Adam is a lifelong Methodist - a podcast by Avery Smith

In a previous episode, Adam Richards talked to us about the United Methodist Church's general conference, but we didn't get to hear much about their own life! Adam has a deep love for Wesleyan theology's focus on good fruits and for their university's campus ministry and activist groups. Adam also talks about the support they find from their partner and some family members, the challenges of finding clothing when nonbinary and autistic, and finding the Spirit of Love in secular spaces.



Talking points:

- Updates on the UMC general conference (0:00 - 2:19)  

- Introducing Adam: studies, church involvement (2:20-4:57)  

- Growing up; high school youth group while figuring out sexuality (4:58-7:20)

- College: LGBT+ group, activist group (7:21-8:49)

- Frank Schaefer: hurt by the UMC, finding hope in campus ministry (8:50-14:40)

- The "clobber" passages: trans people and the Bible (14:41-18:35)

- Partner -- atheist, but not "unequally yoked" (18:36-20:48)

- Family and working through queerphobia (20:49-24:10)

- Still not out to their dad as trans; figuring out when to come out; figuring out they're trans (24:11-26:57)

- Trans and autistic -- sensory issues vs. dysphoria (26:58-27:44)

- The challenges of clothes shopping (27:45-29:57)

- The Spirit of Love in secular spaces -- God is where the marginalized are (29:58-31:59)

- More on queerness and the Bible (32:00-34:42)

- "Ever since coming out, my faith has gotten stronger" (34:43-36:15)

- Wesleyan theology -- experiences and fruits (36:17-42:06)

- More on clothes: Deuteronomy, even harder when you're nonbinary (42:07-43:42)

- Wrapping up (43:43-46:59)

Further episodes of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Further podcasts by Avery Smith

Website of Avery Smith