Episode 56: Reimagining Spiritual Community with Pastor Ric Shewell
Thu Aug 28 2025
What does it take to build a spiritual community where everyone feels safe, seen, and supported?
In this thoughtful and tender conversation, Sommer Seitz and Pastor Ric Shewell reflect on the shifting landscape of spiritual community in a post-pandemic world. As many people reevaluate their relationship with organized religion, this episode offers a compassionate exploration of what it means to belong, to question, and to be held in unconditional community.
Sommer shares deeply personal stories of faith, healing, and growth—touching on moments of disconnection, family conflict, and the quiet courage it takes to seek spiritual authenticity. Pastor Ric offers insight into his ministry at Faith United Methodist Church, where open communion and radical welcome are central to his practice. Together, they speak to the power of creating spaces where people feel safe to explore their beliefs, express their doubts, and experience grace without prerequisites.
This episode invites listeners to consider what it means to belong, to question without fear, and to build communities rooted in grace, inclusion, and love.
You can belong to your tradition and find goodness and safety. There are people like you that are looking for that community that also are looking for ways that they can hold on to some of the soil that they were raised in and still flourish and grow in a new garden. There are people out there and you're not alone. ~ Pastor Ric Shewell, Faith United Methodist ChurchLearn MoreTo explore Faith United Methodist Church and its inclusive practices, visit their website or connect via social media.
Website: https://www.faithunited.org/
Facebook: @pastor.ric.shewell Instagram: Pastor Ric Shewell
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What does it take to build a spiritual community where everyone feels safe, seen, and supported? In this thoughtful and tender conversation, Sommer Seitz and Pastor Ric Shewell reflect on the shifting landscape of spiritual community in a post-pandemic world. As many people reevaluate their relationship with organized religion, this episode offers a compassionate exploration of what it means to belong, to question, and to be held in unconditional community. Sommer shares deeply personal stories of faith, healing, and growth—touching on moments of disconnection, family conflict, and the quiet courage it takes to seek spiritual authenticity. Pastor Ric offers insight into his ministry at Faith United Methodist Church, where open communion and radical welcome are central to his practice. Together, they speak to the power of creating spaces where people feel safe to explore their beliefs, express their doubts, and experience grace without prerequisites. This episode invites listeners to consider what it means to belong, to question without fear, and to build communities rooted in grace, inclusion, and love. You can belong to your tradition and find goodness and safety. There are people like you that are looking for that community that also are looking for ways that they can hold on to some of the soil that they were raised in and still flourish and grow in a new garden. There are people out there and you're not alone. ~ Pastor Ric Shewell, Faith United Methodist ChurchLearn MoreTo explore Faith United Methodist Church and its inclusive practices, visit their website or connect via social media. Website: https://www.faithunited.org/ Facebook: @pastor.ric.shewell Instagram: Pastor Ric Shewell