Theology on Tap St. Louis

Theology on Tap returns to Tuesday evenings as the Rev. Beth Scriven leads a discussion about the #MeToo movement, consent, and to share the stories of saints. Beth was part of important work with our denominations’ church-wide effort to create a culture of honesty and repentance about systems of abuse in the church. She also comes to share the too-infrequently told stories of saints like Thecla, who 2000 years ago counted a miracle when God saved her from her would-be-abusers, a saint who claimed her voice and her place over and against the powers of the day. This will be a conversation not only about pain, but about hope and bravery.

Join us for a conversation with local leaders and advocates for immigrants and refugees. Amanda Tello from the Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates and Faizan Syed from the Council on Islamic American Relations will be our speakers. We will learn about the latest status of vulnerable immigrants, child detainees, family separation, and refugees. We will also talk about how the faith community can get engaged in questions of justice around immigration, and working against Islamophobia.

Should faith and politics ever mix? Does it matter that we marched in pink hats? How can we build real social change? This month at Theology on Tap, we will learn about how interfaith groups around the country work together for social change. Faith groups have been responsible for working to curb violence, end homelessness, and even toward marriage equality. We will talk about the kind of organizing it takes for the faith community to have a voice in shaping policy in a region, and we’ll ask how we might start to shift politics in the St. Louis region.

Hannah Shanks, the author of the brand new book “This is My Body: Embracing the Messiness of Faith and Motherhood” will lead a discussion about her new work, faith, the challenges and joys of parenting, and the power of sacrament to help us re-think our own stories. Hannah Shanks is assistant professor of social work and director of the social work program at Greenville University, Greenville, Illinois. She is a storyteller and has participated in the St. Louis chapter of “Listen to Your Mother,” a live reading series and video sharing company. Hannah is a member of Anam Cara St. Louis, an intentional ecumenical community formed around a shared Rule of Life and weekly observance of prayer and communion

 

Over the past few months, the cultural understanding of gender and justice has shifted. The #MeToo movement has caused us to question the way we relate to one another professionally and intimately. How do we engage this moment faithfully? What resources and challenges come from our spiritual traditions?  How do we both within and from the church make strides towards justice with women?