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What happens when the Bible is used to justify power, certainty, and exclusion? And what might it look like to read scripture in a way that draws us toward grace, humility, and a deeper love of our neighbours? In this episode of Rector’s Cupboard, we’re joined by the Reverend Dr. Henry Walter Spaulding III—who kindly gives us permission to call him Hank—to discuss his book Between Two Gileads: Christian Nationalism, Fundamentalism, Romans 13:1–7, and the Future of Political Theology. Drawing on the contrasting visions of Gilead imagined by Margaret Atwood and Marilynne Robinson, Hank explores how Christian faith can be used to justify authoritarianism and exclusion, or open us to the grace and humanity of others. He invites us to read difficult biblical texts with care, resisting the temptation to assume that any single interpretation has the final word on what God is saying. What happens when we approach scripture with humility rather than certainty, especially when faith and political power intersect? The conversation also offers a hopeful alternative. Drawing on Robinson, Jacques Ellul, and other thinkers, Hank describes the paradox of non-power: choosing not to dominate, even when we can. What if faithfulness has less to do with winning or gaining influence, and more to do with trusting God’s work and practising the slow, relational work of presence, humility, and love? We hope you enjoy the conversation.

What happens when the stories we’ve inherited about the church no longer fit with what we know about its history, or with our own experiences of faith? And what might it mean to move forward when going back is no longer possible—or even desirable? In this episode of Rector’s Cupboard, we’re joined by author and researcher Angela Reitsma Bick, co-author of Blessed Are the Undone: Testimonies of the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada, for a conversation about the changing landscape of Christianity in Canada and the questions that are leading people to reconsider their relationship with the church. Drawing on interviews with Canadians across generations and denominations, Angela explores the experiences that have led people to question their faith, from abuse of power and the legacy of residential schools to questions about theology, sexuality, and the influence of American Christianity. These stories invite us to look beyond what has gone wrong and consider what a church willing to listen, learn, and make amends might become. Angela reflects on the importance of honesty, humility, compassion, and repentance—not as abstract ideals, but as the beginnings of a different way of being together. What if acknowledging harm didn’t have to mean giving up on faith? What if asking difficult questions could be an expression of faithfulness, rather than a threat to it? Perhaps the question isn’t how we get back to the church we remember, but how we move toward something more honest, humble, and hopeful. Angela will be joining us in Vancouver for our November conference, What on Earth Is Happening with Christianity? We hope you enjoy the conversation. References: Information and registration details about Angela’s upcoming course with ICS (Institute for Christian Studies) can be found here. If you’d like to check out the Righteous Gemstones scene referenced in this episode you can take a look here.

What if some of the most significant changes happening in Christianity are happening in places we aren’t paying much attention to? What happens when movements that many Christians might think of as fringe are actually becoming increasingly influential in the places where religion, culture, and political power intersect? In this episode of Rector’s Cupboard, we’re joined by André Gagné, professor and chair of the Department of Theological Studies at Concordia University in Montreal, to talk about neo-charismatic Pentecostalism and its growing influence around the world. What exactly is happening within these movements? How did they become so widespread, and what happens when ideas about spiritual authority, spiritual warfare, and the supernatural begin to intersect with the pursuit of power? Drawing on his own experience within the movement as well as years of research, André helps us understand the diversity of Pentecostal and neo-charismatic Christianity, the ways it has shaped contemporary Christian life, and some of the theological currents that have emerged within it. We also talk about what can happen when those currents become connected to political power—and why understanding that connection matters, even when the people involved may have very different intentions, experiences, and understandings of what they are part of. Perhaps the challenge is not simply to ask what is happening, but to learn how to see it more clearly: to take the ideas seriously without reducing the people who hold them to those ideas, and to notice the ways theology can shape the world around us in ways we might not expect. This conversation is part of our exploration of What on Earth Is Happening with Christianity?—and André will be joining us in person for our November conference in Vancouver. More information and registration for our upcoming conference available here. We hope you enjoy the conversation. References: “The Demon Next Door”, The Atlantic, July 7, 2026  Andrés Substack, which contains writings and podcast episodes - Spirit, State, and Society

