Communion & Shalom David Frank and TJ Espinoza

Nate Collins has been part of the Christian conversation around faith and sexuality for decades. He founded Revoice, a conference and ministry for queer/same-sex-attracted Christians, and he’s written two books on the topic. Also, Nate is himself gay or same-sex-attracted and in a mixed-orientation marriage. We are looking forward to sharing Nate’s and Revoice’s story with you, and also encouraging you to attend the Revoice conference with us this summer!
PS: at Revoice2024, come visit TJ and David at our workshop on (Re)discovering Kinship beyond Marriage. We would love to talk to you!
For $10 off Revoice registration, use PROMO CODE: RevoicePod
About Our Guest
Nate Collins is the founding president of Revoice, a ministry with a mission to support and encourage gay, bisexual, same-sex attracted, or other queer Christians—and those who love them—to live out the historic Christian doctrine of marriage and sexuality. He is the author of All But Invisible: Exploring Identity Questions at the Intersection of Faith, Gender, and Sexuality (Zondervan, 2017), as well as a forthcoming volume about sexuality in the Biblical Theology for Life series from Zondervan Academic. He has an Masters of Divinity and PhD from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Nate and his wife, Sara, live in St. Louis, MO, with their three children.
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Note: This episode uses the terms “Side A” and “Side B” (and X, Y) as shorthand quite a bit. If you’re new to the conversation, you might find it helpful to check out Communion & Shalom episode #3, where we talk through the four “sides”: ⁠#3 - A-B-Y-X | 4 Sides on SSA/Gay Sexuality⁠
Timestamps
(1:42) Who is Nate, apart from Revoice?
(10:04) On "mixed orientation marriages”
(23:18) Joining the faith & sexuality conversation over 20 years
(47:40) Fruit of Revoice: Hope in flourishing, community
(49:40) Aaand the Revoice conference promo code
(50:26) Does Side B "mandate celibacy"?
(54:57) Talking "Side X", pursuing change, new creation
(1:01:14) Identity politics for Christians
Links and References
Here are some resources or terms we mentioned in this episode, in case it’s helpful for your understanding and/or Google searching…
Spiritual Friendship blog: spiritualfriendship.org/Nashville Statement: cbmw.org/nashville-statement/GCN=Gay Christian NetworkQCF=Queer Christian FellowshipExodus=Exodus International Ministries
If you like this podcast, please consider…
→ Sharing feedback or questions! communionandshalom@gmail.com
→ Supporting us on Patreon! patreon.com/communionandshalom
→ Following us on Instagram! @communionandshalom
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Credits
Creators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ Espinoza
Audio Engineer: Carl Swenson (www.carlswensonmusic.com)
Podcast Manager: Elena




This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communionshalom.substack.com

