Finding Your Spine
In a time when courage feels increasingly rare, Finding Your Spine challenges the status quo. Hosted by Dr. Chase Spears, this weekly podcast explores how Christians—and even secular conservatives—can stand firm in their values amid the pressures of cancel culture. With insightful commentary and bold conversations, Dr. Spears examines the tradeoff many make between conscience and comfort, reminding listeners that true freedom requires the spine to defend it. Tune in each week for thought-provoking discussions that inspire moral courage in an age of compromise.
Finding Your Spine
Preaching Without Compromise After Leaving the Episcopal Church
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Pastor Jake Dell shares his personal journey from the Episcopal Church to his current role at First Congregational Church of Woodbury, Connecticut. He explains the progressive theological drift he witnessed in mainline denominations, the pressure to signal conformity on cultural issues, and the events that led him to resign in 2024.
Dell recounts his early call to ministry, experiences at Yale, the impact of Obergefell on the Episcopal Church, and how COVID-era policies and 2020 protests revealed inconsistencies that pushed him to speak more boldly from the pulpit. He discusses the difference between the form of religion and its true power, the proper role of pastors in addressing cultural and civic matters, and why he believes Christians must actively reclaim institutions rather than abandon them. The conversation highlights the growth he has seen in his current congregation by returning to historic Christian preaching and refusing to compromise on core truths.
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:03:30 – Mainline Theological Drift
00:04:24 – Early Faith and Calling
00:09:33 – Divisive Cultural Issues
00:14:29 – Johnson Amendment as Excuse
00:21:23 – Post-Obergefell Shift
00:27:05 – 2020 as Turning Point
00:32:11 – Gospel Implications for Culture
00:34:17 – Public Witness Required
00:37:00 – School Board Stand
00:41:03 – Resignation and Fresh Start
00:42:19 – Growth Through Biblical Preaching
You can find more of Jake Dell's work on Substack at https://jwdell.substack.com/
You can pre-order Jake's book, Exile and Return, here: https://payhip.com/b/Hc6up
You can follow Chase Spears on X @DrChaseSpears. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your favorite episodes to keep the conversation going.
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