If you’re a regular listener, you’ll know that one of our frequent—and recent—guests is Victoria Loorz, one of the founders of the Wild Church movement. In this conversation, she discusses her book Field Guide to Church of the Wild, which serves as a resource for individuals and communities seeking to reconnect with nature and spirituality. The book is a collection of stories, practices, and prayers from the Wild Church Network, aimed at fostering a deeper relationship with the natural world. Loorz emphasizes the importance of listening to nature, the diversity of spiritual practices, and the role of community in creating a sacred space outdoors. The conversation also touches on environmental concerns and the hope found in nature, encouraging listeners to embrace their kinship with the earth.

About the book Field Guide to Church of the Wild

Wild Church Network

Center for Wild Spirituality

Takeaways

• The book is a follow-up to Church of the Wild
• It provides resources for starting wild church gatherings.
• Nature invites us into a sacred relationship with God.
• Listening to our own yearnings is the first step.
• Wild Church is an emerging spiritual practice.
• Diversity in spiritual practices enriches community.
• The field guide format encourages exploration and play.
• Practices in the book can be adapted by anyone.
• Community gatherings can include diverse spiritual backgrounds.
• Hope can be found in nature amidst environmental crises.

Keywords: Church of the Wild, spirituality, nature, field guide, community, environmental care, kinship, diversity, listening, hope, Wild Church, Seminary of the Wild, Center for Wild Spirituality

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As always, Earthkeepers is on the lookout for stories of faith communities who are creating new, imaginative ways to integrate creation care into the values and practices of faith life. In episode 121 for example, we spoke with folks at the Rainier Avenue Church about their urban community garden and their creation care study group. In this episode, Forrest talks with Matt and Mary Anne Ryan about their church’s efforts to engage in social justice by growing fresh produce for their community’s foodbank. Their faith community—called Vineyard Christian Fellowship, located just north of Chicago—has converted a large part of their property into what they call the Vineyard Farm. In that context, Matt and Mary Anne are pioneering some great new ideas in community-based earth care.

Evanston Grows

Evanston Vineyard Christian Fellowship

Vineyard Farm

Vineyard Farm Photos and Vids

Keywords: Evanston Grows, Vineyard Church, food insecurity, community farming, environmental justice, volunteer opportunities, creation care, sustainable practices, church initiatives, local produce, nature, environmental stewardship, church, community, creation care, theology, sustainability, future generations, partnership, small beginnings

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This is a podcast interview that took place almost five years ago. We’ve chosen to air that episode again because it really speaks about the formative stages of the Earthkeepers podcast, and serves as a reminder that one of our core purposes has always been, even from the very beginning, to give more air space to “corrective voices from the margins” as often as we can. And that includes Indigenous voices.

In this episode Forrest talks with Lenore Three Stars. Lenore is a member of the board for Circlewood—and Circlewood, as you may know, is the larger creation care community to which the Earthkeepers belongs. In many ways, Lenore has had a shaping influence on the priorities and values of this podcast. In particular, as a member of the Lakota people, she has helped us to understand and embrace elements of an indigenous world view.

Find us on our website: Earthkeepers
Support the Earthkeepers podcast
Check out the Ecological Disciple