We are very happy to welcome back returning guest and friend of the podcast, Julian Davis Reid. Julian is a gifted writer, musician, speaker, theologian, and pastor and spoke with us about his new album, Vocation, in particular the song Moan: For Hearts of Flesh. Julian’s work is deep and thought provoking. It often walks a line between joy and pain, mixing the two together, demonstrating how one informs the other. His work articulates musically what can often be so difficult to articulate in other ways. It speaks to a hope that does not deny reality or skirt around pain or difficult topics but rather asks, what does faith look like here and now, in the midst of this.  If you want to check out Julian’s work (which we would highly recommend), you can check out Julian’s website, which has links to his music, both solo and other projects, as well as his music video for Moan: For Hearts of Flesh, which we reference in this conversation.

For the final instalment of our Alberta mini-series we visit Happiness by the Acre a regenerative farm run by Marcus and Sarah Reidner. Rector’s Cupboard met Marcus and Sarah three years ago and things were tough then in the farming world. We hear about what has changed since and about what the future might look like. You might not be a farmer, but you are likely familiar with the count-the-cost type of conversations like that which Marcus has with us. What keeps us going when we feel like doing things the right way or even the good way is so difficult or even impossible? How do we hold faith in these spaces and times of life? Other Episodes in this series: Faith and the Land, Part One: Winter is Coming Faith and the Land, Part Two: Everything Can Be Transformed Our 2022 Alberta series: Leaving the World a Less Shitty Place with Marcus and Sarah Reidner Soil as The Least of These with Rod Olson Yakety Yak, Depth and Breadth of Life with Jerremie Clyde

You have likely noticed that hope is apparently in short supply these days. Talk of politics, rising authoritarianism, and political unrest reveals a present despair felt individually and collectively. Stories of effective hope can change the world. Land of Dreams is changing the world for many people. Hearing the stories of this place might well inspire hope for you. Because someone had hope, there is life in a place that was lacking life. If Rod and the crew at Land of Dreams can picture life and growth and transformation and community in a plot of land surrounded by major highways, then, perhaps, we can picture life and growth and community and transformation in the various desolations that surround and us. At Rector’s Cupboard we are familiar with the question, “What can you say that might give me hope?” Well, there is a lot to say that is hopeful. One of the answers we can give is to invite you to listen to this episode. Enjoy. Land of Dreams is located on Treaty 7 territory in Southeast Calgary. 

Rector’s Cupboard in Alberta, Canada. We set out on a road trip to visit some regenerative farmers we first met three years ago. In this episode, Todd and Allison and Amanda speak about the trip and about a visit to the Pine Haven Hutterite colony. It is the season of harvest, the autumn. Winter is coming. Looking at the skies and reading the news can bring about the feeling that an apocalypse is imminent. However, in the context of obvious challenge, without denying the real difficulties that are present, we found in people who tend the land and provide nourishment for the world, a faith and hope that is enlivening. We saw both the wonder of the earth and the gift of humanity. In this mini-series, we’ll be speaking (again) with Marcus Reidner, a regenerative farmer from Happiness By the Acre and Rod Olson, an urban farmer and director of Land of Dreams. Enjoy the episodes!   From our 2022 Alberta Road trip Leaving the World a Less Shitty Place with Marcus and Sarah Reidner  Soil as The Least of These with Rod Olson  Yakety Yak, Depth and Breadth of Life with Jerremie Clyde (We unfortunately were not able to see Jerremie and his lovely yaks on this trip)   References: Prairie Ranchers Beef, produced by Pine Haven Colony (also available at Two Rivers Meats in North Vancouver)  

