Start with Your Own Soul November 4, 2020 By Collegeville Institute Leave a Comment How can writers begin to claim their own voice? And how should local communities inform both writing and organizing work? In this episode, we speak with writer, pastor, and community organizer Rev. Brandon Wrencher. Brandon is a serial innovator who pastors a network of spiritually rooted small groups through the Good Neighbor Movement, which is inspired, in part, by African hush harbors of the antebellum period and Latin American base communities. Listen to Brandon speak about his own writing journey, the importance of organizing through grassroots small groups, and why all good writing must start with your own soul. Topics and resources discussed in this episode: The Good Neighbor Movement Decolonizing Church training Justice: Gathering for a New World (forthcoming book from Baker Academic) South American base ecclesial communities Liberating Church Project: A 21st Century Hush Harbor Manifesto African hush harbors of the antebellum period Quaker clearness committees Finding one’s voice as a writer Writing as a spiritual practice and discipline Read Brandon Wrencher’s writing: “Living the Word” column and other writing in Sojourners Our Cries For Equity by Brandon Wrencher in The Other Journal Bios Rev. Brandon Wrencher is a minister, organizer, writer, and trainer. He works across the US within faith, education, and non-profit sectors at the intersections of decolonizing church, contemplative activism, and local presence to build beloved communities. Brandon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from UNC-Chapel Hill, a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary, and completed post-graduate studies in theology and ethics from Duke Divinity School. Ellie Roscher is a writer, theology teacher, and host of the Unlikely Conversations podcast. She is a board member at the Collegeville Institute and the author of 12 Tiny Things, Play Like a Girl, and How Coffee Saved My Life. Ellie holds an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and an MA in Theology from Luther Seminary. She lives in Minneapolis with her spouse and sons. Follow Ellie on social media at @ellieroscher [Twitter, Instagram, Facebook]. Matthew Ian Fleming edited the audio for this podcast. You can find Matthew on Instagram at @matthewianfleming and his other podcasts at www.alterguild.org. Next Steps Follow Brandon Wrencher’s work on Facebook with the Good Neighbor Movement and Liberating Church Follow the work of the Collegeville Institute on social media at @collegevilleins [Twitter, Instagram, Facebook] and subscribe to our email newsletter Like this post? Subscribe to have new posts sent to you by email the same day they are posted.
