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Melody R Winderweedle


 Melody R Winderweedle

I am a wife, mother, MDiv Graduate, and public speaker. I am also the lead Pastor at Ekklesia Christian Fellowship in Chattanooga, TN. I am passionate about reclaiming Christianity and Jesus from the christian nationalists who have used God’s name in vain. And I talk honestly about ways that we can subversively work against the damaging system of patriarchy and the hierarchies of power that have controlled the narrative for too long. I am passionate about finding creative solutions to this oppressive structure. I get excited about wrestling and reclaiming scripture that has been used as a weapon for patriarchal ideas. I love dialoguing about the tough questions of the faith, and sharing the Good News that we are all members of New Creation Life in Christ.  


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EXPERIENCES
    Activity Time Information
    Show Date
    Fri 4 Sep 2026 3:00 PM to 3:50 PM
    Title ShortQuiet Resistance
    Venue Front Porch
    Experience DescriptionIn the dumpster fire that is our current situation here in the United States, fighting against this evil can be overwhelming. And we can feel powerless. But what if there are small acts of resistance that we can embody in our day-to-day lives? I believe one quiet way we can survive this chaos is by creating real, authentic, intentional communities of belonging. In these communities, we rejoice, we grieve, we doubt, and we hope together. The greatest lie they want us to believe is that we are alone. Being in a community reminds us that we are stronger together. My talk will center around the ways our church has chosen to shift its structure to make more space for intentional community. Not only does the act of gathering strengthen us all for the fight, but by reorienting our structure away from the hierarchies of power, we are quietly resisting the structures that are oppressing us, determined to thrive even as the empires fall.
    Show Date
    Sat 5 Sep 2026 11:00 AM to 11:50 AM
    Title ShortThe Unnamed Characters
    Venue UMC
    Experience DescriptionIn this interview style conversation, we will explore the many overlooked, unnamed characters in the New Testament. By approaching the characters with a hermeneutic of suspicion and inspiration from Womanist theology, I will take a closer look at the actions of the historically marginalized Unnamed people who have deep encounters with Jesus. These characters have a clear understanding of God’s Kin-dom that the Named characters often do not see. The named characters, because of their close proximity to power and privilege, miss the plot. And the Unnamed enter into the narrative to teach them what they have been missing. What we learn from these characters is a broad and expansive view of God’s Kin-dom. It is time that we pay closer attention to them. They represent so many people today who have been pushed aside by those in position powers. And there is much that we still need to learn from them. Josh Scott will be the interviewer in this conversation. It will end with an option for questions and dialogue from those in attendance.