In this conversation, Nic Flores and Bill White explore the complexities of faith, identity, and community in the context of LGBTQ+ issues and religious conservatism. They discuss the importance of creating safe spaces for dialogue, and the impact of personal journeys on faith perspectives. The conversation highlights the need for empathy, understanding, and inclusivity within religious communities, especially for those who have experienced trauma or exclusion. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the complexities of theological interpretations, particularly regarding LGBTQ issues within the church. They explore the historical context of scripture, the diversity of theological perspectives, and the importance of humility and curiosity in bridging divides. The discussion also touches on the challenges of navigating church dynamics, personal growth, and the need for safe spaces in faith communities.

—

Follow on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

—

Keywords

christian podcast, faith, LGBTQ+, religious trauma, community, inclusivity, personal journey, church, identity, dialogue, LGBTQ, church, theology, inclusion, community, understanding, diversity, faith, politics, trans issues

In this episode of Collision, host Nic Flores returns to discuss his journey and the decision to continue the podcast. He welcomes Flamy Grant, a drag queen and activist, who shares their experiences in the music industry, their reflections on the recent election, and the importance of activism through art. The conversation delves into the challenges of online engagement, the significance of local community involvement, and Flamy's song 'Revenge,' which addresses personal trauma and healing. They also explore cultural trends and Flamy's support for the Trans Youth Emergency Project, highlighting the need for advocacy and support for marginalized communities.

—

Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen from western North Carolina. Her 2022 debut record, Bible Belt Baby, reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Christian Chart (the first drag performer to achieve this feat), was nominated for Best Pop Album at the San Diego Music Awards, and was named one of the Top Ten Queer Country Albums of 2023 by Rainbow Rodeo Magazine. Her single “Good Day” also debuted at #20 on the Billboard Christian digital sales chart, while her recently released sophomore album “CHURCH” has already reached #8 on the iTunes Country Chart. Flamy is a winner of the 2023 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Competition and a 2023 QueerX Award nominee for Best Drag Artist and has been featured in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, People, and more. Her music has over 1.2 million streams on digital platforms. A powerhouse vocalist and intrepid songwriter who blends country, folk, gospel, and roots music, Flamy delivers a theatrical, therapeutic, and wholly original storytelling experience, all shared through the evocative art of drag.

—

Follow on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

—

Keywords: Christianity, Drag, Drag Performer, Drag Artist, Drag Music, Christian Drag Artist, Flamy Grant, Deconstruction, Activism, Trans Lives Matter, Trans Lives, Drag queen, music, LGBTQ+, community, mental health, Christian Rap, Christian Musician

Melody Winderweedle shares her journey from growing up in a conservative charismatic church to becoming the lead pastor of Ecclesia Christian Fellowship. She discusses her experiences with witnessing exorcisms as a child and the anxiety it caused her. Melody talks about her desire to lead and pastor people, which was sparked by seeing a female leader in college. She shares the challenges she faced as a woman in ministry, including pushback from congregants and an elder board. Melody also discusses the church split that occurred when she and her husband became affirming and the importance of fostering inclusive and curious conversations in the church. Melody Winderweedle discusses the importance of creating a community that values everyone's presence and giftings, and how her church has flattened the hierarchical structure to achieve this. She emphasizes the need to be curious, foster conversations, and bring healing to one another. Melody also shares her experience of crossing unspoken boundaries as a woman pastor and the importance of self-awareness. She talks about her journey of deconstruction and how she has fallen back in love with the Bible, offering alternative ways of thinking about scripture and the Christian faith. Melody encourages listeners to embrace their authenticity and know that they are enough. Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠⁠ Keywords: Christianity, conservative charismatic, exorcisms, anxiety, leadership, women in ministry, church split, affirming, inclusive, curious conversations, community, presence, giftings, hierarchical structure, curiosity, conversations, healing, boundaries, woman pastor, deconstruction, Bible, alternative ways of thinking, authenticity

Matt Nash, founder of Kardia Community, shares his journey of addressing pastoral burnout and building resilience. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing family, rest, and Sabbath in ministry. Matt also discusses his transition to a different church community and the healing process after experiencing burnout. He highlights the need for reimagining and evolving the church, focusing on what's right with the church rather than critiquing what's wrong. Matt encourages intentional practices and rhythms that foster soul care and spiritual formation. In this conversation, Matt Nash discusses the importance of slowing down, being curious, and asking questions. He emphasizes the value of listening to people's stories, their pain, and their experiences of God. Matt also highlights the need for leaders to take breaks and retreats to prevent burnout. He shares practices such as breath prayers, focusing on scripture, and embracing unconditional love. Matt encourages individuals to hold things loosely, prioritize relationships over achievements, and cultivate a healthy soul's relationship to ministry.

