Episodes

  • The Promises of Exile

    The Promises of Exile
    May 5 2023

    Transitions can often feel exilic, even Biblical at times like the stories of the exodus. Today, we reflect on our spiritual lives ten years ago and how cleaning out books and boxes for our big move is bringing a refreshed perspective on the journey of exile.
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    52 mins
  • Transitions | Life on the Move

    Transitions | Life on the Move
    Apr 7 2023

    Spring is the season for transitions. Spring cleaning, the weather changes, and sometimes even a move across the country! This week we discuss some big moves in the journey of our lesbian romance, along with how we are choosing to integrate spirituality, wholeness, and health into our life decisions moving forward in the aftermath of religious trauma. Today, your hosts, Kendra Arsenault, M.Div. and Spiritual Care Provider Roxan Marie Del Valle La Torre, M.Div. share about the ups and downs of transitions. You can follow your hosts today @kendraarsenaux and @roxanmariie
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    46 mins
  • Valentine's Day Special: Lesbian Love Affair

    Valentine's Day Special: Lesbian Love Affair
    Feb 14 2023

    Happy Valentine's Day! We decided to kick off this season's podcast by discussing how we met, dating as women after Seminary, being in a woman-with-woman relationship, and our engagement process. We talk about theological hurdles, challenges, and what we love so much about being in a lesbian relationship.

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    43 mins
  • New Growth for a New Year

    New Growth for a New Year
    Dec 16 2022
    Today, we are reflecting on the first year of the Imago Gei podcast. It’s been a little over a year since that defining moment of disclosing my bi identity, and today we are reflecting on the growth and journey this year has brought from the many wonderful guests who opened up an incredible world of theology, therapy, and hope for a more inclusive tomorrow. We also discuss the journey of learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, managing the anxiety of being different within our religious communities, and answering the big question of "when all our dragons are slayed, who am I now?" Our co-host for this week is Spiritual Care Provider Roxan Del Valle, M.Div. along with yours truly, Kendra Arsenault, M.Div. This week is our concluding podcast for this season of Imago Gei, which has been sponsored by two magnificent organizations that are so near and dear to my heart. I want to give a special thanks to Spectrum Magazine and Alexander Carpenter, in particular, along with SDA Kinship, and Floyd Poenitz, who have partnered with me to bring you this project to amplify LGBTQ voices and LGBTQ theology for a wider audience. If you as a listener are able, please be sure to support these incredible organizations @SDAKinship.org and @spectrummagazine.org
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    37 mins
  • Spirituality & Mental Health

    Spirituality & Mental Health
    Dec 9 2022
    Spiritual Care Provider Roxan Del Valle and myself, Kendra Arsenault, discuss on a recent panel hosted by SDA Kinship the role of Spiritual Care amid a mental health crisis. As a Spiritual Care Provider for the psychiatric unit, Chaplain Del Valle works with a team of care providers and specializes in a particular set of interventions to de-escalate and establish a grounded connection. As one of our listeners asked, how do you continue to care for your mental and spiritual health when you’re doubting your faith? What happens when your deconstruction journey takes you down the road of isolation, and you’re looking for ways to connect with self, community, and God once again? Today’s sponsors are Spectrum magazine @spectrummagazine.org and SDA kinship international @sdakinship.org.
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    55 mins
  • The Pryde | LGBTQ Senior Housing Project

    The Pryde | LGBTQ Senior Housing Project
    Dec 2 2022
    Gretchen Van Ness, Civil Rights Attorney and Executive Director at LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc., discusses how the LGBTQ affordable senior housing project took flight and why LGBTQ seniors are a particularly vulnerable population. The Pryde LGBTQ, affordable Senior housing project, is a model for how to support the marginalized, provide justice for the outcast, and begin the work of healing past traumas. You can find out more at LGBTQSeniorHousing.org. Today’s sponsors, Spectrum magazine and SDA kinship international can be found at spectrummagazine.org and sdakinship.org.
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    39 mins
  • Fighting For Change | History of LGBTQ Rights

    Fighting For Change | History of LGBTQ Rights
    Nov 25 2022
    Gretchen Van Ness, Civil Rights Attorney and Executive Director at LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc. is the past president of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts and recognized as one of Boston's top LGBT leaders by Boston Magazine. Gretchen has decades of experience in community activism and representing and advocating for the LGBTQ community. She was part of the major movements in the LGBTQ community in the 90s and 2000s that lead to the Equal Marriage Act in 2015. Today, we’re listening in to her story along with the history of LGBTQ rights and the legislation that continues to impact LGBTQ people today. For those of you who would like to know more about our guest today, Civil Rights Attorney Gretchen Van Ness or about the LGBTQ Senior housing project, stay tuned for next week and check out their website, https://www.lgbtqseniorhousing.org/
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    42 mins
  • The Androgyny of Christ

    The Androgyny of Christ
    Nov 18 2022
    This week we are making space to hear Nathon Hilton’s story of being disfellowshipped at his church due to the affirmation of himself and other gay Christians. We also discuss his work in which he looks at the Androgyny of Christ in Scripture, along with other ways that marginalized identities throughout history have made space for their existence by finding their own stories in the narrative of the Bible. Nathon holds a Master of Arts in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory from the University of Salamanca in Spain, in addition to a BA in English and Theology from Andrews University. He is currently translating Alicia Johnston’s book “The Bible and LGBTQ Adventists" into Spanish and focusing his studies on the philosophical and theoretical intersections of literature, religion, and spirituality. I first met Nathon a few years ago back at Andrews, and I am excited to have him share his personal journey of faith through the LGBTQ lens as well as some of his contributions to the world of queer theology. I’m your host, Kendra Arsenault, M.Div. And our sponsors for today’s episode are Spectrum Magazine @spectrummagazine.org and SDA Kinship International @sdakinship.org.
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    41 mins