Theology and the Episcopal Church with Kelli Joyce and Scott MacDougall
What is theology? And what is the Episcopal Church’s relationship to it? How does the Episcopal Church think and live theologically?
Several authors approach these questions in a book released earlier this year by Church Publishing: Wisdom, Knowledge, and Faith: New Essays on the Future of Theology and the Episcopal Church. We invited two of its contributors, Scott MacDougall and the Rev. Kelli Joyce, to share their thoughts.
It can be easy for Episcopal leaders, or the average Episcopalian, to feel like theology is a luxury, fussy, or something “other people” do who have the time or training to care.
Today we get a taste of how two of the top theological and pastoral thinkers in the Episcopal Church more broadly consider theology and its role in Episcopal life, from personal formation to polity and Church unity, and they’re helping other Episcopalians to understand how they're already "doing theology" together.
If you dig the conversation or want to learn more, Church publishing will give you 20% off Kelli and Scott’s book with code TURN20 at checkout at churchpublishing.org. Offer ends December 31. We’ll include a link in the show notes.
Along with Executive Director Matthew Olver, Scott and Kelli discuss:
- What is theology?
- What does it mean for Christian theology to be “recognizable” across the centuries?
- How do Episcopalians understand themselves within the larger Christian tradition, even in theological tension and conflict?
The Rev. Kelli Joyce is a priest of the Diocese of Arizona, currently living and ministering in the Diocese of Tennessee. She is a candidate for the Ph.D. in Theological Studies at Vanderbilt University.
Scott MacDougall is director for theological resources for The Episcopal Church.
Kelli co-edited (with Rob McSwain) and Scott contributed to the book that inspired this conversation, Wisdom, Knowledge, and Faith: New Essays on the Future of Theology and the Episcopal Church.
In our bonus segment, how do you spot a deacon in a crowd? What if you’re called to be one? And what if you’ve got a deacon-in-formation on your hands?
The Rev. W. Keith McCoy joins TLC for a chat about the vocation of deacons, how it differs from lay and priestly ministry, and top tips for nurturing a deacon at your church.
Keith is a deacon from the Diocese of New Jersey, a semi-retired public library administrator, and a former archdeacon and chair of diaconal formation. He is currently president of the Fund for the Diaconate of The Episcopal Church.
From the episode:
Get 20% off Kelli and Scott’s book with code TURN20 at checkout at churchpublishing.org. Offer ends December 31, 2026.
Learn about the Fund for the Diaconate
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