Rector’s Cupboard Podcast

Have you heard a good sermon lately?   83% of people surveyed who attended a Christian church service said that the top reason for choosing and remaining in a church is the sermon.   In this episode we talk with Rev. Dr. Will Willimon about sermons and listening to sermons. He is a pastor, bishop in the United Methodist Church and the author of, in his approximation, about 100 books. We have had t...

What sort of conversations should the church be having around mental health? What is it’s role in supporting those in congregations who are experiencing mental health challenges or know someone who is?   Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries , a Vancouver based organization is doing some amazing work in regard to conversations about mental health in the church. We had the honour of welcoming Daniel W...

Our first ever Rector’s Cupboard Arts and Culture (and Entertainment) panel. Amanda, Allison and Todd speak about some television shows, books and movies that you may find interesting, engaging, thoughtful and offensive. In case you didn’t take notes during the episode here is a list of the shows, movies, and books we talked about. TV Shows: Righteous Gemstones Shameless Derry Girls Only Murders I...

The question “What is a woman?” has upset people on the left and on the right.   We speak with our guest, Brenda-Lee Sasaki , about her writing on Christian faith and motherhood. How are expectations and gender roles perceived in evangelicalism? Our conversation with Brenda-Lee focuses largely on her recently published essay, “ I Am More Than a Mother: Dismantling the Madness of the Motherhood Myt...

Have we become disconnected from creation? What should our relationship and engagement with nature look like?   This week, the Cupboard was honoured to speak with Lauren Aldred, a counsellor at the College of New Caledonia. Lauren teaches workshops on Land-Based Healing and Wellness and shared with us stories and reflections from these courses. Much of what Lauren teaches appears to be common sens...

Is God with us? If so, how?   Is God omnipresent and all-powerful? If you have thought about faith at all, then you have considered the tension present in believing in an all-powerful God, present with you, and the difficult, sometimes terrible realities of life. Dr. Monica Coleman is a writer, theologian, and educator who outlines a particular way of addressing the question of God’s presence. In...

As we move past the halfway point of the third season of Rector’s Cupboard, we take the opportunity to discuss the origins of the podcast. We go through the story of one particular church fight and what that long ago battle has to do with what Rector’s Cupboard is aiming to do.   The church fight which we speak about is legendary. One small manifestation was demonstrated by a group of people oppos...

We speak with Rod Wilson about his just released book, “Thank You, I’m Sorry, Tell Me More: How to Change the World with 3 Sacred Sayings”.   Rod Wilson has worked as a psychologist, served as a pastor in three churches, and held multiple roles in theological education, including President of Regent College in Vancouver from 2000-2015. Rod currently works with Lumara Grief and Bereavement Care Soc...

The Cupboard hosts speak with Heidi Groot, who grew up in a loving, evangelical family. The loving part is all good and continues to have positive impact for personal, mental, and emotional health. The same might not be said for the evangelical part.   Do you carry some terrible and damaging ideas of God and self that were handed to you in evangelical culture? Heidi speaks with us about her experi...

On this first episode of Rector’s Cupboard for 2022, we present a COVID time capsule. Yet again, we feel like we maybe, perhaps, just might be emerging from the pandemic that has defined much of life in most of the world for two years.   As we listen to people reflect upon their lives during a pandemic, we consider what healing from this time might look like.

Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?   Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast ( Sunny Boy , December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology , January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.   What is the church?  Who is the church?...

Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?   Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast ( Sunny Boy , December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology , January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.   What is the church?  Who is the church?...

Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?   Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast ( Sunny Boy , December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology , January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.   What is the church?  Who is the church?...

Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?   Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast ( Sunny Boy , December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology , January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.   What is the church?  Who is the church?...

Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?   Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast ( Sunny Boy , December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology , January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.   What is the church?  Who is the church?...

Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?   Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast ( Sunny Boy , December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology , January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.   What is the church?  Who is the church?...

Is it possible that conversations about the church might be interesting or even fascinating?   Rector’s Cupboard was invited to partner with David Goa, a friend of the podcast ( Sunny Boy , December 2020 and Most People are Better Than Their Theology , January 2020) to speak with others about the state and future of the church as we move from 2021 to 2022.   What is the church?  Who is the church?...

Maybe the real world is just too upsetting right now. Perhaps we need a pretend world in which to live.   Hallmark to the rescue!  Cupboard hosts and friends discuss the continuing takeover of Christmas by the advance of movies in which the imperfect exists only to make way for the somewhat sickeningly perfect. Are carefully crafted false worlds another bleak take on humanity, or are they hopeful?...

The existence of the division and hatred in our world is undeniable. Religion is often enlisted to fuel this division and to fuel dehumanization. Many of us have longed for more beautiful, hopeful ways to envision the world, to relate to those with whom we disagree. This episode of Rector’s Cupboard invites us to consider the words and work of one person who is demonstrating a vision of hope and l...

Do you attend church? Is church something that you used to attend?   Luke Edwards is Associate Director of Church Development for the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Luke has written a book called “Becoming Church: A Trail Guide for Starting Fresh Expressions”. Luke’s work and writing address the reality that church is changing. The default model of a bunch of peo...

Just a note, this episode discusses domestic violence and spiritual abuse. It might be difficult for some listeners. If you’d like more resources on domestic violence check out WhenLoveHurts.ca . There are informative articles and services available if you or someone you know needs help.   The Cupboard welcomes Jessica Leslie to tell her story of growing up within a form of the church that could b...

The Cupboard welcomes back Rev. Dr. Will Willimon. He is a pastor, former Archbishop in the United Methodist Church and the author of, in his approximation, about 100 books. He joins us to speak about his latest book, “God Turned Toward Us: The ABCs of Christian Faith”. It’s a book that covers a wide spectrum of concepts, people and doctrines in Christian faith. Our conversation touches upon a var...

Addressing matters of mental health and wellness often comes in the forms of ideas, tips, diagnosis and treatment plans. While these are all helpful, sometimes most helpful of all is to be reminded that you are not alone, that others have faced similar challenges.   In this episode of Rector’s Cupboard, Markku Kostamo shares his own story of misdiagnosis, struggle, diagnosis and treatment. His wil...

We open up the Reflector Project Garage for a recording before a studio audience. Our guests are directors at the North Shore Stress and Anxiety Clinic .   We talk about the mental health of individuals and mental health in the larger community. What are the positives and negatives of diagnosis? What does it mean that we can be weighed down by a disproportionate response to a circumstance? Much of...

Welcome to Season 3 of Rector’s Cupboard. We’re grateful for those who are listening and we are working to put together some thoughtful and engaging material for the third season. We’re opening this season with an episode looking to provide a place for you to feel some ground beneath your feet in what has been a year and a half of uncertainty and potential change. What change will actually last af...