simon doong

‘Nobody gets through an endeavor like this without focusing on what God is calling a congregation to do for the sake of their neighbors’

The Rev. Mark Elsdon, an author and co-founder of Rooted Good, which has partnered with the PC(USA) on its Good Futures Accelerator Course, joined Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall, the PC(USA)’s Deputy Executive for Vision and Innovation, for a recent edition of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” hosted by Dr. Andrew Peterson and Simon Doong. Listen to their 52-minute conversation on reimagining church property here.

‘Community isn’t necessarily where we need to agree. It’s where we need to belong’

After growing up in an interfaith home — her father is Jewish and her mother is Presbyterian — it seems like a natural fit that the Rev. Samantha Gonzalez-Block, a PC(USA) pastor and the Christian spiritual leader with Interfaith Families Project of Greater Washington, would serve alongside Rabbi Debbie Reichmann in a place where, as IFFP’s website states, “both Jewish and Christian partners can feel like equal members of the community, celebrate and learn about both faiths. At IFFP, we ‘teach not preach.’”

Peacemaking work is both needed and nuanced

Dr. Andrew Peterson, who came to his work with the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program after several years in the academy, now finds himself in rarified company: the guest on this week’s “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” will also rotate in from time to time to host the podcast alongside longtime hosts Simon Doong and the Rev. Lee Catoe.

Learning about and from the people who led the Jan. 6 Capitol riot

Dr. Matthew D. Taylor, a senior scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore and the author of “The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That is Threatening Our Democracy,” was the guest last week on “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast,” the weekly broadcast hosted by the Rev. Lee Catoe and Simon Doong. Listen to their 50-minute conversation here.

Lifting up singleness and found family

MaryB. Safrit, a communicator, creator, coach and the host of the Found Family podcast, did the hosts of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” a favor in a broadcast aired earlier this month, appearing as the guests of Simon Doong and the Rev. Lee Catoe on an episode of “A Matter of Faith” called “Knowing Ourselves (and Singleness).” Listen to their 67-minute conversation here.

Owning up to our own responsibility for the growth in Christian nationalism

During a recent installment of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast,” hosts Simon Doong and the Rev. Lee Catoe asked pastor and author the Rev. Dr. Brian Kaylor to talk about how mainline Protestants have helped build Christian nationalism. Listen to their hour-long conversation here.

The limits of forgiveness

Kaya Oakes’ upcoming book “Not So Sorry: Abusers, False Apologies, and the Limits of Forgiveness, ” which will be published by Broadleaf Books on July 30, made her the logical choice to appear last week on “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” to talk about forgiveness in faith communities.