Episode Fourteen | The Church and the Election: Witnessing to Another Way

How can our faith guide us in engaging in public discourse? How can the church offer healing to a divided nation? What does it mean to be a follower of Christ in a contentious election season? These are just some of the questions we explore in this episode of the Table Talk podcast.

Episode 14 Transcript

Episode Fourteen Guests

Rev. Keri Cress

Rev. Keri Cress is an ordained Deacon in the Tennessee Western Kentucky Conference with a deep passion for combining her faith with practical service in the world. With a background in social work, she is dedicated to advocating for marginalized communities and helping individuals navigate personal challenges. Her unique role as both a spiritual leader and a social worker enables her to bridge the gap between the church and the broader society, focusing on social justice, mental health, and community outreach. Her work embodies a holistic approach to ministry, blending pastoral care with a commitment to societal transformation.

Rev. Dr. Deborah Smith

Reverend Dr. Deborah B. Smith, an ordained Elder of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church, currently serves as the Metro District Superintendent in Fayette, Tipton, Shelby, and Hardeman Counties of the Memphis Conference; Pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church; Minister of Outreach and Missions at Germantown United Methodist Church; and as Youth Coordinator at Bethany United Methodist Church in the New Orleans District of the Louisiana Conference.

Reverend Dr. Deborah B. Smith holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Curriculum and Instruction and Curriculum Theory from Louisiana State University, a degree in Master of Education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction and reading specialist certification from the University of New Orleans, and the Bachelors of Arts Degree in Humanities from LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, Tennessee.

Rep. Sam Whitson

Representative Sam Whitson is a member of the Tennessee State House of Representatives and serves District 65. He is a lifelong United Methodist who attends Franklin First UMC.