In Good Faith

Greg Jones has a great story of faith but he is also working to help young people develop their faith stories. It’s a conversation about vocation, Spirit, the goodness of God, Soul, music, and a little bit of sports. Dr. Greg Jones is the president of Belmont University in Nashville, TN, an ecumenical Christian university. He is also the host of the podcast The Hope People. He currently serves on the boards of the John Templeton Foundation, the McDonald Agape Foundation and the India Collective. Dr. Jones is married to the Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones.

Sabeeha Rehman, an author, podcaster, blogger, playwright, and speaker on the American Muslim experience, is best known for her award-winning book Threading My Prayer Rug: One Woman’s Journey From Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim. She is an op-ed contributor to the Wall Street Journal. She also co-founded the National Autism Association New York Metro chapter, serving as its President from 2008-2011.

James Patrick Thomas, author of Atomic Pilgrim, describes his journey walking thousands of miles for peace and nuclear disarmament. Driven by a profound faith and inspired by a pivotal moment with Mother Teresa, Thomas describes the intersections of faith, suffering, and activism in his life. James Patrick Thomas serves on Pax Christi USA’s Disarmament Working Group and facilitates the Pax Christi chapter at St. Joseph Parish in Seattle. He began advocating for nuclear disarmament in the 1980s, as a member of the Bethlehem Peace Pilgrimage. He spent the next quarter century investigating radioactive pollution from the production and testing of nuclear weapons, mostly focused on the Hanford Site in south-central Washington State.

Diana Butler Bass discusses her new book, which delves into the significance of the Christian liturgical year and its impact on personal faith. She shares the importance of community, conviviality, and the ritual of the table in Christianity. Diana Butler Bass, PhD, is an author, speaker, preacher, and commentator on religion and contemporary spirituality. She holds a doctorate in religious studies from Duke University and is the author of eleven books, most recently A Beautiful Year, based on the Christian Lectionary cycle.

Vineetha Mahayaye shares his experience as a 10-year-old monk in a monastery, choosing a solitary vocation as a young person, and presently counseling university students. The Venerable Vineetha Mahayaye is a Buddhist Chaplain at Tufts University, where he leads meditation programs for students and staff. He holds a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. He is originally from Sri Lanka.

Thomas Long talks about his new book, Proclaiming the Parables, and how these stories from Jesus challenge our perceptions and reveal the unpredictable generosity of the divine. Dr. Thomas Long is professor emeritus at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. His introductory textbook, The Witness of Preaching, is widely used in theological schools around the world. He serves as an editor-at-large at The Christian Century. A Presbyterian minister, Long has served churches in Georgia and New Jersey.

Adam Jortner explains how the American Revolution increased opportunities for Jews, allowing them to achieve citizenship and serve in the military. He also addresses the misconception that America was founded as a Christian nation. Adam Jortner is Professor of Religion in the Department of History at Auburn University. He specializes in the history of religion in the American Revolution and the early nation, with particular emphasis on religious liberty, patriotism and piety, theology, and new religious traditions. He is the author most recently of A Promised Land: Jewish Patriots, the American Revolution, and the Birth of Religious Freedom.

Patricia Matthews, an Episcopal priest in Little Rock, Arkansas, discusses her journey from Southern Baptist roots through a decade-long exploration of various religious traditions to her current role as the director of the Interfaith Center. Matthews highlights the importance of interfaith dialogue and shares personal stories of building interfaith relationships, combating fear, and the impact of a dedicated physical space for interfaith activities. The Rev. Patricia Matthews is Executive Director of The Interfaith Center and Assistant Rector at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church. Under her leadership, the Center moved into its first standalone home and expanded citywide partnerships. She also speaks frequently on faith-in-action and religious freedom, including panels at BYU Law’s Religious Freedom Annual Review and Hendrix College.

