The Loft LA - Progressive Theology in Podcast Form

What is White Christian Nationalism and why might it be the biggest threat to Christianity and democracy in America today?

In this first of a four part series on White Christian Nationalism, Julia, Westley, and Rev. Dr. Carter begin to disentangle what White Christian Nationalism is, what it isn’t, and how the deep stories of the founding of America are mythologized ...

As Advent begins, we start by acknowledging the weariness, grief, rage, and hopelessness we carry. We remember the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth and their struggle with infertility. Perhaps they feel the weight of hopes and dreams unattained. Even when the angel comes to Zechariah with a promise of good news he can’t fully receive it. Sometimes weariness can harden us and prevent us from living fully. How might acknowledging our...

In this episode, Julia, Westley, and Rev. Dr. Carter continue their discussion on Christian faith and economic practice. Do you believe that it is possible within American society for poverty to be practically eliminated? This question that frames much of their conversation. They end with a discussion on how progressive Christianity should push us to form identities that take sabbath practice seriously and how this practice deepens...

In order to heal, we must first be able to imagine that an alternative to the economic structures we have created is possible. Scripture calls us to reimagine a world where our social and economic systems are not built to disparage or impoverish, but instead to provide for and benefit all. The Jewish practice of the Jubilee year invites us to imagine leaving the edge of the harvest for the poor and immigrant to reap...

In this episode, Julia, Westley, and Rev. Dr. Carter discuss the intersections of Christian belief and economic practice. They examine the uncomfortable truism that to create an equitable economy some people will have to be willing to have less money! Why this is so difficult for people to accept (spoiler - people love money!). Lastly, they end their conversation exploring how we can grow to see mon...

In this episode we discuss the importance and challenges of teaching progressive theology to young people. To help us have this important conversation, Rev. Dr. Carter was joined by the newest member of the staff at The Loft, Everest Harvey. Everest is the Director of Youth and Social Justice Ministries at Westwood UMC. In their conversation they discuss what progressive theology is, why young people need a space where they can exp...

We begin our series by exploring some of our spoken and unspoken economic mythologies. Whether it is the myth of the “self-made man” or the belief that wealth will “trickle down” to the poor, these myths obscure the truth about how wealth is created and distributed in America. We cannot heal from the pain caused by poverty and exploitation if we do not know where the hurt comes from. In the story of the widow’s mite...

In this episode, Julia, Westley, and Rev. Dr. Carter continue their conversation on patriarchy and the church. We begin by discussing how the concept of “patriarchy” can feel overwhelming and how crafting a precise definition can help us understand what we are fighting against. We discuss how and why progressive spaces can still be sexist and how that sexism is often rooted in gender stereotypes. If...

From the time a child is born, their homes become places of learning. While at their best, our homes may be schools of love, compassion, justice, and grace, it would be naive of us to believe that our children’s first encounter with patriarchal thinking is outside of their homes. And yet, the life of Jesus and those within his community reveal to us a vision of home that consistently invites us to break free from th...

One of the earliest Christian baptismal covenants states that “there is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The church has repeatedly compromised our covenant with God to treat each other as one. How does patriarchal thinking prevent us from structuring our community in ways that encourage the flourishing of all people? Join us this Sunday as we...

Our personal identities, thoughts, and social assumptions influence how we read everything, including how we read the Bible. Men have been the primary interpreters of the bible, history shows us that men have, and continue to, read the bible in ways that reinforce (or at least doesn’t challenge) the everydayness of sexism and gender discrimination. We invite you to join us this Sunday as we explore how to break free...

In this episode Julia, Westley, and Rev. Dr. Carter explore the ways patriarchal thinking influences the world around us and, more often than not, our inner monologue. We begin the episode by connecting the violence happening in Palestine and Israel to the violent nature of patriarchal thinking. We discuss where we see patriarchy in our own lives and some subtle and overt types of patriarchal thinking that impact the Church. We end...

How have you come to know what you “know?” What sources of knowledge have shaped your understanding of American culture, Christianity, or your own self-understanding? Patriarchal thinking has been foundational to much of what we have come to believe is “normal.” Join us this Sunday as we use the theological writings of Latin American Eco-Feminist theologian Ivonne Gebara to help us understand the depths of Christian...

In this 1-year anniversary episode, Julia, Westley, and Rev. Dr. Carter discuss one of the four values that shape the theology of The Loft - Compassion. We begin by listening to the less-than-dulcet tones of Dr. Carter singing Anniversty by Tony, Toni, Toné and quickly transition into a discussion on what we mean by compassion and how compassion is often conflated with sentiment. We end by examining...

Compassion was fundamental to Jesus’ ministry and the primary lens through which he engaged his community. At The Loft, we strive to follow Jesus’ spiritual path of radical compassion and view compassion as one of our guiding values. We invite you to join us this Sunday as we explore why compassion is fundamental to our spiritual practices and essential for both inspiring and guiding our actions.

Que...

At The Loft, we have a conversational approach to “doing” church and our hope is that this approach helps build and deepen relationships throughout our worshiping community. But what exactly do we mean when we say we are a conversational community? In Matthew 18, Jesus tells his disciples that “where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.” Indeed, relationships are at the core of Jesus’ spiritual path of radical...

At The Loft, there are four fundamental values that we draw from the teachings of Jesus that inform how we practice Christianity: Compassion, Decolonization, Belonging, and Conversation. We have spent the summer exploring belonging and in our current series, The Loft 101, we will explore how the remaining three values inform who we are and who we aim to be as a faith community.

This Sunday’s gatherin...

We invite you to join us for our annual Homecoming Gospel Concert at The Loft. Homecoming is an opportunity to celebrate our community, reconnect to our spiritual roots, and cultivate a culture of belonging. This will be a musically driven worship service led by Dedrick Bonner and the Singers of Soul. Rev. Dr. Carter will conclude our summer sermon series on Belonging by exploring how belonging is a central part of our calling as p...