This week we welcome Dr Jonathan C Augustine. Dr Augustine serves as senior pastor of St. Joseph AME Church, in Durham, NC. He is an accomplished author, respected academic leader, and nationally recognized social justice advocate who speaks for the equality of all human beings.Dr Augustine’s most recent books are When Prophets Preach: Leadershipand the Politics of the Pulpit and Called to Reconciliation: How the ChurchCan Model Justice, Diversity and Inclusion This podcast was recorded on November 30th, 2023.

we are excited to welcome spiritual director, retreat leader, and internationally known speaker and teacher on mystical spirituality and contemplative living — CARL MCCOLMAN He is the author of many books,including The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Eternal Heart: The Mystical Path to a Joyful Life, and Unteachable Lessons: Why Wisdom Can’t Be Taught and Why That’s Okay.Carl McColman's approach to contemplation and mysticism is inclusive and expansive; he is dedicated to exploring the common ground between faith traditions, with a particular interest in the connecting points between Christian, Buddhist and Pagan wisdom.

today we are excited to welcome one of the preeminent Theologians of our time - KWOK PUI-LAN Dr Kwok Pui Lan is the Dean’s Professor of Systematic Theology at Candler School of Theology. Has taught at Episcopal Divinity School, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Auburn Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, and Yale Divinity School. Her research focuses on Asian feminist theology and postcolonial theology. She has written or edited 23 books in English and Chinese. Her current research focuses on postcolonial theology – to that end, she has released her most recent Book THE ANGLICAN TRADITION FROM A POSTCOLONIAL PERSPECTIVE.This podcast was recorded on November 16th, 2023.

Today we are excited to welcome Matthew Thiessen to the podcast - Matthew is an associate professor of religious studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He is the award-winning author of numerous books, including - Paul and the Gentile Problem- Jesus and the Forces of Death- Contesting Conversion: Genealogy, Circumcision, and Identity in Ancient Judaism and ChristianityAND MOST RECENTLY,- A Jewish Paul: The Messiah's Herald to the Gentiles

Andrew Whitehead is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Association of Religion Data Archives at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture.Andrew Whitehead is one of the foremost scholars of Christian nationalism in the United States. He is the lead author of  Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States —along with Samuel Perry—which won the 2021 Distinguished Book Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. His new book is, American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the ChurchWhitehead is a sought-after speaker and has shared his work with diverse audiences: academic and public, religious and secular. Whitehead’s research on Christian nationalism has been featured across several national outlets including The New York Times, NPR, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, CNN Today, The Economist, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian. He has been interviewed on NBC News, National Public Radio, and the BBC, among others, and is routinely contacted for perspective on religion and politics from national and international news media. He has also written for The Washington Post, Time, NBC News, and the Religion News Service, among other outlets.And he’s now the latest guest on THE VICARS CROSSING.This podcast was recorded on October 5th, 2023

Jonathan Eig is the bestselling author of six books. His most recent King: A Life, was An Instant New York Times Bestseller, A Barack Obama Summer 2023 Read and was Hailed by The New York Times as "the definitive" account of MLK's life Jonathan's previous book, Ali: A Life, won a 2018 PEN America Literary Award and was a finalist for the Mark Lynton History Prize. His works have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He served as consulting producer for the PBS series "Muhammad Ali," which was directed by Ken Burns. Esquire magazine named Ali: A Life is one of the 25 greatest biographies of all time. Jonathan's first book, Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig, reached No. 10 on the New York Times bestseller list and won the Casey Award. His books have been listed among the best of the year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.This podcast was recorded on September 28, 2023.

Dr. Sarah Jean Barton is a theologian and occupational therapist with a Doctor of Theology degree from Duke Divinity School. She completed her occupational therapy training at Boston University. Her research interests include theology and disability, research in collaboration with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, bioethics, liturgy, and occupational engagement in religious activities. She has published and presented in a variety of interdisciplinary contexts on issues related to Christian theology and ethics, intellectual disability, spirituality, disability studies, and occupational therapy. She is the author of Becoming the Baptized Body: Disability and the Practice of Christian Community (Baylor University Press).Currently, Dr. Barton is Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Theological Ethics at Duke University. She holds a dual appointment in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Division in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the School of Medicine as well as at Duke Divinity School. She also works as a pediatric occupational therapist at Duke Health, with special expertise in collaborating with families and children experiencing medical complexity, trauma, or neuromuscular disorders. Dr. Barton is one of only seven occupational therapists in North Carolina to hold the AOTA Board Certification in Pediatrics.

We kick off season 9 by welcoming back Philip Yancey. Having authored over 25 books, in which he has wrestled with God, with the Church, and with fellow believers, Philip Yancey has sold more than 17 million copies in English, and his books have been translated into 40 languages worldwide. Philip’s bestselling titles include: - What’s So Amazing About Grace? -  The Jesus I Never Knew. - where the light fell With a journalistic, story-telling style, he invites readers to accompany him as he probes the deepest mysteries of the Christian faith, and challenges readers to live as followers of Jesus.To learn more about Philip Yancey’s upcoming speaking tour please visit:https://effecthope.org/events/ 

On this episode, we welcome back retired priest and author John Marsh. On his third visit, we discuss his book STRANGERS AT THE DOOR: PERHAPS THE REIGN OF GOD. https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-At-Door-Perhaps-reign/dp/B0BFVCNJHT This podcast was recorded on March 31st, 2023.

On this episode, we welcome Patty Krawec. Patty is an Anishinaabe and Ukrainian writer from Lac Seul First Nation. She is the cohost of the Medicine for the Resistance podcast and cofounder of the Nii’kinaaganaa Foundation, which collects funds and disperses them to Indigenous people and organizations. Her work has been published in Sojourners and Canadian Living. She is active with the Fort Erie Native Friendship Center and the Strong Water Singers. Krawec is a member of Chippawa Presbyterian Church and lives in Niagara Falls, Ontario. We’ll discuss Her book Becoming Kin:An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future, is a remarkable sojourn through Native and settler history, myth, identity, and spirituality that helps us retrace our steps and pick up what was lost along the way: chances to honour rather than violate treaties, to see the land as a relative rather than a resource, and to unravel the history we have been taught.This podcast was recorded on March 23rd, 2023.