In Totality with Megan Ashley – Episode 47: "Being a Sanctuary" (Ft. Pricelis Dominguez)

Release Date: September 24, 2024
Host: Megan Ashley
Guest: Pricelis Dominguez (referred to as Pre)

1. Introduction

Megan Ashley welcomes listeners to episode 47 of "In Totality," introducing her guest, Pricelis Dominguez, affectionately called Pre. Megan expresses her excitement about Pre’s new book, Being a Sanctuary, highlighting its relevance to fostering authentic Christian communities.

2. Guest Background and Book Overview

Pre’s Journey and Authorship

Pre shares her personal journey within the faith, detailing her struggles and eventual return to Christianity after a period of doubt and disillusionment, particularly influenced by negative experiences within the church.

Pre at 01:13: “In the past 10 years, my time in the faith as I returned, it's been a lot. It's been a lot of pain. It's been a lot of a lotness. And when I kind of spent time in the pandemic reflecting on, I was like, I just don't think this is God's vision.”

Pre discusses her book, Being a Sanctuary, which addresses the need for the church to transform into a true sanctuary—compassionate, Bible-based, and inclusive—returning to God’s original vision for His church.

3. Healing Church Hurt and Establishing Sanctuaries

Addressing Pain and Providing Solutions

Both Megan and Pre delve into the impact of church hurt, sharing personal anecdotes about how betrayal and lack of compassion within church settings led to deep emotional wounds.

Megan at 06:28: “I grew up in church, and I've been hurt by the church, and I've had some really painful things. Some of the most painful things that I've experienced and that people have done to me have been people who have been in the church.”

Pre emphasizes that healing requires more than just acknowledgment; it necessitates actionable solutions to restore trust and foster genuine community.

Pre at 17:10: “We are not just going to complain about it. I'm going to want to provide solutions and hopeful, like, path forward.”

4. Diversity and Representation in the Church

Promoting Inclusivity and Avoiding Tokenism

The conversation shifts to the importance of diversity within church leadership and congregations. Pre critiques the tendency of churches to reactively add diverse members without genuine integration or representation.

Pre at 25:49: “We have a lot of people who are picking at and exposing and criticizing and critiquing, but not also fixing the problem.”

Pre advocates for proactive diversity, ensuring that leaders genuinely reflect and understand the multifaceted identities within their congregations.

Pre at 32:22: “The New Testament is so much about unity of different cultures of different groups that if we miss that, we're not reading it well.”

5. Handling Suffering and Trauma-Informed Care

Being Present and Offering Support

Pre highlights the necessity for the church to adopt trauma-informed approaches, moving beyond surface-level solutions like simple forgiveness to offering meaningful support for those suffering.

Pre at 17:04: “We have to see it as a everyone's problem kind of thing... All of this is too, we're being too passive about it.”

Megan shares her personal experience with mental health struggles, underscoring the importance of the church addressing such issues with empathy rather than judgment.

Megan at 38:11: “I have a question for you because I’m interested in what your thoughts are on diversity when it comes to your personal community.”

6. Navigating Election Season as Christians

Maintaining Unity Amidst Polarization

With the society deeply entrenched in political divides, Megan and Pre discuss strategies for Christians to remain unified and compassionate during election seasons. Pre offers practical advice on setting boundaries with content consumption and engaging in effective, godly dialogue.

Pre at 47:00: “We need to be prayerful... being mindful and setting boundaries on how much information we are consuming.”

They further explore the idea of shifting from being reactive to contributing positively to the church’s health, aligning with Christian principles rather than societal pressures.

7. Practical Advice and Conclusions

From Consumers to Contributors

Pre introduces the concept of moving from being mere consumers of the church’s pain to becoming active contributors in its healing and growth. She encourages readers to engage with her book, Being a Sanctuary, as a guide to fostering a more inclusive, compassionate, and Bible-centered church environment.

Pre at 74:01: “We are consuming the pain of the church, we're consuming the problems, we're consuming the failures... How can I contribute to the health of the church?”

Megan and Pre conclude by encouraging listeners to not only read Being a Sanctuary but also to engage with their communities through dialogue and collective action, promoting unity and understanding.

Pre at 75:37: “Get it for your pastor. Get it for your discipler. Get it for your church leader. Buy this book. We are so appreciative of you.”

Notable Quotes

• Pre at 07:26: “Another thing is, when you’re in an abusive church or leadership, and you don’t have context for any of these scriptures because you didn’t really read them.”

• Megan at 19:55: “You can complain, but, like, what is the solution?”

• Pre at 66:59: “Suffer with those who suffer. Mourn with those who mourn. Grieve with those who grieve.”

• Pre at 72:52: “It’s about me,” reflecting on the need to prioritize others' suffering over personal discomfort.

Conclusion

Episode 47 of "In Totality" offers a profound exploration of transforming the church into a true sanctuary—one that heals, embraces diversity, and provides meaningful support for those in suffering. Megan Ashley and Precilis Dominguez collaboratively emphasize the importance of authenticity, empathy, and proactive engagement in creating a compassionate Christian community. Their insightful dialogue not only addresses longstanding issues within the church but also provides actionable steps for listeners to contribute positively to their faith communities.

For those interested in deepening their understanding and contributing to the church’s healing, Precilis Dominguez’s Being a Sanctuary is a highly recommended resource.

Note: To explore more about Megan Ashley and "In Totality," visit www.themaganashley.com.