Welcome to season 7 of Rector’s Cupboard! Do you sometimes feel like all we do is talk about America? While many Canadians would see Canada as distinct from the States, we are influenced by our neighbours to the south. In Alberta, the provincial government is supporting the banning of books. Some of the political and religious currents in Canada look very similar to those in the United States. In the first episode of our new season, we speak with a Canadian writer and professor who has described the relationship of the neo-charismatic Pentecostal movement and the rise of Donald Trump. André Gagné is Chair of the Department of Theological Studies at Concordia University in Montreal. He is also a host of Spirit, State and Society, a podcast exploring how the global Pentecostal and charismatic movements intersect with politics, culture and society. We speak with Gagné about his 2024 book, American Evangelicals for Trump: Dominion, Spiritual Warfare, and End Times. Gagné’s book is enlightening if somewhat disturbing. His work speaks not only to the American context, it also brings to mind similarities and differences in Canada. If you’d like to find Gagné’s work, such as his podcast and recent articles, you can check out his Concordia faculty page.   Definitions: Expository Preaching – this style of preaching that seeks to detail the meaning and intent of a particular biblical passage.   Articles Discussed: “A shadow war on libraries”, CBC The Fifth Estate, February 7, 2025 “New Alberta school books order bans explicit images of sexual acts”, CBC, September 8,2025 “Man arrested after driving child-size pink Barbie Jeep through Prince George, B.C.”, CBC, September 8, 2025   Tasting Notes: We kicked off the season with two tastings. The first was a lovely 15-Year-Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey from Balblair Distillery, in the North of Scotland. For our second tasting we went a bit more local with Barrel-Aged Family Reserve Gin from Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. This gin is not your typical gin. While we tasted it neat, if you wanted to mix this, Ken suggests trying a blueberry tea cocktail, with hot tea and an orange slice to bring out the citrus and oak notes in the gin.

In our final episode of season 6, we are pleased to speak with Angela Reitsma Bick, editor of Christian Courier and co-author of the newly released book Blessed Are the Undone, which explores faith deconstruction in the Canadian context. Angela joined us while in Vancouver on the national tour for the book, and we talked about why so many people in Canada are stepping away from church—and how we might begin to understand, rather than fix, that reality. Blessed Are the Undone doesn’t rush to offer answers or prescriptions. Instead, it makes space for grief, honesty, and a deeper look at the fractures that often go unnamed in church life. This conversation invites us to consider how listening—really listening—to those who’ve walked away can become a kind of faithfulness in itself. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next season!

This is our third and final instalment of our series with Orthodox theologian and friend of the Cupboard, David Goa. This series has focused on the topic of fundamentalism, how it is expressed within the church, from several sides. If you haven’t listened to the first two episodes in this series, we’d encourage you to go back and take a listen to them before diving into this conversation. In today’s episode, Todd and David speak of the challenge that encountering the living God presents to fundamentalism and how this challenge is hopeful for those professing Christian faith. Discussing the work of William Cavanaugh in his recent book, The Uses of Idolatry, we consider how encountering the living God is fundamentally unmanageable. This unmanageability can be experienced as distressing and fearful for people as it can be at odds with that which we assume is certain, is foundational, that which we may hold sacred. But in this place, we can come to understand the presence of God rather than our presumptions about God. We hope that you have found challenge and encouragement, perhaps, hope in these conversations. Thanks for listening.   If you’d like to explore these ideas more, we invite you to read the books that these conversations have largely centred around. Minds Wide Shut: How the New Fundamentalisms Divide Us, Gary Saul Morson and Morton Shapiro, 2021 Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers of the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter, Gary Saul Mortson, 2023 The Uses of Idolatry, Williams T. Cavanaugh, 2024

This is the second of three conversations we had with friend of the Cupboard, David Goa, on the topic of fundamentalism. If you haven’t listened to part one, we’d encourage you to do so before diving into this conversation. In this conversation, Todd and David consider the question, If not fundamentalism, than what? David observes that our capacity for conversation, particularly with those with whom we have profound disagreement, has shrunk, exacerbating the polarization that many feel. How can we relearn this critical skill? How can we relearn to see the Other as human rather than issue or stance? How can we reach across the divide in love rather than push away in fear? As David says, this is small, slow work, and it is always particular. But it is vitally important work.

You have likely heard, and perhaps said, that we live in a world that is very polarized. Too often, communities of faith have contributed to this polarization rather than offered help or healing to a divided world. David Goa has been, and continues to be, a formational voice for Rector’s Cupboard and for the work of Reflector Project. David has been running Philosopher Cafés in his home province of Alberta, Canada around the topic of “The New Fundamentalisms and How They Divide Us.” He has drawn from the work of Gary Saul Morson and Morton Schapiro in describing how openness to the other person is a more hopeful and faithful way of living than being closed and fundamentalist. Saul Morson refers to a notion that he calls the “congregation of the blessed.” This is the idea that anyone and anything outside of a particular group becomes seen as suspect or even evil, “Where people belonging to one faction (or faith, or denomination) feel that they are not just in a particular party, but are part of the congregation of the blessed, fighting demonic forces.” David and I recently had three conversations about the new fundamentalisms and the possibility of finding a better way forward in faith, belief and worldview. Part one of this series considers how fundamentalism, rigidity and suspicion of others can be unfortunately understood as faithful when it is actually fearful. David Goa is a thoughtful and helpful guide through a consideration of how our faith and worldview might grow up past a kind of spiritually adolescent fundamentalism.

