Jul 23, 2018
Melissa Greene is a musician, most notably a member of the Christian group, Avalon, from the years 2002-2009, bringing us lots of hit songs. She served as a pastor at Grace Pointe in Tennessee, which is known for its progressive positions, including being LGBTQ affirming. And just recently, she has left that position and are now the founder, alongside Anna Skates, of the intentional community Imaginarium. Melissa is married and the mother of two children.
Melissa feels like my sister from
another mother. We share a very similar faith trajectory, from a
conservative evangelical background to becoming a seeker of an
expansive spirituality and community. In this episode, she shares
her faith shift story, including how to interact with our past
selves and how faith shifting impacts her parenting. We talk about
what values to teach our children after dramatic changes in our own
beliefs, alternative rituals to do with kids (she shares a "River
Prayer" that her children loves and is just beautiful!), and the
song she sings over her daughter at bedtime.
I invited her on the show because I want to encourage those of us
who are figuring out new ways to PARENT FORWARD how to find or
create new communities that are life-giving. I ask her about how
IMAGINARIUM began, what the role of children is in IMAGINARIUM, and
we leave with some recommendations for others who may want to start
similar projects in YOUR communities.
I hope you find her ideas inspiring and helpful, and both Melissa
and I would love to hear from you. Like us on social media if you
listen to the show!
Links (affiliates included):
Generous Orthodoxy by Brian D. McClaren
Join the Parenting Forward Patreon Team.
Like my podcast and think you might want to create your own? Then you need to talk to my producer Danny Ozment. Here's an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting.