Cruciform Conversations

In recent years, several T.V. shows have pulled back the curtain on a particular part of the evangelical church, a movement known as “Quiver Full”. This movement to have as many children as possible, to raise an army of culture warriors, was first encountered by many of us through the series 19 Kids and Counting. This series followed the Duggar family and shared their approach to family, marriage, and their faith. More recently, the series Shiny Happy People on Amazon has examined the larger theological movement the Duggars are part of, founded by Bill Gothard. If you have ever encountered this movement, watched the shows, or have questions about how rigid patriarchal theological systems impact sexual ethics, have I got a conversation for you!
I was so thankful to engage in this conversation with writer and scholar Rachel Darnall, who has researched and written extensively about the cultural, philosophical, and theological origins of this culture. We dive into her own background and experience, a theology of modesty (if you ever heard “modest is hottest’ this is your podcast), and gender divisions. How does this system impact sexual ethics? How can this particular Christian subgroup give us a helpful lens for thinking about sexual ethics and gender roles? What is the Biblical concept of modesty really talking about? Beyond the podcast, you can encounter Rachel’s work through her wonderful Substack, new podcast called These Troubled Times, and through the Anastasis Center. We talk in detail about the Anastasis Center’s new course, It’s a Mans’s World: The Genesis 3:16 Effect. I was part of a pilot group for this course and highly recommend it. If you want to join in this new study, there are groups forming right now!



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“Paul also uses the term ‘be fruitful and increase’ in Colossians 1:6. He’s talking to Gentiles, how they are included in the covenants of grace. And he says, hey, “This is it, you guys, the gospel is bearing fruit and increasing’. So he’s including them in covenant. And part of that is sexual health and safety.
- Glen Maiden
In this episode of the podcast, I am joined by the remarkable Dr. Glen Maiden. Diving into Glen’s remarkable biblical insight and his experience helping people find healing from trauma, we explore Genesis as a helpful text for sexual health and flourishing, and follow the thread of language throughout both the Old and New Testaments that addresses sexual ethics in a world of human trafficking.
Rev. Dr. Glen Maiden is a 40-year ordained pastor, a licensed counselor, and a coach. He holds board certification in sex therapy, using the Bible as a foundational theory in treatment. He earned a PhD in Clinical Sexology, which focuses on the Book of Genesis as a sexual health primer for families. In addition, he holds a Doctor of Ministry in the treatment of addiction, trauma, and anxiety. His certifications include sex addiction/multi addiction therapy and traumatic stress treatment. He also has training in geriatric counseling and Forest Therapy.

Connect with Glen:
Glen’s website



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In this episode of the podcast, I am joined by Christian ethicist Dr. Hank Spaulding for a conversation about the biggest questions we are asking about Christian Sexual Ethics in this cultural moment. Turns out, we were asking a lot of the same questions!
* How is A.I., especially the introduction of bots as a replacement for relationships, impacting human flourishing and sexuality?
* How is A.I. impacting spiritual and character formation?
* What is a healthy sexual ethic when so much of our sexuality is being commodified and turned into a transaction?
These are some of the big questions that we dig into as part of this pursuit of a Cruciform Sexuality. We would love to hear your feedback, questions, push-back, and whatever else this conversation stirs up.
Make sure to check out Hank’s book Iconclastic Sex



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“I’m thinking of a poem by Hafez that says, “How do I listen to others as if everyone were my beloved and speaking to me her cherished last words?”So there’s a sense of sacredness, I think, because listening comes from a place of love. To listen to someone, you at least have to enter into curiosity about the other and a sense of their sacredness, of their belovedness, that there is something always to learn, even if we disagree or if we are in conflict. That’s a very difficult thing to do, but I feel like it’s something that enters into a kind of collaboration with the Holy Spirit. What has not yet been can be possible with listening. - Katerina Gea

In this episode of the Future of Faith podcast, I have a brilliant conversation with guests Sue Park-Hur and Katerina Gea. Together, we explore the sacredness of listening within the context of faith and community. We discuss the importance of listening as a relational practice, its role in reconciliation and peacemaking, and share personal stories and communal practices that enhance the art of listening. The conversation emphasizes the need for intentional listening in a world filled with distractions and divisions, highlighting resources and practices that can help individuals and communities cultivate deeper listening skills.
Sue Park-Hur Bio:
Sue is a Korean American born in Seoul, but raised in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley in southern California since she was eight. A former church-planter and local pastor with her spouse, Sue has continued to believe churches can be agents of reconciliation in their communities. She currently serves as the director of racial/ethnic engagement for Mennonite Church USA and co-directs a peace center, ReconciliAsian. Her specialization includes intercultural competency, anti- racism, trauma and resilience, restorative justice, conflict transformation, mentorship, and women in leadership.
Katerina Gea Bio:
Katerina Gea (pronounced “Hey-ya”) is the lead pastor of Pasadena Mennonite Church and lives in Pasadena, CA. She is a gardener, aspiring poet, and a new mom to a 7-month-old who keeps her on her toes! Before pastoring, she worked alongside incarcerated people to grow healing gardens behind bars and planted “Wild Church, Fresno,” a church that gathers outdoors to reconnect with God and creation. Katerina serves as an adjunct professor with Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, where she received her M.Div. in Theology and Peace Studies. She is part of the Mennonite Church USA’s Women in Leadership team along with Sue Park-Hur.
Pasadena Mennonite Church


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This is the conclusion of my four-part series exploring Dr. Frank Woggon's book The Empathic God. In parts 1, 2 , and 3 ,of this series, I dove into the need to discover a Gospel that addresses pain and suffering, and the good news for not only guilt but also for shame. This book, as an exploration of a clinical pastoral search for good news, is an incredibly helpful guide for discovering God’s empathic presence in our pain. It is challenging and beautiful!In this conversation, Frank and I explore how his work as a pastor and chaplain inspired this book. We explore the themes of empathy in relation to the life and death of Jesus, emphasizing the therapeutic aspects of the Jesus event. Frank discusses the prevalence of violence in society and his struggle to reconcile the concept of a violent God with the idea of redemption.

If you want to interact with Frank’s work, you can connect with him through his website.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drgregarthur.substack.com