Find Matt Nash:

https://kardiacommunity.org/

Substack:

aslanonthemove.Substack.com

Instagram:

@matthewnash1

@kardiacommunity Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Keywords:

pastoral burnout, resilience, family, rest, Sabbath, church community, healing, reimagining the church, intentional practices, soul care, spiritual formation, slowing down, curiosity, listening, pain, burnout, retreats, spiritual direction, breath prayers, scripture, unconditional love, relationships, achievements, healthy soul, ministry

Bridget Black shares her journey of faith and spiritual development, from growing up in a non-religious household to finding her place in the church. She discusses her experiences with altar calls and the lack of follow-up, as well as her conversion to Christianity in her mid-20s. Bridget also talks about her exploration of theology and her shift in beliefs, including her affirmation of the queer community. She shares her passion for spiritual formation and soul care, and her desire to sit alongside people and help them on their spiritual journeys. Bridget also touches on the concept of church and the importance of belonging. Bridget shares her journey of reimagining church and creating her own practice of church through her Instagram account. She reflects on the elements of church that she finds important, such as gathering with others and learning to be with humanity. Bridget also discusses the lack of diversity in church communities and the importance of experiencing different cultures and perspectives. She emphasizes the need for the church to have conversations about its history and to be open to different interpretations of scripture. Bridget's hope for the church is that it continues to evolve and reimagine itself, embracing diversity and being faithful to the movement of the Spirit.

About Bridget Black:

Bridget Black is a Certified Spiritual Director and Theologian at Soul Kin Community, where she helps people heal and grow in their personal and spiritual lives, by exploring their inner world and story while learning to notice the presence and movement of God in and around them.

Find Bridget Black:

Website- SoulKinCommunity.com

Instagram- @thebridgetblack

Email: Bridget@soulkincommunity.com Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠

Keywords:

faith, spiritual development, church, altar calls, conversion, theology, beliefs, affirmation, queer community, spiritual formation, soul care, belonging, reimagining church, gathering with others, diversity, church history, different interpretations of scripture, evolving church, movement of the Spirit

Jennifer Knapp shares her early church experiences and how they shaped her perspective on faith and spirituality. She discusses the discomfort she felt in church as a child, the different church environments she encountered, and the importance of hospitality and tolerance in religious spaces. Knapp also talks about her journey as a musician and how it has allowed her to experience various flavors of faith. She emphasizes the need for open-mindedness and respect for different traditions and beliefs. In this conversation, Jennifer Knapp discusses her experience of returning to religious spaces after coming out as LGBTQ+. She talks about setting boundaries and being honest about her doubts and ambivalence towards organized religion. She emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and being true to oneself, even if it means not fitting into societal expectations. Jennifer also reflects on revisiting her album 'Kansas' and the freedom she felt in recording it without the pressure to conform to a certain image. She encourages embracing and honoring one's past self and the growth that comes with it.

Find Jennifer Knapp:

https://jenniferknapp.com/ Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

Keywords:

church experiences, discomfort, hospitality, tolerance, faith, spirituality, LGBTQ affirmation, denominations, flavors of faith, Jennifer Knapp, LGBTQ+, religious spaces, boundaries, self-acceptance, authenticity, revisiting albums, growth

Jared Stacy shares his personal journey of growing up in a fundamentalist Christian background, becoming a pastor, and eventually undergoing a period of deconstruction. He discusses the influence of conspiracy theories and Christian nationalism within his community, as well as the pressure to conform to certain expectations within the church. Jared emphasizes the importance of questioning and wrestling with one's faith, and the need to confront the troubled history of white American Christianity. He also highlights the significance of relationships and community in the process of reevaluating and redefining one's faith. The conversation explores the themes of moral questions, hypocrisy, scandal, and the failure of the church to respond to issues such as sexual abuse and racism. It highlights the importance of personal encounters and human connection in the process of deconstruction and reconstruction of faith. The guest shares his journey of rediscovering a more authentic understanding of God and theology, grounded in community and a commitment to embodying the way of Jesus. The conversation also touches on the hope for the future of the church, emphasizing the need for ecumenism and dialogue with diverse communities. Find Jared Stacy: https://jaredstacy.com/ Follow Collision Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠ Keywords: faith, Christianity, deconstruction, fundamentalism, conspiracy theories, Christian nationalism, pressure, expectations, questioning, wrestling, troubled history, relationships, community, moral questions, hypocrisy, scandal, church failure, sexual abuse, racism, deconstruction, reconstruction, faith, God, theology, community, Jesus, hope, ecumenism, dialogue

Tim Whitaker, the creator of the New Evangelicals, shares his journey of deconstructing his faith and finding a new way forward. He discusses the breakdowns and challenges he experienced within evangelicalism, including issues of sexuality, predestination, and the alignment of the church with political ideologies. Despite these challenges, Tim remains committed to his Christian faith and sees Christianity as a much broader and diverse tradition than evangelical fundamentalism. He emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty and being comfortable with the unknown, as well as the need for community and collaboration in the deconstruction process. The conversation explores the challenges of being an influencer in the deconstruction space and the importance of critical thinking and personal agency. Tim emphasizes the need for individuals to do their own research, think critically, and make their own decisions rather than blindly following influencers. He discusses the decision to become a nonprofit organization to ensure accountability and transparency. Tim also reflects on the tension between his rebellious nature and the desire to communicate his message effectively. He encourages those who are deconstructing to keep going and not be afraid to reject the answers they were given by their faith tradition.

Find Tim Whitaker:

https://www.thenewevangelicals.com/

Follow Collision Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠

Keywords:

deconstruction, evangelicalism, faith, challenges, sexuality, predestination, political ideologies, uncertainty, community, collaboration, influencer, deconstruction, critical thinking, personal agency, research, nonprofit, accountability, transparency, rebellion, faith tradition