In this soul-stirring episode of Theodivergent, Mike sits down with Rev. Dr. Deanna Young, Executive Pastor, ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, and proud grandmother, to talk about her evolving faith, her passion for Open and Relational Theology, and why she’s proudly been called a heretic. From deconstructing atonement theories to redefining discipleship and spiritual authority, Deanna brings a years of ministry experience, a love for the divine, and a pastoral heart to this episode.
💡 We talk about:
Why Deanna “unblames” God and how she reinterprets violent Old Testament stories through the lens of Jesus
How Job and Abraham become stories of divine love, not divine cruelty
What real discipleship looks like beyond Sunday sermons and structured classes
How doubt, curiosity, and grief have shaped her theology and ministry
What drew her to Open and Relational Theology—and how she brings it into her church in conservative Texas
If you’ve ever wrestled with hard questions about God’s character, biblical violence, or how to teach love in a world obsessed with control, this episode is for you.
It’s a great privilege to talk to Deanna about discipleship and the future of the church. This is a conversation about divinely inspired hope. It is our shared hope that this conversation encourages you love and live deeply, and “suck the marrow out of life.”
Rev. Dr. Deanna Young is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and currently serves as Executive Pastor of a progressive congregation in one of the most conservative counties in Texas. A preacher, teacher, author, and visual artist, Deanna brings compassion and curiosity to her ministry, especially when guiding others through faith deconstruction and reimagination. After retiring in 2019, she returned to ministry in 2020 and continues to offer transformative pastoral leadership rooted in love and inclusivity. She is married with three children and eight grandchildren and is a graduate of Northwind Theological Seminary.
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