Serene Jones on Grace, Grit, and God: How Faith Can Heal a Fractured Democracy

In this episode, host Corey Nathan speaks with Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President of Union Theological Seminary. As the first woman to lead the historic 180-year-old institution, Dr. Jones brings deep insight to the intersection of theology, justice, and public life. Together, they explore how Christian faith can guide us through trauma, division, and democracy’s challenges, while sharing stories of growing up in faith and creating space for conversations across political and religious divides.

What We Discuss:

• How Serene Jones’ upbringing shaped her theological lens

• What theology has to do with democracy and justice

• Why questions are a sign of faith, not doubt

• The importance of building bridges, even when no one’s building from the other side

• How seminaries are evolving to meet the needs of a changing world

Episode Highlights:

• [00:03:00] A unique faith upbringing in the Disciples of Christ tradition

• [00:07:00] Church as a place of learning about democracy, justice, and real life

• [00:13:00] The message of Micah 4 and how it resonates with global conflict today

• [00:27:00] The role of theology in shaping public ethics and spiritual resilience

• [00:39:00] Navigating campus dialogue during protests and unrest

• [00:44:00] Three calls for progressive communities in red states

• [00:51:00] Addressing collective and generational trauma through faith

• [00:53:00] Asking: What would Jesus do—really?

Featured Quotes:

“Faith that’s not equipped to deal with the big questions of life is not a faith worth its weight.” “If we are not building bridges, there’s no one there to catch people when they fall.” “Theology is not just an abstraction. It’s an action. It’s a way of living in the world.” “The crisis in our nation is a massive spiritual crisis—for all of us.”

Resources Mentioned: Union Theological Seminary – utsnyc.edu Call It Grace by Serene Jones – www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2146640/serene-jones/

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