April 26, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Pastor Anita Hill about the year since being ordained by St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church. Hill is a lesbian woman in a committed relationship, and that puts the church out of line with the ELCA. Reverend Hill has continued ministering to her congregation despite the debate around her ordination.
May 29, 2002 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews Dick Moesing, who recounts his brother-in-law's story of losing a hammer during a round of dome repairs on the Cathedral of St. Paul during a round of repairs in the 1950's. During 2002 restoration, that hammer has reappeared, and being given back to the family.
April 7, 2003 - MPR’ Brandt Williams reports on a Sunday evening worship service held in the State Theater in Minneapolis, where Black leaders told the crowd of nearly 500 that African Americans still face high rates of unemployment, poverty and health problems. They expressed hope that through church and community collaboration, those problems can be solved.
May 1, 2003 - The VocalEssence music series presents the North American professional premiere of Swedish composer Sven-David Sandström’s "High Mass." It is a huge event, featuring two full choirs, an orchestra and five soloists, with close to 250 people on stage at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.
June 13, 2003 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Peter Rogness, the bishop of the St. Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, about a Hmong pastor from St. Paul who is one of three men being detained in Laos.
June 16, 2003 - Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the 20th century's greatest Christian theologians. He also was involved in several attempts to assassinate Adolph Hitler. Host Krista Tippett speaks with Martin Doblmeier, director of the new documentary Bonhoeffer, which examines how this pacifistic figure struggled with some of the greatest moral issues of his day, and became an emblem of personal faith and conscience.
July 9, 2003 - An Evangelical Lutheran Bishop says the prayers of people throughout the nation were answered following today's release of a St. Paul Hmong American pastor from a Lao jail. Authorities released Rev. Naw-Karl Mua and two journalists following intense diplomatic pressure by the French, Belgian and U.S. governments; and reportedly a payment of nearly $2500 from Mua's wife to Lao authorities.
August 20, 2003 - On this Mainstreet Radio special report, MPR’s Cathy Wurzer presents “Rekindling the Spirit - The Rebirth of American Indian Spirituality.” Program includes various reports by MPR’s Dan Gunderson and Tom Robertson, and numerous interviews with Native Americans on spiritual beliefs and roots.
November 21, 2003 - Chris Julin presents a Mainstreet Radio report from Duluth, where he visits the Sacred Heart Music Center. Before becoming a music venue, the building spent more than 100 years as a cathedral. It has different acoustics from most concert halls and recording studios. For this reason, musicians from bluegrass bands and punk rockers love the sound, saying it has a different feel.
December 12, 2003 - MPR’s Marisa Helms reports on thousands of Mexican Americans in Minnesota celebrating a Mexican national holiday, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe.