In this episode of The Collective Table Podcast, we sit down with Rev. Terri Hord Owens, the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada—the first Black woman to lead a mainline Christian denomination in North America. A passionate advocate for justice, inclusion, and faith-driven transformation, Rev. Hord Owens brings a powerful voice to our ongoing series, The 50.5%, which explores the experiences and leadership of women in faith communities.

As we reach the halfway point of Season 10 of The Collective Table Podcast, we’re celebrating with a bonus episode—the full, uncut interview with the brilliant Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney.

In part two of our conversation with Daneen Akers, author of Dear Mama God, we explore how expanding our language for God shapes faith, inclusion, and justice. We discuss the power of maternal imagery, why inclusive theology matters for everyone, and how joy is an act of resistance. Plus, enter to win a free copy of Dear Mama God! Listen now.

In this week’s episode of The Collective Table, we are thrilled to share part one of our conversation with Daneen Akers, author of Dear Mama God. Daneen is a writer, teacher, filmmaker, and mother who deeply believes in the power of storytelling to shape faith, identity, and belonging. Her work invites us to expand our understanding of God, embracing the Divine Feminine as a source of healing, justice, and connection.

This week on The Collective Table, we are thrilled to bring you part TWO of our conversation with the brilliant Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, renowned biblical scholar, theologian, and author. If you haven’t listened to part one yet, we highly recommend starting there before diving into today’s episode! In this episode, Claire, Jason, and Dr. Gafney explore the “monstrosity” of God, the erasure of women in archaeological records, and more. 

This week on The Collective Table, we’re thrilled to bring you part one of our conversation with the brilliant Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, renowned biblical scholar, theologian, and author. Dr. Gafney invites us to explore the transformative practice of reading Scripture with a sanctified imagination—a way of engaging the Bible that challenges patriarchal and colonial interpretations while uncovering the richness of diverse perspectives.

In this powerful eight-episode season, we center the voices, experiences, and wisdom of women—who represent more than half of the global population but have often been sidelined or silenced. Through conversations with women theologians, creatives, and leaders, we’ll explore the Divine Feminine, the vital role of women in church leadership, and the patriarchal norms that have shaped domineering Christianity. Together, we’ll reflect on how the progressive church can embrace fuller, truer expressions of Spirit.

We hope you have been tuning in to Pastor Jenell’s daily Advent reflections this month on our podcast channel, The Collective Table. Each week, the reflections have focused around a different theme of Advent. On this final week of Advent, we will look at love together.

We hope you have been tuning in to Pastor Jenell’s daily Advent reflections this month on our podcast channel, The Collective Table. Each week, the reflections have focused around a different theme of Advent. This week, we will look at joy together.