Just Conversations with Kelly Brown Douglas Episcopal Divinity School

Welcome to the first episode of Episcopal Divinity School’s new podcast mini-series: Leading Voices: EDS at General Convention. In today’s episode, EDS Interim President the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas is joined by Bishop-elect Austin Rios from the Diocese of California. Together, they explore what it means to be a part of a changing church, the role of faith institutions in broader society, and the necessity of theological formation. The Rt. Rev. Austin Keith Rios was ordained and consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of California on May 4, 2024. He will serve in the coadjutor role until the retirement of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Marc Handley Andrus on July 24, 2024, at which point Bishop Rios will assume the role of Ninth Bishop of California, becoming the diocese’s chief pastor. Learn more about Bishop-elect Rios here. 
This episode is a part of EDS’ podcast mini-series: Leading Voices: EDS at General Convention. This podcast will feature Interim President Douglas in conversation with a range of bishops as they address the pressing challenges facing the church today and the role of theological education and formation in equipping faith leaders to face these challenges. To learn more about the Episcopal Divinity School, please visit our website at eds.edu.

In this Just Conversation with Dean Kelly Brown Douglas speaks with Ashon Crawley, artist and author of “Blackpentecostal Breath”. They discuss the implications of recent attacks on African-American Studies courses in schools, and the recent passing of Dr. John Bracey. They talk about the role of the Black Church in addressing a variety of issues from COVID to support for the LGBTQ community.  They end by thinking about how Black writers and artists can inspire the next generation.

Join Dean Kelly Brown Douglas for a Just Conversation with Starsky Wilson, President & CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund and Savannah Wood, Executive Director of AFRO Charities. Wilson and Wood are also members of EDS at Union’s Expanding the Moral Imaginary Through Film cohort.
In this conversation, they will discuss the attacks on critical race theory and the implications of bans on Black history and the story of race from schools. They will discuss the historical and contemporary role of the Black press and the Black church in supplementing education for young people in Black communities. Additionally, the conversation will reflect on representation today in film and popular culture and its impact on shaping racial perceptions and attitudes.

For today's Just Conversation, Kelly Brown Douglas speaks with Rev. Dr. William Barber II, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. They discuss the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 8, and the key racial and economic issues uniting poor and impacted communities across the country.

For our final General Convention Podcast, Dean Kelly Brown Douglas spoke with The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, Bishop of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. Bishop Rowe, who also serves as parliamentarian for the House of Bishops, reflects on The General Convention, and they discuss the ways that the Episcopal Church must respond to the threat of white nationalism in our nation.
In our second interview, Dean Douglas speaks with Tim Regan from St. Paul's Place and Groundwork Kitchen. Paul's Place is a social enterprise working to strengthen individuals and families in Southwest and Groundwork Kitchen is their restaurant which has a free 12-week culinary arts program designed to train community members for careers in food service. 
If you would like to make a gift to Groundwork Kitchen, please click here.

Earlier this week, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church passed Resolution A127 which calls on the Episcopal Church to create a fact-finding commission and complete an investigation of the church’s ownership and operation of Episcopal-run Indigenous boarding schools. Today Dean Kelly Brown Douglas speaks with Bishop Carol Gallagher who spoke in the House of Bishops about the importance of this resolution.
For our second interview, Dean Douglas spoke with D Watkins, Editor at Large at Salon and a New York Times best-selling author. They discuss growing up in Baltimore and some of the generational hardships that young people face growing up in urban areas.