Those in Christian circles have likely spent many a Sunday morning sitting in a pew (or, perhaps, a more comfortable seat) listening to someone preach. While the length of sermon or its place in a service may vary from denomination to denomination, or pastor to pastor, the act of hearing the Word of God preached regularly is part of the Christian tradition. We were please to speak to Mark Glanville about this topic. Mark is a pro at sermons, quite literally. Having spent much of his career preaching sermons as well as teaching classes on the subject, he has decades of broad experience from which he draws. Mark is an author, podcaster, Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership, and jazz pianist. We spoke to Mark about his latest book, Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Communities, which came out this spring. This book is a guide of sorts for those new to sermon writing as well as those who are wanting to find a fresh and new approach to the task. Our conversation touched on the holistic nature of sermon writing as well as how it can be approached in the post-Christian world many communities of faith find themselves in. It is hopeful and beautiful and worth reading, even if you don’t happen to be a pastor yourself. You can check out Mark’s many projects on his website, which has links to his books, podcast, and social media. If you’re in the Vancouver area, we highly encourage you to check out Mark's book launch for Preach in a New Key, coming up May 23, at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church. This unique event includes art, storytelling, and Mark’s jazz trio.

Today is Good Friday.In Christian faith, today and Easter Sunday are two of the most important days of observation. We often, on Rector’s Cupboard, refer to what is happening in the world, the news, politics, culture. In Christian faith, Good Friday is always more than news of the week. It is at the heart of the faith.With that in mind, we offer a Good Friday reflection. The reflection is intended as an invitation to spiritual contemplation. What does it mean that Jesus was alone on Good Friday? What does “Christ Alone” entail? Wherever you are at, in terms of faith and belief, may you know God’s presence and blessing and hope this Easter weekend.

A special episode.Recorded live at the Rector’s Cupboard studio. John Swinton is Professor of Practical Theology at the University of Aberdeen. Before becoming a mental health professional and then a writer (of at least four books) on faith and mental health, John wanted to be a rock star. He brought together his interests in recording an album called Beautiful Songs about Difficult Things. We speak with John in studio, hear him reflect on some of his work and the personal nature of some of the songs. John also performs some of the songs for the assembled gathering. Enjoy! A quick note, the “this book” that Todd references toward the beginning of the episode is John’s 2016 book, Becoming Friend of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship.

It might be that being a full-time pastor is now untenable. It is a job that pulls in so many directions that it becomes virtually impossible. One of the things that can help is accepting that for pastors, spiritual energy often comes from outside of the church in which they work. We speak with Matthew Brough, a Presbyterian pastor in Winnipeg, who is also an author and podcaster. Matthew has written books on spirituality (Let God series) as well as five fantasy/adventure books for kids (Del Ryder series). Oh, and he runs a small publishing business. Matthew speaks to us about the challenges and benefits of a multi-vocational life, giving us a picture of how pastoral life might function in the future. If you’re interested in Matthew’s work, check out his website. You can find links to his writing, podcast, and how to connect with him there. Enjoy!

We are pleased to speak to the Ven. Dr. Rob James (which he said we could shorten to Rob), about his latest publication, 50 New Testament Stories for Storytellers, a new illustrated, beautifully illustrated we might add, children’s Bible. Rob is an Associate Professor and the Director of Anglican Studies and Formation at the Vancouver School of Theology. He also holds six degrees from five universities and has many years of experience as an Anglican perish priest. Rob speaks to us about his approach to telling biblical stories to kids (and adults) through the lens of storytelling, incorporating visuals and participation as he goes. There are important questions to be asked about how we speak to children about faith and how we tell kids the stories of the Bible. Often this telling has been experienced as reductionist or moralizing. Rob does neither of these things. He helps to bridge the gap between biblical scholarship and storytelling in this book and is a resource that we heartily recommend for those wanting to find hopeful, new, and interesting ways to bring the stories of the Bible to children. 50 New Testament Stories for Storytellers is available now. A quick recording note, you may notice that our interview with Rob has a distinct cathedral-like echo. Unfortunately, we did not record our conversation with Rob in a cathedral, although that would have been cool, but we hope it isn’t a distraction as you listen. Enjoy!

