Cross & Gavel Podcast
The Cross & Gavel Podcast is designed for Christian attorneys and law students, but our topics range from pop culture to theology, from books to movies.
Host Anton Sorkin invites a variety of guests to speak on topics relating broadly to faith and culture, but our focus is on the intersection of faith and work, particularly work in the law.
Listen in!
You can listen to some of our favorites on this page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or search “Cross and Gavel” on any podcast app. Find most episodes archived here. Episodes 1-31 can be found here. If you enjoy the podcast, leave a comment and rating on iTunes.
Recent Podcasts
Christianity & Constitutionalism: Canon Law — R.H. Helmholz (Summer Series)
Today, we continue our summer series looking into the essays in a brand new volume entitled Christianity and Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press 2023) In this episode, we discuss the essay from Professor R.H. Helmholz on what the canon law can teach us about constitutionalism. Dr. Helmholz is the Ruth Wyatt Rosenson Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Law at the University of Chicago, the Nation’s leading scholar on medieval legal history, and the author of several books, including The Profession of Ecclesiastical Lawyers: An Historical Introduction and Natural Law in Court.
The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A special thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.
Christianity & Constitutionalism: Introduction — Nicholas Aroney (Summer Series)
Today, we begin our summer series looking into the essays in a brand new volume entitled Christianity and Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press 2023). In this episode, co-editor Nick Aroney discusses his introduction, his essay on Federalism, as well as offering a lengthy breakdown of the volume itself (i.e., 47:12 et al).
Portable Magic — Byron Borger & Richard A. Leiter
Books, books, books—that is our focus today, with two individuals who spent their lives surrounded by them. Joining me is the bookseller (Hearts & Minds) out of Pennsylvania, Byron Borger. And, law librarian from Nebraska University School of Law, Richard A. Leiter.
Stewards of Eden — Sandra L. Richter
Joining me this week to talk about her new book on theology and environmental stewardship is Sandra L. Richter. She is a renowned expert on the Old Testament, who currently holds the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College.
SPECIAL EPISODE: Forming Emotionally Healthy Leaders — Dr. Tina Armstrong
In this episode of the Leadership Roundtable, we are joined by Dr. Tina Armstrong from Fuller Theological Seminary. Her topic is on forming emotionally healthy leaders, including practices you can adopt today for calm and control.
Break Every Yoke — Joshua Dubler & Vincent W. Lloyd
Joining me this week to talk about abolitionism and religion are the authors of Break Every Yoke: Religion, Justice, and the Abolition of Prisons. Joshua is the associated professor of religion and director of the Rochester Education Justice Initiative at the University of Rochester. Vincent is an associate professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University, where he directs the Villanova Political Theology Project.
Cancel Wars — Sigal R. Ben-Porath
With widespread protests on university campuses, the question of reconciling free speech and inclusion is more important than ever for instutitional integrity. Joining me this week to talk about this balance is professor of education, philosophy, and political science at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of Cancel Wars: How Universities Can Foster Free Speech, Promote Inclusion, and Renew Democracy — Sigal R. Ben-Porath.
Generative AI & the Legal Profession — Kevin Lee
Joining me this week to talk about the AI revolution and its impact on the legal profession is the Intel Social Justice and Racial Equity Professor of Law at North Carolina Central University, Kevin Lee.
Tax Law, Religion, and Justice — Allen Calhoun
Joining me today to talk tax justice and church history is adjunct professor at Trinity Law School and author of the formative study — Tax Law, Religion, and Justice: An Exploration of Theological Reflections on Taxation — Allen Calhoun.
SPECIAL EPISODE: The Future of Intimacy After Dobbs — Louise Perry & Helen Roy
Over the 2023 March for Life, CLS co-sponsored an event Thursday night with FCLNY and Guiding Star Project as part of the Reframing Agency series. This is the second installment of that series, covering the future of intimacy after Dobbs. For this event, we are joined by two panelists, Louise Perry, columnist at The New Statesman and author of The Case Against the Sexual Revolution: A New Guide to Sex in the 21st Century, and Helen Roy, contributing editor of the American Mind and host of the podcast GIRLBOSS INTERRUPTED. Our moderator is Dr. Alisia Chase, Professor of Art History and Visual Culture at SUNY Brockport and FCLNY’s resident feminist scholar.
Eric Enlow, Dean, Handong International Law School
Myron Steeves, Founder, Church Law Center
Frank Beckwith, Professor, Baylor University
Eddie Colanter, Professor, California State University San Marcos
Mike Schutt, Executive Director, Worldview Academy
A special group of perfect strangers got together one evening during the 2022 CLS National Conference to talk about Aquinas, swingsets, and the authority of God. A few week later their audio was found. Caveat Emptore.
Dr. Andrew Root, Author, Speaker, Professor
Anton Sorkin talks about the dangers of adopting an “always be innovating” model for the church with Andrew Root.
Elizabeth Miller, CEO, International Organization for Stopping Exploitation of Women (IOSEW)
Brianna Racchini, Executive Director Triad Ladder of Hope
Anton Sorkin talks with two executive directors for their respective organizations about modern day slavery in the form of sex trafficking. Liz runs the International Organization for Stopping Exploitation of Women (IoSEW) and Brianna runs Triad Ladder of Hope (here). For more on this heinous crime, check out the memoir Girls Like Us from Rachel Lloyd.
Jason Thacker, Director of the Research Institute, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
Joining this week to talk about the all important work of preparing the church to tackle the technological age is Jason Thacker — the chair of research in technology ethics and director of the research institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC)
Greg Forster, Political Science Professor, Trinity International University
Joining this week to talk about how Christianity lost its cultural influence and can begin rebuilding it anew is political science professor at Trinity International University—Greg Forster. His book, Joy for the World, can be purchased here.
Special Episode: Dr. Jason Lepojärvi, George Fox University
For our first ever Leadership Roundtable, the students and I were joined by Dr. Jason Lepojärvi on the topic of overcoming resentment culture and better loving our neighbors. Jason is the C.S. Lewis Associate Professor of Theology & Literature (Honors Program) at George Fox University.
Benjamin Storey, Visiting Fellow, The American Enterprise Institute, Author,
Finding contentment is difficult. So, instead, we replace that pursuit with temporal acts of distraction and pleasure. Joining me this week to discuss the search for meaning through the eyes of four French philosophers is AEI Fellow and author of “Why We Are Restless” — Benjamin Storey.
Dr. Winnifred Sullivan, professor of religious studies and co-director, Center for Religion and the Human at Indiana University
Pete Williamson, Staff Member, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Chaplain, Harvard University
Anton Sorkin is joined by Dr. Winnifred Sullivan and Pete Williamson to talk about the ministry of presence and the role of chaplaincy on university campuses.
Clarke Forsythe, Senior Counsel, Americans United for Life
Anton Sorkin is joined by Clarke Forsythe to close out our summer of Dobbs in a discussion about the option itself and the looming state of demedicalized abortion.
John Kleining, Author, Lecturer, Australian Lutheran College
With the end of Roe comes a renewed conversation about the meaning of sex and the purpose of our physical bodies. Here to discuss the theology of the body and his new book — Wonderfully Made — is a Lutheran man from a land down under: John Kleining.
Subscribe to Cross & Gavel Podcasts through iTunes here or on any podcast app on your phone or tablet. Cross & Gavel is a project of Christian Legal Society.