How do we build communities of collaboration and care? Are our communities in the West in crisis? What are the “common objects of love” that we share, and how do we—average Christians who care—seek those out and build on them?
We were delighted to talk with Jake Meador on some of these questions, which he touches on in his first book, In Search of the Common Good. Join us as we consider different angles on the practices we engage with that can change the imagination of our time.
Jake Meador (jakemeador.com) is a writer, speaker, and editor from Lincoln, Nebraska. He writes about place, politics, culture, and the ways that Christian faith speaks to all of the various questions that those topics raise. He also wrote a thesis on Kwame Nkrumah, a mid-20th century Ghanaian politician. He’s the author of two books, In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World and What Are Christians For?: Life Together at the End of the World. He serves as the editor-in-chief at Mere Orthodoxy (mereorthodoxy.com), a contributing editor with Plough magazine, and a board member with the Davenant Institute.
Timestamps
(02:23) A crisis of common life(10:21) Example: Declining birth rates as a social problem(19:07) Practical recs: asking for help, offering home(29:04) The historical church on property rights(34:16) Practices for communities: caught, not taught(38:22) Roots we don't choose(44:23) Identity is particular; Christianity is still bigger(47:31) Who's on the land, who's good for the land?(01:03:48) OK but we gotta talk about Kwame Nkrumah. Wild.
Links and References in This Episode
Ya’ll. Jake is a well-read man. We got a long list of books for your perusing pleasure (and easier searching).
* Strangers in a Strange Land: Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput (2017)
* The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation, Rod Dreher (2017)
* Resurrecting the Idea of Christian Society, R. R. Reno (2016)
* The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America, George Packer (2014)
* Out of the Ashes: Rebuilding American Culture, Anthony Esolen (2017)
* Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, Robert Putnam (2000)
* Nancy Pearcey (author)
* Kirkpatrick Sale (author)
* Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West, Andrew Wilson (2023)
* Wendell Berry (author)—I don’t even know what to tell you, he’s written a lot.
* Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution, Carl Trueman (2020)
* Why Marx Was Right, Terry Eagleton (2018)
* An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (2015)
* Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer (2015
* Pope Francis on a “throwaway” society (article link)
* John Paul II on a “culture of death” (Evangelium Vitae (1995))
* The Cold War and the Color Line: American Race Relations in the Global Arena, Thomas Borstelmann (2003)
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And here are some additional resources or terms mentioned in this episode, not a resource, exactly, but it might make this conversation searchable/accessible to global listeners:L’Abri is a “Christian residential study center ministry”Several theologians, church fathers, and theorists talked about property rights: John Calvin, St. Basil of Caesarea in Cappadocia, John Locke, and Emil Brunner on “the inner infinity of God’s law”.
If you like this podcast, please consider…
→ Sharing feedback or questions! www.podpage.com/communion-shalom/contact→ Supporting us on Patreon! patreon.com/communionandshalom→ Following us on Instagram! @communionandshalom
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CreditsCreators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ EspinozaAudio Engineer: Carl Swenson (www.carlswensonmusic.com)Podcast Manager: Elena



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or

Let’s talk about common pantry, ya’ll. Today we’re taking on the nitty gritty details of sharing food with people, usually those you live with. Why on earth does this even need to be talked about?
Well, those of you in a “traditional” couple-with-children household probably already share food (often whether or not you want to). But any of you living alone or with other single roommates may find sharing food with others appalling, unappealing, or just plain impossible.
Friend of the podcast Hannah Hiler is here to tell you differently! David talks with Hannah about why she advocates for sharing a common pantry with others—why it follows God’s call for sacrificial community, how it creates generous hospitality, and some details that can make it work or fail.
Hannah is a graphic designer who is passionate about community and hospitality. She currently lives in a community house in South Minneapolis.
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This is part of an ongoing series on The Commons. For more, check out a couple other episodes:
Our first episode on Imagining the Commons, with Brendan Johnson (#30): https://open.substack.com/pub/communionshalom/p/30-imagining-the-commons-with-brendan-7ee
A Workshop with David and Elena on Building Households and Communities Together (#39): https://open.substack.com/pub/communionshalom/p/39-building-households-and-communities-c53
Joseph Pearce on Transformative Economics (#38): https://communionshalom.substack.com/p/38-economics-for-local-community-e78
Timestamps
(00:37) Introducing Hannah
(03:28) Christian community=Living with others
(8:14) “Common Pantry: Everything in the fridge is yours
(25:18) Free beans and rice for everyone?
(31:53) When you SHOULDN'T do Common Pantry
(40:56) Single human seeking independence
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If you like this podcast, please consider…
→ Sharing feedback or questions! www.podpage.com/communion-shalom/contact
→ Supporting us on Patreon! patreon.com/communionandshalom
→ Following us on Instagram! @communionandshalom
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Credits
Creators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ Espinoza
Audio Engineer: Carl Swenson (www.carlswensonmusic.com)
Podcast Manager: Elena


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communionshalom.substack.com

David’s friend Josh had a pretty radical experience of “healing”…

Supernatural healing is always a complex topic, and with sexual attraction this continues to prove true. Does orientation change? Should we pray for it to change? Josh used to experience same-sex sexual attraction, and through some unusual events, he is also increasingly attracted to women. We offer his story as a provoking thought piece as we try to make sense of how God may work in each of our lives.

