also survival and quality of life, requiring the cooperation of both God and humanity. They also delve into the role of prayer in an open and relational theology, emphasizing that prayer is communication with God and can bring about change through our actions. They touch on the concept of miracles and how they occur when God and creation work together for something good. The conversation concludes with a reflection on the value of open and relational theology in providing a picture of God that is true for all people, especially those who have been marginalized and oppressed.Keywords open and relational theology, suffering, deconstruction, reconstruction, LGBTQ+ affirmation, faith, doubt, certainty, children's faith development, God, suffering, open and relational theology, salvation, cooperation, prayer, miraclesTakeaways Open and relational theology views God as interactive and responsive, and recognizes the limits of God's power. It offers a framework that aligns with our experiences and intuitions about love and free will.Certainty is not the goal of faith. Embracing doubt and uncertainty can lead to a more mature and honest understanding of God and the world.Children's faith development involves different stages, and it is natural for young children to have a black-and-white view of God. As they grow, it is important to create a safe space for them to ask questions and explore their beliefs.Traditional theologies can be traumatizing and dismissive of our experiences. Open and relational theology provides a more inclusive and compassionate perspective that takes into account the diversity of human experiences.The process of deconstruction and reconstruction in faith can be challenging but also liberating. It involves reevaluating our beliefs and theological frameworks, and embracing a faith that is more aligned with our values and experiences. Salvation is not just liberation from pain, but also survival and quality of life, requiring the cooperation of both God and humanity.God is always acting and working in the world, and our response to God's Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com
5 Big Ideas for the Future Church (Future Church Conference Night: Joyce Tangi, Jessica Morthorpe, Karen Pack, Mitch Forbes & Joel Hollier)
Jun 1 2024
5 Big Ideas for the Future Church (Future Church Conference Night: Joyce Tangi, Jessica Morthorpe, Karen Pack, Mitch Forbes & Joel Hollier)
Well hello again my friends! If you’ve been listening in recent weeks I hope you have enjoyed these talks from Future Church Conference. I am excited to share that a few of us met this last week to start planning the next one — it’s going to be great. Follow New City Church or Spiritual Misfits on Instagram for a date announcement soon. This will be the last piece of content for now from the inaugural Future Church Conference — and it’s a little different. On the evening of the day we asked 5 different speakers to give a 7 minute pitch for an idea they think is vital for the future church. So now   you have the opportunity to hear these fantastic talks — micro in length, but each one packs a punch.  Keep listening and you will hear:JOYCE TANGI on anti-racismJESSICA MORTHORPE on climate justiceKAREN PACK on LGBTQIA+ InclusionMITCH FORBES on the place of tradition as we move forwardJOEL HOLLIER on being trauma-informedAnd to round it there are a couple of songs at the end from Marion St — you may remember Gabi and Mikali who have previous been on the podcast (if you didn’t catch that one go back and listen to those legends). So there is a lot of good stuff jam-packed into this episode. Before we jump in my dear friends, listen up. I’m about to have a couple weeks off after a very big start to the year. Normally I’d line a couple of replay episodes — but as I mentioned last week we are just about to launch a Spiritual Misfits rebrand. And so, here’s what’s going to happen. For the next 2 or 3 weeks there will be a Spiritual-Misfits-shaped-hole in your podcast player. But make sure you’re subscribed — because after that we’re going to pop back into your feed with a new look, a new website and plenty of amazing and important new conversations coming your way. Between now and then, hit up our extensive back-log and catch up on any episodes you haven’t heard yet. Some recommendations: as we continue to witness and grieve the horrendous genocide the Israeli government is committing in Palestine, can I suggest listening to my friend Sara M. Saleh’s episode if you haven’t? Or if you want to participate in non-violent love and resistance in this world listen to the episode with Jarrod McKenna. There are so many others I could suggest, but those both feel timely.We’ll be back in a few weeks! Until then, big love and remember — you are not alone.   Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com
The Future Church is...Intersectional (Will Small at Future Church Conference)
May 25 2024
The Future Church is...Intersectional (Will Small at Future Church Conference)
Hello again friends! The last few weeks there’s been less of my voice on the pod, which has probably been a refreshing change. However if you proceed with listening to this one, it is my talk from Future Church Conference. Which ironically strongly reinforces the point that you should listen to many voices other than mine. I won’t redo my talk in the intro spiel here — but you will hear both my slight discomfort and embrace of the topic I was asked to speak about. Hey, if you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you would have heard me say that this year we are working on some other things to add to the spiritual misfits eco-system.Well, can I tell you my friends that there are some exciting things coming very soon now. We have been doing a Spiritual Misfits rebrand — which is actually kind of the first time we’ve done proper branding for it. If you look for example at the Spiritual Misfits website or at the podcast cover art you will notice the logo for Meeting Ground Church. You may already know this but in case you’re confused Meeting Ground is a small, local church on the Central Coast of NSW of which the podcast emerged from. Obviously though the audience of the podcast goes well beyond Meeting Ground’s geography. And as much as I would love to invite every one of you beautiful listeners to be part of Meeting Ground that wouldn’t work. However, it is my hope that the podcast can be just one part of a larger work that helps connect people with other people, with different ideas, with avenues for support…so I know it’s been a slow burn, because we’re also pretty resource limited. However, on the near horizon there will be a new website, with some videos and other resources to help misfits navigate the disorientation that can come with feeling like you’re on the fringes. And there will be some other cool things that pop-up there over time. So, be warned. There will come a day soon when you look at your podcast app and the cover art for the podcast is new and beautiful and different.  I can also tease that just around the corner there is a limited series of episodes created in collaboration with very good humans. And I think they are going to be something special. Anyway, that is enough teasing of things. Tell your friends, share the love, join the Facebook group. Enjoy this little talk from Future Church Conference (and follow New City Church on Instagram to make sure you don’t miss a pending date announcement about the next one). Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com
The Future Church is....LGBTQIA+ Inclusive (Karen Pack at Future Church Conference)
May 18 2024
The Future Church is....LGBTQIA+ Inclusive (Karen Pack at Future Church Conference)
Hello Spiritual Misfits! This week I have another brilliant talk for you from Future Church conference which happened in January this year. We know the questions and themes we were exploring in the room that day are so pressing for many of us, and so it’s great to be able to share these talks with you if you weren’t able to join us.  A reminder that there will be another Future Church Conference — and if these talks are wetting your appetite to be in the room if possible, make sure you give New City Church a follow on social media, or drop an email to spiritualmisfits@outlook.com. We will make sure you’re in the loop when a date and other details are announced. You can also check out futurechurchcon.com — all these links will be in the show-notes too. This talk you’re about to hear is from the brilliant Karen Pack. Karen’s topic was ‘The Future Church is…LGBTQIA+ Inclusive’ — but as you’ll hear this talk actually has much broader applications. Karen weaves aspects of her personal story with a pretty confronting look at how histories are formed and told, and the power there is, in the way we tell the story. As with all of these Future Church conference talks really there are themes explored here that may bring up your own trauma — particularly if you are a queer person who has spent time in religious spaces that did not treat you with the full dignity and acceptance that you do deserve. Karen does touch on themes of suicide. And if this brings anything up for you as you listen, then please reach out for help. You can call lifeline on 13 11 14.  Karen does reference the slides she was using on the day, but she does a fantastic job of explaining what’s on those slides, and I think you should be able to follow along without much trouble. Big shout-out to Kaz for this challenging, moving, vulnerable and deeply important message for anyone who finds themselves interested in what the church of tomorrow — and today, looks like.   Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com