Boys of Summer

Too much for any single podcast to cover, but the regulars, co-hosts, Korey Maas (Lutheran), Miles Smith (Anglican), and D. G. Hart (Presbyterian) give it their best college try.  The topic that was supposed to drive this conversation was the annual meeting of synods and general assemblies.  But because Presbyterians are much better organized (some call it anal) than Anglicans and Lutherans, the confessional Protestants only had the Christian Reformed Church Synod, and the General Assemblies of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church in America to discuss, though Dr. Smith did bring up a convention of his ACNA Synod. What kicked off the episode was the LCMS President's statement on abortion, which might have seemed surprising to those who assume two-kingdom theology means silence about public affairs. The co-hosts also had a few brief words about Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and Presbyterianism in Canada and the challenges of communions ministering across national borders. 

A new feature with this episode was recommendations for reflection about confessional Protestantism.  Miles Smith wrote a piece on theonomy that is especially relevant for American Presbyterians but that also applies to any Protestant communion where Christendom still has some appeal.  Korey Maas also recommended a piece by Jake Meador about Christendom in relation to the current predicament of religion and American politics after Roe v. Wade.  And D. G. Hart recommended the fraternal address from the United Reformed Churches to the OPC by Pastor Brian Lee, about to be published in the July issue of the Nicotine Theological Journal.  Somewhat outside the box, but of relevance for thinking about membership and belonging to the church (whichever one that's relevant), was a discussion between Glenn Loury and Nikita Petrov about national and racial identity and the degree to which members of groups and nations benefit from but also bear responsibility for the larger body of rulers, bad actors, and members. 

This recording may be best consumed while waiting for the coals in the grill to turn orange.