How Faith-Adjacent People Experience Spirituality in Wild Church: A Phenomenological Study

Rissler, James D.

Etd

How Faith-Adjacent People Experience Spirituality in Wild Church: A Phenomenological Study

Public Deposited

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Rissler, James D. How Faith-adjacent People Experience Spirituality In Wild Church: A Phenomenological Study. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/f678d807-346b-43ba-9b75-0807e32dab15?locale=en.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

R. J. D. How Faith-Adjacent People Experience Spirituality in Wild Church: A Phenomenological Study. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/f678d807-346b-43ba-9b75-0807e32dab15?locale=en

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Rissler, James D. How Faith-Adjacent People Experience Spirituality In Wild Church: A Phenomenological Study. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/f678d807-346b-43ba-9b75-0807e32dab15?locale=en.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Rissler, James D.

Keyword

Wild Church

Rights Statement

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted

License

Creative Commons BY-ND Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

Abstract

This phenomenological study investigates how "faith-adjacent" individuals—those who acknowledge a spiritual aspect to the world, but do not identify or understand their experience of the spiritual within any religious faith system—experience spirituality within the context of the "Wild Church" movement. Focusing on the communal life and practices of Atlanta Mennonite Church (AMC), the research explores the intersection of ecospirituality, nature-based worship, and contemporary shifts in church engagement. Data was gathered through qualitative methods, including six individual interviews with faith-adjacent participants, a focus group interview with five AMC members, and direct observations of Wild Church services. The findings reveal that Wild Church can provide a vital space for individuals who identify as "spiritual but not religious". Emerging themes highlight the significance of nature as a primary catalyst for spiritual connection, the value of slowing down and practicing attentiveness, an emphasis on experiencing spirituality over understanding it, and a shared comfort with seeking without needing to achieve intellectual certainty. Furthermore, participants emphasized the inclusiveness of the outdoor setting, which fosters authentic community, shared leadership, vulnerability, and deep interpersonal connection. The study additionally contrasts the perspectives of faith-adjacent individuals with those of established congregation members, identifying areas of overlap and divergence regarding how Wild Church impacts the broader life of AMC. With limitations detailed, this project offers insights into evolving patterns of church engagement and provides actionable recommendations for church leaders seeking to cultivate alternative, inclusive, and nature-attuned ministry contexts.

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