In the 20th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells His followers what power is like in the kingdom of God. He says that real greatness is servanthood and that we ought not aim to “lord it over” others. There is a movement in the United States, and in many countries around the world, that apparently utterly rejects Jesus’ way of power. This movement, called Christian nationalism, is a parasite upon Christian faith that is proudly taking up a crusade against anything and anyone deemed as opposition or enemy. Though it uses the language of faith, it is not about faith. It is about the accumulation of power. Donald Trump is held up by Christian nationalists. Vladimir Putin argues that the invasion of Ukraine is an exercise of upholding Christian values against ungodly enemies. We are of the opinion that many well-meaning Christians have fallen into listening to voices of Christian nationalism. Christian nationalism is perhaps the biggest present threat to democracy. Christian nationalism is not Christian. It is a form of idolatry, a worship of power. We are not alone, at Rector’s Cupboard, in feeling that if we want to speak a hopeful faith, a faith that reflects the love of God in Jesus for all the world, then we will speak against Christian nationalism. We are pleased to welcome back to Rector’s Cupboard Katherine Stewart to speak about her new book, Money, Lies, and God. The book has just been released this week. We were privileged to read it before publication and spoke with Katherine early in January. Money, Lies, and God is a frightening book to read as it describes real threats to democracy. There is hope and humour in it as well as Katherine Stewart tells us about her interactions with Christians who hold a hopeful faith and as she narrates visits to many religious and political rallies. Katherine’s previous book, The Power Worshippers was adapted into a documentary by Rob Reiner. It is called God and Country and is available through Apple TV and other platforms. Having interviewed Katherine about two of her books, we are pleased to welcome her for an in-person event in Vancouver on April 28. Details will be available on our website and the Rector’s Cupboard social pages so keep an eye out for registration details coming soon.   Terms Referenced: There are a lot of terms, institutions, and people mentioned in our conversation with Katherine Stewart. You may want to avail yourself of some googling, but we have put together a short glossary to help with listening. Pluralism – The idea that people who are different in belief, life style, etc can coexist in a society peacefully. Sectarian – Usually divisive ideology based on political or religious difference. It is typically expressed in hard line stances and by an unwillingness to work with or tolerate differing opinions Kleptocracy – A form of government structure in which leaders use political power to amass wealth from the general population Theocracy – A form of government structure which is based on or run by a particular religious system/belief Charter Schools/Voucher System – In our conversation with Stewart these are used within an American framework. Charter Schools are alternate schools requiring no tuition that are run, to some degree, under a local school board, but tend to offer different types of programming or structure than a typical public school. The Voucher System allows for funds allocated to public education to be used for alternate educational systems, such as homeschooling, or tuition for private schools (which may be religious or not) The Great Awakening – A series of religious revivals that took place between the early 18th century and 1960’s. These movements have typically been defined by a focus on making religion personal. Historical Jesus – A picture of Jesus that is based on an academic study, considering historical and cultural context, of the person of Jesus rather than a religious interpretation.   Resources Referenced: The

Jonathan Rauch is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow in the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution. His most recent book, out this week, is called Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy. We speak with Jonathan about the book, about why he, as a non-Christian, self-identifying atheist, makes the claim that democracy in the United States is at risk if Christian faith is not sufficiently Christian. Host Todd Wiebe is joined by friend of the show Spencer Capier for the interview. Spencer is a philosophy teacher and is currently the President of the West Vancouver Teachers Association. He is familiar with much of Rauch’s work and writing. A brief glossary of terms: Liberal - As in “Liberal Political Party” distinct from as in “Liberal Democracy”. The term “liberal democracy” refers to a form of governance defined by separation of powers. Here the word “liberal” might be considered in light of the aspect of freedom. Power is spread out. Checks and balances are in place and freedom/agency is emphasized alongside individual rights. “Liberal” as a description of a political party or on the spectrum of “liberal vs. conservative” has a somewhat different meaning. Here it describes a political expression that can be based out of ideas of liberal democracy but can also come to be defined by being progressive or anti-conservative. When “liberal” becomes an ideology, an “ism” it can become as totalizing as any other ideology.Here is an excerpt from the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities: “Liberalism is a version of progressivism: it perceives society as in the process of constant improvement (usually measured by the criterion of equality) and claims to possess the conceptual instruments that make such a change possible. Liberalism believes itself to be both the doer and the supervisor of progress.”  

