The night before General Council 45 marks a historic threshold for the United Church of Canada as it enters its second century. In this special live recording, we dive into the uncomfortable but essential question: What happens when resurrection doesn't come the way we expect it to?

Sarah Charters, United Church of Canada Foundation President and Executive Officer of the United Church of Canada Philanthropy Unit, joins us to explore the razor's edge between aspirational dreams and sustainable reality. We confront the hard truth that waiting for someone else to devise solutions is no longer an option, and that truly dreaming big remains our greatest challenge. The conversation weaves between institutional challenges and personal struggles as we examine what faithful living looks like when outcomes remain uncertain.

We tackle the false comfort of easy theological answers that try to explain away suffering and failure. Instead, we embrace a more authentic vision of God's presence—not as the orchestrator of our pain, but as the first to cry with us in our moments of grief. This perspective opens space for the concept of "noble failure"—the recognition that faithfulness itself might be a better measure of success than traditional metrics.

What emerges is a powerful reimagining of hope as something that doesn't require certainty or guaranteed outcomes. As the United Church stands at this pivotal moment, its commitment to ensuring "everyone has a place at the table" offers a countercultural witness in an increasingly divided world. This isn't just church talk—it's about how we navigate life's deepest disappointments while maintaining our courage to keep showing up.

Listen, subscribe, and join a community of people willing to wade into difficult conversations about faith, failure, and the kind of courage it takes to stay in the water when the waves rise higher than planned.

Check us out at www.preparedtodrown.com

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What happens when our three panelists put down their notes and just respond to whatever questions come their way? Magic, vulnerability, and surprisingly deep theology.

In our season finale, we're opening the floor to you—our listeners—taking on the questions you've been curious about all season long. From deeply personal reflections on bucket lists and finding joy to theological explorations of a non-binary God and whether church should ever make us uncomfortable, this raw, unscripted conversation covers terrain we hadn't planned to explore.

The episode begins with personal revelations about how we see our life goals, where we find happiness outside work, and the challenge of extending to ourselves the same grace we offer others. Bill opens up about his journey to therapy, Ricardo reflects on recognizing burnout, and Joanne shares how her adult children help her see herself more clearly. These vulnerable moments remind us that those who lead spiritual communities are navigating the same human struggles as everyone else.

Our theological discussion takes fascinating turns as we explore God beyond gender binaries, what it means for divine love to be "promiscuous," and how churches can balance creating safe spaces while still challenging comfortable assumptions. We also reflect candidly on our podcast journey—what surprised us, what we'd do differently, and the topics that still keep us up at night.

Though planned as our final episode of Season 1, we reveal an exciting surprise—a bonus episode coming in August featuring Sarah Charters from the United Church of Canada Foundation, recorded during General Council 45 in Calgary. And yes, Season 2 is already taking shape with deeper dives into Christian nationalism, embodied theology, and interfaith dialogue.

Whether you're a long-time listener or joining us for the first time, this episode showcases what makes theology worth exploring together—not the certainty of answers, but the courage to keep asking questions that matter.

Check us out at www.preparedtodrown.com

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What happens when we free God from the boxes we've built—and in turn, free ourselves? In this deeply moving Pride Month conversation, we journey through the ancient Exodus story reimagined as a framework for gender liberation. The panel explores how "Egypt" represents systems of control that flatten human diversity, while offering a vision of divinity that celebrates authenticity rather than enforcing conformity.

The discussion unfolds against the backdrop of increasing political hostility toward gender diversity, with panelists sharing raw insights about the life-and-death consequences when religious language is weaponized. Ricardo reflects on witnessing systemic erasure of queer identity, Tracy, our guest diaconal minister, shares stories of creating theological sanctuaries for those rejected by their churches, and our other guests, Karen (author) and Lor (Campus Ministry) offer perspectives on finding sacred belonging beyond binary thinking.

The conversation moves from critique to hope as participants share powerful moments of transformation—when people discover that their gender identity isn't something divine love condemns but might actually reflect divine creativity. These testimonies reveal what becomes possible when we embrace a God who refuses categorization, who answers simply "I am" when asked for a name.

Through personal stories, theological reflection, and practical wisdom, this episode creates space for anyone wrestling with religious trauma around gender identity while offering pathways toward healing. As one panelist powerfully reminds us: "If you're questioning the images of God you were handed, that doesn't mean you're losing your faith. It might mean you're finally setting it free."

Check us out at www.preparedtodrown.com

Continue the conversation over at our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/PreparedtoDrown