What does it mean to repair something that has been broken? Where do we begin when the harm is larger than any one of us? And what if reconciliation is less about finding the right answer and more about learning how to be in right relationship? In this opening episode of Season 8, we welcome Jodi Spargur to Rector’s Cupboard to talk about her book, Mend: An Invitation from Jesus to Return to Land-Based Repair. This conversation was recorded earlier this summer as part of a live outdoor gathering. Jodi invites us into a conversation about relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, the legacy of colonization, and the difficult but necessary work of repair. What does it mean to move beyond guilt, defensiveness, or the desire to simply “fix” something? How might we learn to listen, receive, and participate in the long work of mending? We also talk about faith, land, community, and the ways hopeful theology might help us approach difficult conversations—not by pretending that the harm isn't real, but by believing that repair and new relationships are possible. It's a thoughtful and hopeful conversation about learning to stay present, take responsibility, and ask what it might mean to move toward one another. We hope you enjoy the conversation.   References We referred to a lot of things this episode. Here are the links relevant to our conversation with Jodi: Bear Barnetson, Mend cover artist, check out Bear’s work on Instagram (@sus_cho_art) Red Clover The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada   You can find out more information and register for our 2026 Fall Conference here. If you'd like to listen to past episodes with all of our conference presenters you can find them here: André Gagné “Charismatic Christianity and American Politics with Dr. André Gagné” – September 12, 2025 Angela Reitsma Bick “Blessed are the Undone with Angela Reitsma Bick” – June 27, 2025 Ken Best “I Get to Be Alive with Ken Best” – June 19, 2026 David Goa Episodes (there are lots) “Revival and Reflection, a Conversation with David Goa” – January 9, 2026 “Hope Instead of Fundamentalism with David Goa” 3 Part Series, June 2025 “The Church In-Between Times: A Conversation with David Goa” – April 26, 2024 “A Visit with David Goa” – February 16, 2024 “Inquisition and Hopeful Theology; A Conversation about Ivan Illich with David Goa” – June 10, 2022 “The Church In-Between Times: A Conversation with David Goa” 7 Part Series – January 2022 “Sunny Boy with David Goa” December 4, 2020 “Most People are Better than their Theology with David Goa” – January 30, 2020 Susan Alexander “Poetry, Loss, and Hope with Susan Alexander” – February 26, 2021

The final episode of Season 7 of Rector's Cupboard. Do you remember Stephen Colbert's This Week in God segment from the early days of The Daily Show? Inspired by that idea, the hosts gather to reflect on a handful of recent stories from the world of religion. What on earth is happening with Christianity right now? And perhaps more importantly, what kind of faith are these stories inviting us toward? Our conversation explores some of the central convictions of hopeful Christian theology that have shaped Rector's Cupboard from the beginning: that truth does not need fear to defend it, that humility is more faithful than certainty, and that if the "Good News" is truly good, it should be good for everyone—not only for those who consider themselves believers. Enjoy the conversation.   References from this Episode This Week in God Compilation  Stephen Colbert and Ricky Gervais Interview Stephen Colbert and Dua Lipa Interview  “Pope Leo Faces the First Crisis of His Pontificate” New York Times, June 20, 2026 “Southern Baptists vote to advance a formal ban on churches with women pastors” AP News, June 10, 2026 “Where Testosterone and the Bible Are the ‘New Punk Rock'” New York Times, June 26, 2026   Tasting Notes Hello-Bello Recipe, gratitude to Harry at Pub Saint Pierre in Montreal for this wonderful cocktail. Shot of espresso and Campari (shaken no ice) Pour into glass Then add fresh OJ, about juice of half an orange Ice and prosecco, just to top it Orange peel as garnish

What happens when we look back at the faith communities that shaped us and ask, Where are those people now? Have they remained where they started, or have their experiences led them somewhere unexpected? And what can we learn when we listen to the stories of those whose journeys have unfolded differently than our own? In this episode, we welcome Ken Best, therapist and longtime friend of Todd. They reflect on the formative church culture they shared and the ways their lives have diverged and intersected over the years. The conversation invites listeners to consider how other people's experiences can help us reinterpret our own past—and perhaps move toward a more hopeful future. This conversation also marks the beginning of our new Community Mental Health Talks series with Ken. What would it look like to create spaces where people feel seen, understood, and free to be themselves? Join us on June 22 for the first talk in the series, Queerly Beloved, an evening exploring how we can better understand and support the queer people in our lives. More information about this event here.

