The Rev. Dr. Marcia Ledford, is a practical theologian and Episcopal priest, native to Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Ledford worked as a civil rights attorney for over 30 years, including as an ACLU co-operating attorney on constitutional matters, prior to her ordination. She advocates for the administration of the sacraments (Holy Eucharist, Baptism, and Holy Unction) and public pious practices (like stations of the cross and asperges) to empower progressive Christian political theology in the public square. Ledford exhorts progressive Christians to exercise their First Amendment guarantees, as part of a collective interfaith voice, calling for more compassionate approaches to our social crises. She is an award-winning documentary photographer and specializes in fine art portraiture, and she has completed Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) community organizing training.
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This conversation is for anyone who’s been grappling with accepting who they are and living in their faith. We talk about not everyone and every place will be safe for those of us who are marginalized and how we need to find our people and create full lives where we are accepted, valued and loved.
EPISODE NOTES
The Rev. Dr. Marcia Ledford, is a practical theologian and Episcopal priest, native to Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Ledford worked as a civil rights attorney for over 30 years, including as an ACLU co-operating attorney on constitutional matters, prior to her ordination.
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This conversation is for anyone who’s been grappling with accepting who they are and living in their faith. We talk about not everyone and every place will be safe for those of us who are marginalized and how we need to find our people and create full lives where we are accepted, valued and loved.
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Ways to connect with Marcia
- Email: marcia@miptm.com
- Website: https://www.politicaltheologymatters.com
- Media Resources: https://www. politicaltheologymatters.com/media
- Blog: https://www.politicaltheologymatters.com/blog
Social Media pages and handles
Facebook:
- Political Theology Matters
- Marcia Ledford Author
- The Lazarus Lives! Project
- Marcia Ledford (personal)
LinkedIn: Marcia Ledford
Instagram: @docledford
Twitter: @docledford
Resources
Harvard Implicit Bias Testing (multiple subjects) – https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/education.html
Civil Discourse Training offered by The Episcopal Church – https://www.churchnext.tv/library/make-me-an-instrument-of-peace-a-guide-to-civil-discourse-for-groups-47923/109671/about/
Book: Spirituality of Resistance by Roger S. Gottleib – Great resource for the spirituality of resistance. Roger writes about creation care, but the concepts are applicable to any issue. The spirituality of resistance involves doing the inner work to discover what your passions are. Then you join with others sharing these common goals to work for justice and the greater good.
Book: How to Think Theologically by Howard W. Stone & James O. Duke –
It’s about understanding our “embedded” theology, that which we grew up absorbing and believing,
As we grow up and grow in faith, we often realize that what we’re taught often doesn’t relate to our life. The authors, Stone and Duke are seminary professors. They do a great job writing about how we are all theologians, whether we have a bunch of letters after our names or not. That’s because we all must navigate our society, current events, and or daily life as people of faith. This is a great book for “evangelicals” and those who are “deconstructing” their faith.
Book: Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
Links for LGBTQIA+ People of Faith
Book: Unclobber by Pastor Colby Martin – Churches in America are experiencing an unprecedented fracturing due to their belief and attitude toward the LGBTQ community. Armed with only six passages in the Bible–often known as the clobber passages–the traditional Christian position has been one that stands against the full inclusion of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. Unclobber reexamines each of those frequently quoted passages of Scripture, alternating with author Colby Martin’s own story of being fired from an evangelical megachurch when they discovered his stance on sexuality.
Family Acceptance Project – https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/
The Saint Helena Psalter – https://www.churchpublishing.org/sainthelenapsalter – Inclusive language version of the 150 Psalms found in the Bible. An excellent text for LGBTQ populations
LGBTQ Resources from The Episcopal Church – https://www.episcopalchurch.org/who-we-are/lgbtq/organizations/
The Human Rights Campaign (interfaith resources) – https://www.hrc.org/resources/faith-resoures
The National LGBTQ Task Force
Creating an inclusive and welcoming church – http://www.welcomingresources.org/communityorg.htm
Anti-Human Trafficking National Hotline – https://humantraffickinghotline.org
Progressive Mainline Christian Denominations
The Episcopal Church (TEC) – https://www.episcopalchurch.org
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America – https://www.elca.org
The Presbyterian Church of the USA – https://www.pcusa.org
The United Church of Christ – https://www.ucc.org
The Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) – https://disciples.org
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Diversitydish.com – How can I be of service?
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Other places you can find resources and help support my work:
- Patreon / Discovery Den: https://www.patreon.com/sedruolamaruska
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sedruolamaruska/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sedruola/
- Website: http://sedruolamaruska.com/work-with-sedie
- Facebook: Sedruola Maruska (limited)