1. Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel (United Church of Christ) – Reclaiming Faith Beyond Fundamentalism

Reclaiming Faith Beyond Fundamentalism with Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel

Welcome to The Sacred Slope—where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground.
Alexis sits down with Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel—pastor, activist, and prophetic voice for justice—to talk about reclaiming faith beyond fundamentalism. Rooted in her Southern Baptist upbringing and leadership in the UCC, Ginny shares her journey of deconstruction, insights on sin and hell, and unwavering support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

This conversation brings both healing and heat—a journey through grief, truth-telling, and hope for a more courageous church.

💡 Key Takeaways
• We are all created in God’s image—loved, good, and whole
• Fundamentalism and nationalism distort the Gospel
• Faith is lived through community, justice, and love
• Many churches affirm LGBTQIA+ people and reproductive justice
• Jesus stood with the oppressed—not the powerful
• Deconstruction invites us to co-create freer faith

⛪ About Today’s Guest
Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel is interim pastor at the Congregational Church of Austin, UCC (@uccaustin).
A former Baptist, she holds degrees from Auburn University (@auburnu), Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (@btsrva), and Union Presbyterian Seminary (@unionseminary).
She has pastored churches in Maryland, Texas, and Missouri, and once ran for the Texas House of Representatives. Ginny is a passionate advocate for justice, inclusion, and spiritual integrity.

📍 Featured Topics
• Leaving Southern Baptist fundamentalism
• Progressive views on sin and hell
• Harms of Christian nationalism
• Creating LGBTQIA+ affirming spaces
• Reimagining the Trinity through feminist theology
• Churches supporting reproductive freedom
• Why justice-rooted faith still matters

🕊️ Quotes
“You are created in God’s image. You are loved, you are good, and you are whole.”
“Hell is what we create here—through harm, greed, and fear.”
“I believe resurrection Christianity is coming.”

📚 Resources Mentioned
• Nadia Bolz-Weber @sarcasticlutheran
• Dr. Wilda Gafney @drgafney
• Sweet Honey in the Rock @sweethoneyintherock
• Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) 
     → Assembly Required (Crooked Media, @crookedmedia)
• Mary Oliver
• Anne Lamott
• Nikki Giovanni
• ChurchClarity.org (@churchclarity) — https://www.churchclarity.org
      → A database that scores churches on clarity around LGBTQ+ inclusion, women in leadership, and more

Go in peace, friends. May you find sacred ground wherever your questions lead, and may the Spirit’s fruit guide you this week. If you’re longing for community, may you be encouraged to find one that embraces your full, beautiful selves.

🕊️🌿 Community Guidelines 🌿🕊️

 If we claim to follow Jesus, we should be known by our love — not by what we say, wear, or perform, but by the fruit of the Spirit:
 ❤️ love, 💫 joy, ☮️ peace, 🕊 patience, 💝 kindness, 🌿 goodness, 🙏 faithfulnes

Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground.
For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity, exploring its many expressions.

🌿 Community Guidelines

If we claim to follow Jesus, let’s be known by our love—evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control
🕊 May our words online and actions offline reflect that love.

🔗 Connect
🎧 Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope
🎙 Hosted by Alexis Rice
🎵 Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence
📬 Nominate a guest: [email protected]