Nanette Sawyeri found god in myself
and i loved her
i loved her fiercely
~ntozake shange

It took me a long time to find my way to a Christianity that is healing, grace-based, beautiful, and transformative. I am an artist, a writer, a theologian, and a pastor. I care about and work toward a life of wholeness and healing that includes rest, meditation, creativity, friendship and community. I’m not perfect and some of the time I feel okay about that.

Reflections on My Spiritual Journey

I rejected my Christianity when I was a pre-teen. Later I studied comparative world religions at Harvard Divinity School, learned about God, love and prayer from an Indian meditation master, and stumbled my way back to Christianity with the help of friends and a great church and pastor in Boston.

Eventually I went to seminary, founded a church in an art gallery, pastored a small progressive church on the north side of the Chicago, and now serve on a multi-pastor staff at one of the largest churches in the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination.

Rejecting Christianity

I kept pushing for a bottom line, “but what do I have to believe?” Finally I told him, I guess I’m not Christian.

Reclaiming Christianity

A subtle but intense struggle was happening within me. It felt as though Jesus himself was saying my name in the form of the bread.

Re-Presenting Christianity

God is bigger than our thoughts, theories, and concepts. Every thing we say about God risks idolatry.