First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn

25.08.17 Stump the Pastors by Revs. Seth Ethan Carey and Kyle Roggenbuck

·27 min·2 clips

A priest tells grieving parents there are no dogs in heaven, sparking laughter that finally breaks their tears.

The episode opens with Rev. Seth Ethan Carey sharing a story about Roald Dahl's family grieving their daughter's death and visiting a priest who insisted there are no pets in heaven, highlighting how preachers don't always have right answers. Carey introduces the scripture from Proverbs about the power of words. DJ La Chapelle hosts the 'Stump the Pastors' segment, where pastors answer questions submitted by the congregation. The first question asks about the UCC and First Congregational's official stance on U.S. immigration enforcement; the pastors explain there is no official stance due to congregational polity but perceive a consensus viewing recent actions as exceptionally cruel, citing scripture to welcome strangers. Next, they discuss the strongest female figure in the Bible, with Rev. Kyle Roggenbuck naming Lilith, Adam's first wife who rejected him, while Rev. Carey prefers Mary Magdalene as a leader erased from early church history. A question about superpowers leads to reflections on showing God's love or fostering connectedness. They address whether there are white people in the Bible, explaining whiteness as a social construct not present in biblical times and linking it to a new racial justice ministry. The pastors share their calls to ministry: Carey at age 14 after Catholic school and UCC confirmation, Roggenbuck at 26 after working as a book editor and seeing women pastors at Fourth Presbyterian Church. A hypothetical about time-traveling to give a sermon has Carey choosing Martin Luther's Reformation to argue it didn't go far enough, teasing a fall series called 'Wild God.' Lighthearted questions include choosing the 'Cheers' theme song for the church and favorite donuts, with Carey preferring glazed and Roggenbuck old-fashioned. The episode closes with thanks to the audience.

As heard by us

A playful church conversation where heaven, Lilith, and an old-fashioned donut leave room for uncertainty and warmth.

Questions about heaven, Lilith, a church superpower, compliments, and an old-fashioned donut give this single episode an easy, searching rhythm.

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Why you'd press play

You can move from pets in heaven to Lilith and still land at the donut table without losing the thread.

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