Justice, Mission, And Peace Episodes

We’re bringing this episode of Climate Brewing back just in time for the 2026 Community of Christ Peace Forum as a reminder that it’s never too late. In this inspiring episode, host Susan Oxley sits down with Justice Manning, an 89-year-old retired environmental engineer from Daphne, Alabama. Once a committed climate change denier, Justice shares his remarkable journey—shaped by a career in environmental work, shifts in scientific data, lived experience with extreme weather, and the influence of...

As we prepare for the 2026 Peace Forum, we are again digging back into the Project Zion Podcast archives to bring you this episode in which Karin Peter sits down with Rick Sarre to explore how Community of Christ’s understanding and practice of justice has evolved—and how justice is inseparable from peace, empowerment, and discipleship. Rick reflects on how the tradition continues to grow through dialogue, grassroots participation, and self-critique. The conversation also considers how climate c...

What happens when science and faith look at the same universe? In this episode of Climate Brewing, Susan Oxley sits down with retired NASA scientist and Community of Christ minister Steve Dunagan to explore the remarkable intersection of earth science, climate change, faith, and a lifelong curiosity about creation. Steve shares how his NASA career led him from aeronautical research into Earth science and climate research—and why understanding creation can also be a way of understanding the Creat...

What if the first step toward climate justice isn’t solving the crisis—but learning to cherish creation? With the 2026 Peace Forum focused on the environment just around the corner, we thought it would be a good time to pull this episode of Climate Brewing from the Project Zion Podcast vault. Here, Katie and Zac Harmon-McLaughlin explore climate change as a deeply spiritual issue, inviting us to recognize our belonging within the interconnected web of God’s creation. From choosing the recycling ...

Great things can happen when a congregation stops asking, “How have we always done this?” and starts asking, “What does our community need now?” In this episode of What’s Brewing, Blake Smith talks with Brooke and Thomas Schlenker of Highland Park, WA Congregation about their sacred (and un-conditional) yes to congregational leadership and to new ideas ... embracing experimentation, and becoming comfortable with the discomfort of change. Highland Park offers a compelling glimpse of what can happ...

What if the most powerful way to change hearts and minds is simply to invite someone into your family? In this moving episode of Grounds for Peace, Palestinian American filmmaker Monear Shaer shares the deeply personal story behind his documentary Gaza Is Our Home, offering an intimate window into his family, the beauty of life in Gaza, and the devastating realities they have endured. Joined by hosts, Linda Stanbridge and Blake Smith, Monear explores the power of storytelling to restore humanity...

Even as air quality warnings have been issues as a result of raging fires in the Western USA, we once again find ourselves in the midst of camping season, So, while campgrounds are on our minds, why not think creatively about how to sustain those resources while contributing to environmental justice? As you’ll hear in this episode in the Climate Brewing Series that originally aired in July of 2024, there are several things we can do. Join host Susan Oxley, as she sits down with fellow Climate Ju...

The wait is over! In this episode of Grounds for Peace, host Blake Smith sits down with Joelle Wight, director of the upcoming 2026 Peace Forum, to talk about the highly anticipated return of the church's flagship peace event. Joelle shares how we can embrace "faithful disagreement" with wonder, what to expect from the brand-new Creative Reuse Pop-Up, and the incredibly inclusive ways for adults, youth, and global online congregations to participate. Secure your early bird registration before S...

What happens when a congregation stops trying to do everything on its own and starts partnering with its community? In this inspiring episode of What's Brewing, Robin Linkhart talks with Ruth Richardson about how the Kirkwood Community of Christ congregation transformed a simple outreach effort into a thriving ministry of dignity, generosity, and relationship. Through partnerships with Kirk Care and countless community volunteers, Ruth shares how taking a faithful risk created ripple effects of ...

Courageous compassion, prophetic witness, and faithful engagement in a hurting world are all a part of being a disciple of Jesus, the Peaceful One. Join Blake Smith and Linda Stanbridge in a conversation that explores difficult questions surrounding advocacy, empathy, media attention, and the call to stand with vulnerable communities while affirming the worth and dignity of all people. Grounded in Christian discipleship and peacemaking, the discussion offers practical ways to move beyond awarene...

How can we work for Peace in Israel/Palestine? This series is co-sponsored by the Community of Christ World Peace and Justice Team. Andrew Bolton and Steve Kellogg are members of the Israel/Palestine sub-team of the World Church Peace and Justice Committee. The Peace and Justice Team is working for a just peace in Israel/Palestine guided by Community of Christ’s Enduring Principles and the World Conference resolution on Israel/Palestine of 2016: Resolved, That Community of Christ specifically ...

What happens when people of faith move beyond conversation and step into advocacy? In this episode of Grounds for Peace, participants from the Churches for Middle East Peace Joint Advocacy Summit reflect on lobbying in Washington, DC, interfaith partnerships, Palestinian and Israeli human rights, and the call to pursue justice rooted in faith. Through stories of difficult conversations, unexpected hope, and encounters with lawmakers, they wrestle with what it means to “plant seeds” for peace in ...

