019 From Exclusion to Belonging with Bruce Grady

What does it mean to truly belong?

In this episode of Belonging, Becoming, Beloved, Sean and Frances sit down with Bruce Grady, Executive Presbyter of New Hope Presbytery, to explore the power of belonging, the importance of community, and the courage required to create space for others. Drawing from his experiences in ministry, higher education, and his own journey as an African American leader, Bruce reflects on the people who shaped him, the barriers he encountered, and the mentors who reminded him that he had everything he needed to fulfill God's calling on his life.

Together they discuss how churches can move beyond simply welcoming people to helping them truly belong. Bruce shares stories of faith, education, racial justice, and leadership, emphasizing that every person brings gifts, wisdom, and value to the community. The conversation explores how exclusion harms both those who are excluded and those doing the excluding, and why the church is called to create spaces where all people can flourish as beloved children of God.

Along the way, they reflect on family, mentorship, the next generation, the role of education, and the hope that comes from building communities rooted in dignity, relationship, and God's vision of shalom. This is a conversation about faithfulness, courage, and what becomes possible when we remember that we belong to one another.