In this episode of Rector’s Cupboard, Allison, Amanda, and Ken sit down for a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about MAID — Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada. Drawing on Ken’s work as a Spiritual Health Practitioner at Lions Gate Hospital, we explore what MAID actually is, how the process works, and why it remains such a difficult and emotional topic for many people, especially within faith communities. Along the way, we talk about suffering, grief, agency, palliative care, and what it means to accompany people through death with compassion and dignity. Ken shares stories from his work with patients and families navigating end-of-life decisions, reflecting on the sacredness, tension, and beauty that can exist even in the hardest moments. This isn’t a debate episode or an attempt to land on easy answers. Instead, it’s an honest conversation about mortality, care, faith, and how we show up for one another when life becomes fragile. References: If you’d like to do some more reading on MAID in Canada, Ken suggests the following resources. This is Assisted Dying, Dr. Stefanie Green (2022) A memoir by a Canadian physician at the forefront of MAID, exploring her experiences and the decisions behind the practice. The Last Doctor: Lessons in Living from the Front Lines of Medical Assistance in Dying, Dr. Jean Marmoreo and Johanna Schneller (2023) Follows one of Canada’s first MAID practitioners, providing stories of patients and families. Unravelling MAID in Canada, Edited by Ramona Coelho and Trudo Lummens (2025) A collection of perspectives from experts exploring the expansion and ethical, legal, and social implications of the practice. The Many Faces of MAID: What to Expect When Someone You Know Chooses Medical Assistance in Dying, Cynthia Clark and Carol Cram (2023) A resource for families, friends, and caregivers dealing with the emotions surrounding a loved one’s decision. Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) Activity Book, KidsGrief.ca, a specialized guide designed to help children understand and navigate the experience of having a loved one choose MAID. Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, Government of Canada (November 2025) The annual report on MAID that outlines MAID requests, assessments, and provisions across Canada in 2024.

In this episode, we’re sharing a live recording from one of our Tasting Room Theology gatherings—informal, in-person evenings where we pair something tasty (in this case, doughnuts from Lucky’s Doughnuts) with thoughtful theological reflection. We welcome you into a conversation exploring a short history of evangelicalism—where it came from, what shaped it, and why it continues to matter today. As we trace its early roots, defining ideas, and cultural influence, we reflect on how themes like conversion, biblical interpretation, activism, and separation have shaped both personal faith and the wider world. Along the way, we share some of our own experiences within evangelical spaces—what formed us, what challenged us, and what continues to stay with us. Ultimately, we’re asking what kind of faith is being carried forward, and what it might look like to move toward something more hopeful, grounded in beauty, goodness, and truth. Note: This episode references a visual presentation used during the live event. You can find this presentation here if you’d like to follow along. Materials Referenced in this episode: There are a lot of video and audio clips you can find in the presentation below but here are some of the other things Todd mentioned if you want to do some extra credit work. Goodbye, Babylon – CD Set Minds Wide Shut: How the New Fundamentalisms Divide Us, Gary Saul Morson and Morton Schaprio, 2021 American Apocalypse: A History of Modern Evangelicalism, Matthew Avery Sutton, 2014 Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, Kristin Kobes Du Mez, 2020 We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland, Fintan O’Toole, 2023 Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free, Linda Kay Klein, 2018

Faith always has a public facet. It is lived out in the public sphere, in our day-to-day lives, our families and friendships, in those we encounter as we walk down the street, as we think about how the most vulnerable amongst us are treated and valued in society. We see this in the current interactions between religious and political leaders, as we touch on in our introductory conversation, and in how subjects like addiction are talked about, particularly in understandings of faith. We are please to welcome Dr. Quentin Genuis, emergency physician at St. Paul’s Hospital, ethicist, and author of Recovering People: Addiction, Personhood, and the Life of the Church. Bringing together his hospital work and theological degree, Quentin shares stories and insights shaped by close encounters with people living with addiction. Together, we explore how common frameworks, seeing addiction as either a matter of choice or purely a disease, fall short. Instead, Quintin offers a “personal model,” one that takes seriously the full humanity of each person. Addiction, in this view, is often a search for good things: belonging, peace, joy, and healing—but sought in ways that ultimately do not lead to life. What might it mean to move beyond labels and diagnoses, to see the whole person in front of us?   References “Trump vs. The Pope,” The Daily, April 16, 2026 “Trump’s Christlike image is filled with sloppy symbolism,” The Washington Post, April 13, 2026

