Carol Howard Merritt talks to Melissa DeRosia about her book, The Girlfriend’s Clergy Companion, and how we can better encourage and support women in ministry.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/gcr/GCR_-_Melissa_copy.mp3

The season of Advent is upon us! During this time of watchful expectation, we often turn to the words of the Hebrew scripture for inspiration and enlightenment as we prepare are hearts for the coming of the Messiah. Dr. Stephen B. Reid discusses with ways to think about these scriptures with respect to their roots in Judaism and illustrates what we can learn about prayer from the Hebrew texts.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/gcr/GCR_S5E7.mp3

What are today’s youth saying about their faith? How does what they profess compare to our historic creeds? What are they saying about the beliefs of their parents? Join Derrick Weston as he talks to Kenda Creasy Dean about her book Almost Christian and learn how youth reflect the faith of our communities. Plus, you won’t want to miss the insightful thoughts of the Two Friars and a Fool (Aric Clark, Doug Hagler, and Nick Larson) and Carol Howard Merritt.

Okay, what the heck is process theology? Author Bruce Epperly helps us understand a little bit more about what process thought is and how we might apply it to some of the more complicated issues that come up in our life of faith such as diversity, the immutability of God and postmodernism.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/gcr/GCR_S5E5.mp3

Have you ever experienced a major shift in how you view politics? How did it happen? How do your faith and political life intersect? How should it intersect? Join Derrick Weston as he talks to Alisa Harris, the author of Raised Right, about these questions and more. We’ll also introduce the Two Friars and a Fool—Aric Clark, Nick Larson, and Doug Hagler–as they reflect on the Occupy Movement.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/gcr/Harris.mp3

In major cities all across the globe, crowds of people are coming together in at the seats of political and financial power. What began with Occupy Wall Street has become a genuine movement that begun a national dialogue about economic inequalities. Washington D.C. pastor, and friend of the show, Brian Merritt shares his experience with the Occupy K Street community and shares insights as to how the faith community can be involved with this movement.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/gcr/GCRS5E3.mp3

Have you ever gotten frustrated with Christmas shopping? Yes? Well, have you ever gotten so irritated with buying Christmas crap that you made a decision that changed your life? Craig and Nancy Goodwin did that… and they ended up with a year of plenty.

Join Derrick as he talks with Craig Goodwin and Carol Howard Merritt about sustainability, thoughtful consumption, and the church

http://traffic.libsyn.com/gcr/Craig_Goodwin.mp3

“Evangelism” has become a scary word in many mainline congregations, even scarier for those outside of the church. But if sharing our faith is an essential part of our spiritual health, not to mention the health of our congregations, how can it be done in a way that takes away some of the anxiety?

Martha Grace Reese shares her insights from her work with the Mainline Evangelism Project as well as some of the helpful tips from the “Unbinding” series with Carol. Carol and new co-host Derrick Weston then discuss some of their previous history with evangelism in their pasts and their hopes for it in the church.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/gcr/GCR_S5E1.mp3

Where does that coffee come from? What does that chocolate bar have to do with slavery? How do our everyday choices affect the global economy and human rights? Julie Clawson wrote a book on these very things.

Carol Howard Merritt talks to Julie Clawson about her unique perspective on the Emergent Church as well as her book, Everyday Justice. Then Carol talks with Ryan Kemp-Pappan about what Julie had to say.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/gcr/ClawsonRKP.mp3