Unpacking Purity Culture with Angie Hong, Jenny McGrath and Abby Wong-Heffter

Angie Hong is a worship leader, writer, and speaker. She has completing her master’s of divinity from Duke University and lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her spouse and two children.

Angie's Article in the Atlantic "The Flaw at the Center Purity Culture"

Atlanta Spa Shooting - March 17, 2021

Resources:

The Folly of 'Purity Politics'     - A new book by Julie Beck that argues for the value of owning up to your imperfections.

Link to The Purity Culture Research Collective that Jenny is a part of.

Unpacking Purity Culture, Sex and Race (link here)

May 22, 2022, 9AM-12:30PM PST

"The Purity Culture teaching and movement has had a profound impact on shaping our identity in terms of our faith, sexuality, body, race, and gender.  It has helped to create an intense shame and beliefs of imbalances and distortions of power.  Left unattended these impacts have contributed to creating environments ripe for greater shame, abuse, and sexual disfunction.  Our hope in creating this panel discussion is to Unpack Purity Culture and to allow space, curiosity, and care for those who have been shaped by its teaching."

Abby Wong- Heffter -  I reside and work on Duwamish land and identify as a cis, straight, mixed Chinese woman of color. I graduated from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology with a MA in Counseling Psychology after having completed my clinical internship in war-affected Northern Uganda, East Africa. Since obtaining my MA, I worked as a therapist for children and families in crisis. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Child Mental Health Specialist in the state of Washington. In addition to practicing therapy, I teach at The Seattle School as Affiliate Faculty and created the Concentration in Trauma and Abuse. I am also a founder of the Allender Center where I train and supervise clinicians who seek to specialize in Trauma-Informed Narrative Therapy. In my “former life” I worked in various social service realms where I acted as a case manager at an international adoption agency and a women and family’s homeless shelter.

Jenny McGrath - I have spent over a decade researching the ways in which the body can heal from trauma through movement and connection. I have come to see that our bodies know what they need.  By approaching our body with curiosity we can begin to listen to the innate wisdom our body has to teach us.  And that is where the magic happens! I was raised within fundamentalist Christianity. I have been, and am still on my own journey of healing from religious trauma and religious sexual shame (as well as white saviorism).  I am a white, straight, able-bodied, cis woman. I recognize the power and privilege this affords me socially, and I am committed to understanding my bias’ and privilege in the work that I do.  I am LGBTQIA+ affirming and actively engage critical race theory and consultation to see a better way forward that honors all bodies of various sizes, races, ability, religion, gender, and sexuality. 

Danielle S. Rueb - Castillejo - I hold an MA in Counseling in Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate in Washington State, story lover, owner of Way-Finding Therapy, podcaster, avid reader, writer, adventurer and advocate. I love the anticipation of Spring and Summer in the Northwest - the long days and sunlight we miss in the dark winters. You can easily find me out on a trail, laughing, cooking with my kids, or working in my yard.

Maggie Hemphill -  Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, I live with my husband and our three kids in the greater Seattle area where we are close to family, water and mountains.  Trained for three years  (2019-2022) at the Allender Center in Narrative Focused Trauma Care learning to listen to and hold stories of trauma, bringing curiosity and kindness, offering attunement and containment and helping people move towards healing and redemption. I'm a Certified Professional Coach doing 1:1 life coaching and Story Groups. 

Well, first I guess I would have to believe that there was or is an actual political dialogue taking place that I could potentially be a part of. And honestly, I'm not sure that I believe that.