Good Friday again. Jesus gives his life for the life of the world. The hosts of Rector’s Cupboard sit down to talk about Good Friday in the world today. What does Jesus’ sacrifice mean in the midst of all of this? So much spinning around, so many examples of a quest for power, even within religious circles. Meanwhile Jesus … Meanwhile Jesus gives his life for the life of the world. Relinquishing power. May we have eyes to see, may we know with our hearts that which is beyond knowledge. Blessings to you on Good Friday 2026.   Resources referenced in this episode: The Afternoon of Christianity, Tomáš Halík,  “The Gospel according to St Viktor,” David Aaronovitch, March 26, 2026 (while there is a paywall, you should be able to read one post for free) “Church attendance report pulled after YouGov finds ‘fraudulent’ responses,” BBC, March 26, 2026  “Roman Catholic Churches See a Surge of New Converts,” New York Times, March 26, 2026 “Pete Hegseth is changing the way the Pentagon handles faith. Some in the military are finding it ‘terrifying,’ report says,” The Independent, March 30, 2026  “White House ‘gamifying’ war on Iran marks a ‘moral crisis,’ warns US cardinal,” Catholic Review, March 10, 2026

When you think back on your religious past, are there memories that make you cringe or worse? Perhaps you recall speaking in ways that you now find upsetting or even abhorrent. Maybe it’s a youth group skit that you remember with embarrassment. For many people, there are more troubling aspects of their religious past. Looking back, we might realize that we were part of a high-control religious system that fostered, and sometimes hid, abuse. Coming to terms with the past may mean walking away from faith altogether. It may also mean a kind of growth in faith: still believing, but believing very differently than before. Barrett Sprowson now lives in Vancouver, but he grew up in Zimbabwe. In 2024, the Archbishop of Canterbury resigned over an abuse scandal in the Church of England. Barrett was a teenager at a camp in Zimbabwe where the abuser, John Smyth, assaulted multiple victims. Smyth had abused minors years earlier in England, but the case was covered up. For Barrett, the camp in Zimbabwe was part of his Christian discipleship and formation. He now sees Christian faith differently than he did then. It is not only about coming to terms with proximity to an abuser, but also about grappling with how certain ways of understanding faith and the world can be shaped more by control and rigidity than by growth in compassion and love for all people. Referenced in this episode: See No Evil, two-part documentary released on Channel 4 in the UK, December 2025

In this episode, the phrase “theology matters” is not a slogan but a warning. The ways we imagine God shape the ways we live in the world, how we see the world around, how we see the people around us. At the moment, political leaders are explaining a real military conflict in theological language. One side denounces religious fanaticism while, at the same time, voices within its own ranks speak about war as part of God’s plan for Armageddon. It raises an unsettling question: what kind of theology leads people to speak about violence this way? In this conversation we explore a different theological path. Our guest is Dr. Marty Folsom, whose writing makes the work of Karl Barth more accessible to modern readers. Through Barth’s theology, Folsom points toward what might be called theological healing. Instead of beginning with fear, separation, and the need to draw hard lines between insiders and outsiders, Barth begins with something else; the hospitality of God. Creation, in this vision, is not the act of a distant ruler but the act of a host who makes space for relationship. Humanity exists not primarily as isolated individuals but as people created for connection, with God and with one another. Even freedom, in this account, is not freedom from others but freedom for relationship, responsibility, and love. It is a very different starting point than the kinds of theological ideas that so often dominate the public arena. When theology becomes distorted, the consequences can be enormous. But good theology—clear, thoughtful, grounded in the character of God—can also heal. And perhaps, in a world where bombs still fall and religious language is used to justify violence, that kind of theological healing is needed more than ever.   Prior Conversations with Marty Folsom: Vol 2 in Marty’s Church Dogmatics for Everyone – The Doctrine of God Vol 1 in Marty’s Church Dogmatics for Everyone Marty also has a new book out on the Psalms, The Psalms: A Sanctuary for the Soul   References: “Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to Press” March 3, 2026 “US troops were told war on Iran was ’all part of God’s divine plan’, watchdog alleges”, The Guardian, March 3, 2026 Brian Zahnd, on war before Christ returns, March 3, 2026

