Ep. 6- Forging Our Way Towards a New Church: On Allyship and Healing with Denele Biggs

This Womanist Work Podcast

Sign us up for the Christian Jubilee because we are getting into it on this episode! Our guest, Denele Biggs, takes us on a journey exploring critiques of the church and its exclusion of certain community members. She also shares her healing journey after a painful response from the church when she sought support, and the women share ways they've experienced church at musical performances (shout out to Beyonce and Kamasi Washington!).

Content warning: if you want to protect your peace and are sensitive to discussions about LGBTQ+ harm and/or domestic violence, please fast forward to the following timestamps to hear about different topics in this episode:

1. 41:47 for a collective reimagining of the regeneration of the church
2. 42:34 for a retelling of concert experiences as church
3. 49:10 for a brief discussion of "church hurt"

Additional links related to this episode:

1. Cole Arthur Riley, author of Black Liturgies and This Here Flesh
2. Dr. Thema Bryant, clinical psychologist and minister, whose sermon served as the inspiration for this episode
3. Kamasi Washington, a musician whose work is praised as church experience in the episode
4. Gospel song- "Sign Me Up" (1987) song by Rev. Marvin Yancy
5. Our Bible mobile app, a resource for progressive Christians
6. The Trevor Project, a trained crisis support for young LGBTQ+ people
7. Crisis Text Line, a 24/7 crisis support via text message for all people
8. National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24/7 support for anyone in crisis from domestic partner violence
9. Congregation resource- The United Methodist Church
10. Congregation resource- United Church of Christ
11. Congregation resource- Unitarian Universalist
12. Michael B. Beckwith, author and originator of "Life Visioning"
13. Kristian A. Smith, content creator focused on deconstructing faith
14. D. Danyelle Thomas, content creator known as The Unfit Christian

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Kelli King-Jackson is a certified professional coach to Black women leading in white spaces. In addition to coaching, she works with organizations truly committed to justice for Black women by providing philanthropic advising, facilitation, and speaking services. Learn more about Kelli's work here: https://www.iamkelli.com/

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