David Toole shares lessons he's learned from the example of Maggy Barankitse, a woman driven to care for orphans of the Burundi and Rwanda genocides through her organization Maison Shalom. Today, Maggy lives in exile in Rwanda after narrowly escaping an assassination attempt in 2015. Maison Shalom was declared an illegal organization in Burundi and she was sentenced to life in prison by the Supreme Court of Burundi, convicted in absentia. She has re-established Maison Shalom in Rwanda. Maggy has received multiple humanitarian awards, including the Opus Prize, the UNESCO Prize, and the Aurora Prize. David Toole holds a joint appointment as associate professor in the Duke Global Health Institute and Duke Divinity School. He is author of Love Made Me an Inventor, about Maggy, and founder of Love’s Inventions, a non-profit dedicated to spreading Maggy’s message to the world and supporting her ongoing work in Africa.

J.S. Park, chaplain at Tampa General Hospital, shares his unique role in offering spiritual and emotional support to patients and families during their most traumatic moments, including insights about the nature of grief and the intersection of mental health and faith. J.S. Park is the author of As Long As You Need: Permission to Grieve, part hospital chaplain experience and part memoir. He is also the author The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise (2020).

Rachel Whipple joins the In Good Faith team for a discussion of Pema Chödrön's When Things Fall Apart--a classic in Buddhist literature for the last 20 years. They explore themes such as dealing with fear, facing discomfort, embracing impermanence, and practicing non-attachment. Pema Chödrön is a Buddhist nun, meditation teacher, and author. In 1981 she became the first American in the Vajrayana tradition to become a fully ordained nun. She has published over 20 books. Rachel Whipple is an attorney and Provo City Councilor, and a former Research Fellow at the International Center for Law and Religion Studies. She is also a member of the Provo Awakening Valley Sangha Board of Directors.

Helen Boursier discusses her experiences as a volunteer chaplain at an immigrant family detention center in Texas. She reflects on the profound faith and resilience of the asylum-seeking families she met, highlighting their spiritual strength and the love they embody, despite their hardships. The Rev. Dr. Helen Boursier, Ph.D., was known as “Pastora Helena” for two years inside an immigrant family detention center (2015 and 2016) where she used art as a pastoral care ministry with more than 5000 women and children seeking asylum. She continues to volunteer with, and advocate for, refugees seeking asylum. Dr. Boursier teaches religious and theological studies at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. ****** Also, we’d love to talk to you! Take this short survey and, if you’re chosen, we’d love to sit down for a 30-minute Zoom call to ask you about your experience with In Good Faith. https://byu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dj29lRRCkCKmhZc

Reverend John Song shares his background growing up in an immigrant Korean church, his career transition from band teacher to pastor, and his involvement with the One America Movement. Rev. John Song is the Senior Pastor at City of Hope Presbyterian Church in Columbia, MD. He is on the Board of Directors of the One America Movement, which partners with faith communities across religious, political, and racial divides to confront toxic polarization in our society. He received his Master of Divinity at Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington D.C,, and was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America. ****** Also, we’d love to talk to you! Take this short survey and, if you’re chosen, we’d love to sit down for a 30-minute Zoom call to ask you about your experience with In Good Faith. https://byu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dj29lRRCkCKmhZc

Brad Pomerance, Executive Vice President and On-Air Host at Jewish Life Television (JLTV), shares his passion for Jewish genealogy, the mission of JLTV, and the challenges and importance of representing diverse Jewish stories. JLTV is North America’s largest and most robust 24/7 English language, Jewish-themed television network. As On-Air Host, Brad Pomerance is helming JLTV’s newest television series, the celebrity-driven, genealogy-themed television series Generations. Previously, Brad was honored with three Los Angeles-area Emmy nominations for his work at Local Edition and Channel 35. ****** Also, we’d love to talk to you! Take this short survey and, if you’re chosen, we’d love to sit down for a 30-minute Zoom call to ask you about your experience with In Good Faith. https://byu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dj29lRRCkCKmhZc

Imam Amir Durić, chaplain at Syracuse University, shares his experiences growing up during the Bosnian War, his path towards becoming an Imam, and his work in fostering interfaith dialogue. Amir Durić is the Assistant Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life at Syracuse, overseeing the Muslim Chaplaincy at Syracuse University/SUNY ESF and educational programs supporting Muslim students, faculty, and staff. Durić previously served as the Imam, Khatib, and Mu'allim for three years in Sarajevo, and seven years in the Delaware Valley-Philadelphia region. In September 2024, his work earned national recognition as Interfaith Innovation Fellow by Interfaith America, selected from over 200 applicants. ****** Also, we’d love to talk to you! Take this short survey and, if you’re chosen, we’d love to sit down for a 30-minute Zoom call to ask you about your experience with In Good Faith. https://byu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dj29lRRCkCKmhZc