If you grew up in the evangelical church you may know that there are particular ways of interpreting history in evangelical culture. That is, like any sub-culture, evangelicals tend to tell one another particular stories about the past. In most of those stories, Christians are cast as the good guys. If you want to grow in faith, in knowledge, it is advisable to consider history with a clear lens. While no lens can be perfectly clear, we can seek to be aware of our own biases. When you learn that your own history is not as blameless as you may have been told there are some key possibilities in how to react. You can double-down, denying that your particular community or religion or denomination has anything to admit. You can console yourself by claiming that those who were part of the groups with which you identify were the best of a bad lot. You can also be honest about how some terrible things have been perpetrated in the name of your faith and even by people who were held up as heroes in history. I was always taught that Christian revival was to be celebrated pretty much without question. In fact, in evangelical circles, revival was something to be longed for. It was a kind of “if only that could happen for us today”. Our guest for this episode is a philosopher and an historian. Matthew Stewart’s An Emancipation of the Mind looks at the history of the abolition of slavery in the United States. In doing so, Stewart shows that the place of the church was almost entirely a place of support of slavery and loud argument for its continued presence. In some of the most striking sections of the book, Stewart demonstrates how Christian revival in American history was almost entirely enmeshed with the assumption that slavery was blessed by God. That is, in many cases, as people converted to Christianity, they became even more supportive of the slave trade or even more violent “masters”. This matters today because there are declarations of revival happening now. Some Christians assume these revivals must be entirely good - a sign of God’s blessing. It is clear, however, that an honest look shows that there are cases in which revival, though lauded as spiritual and religious, is as much or more about politics and power. We speak with Matthew Stewart about his book and about how the lessons of the past can help us to see our current world more clearly.   Resources referenced in this episode: An Emancipation of the Mind: the War over Slavery, and the Refounding of America, Matthew Stewart, 2024 The 9.9 Percent: the New Aristocracy That is Entrenching Inequality and Warping Our Culture, Matthew Stewart, 2021 "The 9.9 Percent is the New American Aristocracy", Matthew Stewart, The Atlantic, June 2018  Night of the Confessor: Christian Faith in an Age of Uncertainty, Tomáš Halík, 2012 “The Cities Church protest and Bonhoeffer’s ‘promising godlessness’”, Mac Loftin, Christian Century Magazine, January 28,2026

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. John Martens, Director of the Centre for Christian Engagement at St. Mark’s College at UBC, for a reflective conversation about faith, public life, and hope in a fractured world. Drawing on his Mennonite roots, his journey into the Catholic tradition, and years of teaching and scholarship, John reflects on how theology is shaped through lived experience, relationships, and place. Together, we explore what Christian engagement might look like in a secular, pluralistic city like Vancouver, where many feel distant from institutional religion yet remain open to questions of meaning and belonging. The conversation also names the tensions facing contemporary Christianity, particularly the pull of nationalism and political power, while pointing toward practices of listening, humility, and presence as faithful ways forward. At its heart, this episode asks a simple but demanding question: what does it mean to live faithfully now?   Resources referenced in this episode: Books and Articles The Uses of Idolatry, William Cavanaugh, 2024 Ivan Illich: An Intellectual Journey, David Cayley, 2021 Night of the Confessor: Christian Faith in an Age of Uncertainty, Tomáš Halík, 2012 The Afternoon of Christianity: The Courage to Change, Tomáš Halík, 2012 “Court rules against anti-trans Christian teacher who demanded right to misgender students” Friendly Atheist, February 4, 2026 TV Shows The Pitt Riot Women Father Brown

In this episode, we welcome back journalist and author Katherine Stewart, whose work has become a trusted guide for us as we continue to think about the intersection of politics, religion, and public life. Over the years, we’ve often found ourselves returning to her writing and asking, “What would Katherine say about this?” especially as stories emerge around Christian nationalism and the erosion of democratic norms. As the pace of the news accelerates, Katherine helps us slow down and look beneath the headlines. She reflects on how economic inequality, disinformation, and anti-democratic movements reinforce one another, and on the ways certain forms of religion are being distorted to justify exclusion, hierarchy, and control. Together, we explore how language around religious freedom and moral certainty can mask deeper concentrations of power. Katherine reminds us that hope exists and of our responsibility in this moment. She speaks to the importance of attention, organization, and moral clarity, particularly within faith communities; naming the growing presence of religious leaders and institutions who are resisting these distortions and reclaiming faith as a force for dignity, equality, and the common good. As always, her voice invites us not only to understand what is happening, but to consider how we might respond with courage, honesty, and care. Resources referenced in this episode: “They’re doing to America what they did to Christianity”, The Guardian, November 23,2025 Jesus and the Disinherited, Howard Thurman (1945) Djesus Uncrossed, SNL, 2013