The Holy Work of Belonging with Rev. Jen Bailey

Igniting Imagination

What does spiritual leadership look like in a world where meaning is no longer confined to church walls?

In this episode, co-hosts Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle sit down with Rev. Jen Bailey, Executive Director of Maddox Fund, visionary pastor, and social entrepreneur. They examine how meaning is being sought, made, and shared beyond the walls of traditional congregations.

Their conversation uncovers the rise of “third spaces,” those unconventional realms where people gather, wrestle with questions of faith, and discover belonging in unexpected ways. We explore what it means to cultivate spiritual communities where authenticity is honored, beliefs are questioned, and sacred and secular life intermingle in fluid, transformative ways.

Guest

Rev. Jen Bailey is ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a public theologian and leader in the multi-faith movement for justice. She was the founding Executive Director of Faith Matters Network, an innovative Womanist-led organization accompanying spiritually grounded leaders on their journey to heal themselves and their communities. She has been an Ashoka Fellow, New Pluralist Field Builder, Aspen Ideas Scholar, On Being Fellow, and a Truman Scholar.

Jen has served on the boards of the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, The Fetzer Institute, and was recently the chair of The Healing Trust board in Nashville.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

05:46 - Exploring Meaning and Community

18:48 - The People's Supper: A New Approach to Community Engagement

28:12 - The Nature of Sacred Spaces

34:20 - The Role of Play in Spiritual Imagination

43:19 - Foundations of Spiritual Formation

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

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