Note: This episode briefly includes content suitable for adult audiences; listener discretion is advised.

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Timestamps

(1:22) "An overwhelmingly positive church upbringing”

(10:33) God makes a ... joke

(18:42) Experiencing (bi?) attraction after healing

(29:13) I don't prescribe theology, but don't write off healing

(43:41) Has progressive theology ever been persuasive to you?

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Links and References

Something They Will Not Forget by Joshua Gibbs

“A History of Romance in the West—Part 2 with Kathryn Mogk Wagner” - episode #19, published 12/8/2022

Note: This episode uses the terms “Side A” and “Side B” (and X, Y) as shorthand quite a bit. If you’re new to the conversation, you might find it helpful to check out Communion & Shalom episode #3, where we talk through the four “sides”: ⁠#3 - A-B-Y-X | 4 Sides on SSA/Gay Sexuality⁠

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If you like this podcast, please consider…

→ Sharing feedback or questions! www.podpage.com/communion-shalom/contact

→ Supporting us on Patreon! patreon.com/communionandshalom

→ Following us on Instagram! @communionandshalom

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Credits

Creators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ Espinoza

Audio Engineer: Carl Swenson (www.carlswensonmusic.com)

Voice Actor (Josh overdub): Carl Swenson

Podcast Manager: Elena


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communionshalom.substack.com

Schelli Cronk, Becky Hestness, and Kim Klayum work together at Transform MN, equipping Christian leaders across Minnesota to engage complex issues from a biblical perspective. They are also good friends who have personally and professionally been challenged over time to grow their love and care for LGBTQ friends and family. We are inspired by their deep convictions and equally deep support for LGBTQ folks. We got to hear a bit of their stories and how God’s been working through them in their communities.

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Timestamps

(01:17) Introducing Transform MN

(06:36) Personally/professionally, how do you arrive at this conversation?

(26:29) Being good allies, good friends

(37:29) Sharing truth, grace, and applying it equitably

(44:27) Encouragement and caution: be in relationship with people

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Links and References

Transform MN: https://transformmn.org/

Grace/Truth videos from the Center for Faith, Gender, and Sexuality (Preston Sprinkle): https://ondemand.centerforfaith.com/courses/grace-truth

Revoice conference: https://www.revoice.org/

Laurie Krieg: https://lauriekrieg.com/

TJ’s episode on covenant brotherhood: https://www.podpage.com/communion-shalom/on-covenant-brotherhood-with-special-reference-to-tjs-covenant/

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This episode uses the terms “Side A” and “Side B” (and X, Y) as shorthand quite a bit. If you’re new to the conversation, you might find it helpful to check out Communion & Shalom episode #3, where we talk through the four “sides”: ⁠#3 - A-B-Y-X | 4 Sides on SSA/Gay Sexuality⁠

__________

If you like this podcast, please consider…

→Sharing feedback or questions! www.podpage.com/communion-shalom/contact

→Supporting us on Patreon! patreon.com/communionandshalom

→Following us on Instagram! @communionandshalom

—

Credits

Creators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ Espinoza

Audio Engineer: Carl Swenson (www.carlswensonmusic.com)

Podcast Manager: Elena


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communionshalom.substack.com

David Frank (you know him) and Elena (podcast manager) gave a workshop talk at Revoice 2023. It was pretty great, and also, predictably, hit-or-miss with sound quality. Enjoy!

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Links and References

The Life We’re Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World by Andy Crouch (publisher’s link)

Our workshop presentation: [Link to Google presentation]

Our worksheet and resources handout: [Link to Google doc]

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If you like this podcast, please consider…

→Sharing feedback or questions! www.podpage.com/communion-shalom/contact

→Supporting us on Patreon! patreon.com/communionandshalom

→Following us on Instagram! @communionandshalom

—

Credits

Creators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ Espinoza

Audio Engineer: Carl Swenson (www.carlswensonmusic.com)

Podcast Manager: Elena


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communionshalom.substack.com