How to Pastor Effectively in a Christian Nationalism Context
Dr. Greg Carey is Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary and Moravian Theological Seminary. He holds a PhD from Vanderbilt University and is the author of ten books devoted to biblical scholarship. His Rereading Revelation: Theology, Ethics and Resistance is due from Eerdmans this September. Greg has been speaking on Christian nationalism for three years now, having offered several dozen talks in the mid-Atlantic of the United States and beyond.
This conversation will be tailored for Pastors and Church Leaders and will be moderated by Bill Sunberg.
Still Breathing: Reflections and Realities 5 Years After George Floyd
This conversation will feature panoRRama panelists Jacobi Campbell, Christine Youn Hung, and Michaele LaVigne. They will lead us in a reflection on the events surrounding the death of George Floyd which gave rise to the NOW Movement in the Church of the Nazarene. They will also reflect on the state of racial justice five years later. You will not want to miss this emotional and thought provoking conversation.
This panel discussion will be moderated by Bill Sunberg.
SOGIE Training for Church People
What does LGBTQIA+ stand for? Why is everyone using the term "queer" now? What exactly does "trans" mean? And what is SOGIE? SOGIE stands for Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and this SOGIE Training will help us answer the previous questions. These are important questions—specifically important questions for church people to be asking. Regardless of where we sit on the spectrum of affirmation, understanding these terms is important for us as we seek to offer love and care to God's beloved queer children.
The topic for each of the three training sessions are below. Each class will include an exploration of terms, opportunity to practice using them, and practical application to take back to your church/ministry context.
June 16 Session: What is Queer? An overview
June 23 Session: Exploring Gender Identity and Expression
June 30 Session: Exploring Sexual Orientation/Attraction
This session is led by Rev. Melissa A. Martin. Melissa, a Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor in Hawaii, believes that faith communities can be powerful catalysts for change, particularly in how we treat our land and steward church buildings. In her work with the Community Church of Honolulu, she actively facilitates partnerships between churches and non-profits, helping them leverage their physical resources for greater impact. Her understanding of church as a catalyst for change doesn't stop there, Melissa also recently received a Louisville Institute grant to develop a theology of divorce, and she's dedicated to exploring the way our faith empowers us to build communities inclusive of all gender identities, sexual orientations, and relationship statuses.
Melissa brings a wealth of experience to her ministry. She's a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, has worked in higher education, served as a head pastor, and holds a certificate in executive leadership. Outside of her pastoral work, you'll find Melissa as a certified yoga instructor, a novice freediver, and an infrequent painter.
Introducing North Bramalea United Church and Pastor Jamie Holtom
Join us for a meaningful panel discussion exploring the heart and impact of Pastor Jamie Holtom and the North Bramalea United Church — a vibrant, inclusive faith community known for its commitment to social justice, spiritual growth, and connection. Discover how this dynamic church is shaping lives and inspiring change in Brampton and beyond through being Passionately Christ Centred, Radically Inclusive, and Relentlessly Reaching Out.
Rethinking With Reverence: A Queer Person’s Journey With Scripture
This is session three of the three part series “LGBTQ+ Conversations with Rick Power.”
Rick Power enjoyed a rich and rewarding career as a pastor (Texas, Hawaii, Kansas), missionary in China, and district superintendent in Hawaii. In 2024, he resigned his ordination credential after his views on human sexuality were called into question. He is currently pursuing ministerial standing in a new denomination.
Our Guest Panelist for this session is Rev. Melissa A. Martin, a Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor in Hawaii. Melissa believes that faith communities can be powerful catalysts for change, particularly in how we treat our land and steward church buildings. In her work with the Community Church of Honolulu, she actively facilitates partnerships between churches and non-profits, helping them leverage their physical resources for greater impact. Her understanding of church as a catalyst for change doesn't stop there, Melissa also recently received a Louisville Institute grant to develop a theology of divorce, and she's dedicated to exploring the way our faith empowers us to build communities inclusive of all gender identities, sexual orientations, and relationship statuses.
