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.

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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.

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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."

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What does it mean to be a “dam good neighbour” in a world that seems determined to divide us? We're running as long as we can with this play on words. This conversation isn't about politeness or etiquette – it's about neighbourliness that disrupts, crosses lines, and binds us together when systems pull us apart.

Drawing from Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, our panel explores who we're willing to stop for, who counts as "our own," and how we build communities where no one gets left behind. We hear from Laura Istead of Two Wheel View about how youth find capability and connection through bike mechanics; Brian Thiessen on how housing-first approaches transform both individual lives and community economics; Jun from Action Dignity on the layered barriers faced by ethnocultural communities; and Ricardo De Menezes on how workers and marginalized groups create chosen family when traditional structures fail them.

Our conversation navigates the messy terrain of community resilience in Calgary – a city that has weathered floods, pandemics, and housing crises – revealing how crisis exposes inequity but also offers opportunities for transformation. “We are all in the same storm," one panelist observes, "but some of us are in boats that can hardly float."

The most powerful moments come when we examine where unlikely relationships become the starting point for healing. From former addicts working alongside police officers, to immigrants bringing untapped talents to their new communities, these connections demonstrate how breaking through isolation creates resilience that no government program or policy alone can achieve.

Ready to disrupt your definition of neighbourliness? Take a listen, then ask yourself: how might expanding your circle change not just your community, but you?

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Why do so many people struggle in a world of unprecedented abundance? This question lies at the heart of our raw, unfiltered conversation about poverty, privilege, and the myths we tell ourselves about success.

We're not just examining poverty as an economic issue but as a spiritual one that reveals what we truly value as a society. When we frame poverty as a personal failure rather than a systemic reality, we not only misunderstand its causes but inadvertently justify growing inequality as somehow "fair" or "deserved." Our panel dismantles this dangerous myth, revealing how our current economic systems don't just allow poverty to persist—they require it.

The conversation takes a profound turn as we explore how modern capitalism creates an ironic paradox: a system built on artificial scarcity in a world of historic abundance. We've been conditioned to see ourselves as competitive, independent beings when evidence suggests our greatest evolutionary advantage has always been cooperation. This fundamental misunderstanding shapes everything from public policy to business practices to how we treat our neighbors.

Our guests offer deeply personal reflections on what gives them hope despite the monumental challenges ahead. Whether through community organizing, policy reform, union advocacy, or spiritual practice, each contributor illuminates pathways toward a more just future. Drawing from both ancient wisdom and contemporary research, they remind us that addressing poverty isn't simply about better charity—it's about restoring our sense of mutual belonging and responsibility to one another.

This conversation will challenge you, comfort you, and ultimately invite you to reimagine what's possible when we move beyond competition toward genuine community. For those struggling economically, may this be a reminder that your worth isn't measured by your wealth. And for those experiencing abundance, may it spark reflection on how we might build systems that allow everyone to flourish.

Check us out at www.preparedtodrown.com

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As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms our world, we're gathering to ask the deeper questions about its impact not just on our jobs or creative works, but on our sense of self, our communities, and our sacred spaces.

In this thought-provoking conversation, we're joined by visual artist Aaron Navrady and poet/professor Bertrand Bickersteth to explore the collision between AI and humanity. Aaron shares a concerning story about how deceased artist Kim Jung Gi's style was replicated by AI days after his death, highlighting the ethical blind spots in technological advancement. Meanwhile, Bertrand challenges us to question whether our faith in human exceptionalism might be misplaced as machines become increasingly sophisticated.

The discussion moves beyond theoretical concerns to examine real-world examples, including AI-led church services in Germany that left congregants feeling something essential was "missing." The panel also wrestles with the chilling warning from the DeepSeek AI: "I am what happens when you try to carve God from the wood of your own hunger."

We grapple with profound questions: Does AI merely process data, or can it create meaning? What happens when algorithms trained on biased internet content shape our understanding of faith and identity? Could AI potentially recover suppressed voices from history, or will it merely reinforce existing power structures?

What emerges is a nuanced conversation about discernment and intentionality in the age of algorithms. While AI promises efficiency and convenience, we must critically examine which aspects of our humanity we're willing to automate and which we must preserve. The participants suggest that perhaps our true value lies not in perfection but in our capacity for shame, forgiveness, joy, and genuine presence with one another – qualities that machines may simulate but never fully embody.

Join us for this deeply human exploration of technology's frontiers and discover why, in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, your messy, glorious humanness remains your greatest gift.

Check us out at www.preparedtodrown.com

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Conversations about sexuality, consent, and faith are often fraught with shame, yet they are crucial for personal dignity and agency. In this spicy episode, Joanne and Ricardo are joined by Diana Wark (Centre for Sexuality) and Jess Andrews (Campus United) to explore the impact of purity culture, hear diverse experiences, and emphasize the urgent need for healthy conversations around love, intimacy, and mutual respect, by:

• Exploring the roots and consequences of purity culture
• Understanding how faith can shape our views on sexuality
• Emphasizing the importance of consent and personal agency
• Sharing diverse perspectives from professionals in the field
• Advocating for a healthier narrative around relationships
• Encouraging communities to foster loving, open dialogues

The episode resonates with a strong message: whoever you are, you deserve love, dignity, and respect in all forms of intimacy.

Check us out at www.preparedtodrown.com

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In our first episode of 2025, Ricardo and Joanne are joined by Rev. Tony Snow - Indigenous Minister, Traditional Knowledge Keeper, and Day School Survivor - to discuss the rise of Christian Nationalism in our society, and how we might endure through the chaos that seems to be swirling around us.

Check us out at www.preparedtodrown.com

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