Common Table Podcast UMC
From the Peace with Justice for Palestine/Israel team and the Creation Justice team of the Upper New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (UNYAC UMC), the Common Table Podcast UMC seeks to amplify voices often overlooked. In a media landscape where privilege can command attention, we affirm that every voice is beloved by the God of creation and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We believe we can learn something by listening to these voices.
Our hope and prayer is that these conversations will inform, educate, and inspire ministries of justice in your community of faith—in Christ’s name.
Thank you for taking the time to listen. For more information, visit unyumc.org.
Have an interview idea or a question? Contact Rev. Dr. Robin Blair, producer/host, at revrobinblair@gmail.com.
Common Table Podcast UMC
Common Table Podcast UMC: Understanding Differences, Learning Shared Values
Common Table Podcast UMC (CPT) is honored to welcome Ralph Singh, Founder, Wisdom Thinkers Network. He is an educator, speaker, author, and practitioner in the Sikh religious tradition. Ralph is devoted to finding and naming our shared values in a diverse culture and a pluralistic religious landscape. Many voices, many ideas, many religions, and many ways of loving one another through a faith language.
Listen in as Ralph and the Rev. Dr. Robin Blair, host of CTP, discuss these shared values, and how the Sikh's were attacked just after 9/11, outside of Syracuse, NY. Listen in and hear how mercy was the first thing that came from the hearts of the congregation as the temple burned, and how Ralph spoke forgiveness at the sentencing trial of the arsonists.
As a matter of justice, the Social Holiness Team of UNY AC UMC offers that as Christians our call from Christ is: "to love one another as I have loved you", Jn 13:34. No exceptions! So to set aside people who wear turbans and practice their beloved faith differently that do Christians, is not a loving thing for a Christian to do. Listen to CTP for ideas on how to see shared values that build bridges, not differences that build walls between us.
For more on Sikhism: https://www.sikhnet.com/pages/who-are-sikhs-what-is-sikhism
For more on Ralph Singh and his organization: https://www.wisdomthinkers.org
The Common Table Podcast UMC is supported by the Creation Justice Team (part of the UNY AC UMC General Board of Global Ministry) and Peace with Justice for Palestine/Israel (also UNY AC UMC). Our focus is on Creation Justice, Creation Care, and the urgent need for peace with justice—recognizing how climate change and war disrupts the health of the Earth and all living things. We seek to prayerfully respect and love the creation we were born into, caring for all that lives.
We invite you to join us for conversations rooted in justice and compassion. Every episode is produced by volunteers, and we publish as often as we are able.
Our mission is to lift awareness, foster education, and encourage faithful action within the human community—in the name of Christ.
Hosted by Rev. Dr. Robin Blair.