Melissa brings a wealth of experience to her ministry. She's a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, has worked in higher education, served as a head pastor, and holds a certificate in executive leadership. Outside of her pastoral work, you'll find Melissa as a certified yoga instructor, a novice freediver, and an infrequent painter.
This conversation will explore the process of how to carefully and prayerfully change our minds on ethical issues.
This conversation will be moderated by Bill Sunberg.
“How Does Being Wesleyan Help Us Think About LGBTQ+ Questions?”
This is session two of the three part series “LGBTQ+ Conversations with Rick Power.”
Rick Power enjoyed a rich and rewarding career as a pastor (Texas, Hawaii, Kansas), missionary in China, and district superintendent in Hawaii. In 2024, he resigned his ordination credential after his views on human sexuality were called into question. He is currently pursuing ministerial standing in a new denomination.
Our Guest Panelist for this session is Janet Blevins Dean. Janet is a pastor, teacher, and lifelong student of Wesleyan theology who cares deeply about how we read scripture and how it shapes our communities. She brings a thoughtful, down-to-earth perspective to tough questions, especially around faith and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Janet’s all about honest conversations, deep grace, and staying rooted in the Wesleyan tradition while engaging today’s world. Janet is currently an Ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene and a Professor of Pastoral Counseling Education at Asbury Theological Seminary.
This conversation will explore the Wesleyan foundations for both the affirming and non affirming positions on LGBTQ+ issues. This conversation is perfect for those who are searching for answers and do not know where they stand on these issues.
This conversation will be moderated by Bill Sunberg.
Rooted or Released: Discerning our Place in Non-Inclusive Faith Communities
This is session one of the three part series “LGBTQ+ Conversations with Rick Power.” Rick Power enjoyed a rich and rewarding career as a pastor (Texas, Hawaii, Kansas), missionary in China, and district superintendent in Hawaii. In 2024, he resigned his ordination credential after his views on human sexuality were called into question. He is currently pursuing ministerial standing in a new denomination.
The Guest Panelist for this session is Melissa Tucker. Melissa is a former Adjunct Professor at Point Loma Nazarene University and staff member at San Diego First Church of the Nazarene. Melissa was informed in January 2023 that she would no longer be allowed to teach at the institution due to her "progressive views on human sexuality" and her public support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Both Rick Power and Melissa Tucker will bring meaningful insights to this conversation from their own personal experiences of discerning their place in the Church of the Nazarene.
The discussion will be moderated by Bill Sunberg.
panoRRama Panel
Description: A panel of panoRRama Contributors will meet to discuss important issues of the day. Registration provides an opportunity to participate in the discussion via submitted questions and group conversation.
Panel Topic:
Panel Members:
Moderator: Bill Sunberg
Cost: $5 USD
The Color of Compromise
The Color of Compromise by Jamar Tisby is an important and insightful look at the history of racism in North America through the lens of the actions and complicity of the Church. It is thought provoking and challenging. It should be a meaningful addition to the library of every compassionate Christian in the twenty-first century.
This Workshop is led by Bill Sunberg and meets weekly for six consecutive weeks, beginning Wednesday, February 19, at 8:00 EST. We will cover two chapters of the book in each session. The sessions include interactive discussion, creative reflection exercises, and the development of a personal action plan. Workshop participants are responsible for purchasing a copy of the book in addition to the workshop registration.
“Unclobber: Rethinking our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality” by Colby Martin
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
8:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.
Description: The six passages in the Scriptures used to condemn the LGBTQ Community are often referred to as the Clobber Passages. Colby Martin works through each of these passages in his book, “Unclobber,” and demonstrates how these passages have been misused. At the same time, Martin shares his own journey of changing his own position on these passages and the impact this had on his life and ministry. While working through this book, the workshop group will also reflect on their own personal journeys as well.
Workshop Leader: Bill Sunberg
Cost: Members Registration Fee - $55 USD | Non-Member Registration Fee - $75 USD