Pastor to High Priestess
What’s an ex-vangelical, ex-clergy deconstructing witch to do with her academic knowledge, pastoral and religious experiences, and religious trauma? I created a podcast where I share stories from my years as a pastor and my fundie upbringing. I interview former pastors and church leaders who have left Christian ministry and are doing their own deconstructing from their years in Christianity…many of whom embrace the practice of witchcraft and now identify as witches.
So, bring your favorite coping mechanism, and let’s mask our religious trauma with lots of laughter and sarcasm.
Episodes
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![Lenny Duncan]()
P2HP 1: Lenny Duncan
Rev/Awo Lenny Duncan (they/them) is a writer, speaker, scholar, and former pastor in the ELCA. In this conversation Reed and Lenny talk about the Institutional Church and leaving ministry, Lenny’s current and upcoming work, and the full room that Jesus joined.
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Becoming Good: A Conversation with Kate Hilderbrandt
A conversation with poet, coach, and permission alchemist, Kate Hilderbrandt.
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The Missing Stair: Secrets in the Church
Reed and Ashely have a conversation about secrets that churches keep, retribution for pointing out toxic people or practices in congregations, and the pain of deconstructing and leaving Christianity.
Episode Notes
The Missing Stair by the Silo Sisters
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Yes, I Know it's Just Called Skanking: An Interview with Erin Johnson
Reed recounts traumatic experiences growing up Pentecostal and has a conversation with Erin Johnson, who also grew up Pentecostal, about her journey of deconstruction and finding solace in practices outside Christianity.
Content Warning: discussions of suicide, suicidal ideation, and mental abuse.
Episode Notes
CONTENT WARNING: discussions of suicide, suicidal ideation, and mental abuse.
Resources for dealing with religious trauma:
https://www.religioustraumainstitute.com/
https://www.reclamationcollective.com/
Sandra Porter's Music
Meet Reed Stephenson
I’m Reed, the creator and host of the Pastor to High Priestess podcast. I grew up fundamentalist Pentecostal, swam my way to the other side of the denominational river, and eventually was ordained as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the ELCA. I rescinded my ordination credentials in 2020, leaving the Church, my lifelong abuser. These days, I describe myself as a Poststructural, Hopeful Agnostic, Academic Witch. When I moved across the country to take my last call in a congregation, I said to my partner. This is it. Either this works or I’m coming back home and I’ll get a PhD and that’s what I did. I am a 3rd year PhD student in Religion where I spend my time researching the history of witchcraft, witches, and witch trials in the UK and the US, and women in religion. (right now) My plan for my dissertation is a study of women who have left Institutional Christianity to embrace the practice of Witchcraft using Poststructural Theory as a way to help me think.
Meet Sandra Porter
I’m Sandra. I’m a mom, singer, songwriter, teacher, and witch. I love making music with most people, especially my kids. I have one studio EP with plans for a full-length album in the works. I love being in nature and finding all the ways we are connected to the earth and in turn to each other. Everyone was made for love. Love who you want. Go where you want. We don’t all have one planned path for our lives. Except to fuck the patriarchy.
You can listen to Sandra’s music here.
