Washington National Cathedral presents "Honest to God," an online program featuring wisdom leaders, theologians and others offering spiritual content for these times.
March 23, 2021: Congressman John Lewis
Dean Randolph M. Hollerith hosts Jon Meacham, author and historian, with Congressman Lewis’ Chiefs of Staff, Linda Earley Chastang and Michael Collins, in an intimate conversation about Lewis’ life and leadership. From the earliest part of his life through his decades in Congress, Lewis focused on the wellbeing of others, drawing on a wellspring of faith and relationships to do so. Less than a year after Lewis’ death, Dean Hollerith invites these three guests to reflect on what inspired and sustained his decades-long leadership.
Tuesday, March 23 at 7 pm EST
Free; donations accepted
April 20, 2021: Congressional Chaplains
In partnership with the National Institute on Civil Discourse (NICD), Washington National Cathedral hosts Senate Chaplain Barry Black and House Chaplain Margaret Kibben for a conversation about ethical leadership. As Chaplains, Black and Kibben have a unique relationship with elected officials. Dean Hollerith and Mr. Keith Allred, Director of NICD, explore public service, the Golden Rule, insights from military chaplaincy, and the role of faith amidst painful division.
Tuesday, April 20 at 7 pm EST
Free; donations accepted
May 11, 2021: Jose Andres
Jose Andres spends an evening in intimate conversation with Dean Randolph M. Hollerith and Canon Missioner Leonard Hamlin about leadership, inspiration, and public service. Dean Hollerith and Rev. Canon Hamlin invite Mr. Andres to pull back the curtain and share the stories behind his internationally recognized humanitarian efforts to eliminate poverty and feed the hungry.
Tuesday, May 11 at 7 pm EST
Free; donations accepted
Honest to God – October 21, 2020
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
October 21, 2020: The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
“We are meant to be people who cross the divide and seek the work of reconciliation.”
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry is the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. A preacher, teacher and pastor, Bishop Curry encourages Christians to practice the “loving, liberating and life-giving Way of the Jesus Movement.” This Honest to God conversation with Dean Hollerith reflects on respecting the dignity of every human being during this challenging, conflicted time.
Honest to God – June 17, 2020
Ambassador Andrew Young and The Rev. Dr. Paul Smith
June 17, 2020: Ambassador Andrew Young and The Rev. Dr. Paul Smith
Ambassador Andrew Young is the former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, US Congressman, and Atlanta Mayor. He was an early leader in civil rights movement, serving as executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was a close confident of Martin Luther King, Jr. The Rev. Dr. Paul Smith is a Presbyterian minister, mediator, and civil right activist known for creating multi-racial churches in Buffalo, St. Louis, Atlanta, and Brooklyn. Inspired by Dr. Howard Thurman, the Rev. Dr. Smith has made diversity and inclusiveness hallmarks of his life’s work.
Honest to God – May 27, 2020
Quinn Cook
May 27, 2020: Quinn Cook
Watch the conversation between Quinn Cook, 2018 NBA champion and Canon Missioner Leonard Hamlin about faith and perseverance. A graduate of Dematha High School in Prince George’s County, Cook is a producer of the recently released Showtime documentary Basketball County: In the Water. His early life experiences and strong family ties to church laid the foundation for a faith that undergirds a commitment to community and to God.
Honest to God – May 20, 2020
Barbara Brown Taylor
May 20, 2020: Barbara Brown Taylor
Dean Randy Hollerith hosts best-selling author, teacher, and Episcopal priest Barbara Brown Taylor for Honest to God. She is the author of 14 books, the most recent Holy Envy was published in March 2019. An Altar in the World (2010) and Learning to Walk in the Dark (2015) were both New York Times Bestsellers. In 2014 TIME included her on its annual list of Most Influential People.
Honest to God – May 13, 2020
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde
May 13, 2020: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde
Dean Randy Hollerith hosts Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for an Honest to God conversation on living with faith during the pandemic. Bishop Budde is a passionate believer in the gospel of Jesus and the Episcopal Church’s particular witness and is committed to developing new expressions of Christian community. She believes that Jesus calls all who follow him to strive for justice and peace, and to respect the dignity of every human being.
Honest to God – May 5, 2020
Father James Martin
May 5, 2020: Father James Martin
Fr. Martin is a Jesuit priest and editor at large at America magazine. He is the author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage and Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Sensitivity and Compassion. In 2017, he was appointed by Pope Francis as a consultant to the Vatican’s Dicastary for Communication.
Honest to God – April 29, 2020
Nadia Bolz-Weber
April 29, 2020: Nadia Bolz-Weber
The Cathedral’s online “Honest to God” series continues with Nadia Bolz-Weber, ordained Lutheran Pastor. Bolz-Weber is the founder of House for All Sinners & Saints in Denver, and a New York Times bestselling author. She writes and speaks about personal failings, recovery, grace and faith.
Honest to God – April 22, 2020
The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers hosts a panel discussion
April 22, 2020: Earth Day
The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation, hosted a panel discussion on healing the earth in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day. Rev. Traci Blackmon, Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas and Bishop David Rice joined Canon Spellers to remind us of the urgency of collective, inspired, and loving action to end the climate crisis.
Honest to God – April 15, 2020
Canon Theologian Kelly Brown Douglas with guest Lisa Sharon Harper
April 15, 2020: Lisa Sharon Harper
Canon Theologian Kelly Brown Douglas, Dean of Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary, hosted writer, speaker and activist Lisa Sharon Harper. Harper served as Sojourners Chief Church Engagement Officer, where she is currently a columnist. She is the author of several books, including The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong can be Made Right, and the founder and president of FreedomRoad.us, a consulting group dedicated to shrinking the narrative gap in our nation by designing forums and experiences that bring common understanding, common commitment and common action.
Honest to God – April 1, 2020
Cathedral Dean Randy Hollerith with guest Philip Yancey
April 1, 2020: Philip Yancey
Dean Hollerith hosted bestselling author Philip Yancey, author of Where Is God When It Hurts, Disappointment with God, and The Question That Never Goes Away. Yancey brought his wisdom and experience to an online audience, expanding on thoughts he shared in his most recent blog, Living in Plague Times.
