47. Rev. Jim Keat, Rev. Reilly Paige, & Rev. Dr. Chris Davies (United Church of Christ) – Preaching Camp: The Ties That Bind
Alexis sits down in person at Project Proclaim Preaching Camp with Rev. Reilly Paige, Rev. Dr. Chris Davies, and Rev. Jim Keat for a funny, moving, and deeply hopeful conversation about the ties that bind us - to Jesus, to one another, and to a faith larger than fear, fundamentalism, or the loudest version of American Christianity.
Together, they explore what keeps them following Jesus and what happens when Christians from evangelical and mainline traditions learn to speak across very different theological languages. Reilly shares what it means to be the pastor they needed growing up and why the word “Christian” now requires follow-up questions. Chris describes Jesus as friend, teacher, organizer, prophet, and a model for resisting empire. Jim reflects on Christianity as the spiritual language he inherited - and how digital ministry can create genuine church community far beyond a sanctuary.
Whether you are deconstructing, rebuilding, missing church, or wondering whether you can fall in love with Jesus again, this conversation offers a vision of Christianity rooted in relationship, curiosity, courage, belonging, and genuinely good news.
💬 In This Episode
• What keeps Rev Reilly, Rev Dr Chris, and Rev Jim following Jesus
• The ties that bind us to faith and one another
• Falling in love with Jesus beyond fear and fundamentalism
• Evangelical and mainline Christian “languages”
• The rapture, hell, Bible literalism, sexuality, and forbidden questions
• Being the pastor you needed growing up
• Queer Christian leadership
• Reclaiming the word “Christian”
• Preaching as the proclamation of good news
• Why progressive pastors need to show up online
• Digital ministry, online communion, and real church community
• A closing prayer for anyone deconstructing, healing, or searching for home
👥 People & Resources Mentioned
• Rev. Reilly Paige – @rangerreilly
• Rev. Dr. Chris Davies – @jesuslovesdinos
• Rev. Jim Keat – @revjimruns
• Project Proclaim – @project_proclaim
• Southern New England Conference UCC – @sneucc
• United Church of Christ – @unitedchurchofchrist
• The Riverside Church – @riversidenyc
• Bible in a Minute – @bibleinamin
• Pastor Cody Deese – @codydeese
• April Ajoy – @aprilajoy
• Rev. Bethany Peerbolte – @rev.bethany
• Rocky Roggio director of 1946 the movie - @rockyroggio
• 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted A Culture - @1946themovie
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About The Sacred Slope
Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground.
For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity.
Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion.
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