With thousands of subscribers around the globe, Progressing Spirit is a leading outlet for an intelligent, inclusive, and pioneering exploration of today’s theological, spiritual, and social advancements.

On a weekly basis Progressing Spirit challenges some of the world’s top thinkers to offer their best insights about what’s happening on the leading edge. Our commitment to subscribers is to continually deliver fresh, cutting edge, interesting, and thought provoking commentaries that you will find inspiring, insightful, and sometimes even challenging.

Whether it’s about what will happen with the currently declining Church, what new models of intentional spiritual community may look like, or how we take part in the quest for equality and inclusivity; these conversations and many more are deeply explored by best selling authors, social leaders, and cutting edge innovators. We look forward to having you in the conversation.

Our History

 
Founded in 1991, Bishop John Shelby Spong (June 16, 1931 – September 12, 2021) began offering a subscription-based publication to a growing audience of those who sought out his lecturers and his best-selling books. Upon Bishop Spong’s retirement in 2017, that audience was spread around the globe and today’s Progressing Spirit was borne as an innovative next step – not to simply find another scholar like Bishop Spong, but to recruit a host of leading thinkers who could amplify ideas and insights about our progressing social, theological, and spiritual world.
 

Contributors

Best selling authors, social leaders, and cutting edge innovators – our contributors bring diverse perspectives to the growing conversation around the idea of Progressive Christianity. Inspiring, insightful, and sometimes even challenging, these unique voices come from the pulpits, academies, and front lines around the world.

    • Rev. Jim Burklo

    • Rev. Jim Burklo is the Senior Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California.

    • Christena Cleveland

    • Social psychologist, public theologian, author, and speaker on race, reconciliation and conflict.

    • Kaitlin Curtice

    • Native American Christian author and speaker on faith and justice for Indigenous peoples.

    • Rev. Aurelia Dávila Pratt

    • Aurelia is the Lead Pastor and founder of Peace of Christ Church and is a licensed Master of Social Work.

    • Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer

    • General Minister and President of United Church of Christ

    • Rev. Michael Dowd

    • Evolutionary myth-maker, eco-theologian, and pro-future evangelist. Book: Thank God for Evolution

    • Cassandra Farrin

    • Poet, writer and editor of nonfiction books on the history of religion. US-UK Fulbright scholar.

    • Rev. David M. Felten

    • Edgy and humorous pastor, author, speaker, co-creator of Living the Questions, and co-founder of Catalyst Arizona

    • Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox

    • Radical theologian, best selling author of 35 books, influential exponent of Creation Spirituality. See free dailymeditationswithmatthewfox.org

    • Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Frantz

    • Retired minister and author of The Bible You Didn’t Know You Could Believe In, The God You Didn’t Know You Could Believe In, and The Jesus You Didn’t Know You Could Believe In

    • Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft

    • Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft is the Executive Minister for Justice, Operations & Movement Building at Middle Collegiate Church.

    • Dr. Carl Krieg

    • As professor, pastor and author, Dr. Krieg has taught innumerable classes and led many discussion groups

    • Rev. Jaqueline J. Lewis, Ph.D.

    • Jacqui is a womanist whose preaching, teaching, speaking, writing, and activism are aimed at racial equality, gun control, economic justice, and equal rights for all sexual orientations and genders.

    • Rev. Dr. Caleb J. Lines

    • Minister, Author of The Great Digital Commission: Embracing Social Media for Church Growth, and a passion for social justice

    • Rev. Dr. Velda Love

    • Rev. Dr. Love works to advance racial equality and to dismantle the systems of racism.

    • Brian McLaren

    • Author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. Book: The Great Spiritual Migration.

    • Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers

    • Robin R. Meyers is an American Christian minister, peace activist, philosophy professor and author.

    • Rev. Irene Monroe

    • NPR radio host, NEC News commentator, international religion columnist on LGBTQ, race, theology and politics

    • EbonyJanice Moore

    • Womanist, Scholar, Activist, Teacher, Author, Student, Artist, Preacher, Transformational Speaker, Content Creator, Healer

    • Fred Plumer

    • Radical theologian, retired UCC pastor, ProgressiveChristianity.org President. Authored: Drink from the Well.

    • Rev. Fran Pratt

    • Author, Pastor, Liturgist, and Christian mystic. Spiritual practice, Divine Feminine, Liturgy, Re-imagining "worship"

    • Toni Reynolds

    • Author, Facilitator, Speaker, Practitioner of African Spiritual Tradition(s)

    • Rev. Brandan Robertson

    • Noted author, LGBTQ activist, speaker and pastor. Recent book: True Inclusion: Creating Communities of Radical Embrace

    • Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin

    • Christian Left Co-Founder, highly published author and pastor.

    • Rev. Jess Shine

    • Rev. Shine has a passion for people and a skill for communicating in transformative ways.

    • Rev. Deshna Charron Shine

    • Author, Speaker, Ritualist, Interfaith Minister and Chaplain

    • Jennifer Berit and Skylar Wilson

    • Order of the Sacred Earth, Wild Awakenings, speakers, authors, visionary leaders, wilderness lovers.

    • Joran Slane Oppelt

    • International speaker, author, interfaith minister, singer/songwriter. Founder of Integral Church.

    • Bishop John Shelby Spong

    • Best Selling author, world-renowned speaker and leader, inspiration and co-founder of Progressing Spirit

    • Rev. Matthew Syrdal

    • Pastor, Author, Wilderness guide. Lead guide of WilderSoul and Church of Lost Walls. Co-founder of Seminary of the Wild.

    • Kevin G. Thew Forrester, Ph.D.

    • Soulbody Spirituality. Interfaith Explorer. Author. Teacher. Enneagram. Episcopal Priest.

    • Rev. Lauren Van Ham

    • Eco-Chaplain, Interfaith Minister, Spiritual Director, Climate Action Coordinator at URI

    • Rev. Gretta Vosper

    • Atheist Pastor, best selling author, poet, radical theologian

    • Cindy Wang Brandt

    • Cindy Wang Brandt is an author and champion of cultivating values of hospitality, creativity, equality, social justice, and deep spirituality in the next generation.

    • Skylar Wilson

    • Founder of Wild Awakenings, rites of passage journey leaders, author, visionary, leader.

    • Jennifer Wilson

    • Order of the Sacred Earth, Wild Awakenings, speaker, leader, writer, wilderness lover

    • Rev. Roger Wolsey

    • Author of Discovering Fire, & Kissing Fish, Pastor, social justice activist
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