Carla Fortmann shares how the Lexington Interfaith Garden began, how it contributes to the community, and what lessons we learn from gardening. Carla Fortmann is the leader of the Lexington Interfaith Garden, a community project beside the historic Lexington Battle Green that has supplied fresh produce to the local food pantry for 15 seasons. Carla is also a registered nurse, the manager of the museum shop at the Buckman Tavern, and the former owner of The Crafty Yankee, a gift shop in Lexington, MA.

Reverend Frederick Davie shares how mentors pointed him in the direction of education and service, and how faith and social change have always been connected in his life and community. Rev. Frederick Davie is Senior Executive Vice President for Public Theology and Civic Engagement at Union Theological Seminary. He is also the Co-Chair of the Interfaith Center of New York and the Co-Chair of the Advisory Board for the Center of Earth Ethics, and a member of the Bureau of the NGO Committee for Freedom of Religion or Belief. Mr. Davie serves on the Board of Trustees of Greensboro College, his alma mater. He has served for decades as a member of the Advisory Board of the Interfaith Assembly for Homelessness and Housing. Mr. Davie is a founder and past Chair of Faith 2020/Faith Forward. A Presbyterian minister in the Presbytery of New York City, Mr. Davie has served the national Presbyterian Church, the NYC presbytery, and local congregations in various volunteer capacities.

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Daisy Khan, and Chris Hayes join Steve to discuss how the story of Hagar, Sara, and Abraham infuse the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian traditons and thought. Named "rabbi to watch" by Newsweek, Danya Ruttenberg is the author of 8 books about the intersection of Jewish theology, parenting, feminism, and other topics. She was previously a guest on IGF in Episode 122: “Making Amends in an Unapologetic World.” Daisy Khan is the author of 30 Rights of Muslim Women: A Trusted Guide (2024). She is also the founder of Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE), a global network of Muslim women committed to peacebuilding, gender equality, and human dignity. Daisy was on the show in Episode 138 when she spoke about her memoir Born with Wings (2018) and her experience with the hajj. She spoke about her book “30 Rights…” on Episode 263. Chris Hays teaches at Fuller Seminary and directs the master’s program in Ancient Near Eastern Studies in the School of Mission and Theology. He served as the US State Department Educational and Cultural Affairs Annual Professor at the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem for 2022–23. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Cherie Harder of the Trinity Forum shares the need for hospitality and civil discourse in times of political division, as well as how to ground oneself in faith in order to navigate political challenges while maintaining belief. Plus, Ms. Harder shares her recent experience on the Camino de Santiago. Cherie Harder is President of the Trinity Forum, a DC-based think tank, whose mission is to work “for the renewal of society by cultivating, curating and disseminating the best in Christian thinking for the common good, and by helping leaders to think, work, and live wisely and well.” Previously, she has worked in politics including as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Policy and Projects for First Lady Laura Bush and Senior Counselor to the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). She is also a Senior Fellow at Cardus, an Editorial Board member of Comment magazine, a current board member of the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution and Faith and Law, and an advisory board member of the National Museum of American Religion.

Pastor Amy Butler joins Steve to discuss her struggle with faith, coping with loss, and experiences as a female pastor in a male-dominated tradition--and how community and ritual brought her healing and peace. Pastor Amy Butler is the Designated Pastor at the Community Church of Honolulu in Hawai’i. Previously, she served for five years as Senior Minister and first woman at the helm of The Riverside Church in the City of New York. She’s also served as pastor in churches in Washington, D.C., and New Orleans. She recently founded Invested Faith, which helps individuals and religious institutions use their assets to fund the work of faith-rooted social entrepreneurs building businesses that are changing unjust systems. Pastor Amy grew up in Hawaii, the daughter of a leader in the Hawaiian community. She is the author of a memoir, Beautiful and Terrible Things, and more recently, Holy Disruption.