Lissa Wray Beal on Why Pastors Need the Old Testament, Faithfully Preaching Trauma Texts, and the Role of Seminary in a Changing Church
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The Old Testament can feel daunting to preach, but it’s an essential part of the story we’re called to tell. Many pastors avoid preaching texts of violence, trauma, and grief but what if these difficult texts are exactly what our churches need to hear? In this conversation, Old Testament scholar and Anglican priest Dr. Lissa Wray Beal offers a thoughtful and deeply encouraging guide for engaging the harder parts of Scripture. Drawing from her current writing on the book of Jeremiah and her years of pastoral ministry and academic scholarship, Lissa makes the case that these ancient texts are essential for helping congregations find language in time of suffering and struggle.
Together Lissa and Jason explore:
Preaching texts of trauma with both theological clarity and pastoral care, especially in communities shaped by grief, abuse, or injustice,
Finding solidarity with Jeremiah as a model for faithful ministry in seasons of exhaustion, obscurity, or rejection,
Navigating denominational shifts with humility, theological conviction, and an openness to the diverse expressions of the Church,
Recovering the Psalms as vital resources for congregational prayer, especially in times of cultural and spiritual disorientation,
Rethinking the future of seminaries: the importance of embodied formation, theological depth, and renewed partnership with the Church.
Lissa is thoughtful and pastoral, blending scholarly depth with real-world insight. This is a thoughtful conversation about formation in the word, pastoral faithfulness, and the steady grace of God in the complexity of everyday life.
Lissa Wray Beal
The Rev. Dr. Lissa Wray Beal is an Old Testament scholar and ordained Anglican priest living in Toronto. Her years in pastoral ministry shaped her passion for preaching and teaching the Old Testament, especially as it relates to the life of the Church today. She taught for many years at Providence Theological Seminary before joining the faculty at Wycliffe College. Her research focuses on Israel’s life in the land and exile, engaging narrative, canonical, and trauma-informed approaches. She has written commentaries on 1-2 Kings and Joshua, and is currently completing a commentary on Jeremiah. Lissa and her husband, Steve, love to travel, often visiting cathedrals and tracing the lives of the saints.
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The work of strengthening pastors across Canada is only possible because of generous partners like you. As we look to the future, would you consider joining us in prayer, sharing this episode, or making a gift to invest in a vibrant, Jesus-centered church in every community?
Special thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for making this episode possible. We invite you to explore their Bible Course to help your church grow in Scripture engagement.
