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In this compelling two-part conversation, hosts Michael and Alex sit down with Father Chris Bedding, an Anglican priest who has carved out a unique path at the intersection of ministry, activism, and social justice. Chris serves as Executive Officer of the Faith Workers Alliance - Australia's first trade union for clergy and faith workers - a role that has emerged from his decades of experience witnessing systemic dysfunction within religious institutions.

The episode explores the darker realities of faith work that often remain hidden from public view. Chris unpacks the concept of "spiritual trauma" - the cumulative psychological damage that faith workers and their families experience through institutional dysfunction, conflict avoidance, and unrealistic expectations. He describes how religious organisations typically fail to address problems early, leading to explosive situations that leave lasting scars on everyone involved.

Drawing from his own journey from parish priest to union organiser, Chris reveals how inadequate training systems leave clergy unprepared for the complex leadership challenges they face, particularly in managing volunteers and navigating community conflict. The conversation delves into the precarious employment status of faith workers, who often lack basic protections and can face dismissal with minimal notice or recourse.

The discussion takes a provocative turn as Chris reflects on his activism work with refugees and LGBTQI+ rights, including the criminal record he earned through civil disobedience. He articulates a theology that sees no separation between liturgical work and social justice activism, describing protest marches as "liturgy" and advocacy as an intrinsic part of Christian ministry.

Throughout the conversation, Chris challenges the institutional church's tendency towards conflict avoidance and incremental change, particularly criticising what he calls "well-meaning white liberals" who acknowledge injustice but resist taking concrete action. His perspective offers a raw, insider's view of how religious institutions can both inspire profound service and inflict significant harm on those who serve within them.

This first part sets the stage for deeper explorations of faith, performance, and institutional critique, promising rich material for the upcoming second instalment, where the conversation will turn to Chris's theatrical work with Pirate Church and the complex relationship between creativity and spiritual expression.

Thanks for joining us on The Theology Pod. We hope today's conversation has given you something meaningful to wrestle with as you continue your own spiritual journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform—it really helps other seekers find our conversations. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

For show notes, reading recommendations, and to join our ongoing discussion, visit us at TheologyPod.com. You can also follow us on social media @TheologyPod on Facebook for reflections and updates on upcoming episodes.

We love hearing from our listeners. Feel free to send us your questions, topic suggestions, or just let us know how these conversations are impacting your faith journey via our social media platforms.

Remember, theology isn't just an academic study—it's the lived experience of wrestling with the divine in our everyday lives. Keep asking the hard questions, keep seeking, and keep engaging with the mystery.

Until next time, may you find grace in the questions and peace in the seeking.

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During World War II, as Japanese forces occupied Papua New Guinea, missionaries and local Christian converts faced an impossible choice: flee to safety or remain faithful to their beliefs, knowing it could cost them everything. In this compelling episode, we explore the remarkable stories of both Australian missionaries and indigenous Papua New Guinean Christians who chose martyrdom over denial of their faith.

Join hosts Alex and Michael as they unpack the complex legacy of figures like Lucian Tapiedi, a Papua New Guinean teacher and evangelist who refused to renounce Christianity despite torture and the promise of freedom. These weren't accidental war casualties—these were individuals who had clear opportunities to escape death but chose faithfulness over safety.

This episode doesn't shy away from difficult questions. How do we honour genuine sacrifice while grappling with the colonial context of missionary work? What does an authentic witness look like when faith collides with political power? And what can these stories teach contemporary Christians about the true cost of conviction?

Recorded in commemoration of September 2nd, when these martyrs are remembered in the Anglican calendar, this episode challenges comfortable Christianity and explores what it truly means to take faith seriously. Their stories resist easy categorisation—simultaneously inspiring and troubling, heroic yet complicated by history—making them all the more valuable for our understanding of faith under pressure.

Content note: This episode discusses wartime persecution, torture, and execution in a historical and theological context.

Episode Length: 40 minutes
Themes: Martyrdom, colonial missions, wartime faith, Christian persecution, theological ethics

Thanks for joining us on The Theology Pod. We hope today's conversation has given you something meaningful to wrestle with as you continue your own spiritual journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform—it really helps other seekers find our conversations. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

For show notes, reading recommendations, and to join our ongoing discussion, visit us at TheologyPod.com. You can also follow us on social media @TheologyPod on Facebook for reflections and updates on upcoming episodes.

We love hearing from our listeners. Feel free to send us your questions, topic suggestions, or just let us know how these conversations are impacting your faith journey via our social media platforms.

Remember, theology isn't just an academic study—it's the lived experience of wrestling with the divine in our everyday lives. Keep asking the hard questions, keep seeking, and keep engaging with the mystery.

Until next time, may you find grace in the questions and peace in the seeking.

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In this compelling second part of their exploration of the Nicene Creed, Father Michael and Dr. Alexandra Banks dive deeper into how this ancient statement of faith continues to shape Christian worship and identity today. Building on the historical foundation laid in Part 1, they examine the creed's sophisticated Trinitarian structure and explore the famous Filioque controversy that helped split Eastern and Western Christianity. The hosts unpack why specific historical figures like Mary and Pontius Pilate are mentioned in this theological document, analyse the creed's four-fold description of the church as "one holy catholic and apostolic," and consider its powerful liturgical function across different Christian traditions. This episode reveals how seventeen centuries later, the Nicene Creed remains not just a statement of belief, but a living, formative practice that continues to unite Christians across denominational lines.

Thanks for joining us on The Theology Pod. We hope today's conversation has given you something meaningful to wrestle with as you continue your own spiritual journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform—it really helps other seekers find our conversations. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

For show notes, reading recommendations, and to join our ongoing discussion, visit us at TheologyPod.com. You can also follow us on social media @TheologyPod on Facebook for reflections and updates on upcoming episodes.

We love hearing from our listeners. Feel free to send us your questions, topic suggestions, or just let us know how these conversations are impacting your faith journey via our social media platforms.

Remember, theology isn't just an academic study—it's the lived experience of wrestling with the divine in our everyday lives. Keep asking the hard questions, keep seeking, and keep engaging with the mystery.

Until next time, may you find grace in the questions and peace in the seeking.