Faithful Politics

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**Warning*** This episode contains discussion about sexual abuse
Investigative reporter Jessica Lussenhop joins Faithful Politics to discuss her ProPublica investigation into sexual abuse and institutional silence inside the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. Alongside reporter Andy Mannix, she walks through how a single criminal case in Minnesota exposed a broader system of internal “forgiveness sessions,” unreported abuse, and failures of accountability. The conversation also explores how investigative journalists verify survivor accounts, the role of clergy privilege laws, and why transparency inside religious institutions matters. This episode examines the intersection of faith, authority, and justice—and what happens when communities prioritize internal resolution over public accountability. 

Learn more:
Young Girls Were Sexually Abused by a Church Member. They Were Told to Forgive and Forget.: https://www.propublica.org/article/sexual-abuse-old-apostolic-lutheran-church-minnesota
5 Takeaways From Our Investigation Into How Leaders of a Minnesota Church Community Enabled a Child Abuser: https://www.propublica.org/article/minnesota-old-apostolic-lutheran-church-investigation-takeaways
What a Recorded Interview Between Police and Preachers Reveals About How a Minnesota Church Handled Sexual Abuse: https://www.propublica.org/article/minnesota-old-apostolic-lutheran-church-sexual-abuse-police-recording
Guest Bios
Jessica Lussenhop
Jessica Lussenhop is an investigative reporter with ProPublica covering institutional failures, criminal justice, and accountability. She reports on how systems impact vulnerable communities and is the host of an upcoming ProPublica investigative podcast.

Andy Mannix
Andy Mannix is an investigative reporter with ProPublica and former Minnesota Star Tribune journalist. His work focuses on
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Church conflict is no longer the exception—it’s the norm. In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram are joined by Andy Hale, congregational psychologist and author of Mending the Fracturing Church, to explore why churches are experiencing deeper polarization and what it takes to rebuild trust.
Hale explains how psychology, family systems theory, and theology intersect in congregational life, and why conflict itself is not the real threat—avoidance and fear are. The conversation digs into how political identity, generational divides, and moral certainty are reshaping church communities, often in ways leaders are unprepared to address.
Rather than offering quick fixes or ideological answers, Hale calls for patience, self-awareness, and practices that restore human connection—starting with understanding how fear, identity, and the need to be “right” shape the way we treat one another. It’s a grounded, hopeful conversation about what it looks like for the church to remain faithful in a polarized age.
Mending the Fracturing Church: How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798881806644
Guest Bio 
Andy Hale is a congregational psychologist, minister, and organizational consultant who works with churches navigating conflict, polarization, and institutional change. With nearly three decades of experience in congregational and denominational leadership, his work integrates psychology, family systems theory, and theology to help faith communities rebuild trust and practice healthier forms of disagreement.
He is the author of Mending the Fracturing Church: How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities and hosts two podcasts, including Clergy Confessions, which explores the hidden pressures pastors face today. Hale currently serves in denominational leadership with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Support the show
🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?
👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com
📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:
faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore
❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics
📩 Reach out to us:
Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected]
Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected]
📱 Follow & connect with us:
Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik
Instagram: faithful_politics
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LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics
📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:
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In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram speak with Dan Carr, a pastor and Republican political organizer whose faith and politics are closely aligned with the MAGA movement.
The conversation explores how theological conviction becomes political identity and where those convictions collide with the realities of a pluralistic democracy. Carr shares his faith story, explains why he believes Christians should be deeply engaged in politics, and outlines how he evaluates public policy through a biblical worldview. 

From contrasting political perspectives, the discussion moves beyond party labels to examine deeper questions: Where is the line between moral conviction and coercion? How should people of faith relate to those who do not share their assumptions? And what happens when religious identity and political identity become inseparable?
Rather than seeking agreement, the episode offers clarity. It reveals how faith-driven conservatism understands power, policy, and culture—and what it looks like when those ideas are tested in direct conversation with a Democratic host.
Learn more: https://danqcarr.com/
Guest Bio 
Dan Carr is a pastor, author, and political organizer working at the intersection of faith and conservative politics. He serves as pastor of Community Baptist Church and is involved in Republican political strategy and civic engagement in Mississippi. Carr has worked in political organizing and public policy, including serving as a political director connected to the Mississippi Public Service Commission.
Raised in a ministry family, Carr’s work focuses on strengthening churches, families, and local communities while encouraging Christians to remain active in public life. He is the author of Chivalry Isn’t Dead and I Have Surrendered, where he explores themes of faith, identity, and cultural responsibility. Carr is a prominent voice in conservative Christian circles, advocating for policies shaped by a biblical worldview and engaging debates around religious freedom, social issues, and the role of government in American society. 

