Innovator Retreat: Grounded in God

When people hear me say “faithful innovation” they often fixate on the word “innovation” and think “Silicon Valley.” Nothing could be further from the truth. For Christians, faithful innovation is about helping people root themselves in ancient spiritual practices so they grow in their knowledge, experience, and love of God. It also involves listening deeply to neighbors outside the institutional church, and wondering in community about what God’s Holy Spirit might be up to in their lives.

At the 2025 Innovator Retreat at the Mt. Olivet Retreat Center on September 12th and 13th, 17 participants entered a story about Jesus imaginatively (Who are you in this story? What did you see, smell, and experience?), did an Emmaus Walk outside with a partner in which they wondered about what God might be up to in their lives and ministries, experienced and debriefed a Soulspace worship experience, reflected on
their personal “why” for the Gospel of Jesus, and how they can show up in the world as lay and ordained leaders with a sacred heart, meaning remaining open and vulnerable in love even in the face of suffering and resistance.

Participants also shared what they are hearing from family members and friends in their relational networks who don’t go to church, and spent time thinking about who is missing from their faith communities, and why. They watched a YouTube interview of Nancy Dyson from St. John’s, St. Cloud talking about how the Holy Spirit led her to take one faithful step at a time leading to Laundry Love and a service for unhoused neighbors at the local library, and heard from Randy Pastorius and the Rev. Aaron Twait from Christ Church, Redwing as they discussed how showing The Chosen and discussing it over a meal has helped them share their faith with spiritually curious neighbors, many of them young adults.

The Episcopal Church in Minnesota continues to need a mixed ecology of traditional churches and small, agile communities led by Christians that meet people where they live, work, and play. The focus is on listening to and loving neighbors, and letting the Holy Spirit take it from there. More often than not, people start to ask spiritual questions. Since talking about our faith naturally and comfortably is a new muscle for many Episcopalians, Innovators, and specifically Mustard Seed participants, are learning together how to do this. More information about the ECMN’s Innovation approach, Mustard Seed, and stories of how lay and ordained leaders are learning to share Jesus in life-giving ways may be found here. 

If you are interested, please mark your calendars for the Innovation Summit on November 1st at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis from 10 am – 2 pm. At the Summit, you will have the opportunity to hear from some of the ECMN’s lay and ordained leaders who are innovating inside and outside the institutional church. The event is free, but you need to register if you want handouts and lunch.