God has created you in God's own image and calls you beloved child. Drawing on my experience as a priest and my training as a Certified Daring Way Facilitator in the work of Brené Brown, I can help you show up for your life and live bravely into your authentic and wholehearted self.
Hi, I'm Callie.
mama. One of my favorite vocations is parenting E (13) & L (10). They both teach me multitudes. Their zeal helps me to approach life with exuberance and curiosity. They offer profound observations on life and God, and still love a good living room dance party. Together, we love exploring our city, discovering new books and show, trying hot chocolate at different cafés, and seeking God's beauty in the world.
priest. I have the great honor of walking with people through some of the most vulnerable and sacred moments of life, and calling it my job. Whether it be birth, death, or the many daily sacraments that take place in between, I get to simply show up and draw attention to the Holy in our midst. Over the past thirteen years serving as a priest, I've loved teaching and fielding Big Questions (and often admitting I don't have Big Answers!), and making connections with God's people.
creator. On my wall hangs a piece of art by Banksy: an ornate window frame overlays children's schoolyard graffiti, making the impression of vibrant stained glass. In the corner kneels a praying figure with paint can and brush nearby. It blends sacred and ordinary and reminds me to create every day. Whether building spaces for people to discover their own creative gifts, creating engaging ways for people to learn about the liturgy, or using my hands to knit, creating infuses energy into all of my life and work.
lover. Even when life's tasks bog me down, I derive great joy from the first flurries of snow, a soul-restoring conversation with a friend, a forkful of a delicious meal, or a chance encounter with a stranger. I truly love this life and this earth and the people who inhabit it, especially my partner Jeremy and our kiddos. I try to follow the love demonstrated by our great teacher Jesus - radical love for the outcast and stranger - as a guide for my life and my ministry, and I strive to live out the promise of my baptismal covenant: respect the dignity of every human being.
Bio: Callie Swanlund is an Episcopal priest, retreat leader, spiritual companion, and coach who helps others know their belovedness and find their Spark. Her new book, From Weary to Wholehearted, is a restorative resource for overcoming ministry burnout. Callie is a creative minister and leads individuals and groups in the work of Dr. Brené Brown as a Certified Daring Way Facilitator. Her How2charist: Digital Instructed Eucharist film has reached Christians and curious individuals around the world, and her Wholehearted Wisdom movement invites others into deeper reflection and connection across social media. Callie is an Episcopal Church Foundation Fellow and has keynoted such conferences as: Kanuga Christian Formation Conference, Episcopal Communicators Annual Conference, and Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers Annual Conference. She lives in Philadelphia with her co-dreaming partner Jeremy, their two tween/teen children, and a rescue pup named Rufus.