Support the show
🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?
👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com
📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:
faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore
❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics
📩 Reach out to us:
Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected]
Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected]
📱 Follow & connect with us:
Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik
Instagram: faithful_politics
Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast
LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics
📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:
faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected]
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram speak with Dr. Matthew Boedy, professor of rhetoric and author of The Seven Mountains Mandate, about the ideological and strategic framework driving modern Christian nationalism.
Boedy explains how the Seven Mountains Mandate evolved from a missionary concept into a coordinated political strategy aimed at gaining institutional control over key sectors of society, including government, education, media, religion, and family. He traces the movement’s theological roots, its connection to the New Apostolic Reformation, and its modern expression through figures like Charlie Kirk and organizations such as Turning Point USA.
The conversation explores how Christian nationalism differs from traditional religious influence, how eschatology shapes political urgency, and why the movement represents a shift from persuasion to power. Will and Josh also wrestle with the implications for democracy, religious freedom, and marginalized communities, while asking what responsible Christian leadership looks like in an era of rising populism and polarization.
Buy the book: The Seven Mountains Mandate: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780664269210

Guest Bio
Dr. Matthew Boedy is a professor of rhetoric and composition at the University of North Georgia and a scholar of religion, politics, and extremism in American culture. His work focuses on how religious ideas shape political movements and how rhetoric is used to mobilize power in public life.
He is the author of The Seven Mountains Mandate: Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy, which traces the theological origins, political strategy, and institutional networks behind the modern Christian nationalist movement. In the book, Boedy examines how figures such as Charlie Kirk and organizations like Turning Point USA have transformed religious ideology into a coordinated strategy for influencing government, education, media, and other key sectors of society.
Boedy’s research bridges theology, political theory, and cultural analysis, offering a framework for understanding how faith-based movements evolve from spiritual influence into o
Support the show
🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?
👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com
📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:
faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore
❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics
📩 Reach out to us:
Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected]
Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected]
📱 Follow & connect with us:
Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik
Instagram: faithful_politics
Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast
LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics
📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:
faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected]
In this episode of Faithful Politics, we sit down with Heather Cronk, founder of Project 21:12, to talk about what happens after people leave evangelical Christianity—and why that story matters politically, socially, and morally. Heather shares her own journey through fundamentalism, seminary, deconstruction, and organizing, and explains why roughly 15 million Americans now identify as exvangelicals. We discuss why LGBTQ treatment is one of the leading reasons people leave evangelical churches, how Christian nationalism distorts faith into a tool of power, and why organizing—not just healing—is central to accountability. The conversation wrestles honestly with Jesus, doubt, labels, and pluralism, while asking a forward-looking question: if this movement becomes visible and organized, how might it reshape the national conversation about faith and democracy?
Relevant Links
Project 2112: https://project2112.org
Guest Bio
Heather Cronk is a longtime community organizer and the founder of Project 2112, an initiative focused on connecting and organizing Americans who have left evangelical Christianity. After deconstructing from fundamentalist evangelicalism more than two decades ago, Heather spent years working across progressive movement spaces, bringing organizing tools to issues of power, accountability, and harm. Through Project 2112, she works to make exvangelicals visible, connected, and equipped to challenge the political and social damage caused by authoritarian forms of religion—while building healthier forms of community and public engagement.
Support the show
🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?
👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com
📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:
faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore
❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics
📩 Reach out to us:
Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected]
Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected]
📱 Follow & connect with us:
Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik
Instagram: faithful_politics
Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast
LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics
📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:
faithfulpolitics.substack.com