In this BONUS episode Rev. Roger Wolsey joins The 787 Collective Council, a group of nine young adutls that act as an advisory council and so much more. Roger shares his background as a United Methodist pastor and his experiences in campus ministry and the local church. He discusses the inspiration behind his vulnerability in his book, Discovering Fire: Spiritual Practices That Transform Lives, and the importance of sharing personal stories.

During the episdoe the group engages in a presence practice led by Roger, then reflect on their experiences and the significance of being present. The conversation shifts to the meaning of spiritual practices and the idea of re-enchanting the world through awe and gratitude. They explore the shift from logic and reason to experiential faith and the importance of noticing and living into faith.

Roger also discusses the importance of community and shared experiences in the church. He emphasizes that church's need to create opportunities for people to share life together and engage in meaningful service and spiritual practices. Wolsey explores the idea of re-enchanting the church by making adjustments to traditional practices and embracing new ways of worship. He discusses the potential benefits of incorporating practices like psychedelics and plant medicine into the church, while also acknowledging the need for caution and responsible integration. The conversation highlights the importance of being open to new practices and experiences while also respecting the traditions and beliefs of others.

Links:

• Find out more about Rev. Roger Wolsey
• Meet our Collective Council members
• Connect with Rev. Phil Dieke to get connected with The 787 Collective (pdieke@austinseminary.edu)
• Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.

Sound Bites

• "The thing that you think might lead people to think less of you if they only knew is the thing that actually draws people to you."
• "Bless each other with our presence. Bless creator with our presence. Receive creator's presence."
• "You're not fully the human beings we're called to be if we don't make room for some wow time."
• "Following Jesus is hard to do solo, so doing it with others makes sense. Oh, that's called church. Okay."
• "Everything is in motion and everything has changed, including the Lord's Prayer."
• "There's lots of ways to keep things fresh and maybe we aren't going to do church in this way today."

Chapters00:00 Introductions and Purpose of the 787 Collective Council
04:06 Roger Wolsey's Background and the Importance of Vulnerability
12:16 Engaging in Presence Practices and Being Fully Present
19:25 The Meaning of Spiritual Practices and Re-Enchanting the World
32:39 From Logic and Reason to Experiential Faith
39:47 Noticing and Living into Faith
42:58 Creating Community and Shared Experiences in the Church
45:03 Re-Enchanting the Church: Adjusting Traditional Practices
53:35 Respecting Traditions and Beliefs While Embracing New Experiences
01:05:33 Exploring New Practices: Psychedelics and Plant Medicine in the Church
01:19:13 Salvation as Wellness Work
01:21:04 Navigating Cultural Appropriation and Responsible Integration
01:22:22 Organic Unfolding and Open-Mindedness
01:23:00 Closing Remarks and Blessings