Our annual hosts only Christmas special. Cupboard Master Ken Bell presents his take on a B5-2, using Nocciola, a hazelnut liqueur from one of our favourite local distilleries, The Woods Spirit Co. We ask one another three questions about Christmas:1. What do you miss about Christmases past?2. What are you glad that is gone?3. What is needed to properly celebrate Christmas? Our hope is to take the pressure off. The world was not ready for the first Christmas. God is good beyond your readiness or preparation.Merry Christmas to you and yours.  

We speak with theologian and philosopher Thomas Jay Oord about his church trial and his book Open and Relational Theology. Thomas, who was a minister for many years in the Church of the Nazarene, faced a trial for being inclusive on matters of LGBTQ+ and church participation and blessing. Thomas outlines a theological view that is about love more than it is about traditional concepts of power. This means that he calls for better understanding of what it means that God is all powerful or all knowing. The story of Thomas’ trial and excommunication can sound almost medieval, but it reminds us that the struggle over proper belief is very much alive today. Individuals and churches are being excommunicated or disaffiliated. Some people are choosing themselves to part company with a church or denomination based on rigid belief or what they see as damaging theology. Thomas is a regular contributor to podcasts such as Tripp Fuller’s Homebrewed Christianity and continues to write and to direct the Center for Open and Relational Theology.   Articles and Episodes Referenced: “Six Heretics Who Should Be Banned From Evangelicalism” – Relevant Magazine, September 13, 2022  “Church Fights: King vs. Liquorish” – Rector’s Cupboard, Season 3    Tasting Notes: On today’s episode we sampled the Iron Buddha Gin and the Black Tusk Smoked Vodka from Squamish’s Raincity Distillery. 

We speak with friend of the show Ross Lockhart about his recent book (and PhD work) called West Coast Mission: The Changing Nature of Christianity in Vancouver. The book takes an in-depth look at 12 churches and two faith-based organizations in the Vancouver area. It takes up themes that are familiar to almost everyone who has been part of a church in the last couple of decades. We talk about differences in approach to the “outside world” and how things have changed in regards to how churches relate to society as a whole. There is both consolation and challenge in our conversation. What might real theological change look like as compared with change of style or strategy? Ross is the Dean of St. Andrew’s Hall, the Presbyterian Church in Canada college at the University of British Columbia. Ross is also the Professor of Mission Studies at Vancouver School of Theology, where he teaches courses in practical theology. Ross holds a PhD from Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam and is the author of Lessons from Laodicea: Missional Leadership in a Culture of Affluence; Beyond Snakes and Shamrocks: St. Patrick’s Missional Leadership Lessons for Today; co-author of Better Than Brunch: Missional Churches in Cascadia as well as Christianity: An Asian Religion in Vancouver and editor of Christian Witness in Cascadian Soil. Ross’ latest project is West Coast Mission: the Changing Nature of Christianity in Vancouver published this fall by McGill-Queen’s University Press. Ross lives with his family on Bowen Island, B.C. Ross’s newest book is available now.

Mental health and matters of spiritual and mental wellness are often topics we address on Rector’s Cupboard and so we were very grateful to speak to Elise Girardin, Executive Director of The Woods Arts & Wellness, a North Vancouver based therapy practice addressing the well being of mind-body-spirit through engagement with nature and the arts. Elise practices what she calls embodied therapy, helping people find healing and flourishing through connection and creativity. This kind of therapy is beneficial for those who have experienced trauma, those who feel disconnected, those who do not feel like they are flourishing. We highly recommend checking out The Woods and their programs. They offer a variety of therapies, some available virtually, and have sliding-scale pricing for accessibility. If you’d like some extra credit, Elise recommends the following books on embodied therapy practices and research: The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der KolkYour Brain on Art, Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross