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Can the church still thrive in the bush?

When James Wood's father declared, "The church has abandoned the bush," it became a call to action. Now, as parish priest in Warracknabeal, Victoria, James is proving that rural ministry isn't dead—it's being reimagined.

In this episode of The Theology Pod, Dean Michael Davies sits down with Rev. James Wood to explore what ministry looks like when traditional models no longer work. From founding Wild Echidna Enterprises to installing Blue Trees for mental health awareness, from running drumming workshops to maintaining Prayer Book services, James embodies a new vision for the church in rural Australia.

Drawing on his own experience ministering through drought and crisis in Merriwa, NSW, Michael probes the hard questions: How do you sustain ministry when parishes can't afford full-time clergy? What does faithful presence look like when success might simply mean surviving? How do you create space for vulnerability in communities where asking for help is seen as weakness?

Discover:

• Creative sustainability models combining parish work, chaplaincy, and social enterprise
• How L'Arche community shaped one priest's approach to rural ministry
• The intersection of environmental crisis and spiritual crisis in farming communities
• Why reaching seven schools with wellbeing programs might be the future of evangelism
• What "Project Regenerate" means when everyone else sees inevitable decline

Whether you're passionate about rural Australia, curious about innovative ministry models, or wrestling with what faithful presence means in challenging contexts, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and theological depth.

The church hasn't abandoned the bush—it's finding new ways to be present.

Support the show

Thanks for joining us on The Theology Pod. We hope today's conversation has given you something meaningful to wrestle with as you continue your own spiritual journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform—it really helps other seekers find our conversations. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

For show notes, reading recommendations, and to join our ongoing discussion, visit us at TheologyPod.com. You can also follow us on social media @TheologyPod on Facebook for reflections and updates on upcoming episodes.

We love hearing from our listeners. Feel free to send us your questions, topic suggestions, or just let us know how these conversations are impacting your faith journey via our social media platforms.

Remember, theology isn't just an academic study—it's the lived experience of wrestling with the divine in our everyday lives. Keep asking the hard questions, keep seeking, and keep engaging with the mystery.

Until next time, may you find grace in the questions and peace in the seeking.

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In Australia, one woman is killed by a current or former partner every ten days. Half of all LGBTIQ people in relationships have experienced intimate partner violence. These aren't just statistics; they are our neighbours, our friends, people in our congregations.

Join trauma theologian Alexandra and pastoral voice Michael as they tackle one of the church's most urgent conversations. This episode moves beyond awareness to action, exploring what gender-based violence truly is, who it affects, and why the church can no longer remain silent.

Drawing on feminist theology, womanist scholarship, and trauma hermeneutics, Alex unpacks the theological dimensions of violence while Michael grounds the discussion in pastoral realities. Together, they examine how Jesus responded to marginalised women in the Gospels—stopping violence, restoring dignity, and challenging power structures—and what that means for how we must respond today.

This isn't comfortable to listen to, but it's essential. Whether you're a survivor, someone supporting a loved one, a church leader seeking guidance, or simply someone who wants to understand, this episode offers both theological depth and practical frameworks for action.

Content note: This episode discusses domestic abuse, sexual violence, and trauma. Support resources and helplines are provided throughout.

Because faith demands more than silence. It demands we rise up.

Available now at thetheologypod.com and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support the show

Thanks for joining us on The Theology Pod. We hope today's conversation has given you something meaningful to wrestle with as you continue your own spiritual journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform—it really helps other seekers find our conversations. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

For show notes, reading recommendations, and to join our ongoing discussion, visit us at TheologyPod.com. You can also follow us on social media @TheologyPod on Facebook for reflections and updates on upcoming episodes.

We love hearing from our listeners. Feel free to send us your questions, topic suggestions, or just let us know how these conversations are impacting your faith journey via our social media platforms.

Remember, theology isn't just an academic study—it's the lived experience of wrestling with the divine in our everyday lives. Keep asking the hard questions, keep seeking, and keep engaging with the mystery.

Until next time, may you find grace in the questions and peace in the seeking.

Send us Fan Mail

In 1611, forty-seven scholars completed a translation that would change the world. The King James Bible shaped Shakespeare's language, fueled democratic revolutions, inspired abolitionists, and provided the vocabulary for both liberation and oppression. It's been quoted by Frederick Douglass and slaveholders, by Martin Luther King Jr. and segregationists, by suffragettes and those who opposed women's rights.

Drawing on Melvyn Bragg's sweeping book, this episode explores how a translation commissioned by a Scottish king became one of the most democratizing forces in history. We delve into William Tyndale's martyrdom and lasting legacy, the Hampton Court Conference that launched the project, and the Bible's profound influence on literature, democracy, education, and social reform.

But this isn't just a celebration. We wrestle honestly with the King James Bible's deeply ambiguous legacy—how the same text that empowered the enslaved was weaponized to justify slavery, how it spread literacy while advancing colonial oppression, and how it inspired both the best and worst impulses of the English-speaking world.

Four hundred years later, this translation continues to echo in our language, shape our understanding of justice, and influence movements for change. Whether you've read it devotionally for years or never opened its pages, the King James Bible has touched your life in ways you might never have imagined.

Join Alex and Michael for a thoughtful, critical, and ultimately appreciative exploration of The Book of Books.

Support the show

Thanks for joining us on The Theology Pod. We hope today's conversation has given you something meaningful to wrestle with as you continue your own spiritual journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform—it really helps other seekers find our conversations. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

For show notes, reading recommendations, and to join our ongoing discussion, visit us at TheologyPod.com. You can also follow us on social media @TheologyPod on Facebook for reflections and updates on upcoming episodes.

We love hearing from our listeners. Feel free to send us your questions, topic suggestions, or just let us know how these conversations are impacting your faith journey via our social media platforms.

Remember, theology isn't just an academic study—it's the lived experience of wrestling with the divine in our everyday lives. Keep asking the hard questions, keep seeking, and keep engaging with the mystery.

Until next time, may you find grace in the questions and peace in the seeking.