Several members of Community of Christ recently attended the Churches for Middle East Peace Conference, and we're going to run a set of episodes covering the topic ... some looking back and some looking forward. We're setting the stage by reposting this episode from April of 2025. There’s way more to the conflict in Israel/Palestine than is covered in the daily news cycle. The real truth is eye-opening and gut-wrenching. In this episode of Grounds for Peace, host Robin Linkhart sits down with m...

If loving nature and the environment makes us “tree huggers,” then so be it! In this episode of Climate Brewing, host Susan Oxley sits down with Lorrie Long, whose lifelong love of the natural world has grown into a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and community action. From her early experiences sensing the Spirit of God in the rugged landscapes of Wyoming to her current work with the Lamoni Area Green Team, Lorrie shares how faith, responsibility, and grassroots collaboration inter...

Something new is brewing at Faith Unfiltered, and this is it... Reclaim with host Jessica Pycior. In this premier episode of Reclaim, Jessica invites listeners into a deeply embodied and expansive vision of faith through the life and witness of Pastor Jenny Lowndes—artist, athlete, spiritual leader, and advocate. In a rich and honest conversation, Jenny reflects on what it means to live with authenticity, embracing every facet of her identity as a sacred expression of God’s work within her. From...

What does it really mean to be religious—and who gets hurt when belief goes unexamined? In this thought-provoking episode, Jack and Shannon dive into big, uncomfortable questions about faith, power, and the real-world impact of theology. From challenging harmful interpretations of suffering to exploring whether “faithful disagreement” has limits, the conversation pushes beyond easy answers into the messy, human reality of belief. It’s honest, nuanced, and an invitation to wrestle with faith in w...

In this meaningful second half of the conversation between host Robin Linkhart and her guest, Mary Cusack, Mary shares a deeply personal journey through grief, faith, and the search for belonging—ultimately discovering a spiritual home that celebrates her fully. From wrestling with exclusion and institutional barriers to experiencing profound connection through communion and community, her story is both honest and transformative. With courage and vulnerability, Mary reflects on finding purpose l...

Grab a beverage and settle in at The Cafe, part of the Brewed Awakenings series, where panelists Nicole Sherer and Mary Cusack explore what it truly means to pursue peace in today’s polarized world. Drawing from different generations and life experiences, they reflect on how peace is practiced not only through public action like nonviolent protest, but also through everyday choices, courageous conversations, and personal transformation. From college classrooms to community activism, the discussi...

This week on Faith Unfiltered Podcast, host Karin Peter sits down with Phil Caswell, Andrew Bolton, and Jewell Bolton to dive into the life of Apostle Kisuke Sekine, a true pioneer who helped transform Community of Christ into a global movement. From janitorial service for Boy Scouts to the Council of Twelve, Sekine’s legacy is a masterclass in humility and cultural bridge-building. The original lecture can be found here. Listen to more episodes in the Cuppa Joe series. Download the Transcrip...

From its very beginning, Community of Christ has looked to continuing revelation for guidance and direction for the path ahead. And, we have not been disappointed. Surprised at times...yes. Disappointed … no. As those called to be a prophetic people, it is important for us to discern … to patiently listen to God’s leadings as we seek to fulfill Christ’s mission in the world. Join host Wendy Brian as she leads us in patient listening through the practice of centering prayer. Original post date: ...

Beware all carnivores... and yes, that includes all of us at Faith Unfiltered Podcast. Climate Brewing host, Susan Oxley sits down with Sally Eales to explore the connection between plant-based eating and the climate crisis. Moving beyond headlines about methane and “cow burps,” Sally unpacks the deeper environmental impact of industrial meat production—from land use to rainforest clearing—while grounding the conversation in faith, stewardship, and personal responsibility. This is not an all-or-...

Welcome to The Cafe, the latest addition to the Faith Unfiltered Podcast family and the Brewed Awakening series. Grab your coffee or tea, or whatever makes you feel most grateful and kick back for a casual conversation among friends. In this episode of The Cafe, you’ll hear about serviceberries, generosity, and reciprocity. Panelists Nick Keehler and Linda Stanbridge are joined by guest Blake Smith to talk about gift economies and how they can change the world one relationship, one life, and one...

The climate emergency is not going away and neither are host Susan Oxley and guest Bill McClain. In this episode of Climate Brewing, Susan and Bill McClain explore how smart climate policy can drive both environmental and economic progress. From electric school buses and wildfire mitigation to salmon restoration and EV infrastructure, the conversation highlights how climate action is already improving lives across Washington state. Bill also explains how Clean and Prosperous America is working n...

Capitalism is in the spotlight again! In this follow up to Part 1 of Climate Brewing: On the Road to a Sustainable Capitalism, host Susan Oxley continues her conversation with Bill McClain, exploring how capitalism might evolve into a more just and sustainable system. Through discussions of the “triple bottom line,” stakeholder capitalism, waste and circular economies, and the limits of short-term profit thinking, Bill argues that what we measure in business truly shapes what we value. Together,...