ResCov Chicago: Letters to the Church

A Letter to the Church: Judy Peterson

“All of these people died never having received what was promised, and yet they died in hope, not in cynicism. They knew that God was building something. There was a city prepared for them, there was a world, a kingdom, and so I take great hope in that.”
In this next episode of Letters to the Church, we are excited to hear from Pastor Judy Peterson on this Feast of All Saints' Sunday! 

A Letter to the Church: Karen Gonzalez

"The work of justice is not a marathon...it's actually a relay race. I have my part to do, but I'm not responsible for the entire thing. In fact, the entire thing is God's responsibility. I only have my part to play."
For our next episode of Letters to the Church we were excited to welcome Karen González!

A Letter to the Church: Alexia Salvatierra

"It's when you follow Jesus running in that you actually get to experience a foretaste of the feast to come, like there's a healing power to running in."
We are thrilled to welcome pastor, professor, and organizer Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra for our latest Letters to the Church!

A Letter to the Church: Mari Andrew

"I'm always on the search to make everything I do a bit more meaningful. And I think that ritual really just infuses life with meaning."
We welcome writer and artist, Mari Andrew for our next Letters to the Church! Mari sees the joy and sorrow, humor and hope of the "ordinary magic" in the world around her. 

A Letter to the Church: Phillis Sheppard

"This is not the time for the church...to throw in the towel. This is the time for us to show up, probably more than we ever have before."
Today, we hear from Dr. Phillis Isabella Sheppard. Phillis is the Associate Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture at Vanderbilt University. 

A Letter to the Church: Dominique Gilliard

"[F]or far too long we have been content with a lukewarm expression of faith that is incapable of changing broken systems, structures, and relationships."
 
This week we are grateful to talk to Rev. Gilliard who is a pastor, writer, and activist, and serves as the Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Evangelical Covenant Church. His latest book is Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice That Restores.

A Letter to the Church: Elizabeth Pierre

This week we are excited to hear from Dr. Elizabeth Pierre. Dr. Pierre teaches in the field of pastoral care and counseling at North Park Theological Seminary and University and studies the effects of trauma and its intersection with race, gender, and culture.
"I believe that it's okay to acknowledge the shadow [and] acknowledge the brokenness before Christ and others so that healing can come."

A Letter to the Church: Jeff Chu

On Letters to the Church we were grateful to hear from pastor, journalist, and editor Jeff Chu. Jeff is a leader in the Evolving Faith movement and author of Does Jesus Really Love Me?: A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America.
 
"We got this invitation from God to this great feast, and somehow along the way we got the idea that we were supposed to be the bouncers, when in fact we're the guests."

A Letter to the Church: Cláudio Carvalhaes

On Letters to the Church we are thrilled to welcome Rev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes to share what he wants to say to the church at this crucial moment. Cláudio is a liturgist, theologian, artist, activist, and writer who teaches worship at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. 
"[In] the same way we sing, 'Take my hand, precious Lord, and lead me home,' it is to go to the streets and ask the people there, and say, 'Take my hand, and lead me on.'

A Letter to the Church: Rt. Rev. Bonnie Perry

Our first guest in Letters to the Church is The Rt. Rev. Bonnie Perry, the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. "We have the opportunity to literally be the people who embody transformation in our world. And if we don't think that we have that, we have lost the call of Jesus."