Compass Podcast: Finding the spirituality in the day-to-day · United Methodist Communications

[151] How Church in the Wild connects faith and nature

·39 min·3 clips

Corey Turnpenny describes God's 'sassy reply' that led her to start a church where she could be her full, authentic self.

This episode features Reverend Ryan Dunn interviewing Reverend Corey Turnpenny, the founding pastor of Church in the Wild, a nature-focused congregation in upstate New York. Turnpenny discusses how her community blends Christian worship with outdoor settings and the rhythms of the natural world. The conversation explores the origins, practices, and appeal of this innovative faith community. Turnpenny’s inspiration came during a late-night drive after the 2019 UMC Next conference, where she felt a call to start a church where she could be her authentic self. The church is hosted at Sky Lake Camp and Retreat Center, a place deeply meaningful to Turnpenny since childhood. The community adjusts its gathering locations with the seasons, moving indoors by late October, meeting on Zoom in January, and using another church's chapel in February and March. During a recent winter Zoom series, congregants shared "soul songs" like "Soul Shine" by Government Mule, Mumford & Sons, and John Denver, creating a communal playlist. The church officially launched public worship in June 2021 after months of community-building and service projects, like cleanup days and building a community garden. People discover the church through its website, social media, a yard sign, or word of mouth, with some attendees joining from Sweden and Brussels online. Outdoor worship involves sitting in a circle, sharing "something new and good," and building a seasonal altar from natural items like sticks, rocks, and pine cones. A typical service includes a nature connection moment, a poem, conversational message time, songs led by a guitarist, and a prayer or meditation that might involve wandering or grounding exercises. One memorable insight is that many attendees describe feeling "spiritually homeless" before finding this community, which offers an alternative to traditional settings. Turnpenny emphasizes that being nature-focused does not mean being tech-averse, as Zoom allows for wider connection and guest speakers. The church’s mission is "following the wild spirit through creation, adventure, and restoration," and it encourages monthly actions like signing environmental petitions or supporting Black-owned businesses. The name "Church in the Wild" intentionally reclaims the word "wild" from negative connotations, embracing life's messiness and the spirit found in all creation. Turnpenny advises those uneasy in traditional churches to start creation care committees or outdoor services, citing Job 12:7-8 about learning from animals and the earth. She mentions resources like the Wild Church Network and the Center for Spirituality in Nature for finding or starting similar communities. The tone is conversational, reflective, and encouraging, blending personal storytelling with practical descriptions of community practices. Listeners interested in eco-spirituality, alternative worship, or mainline Protestant innovation would appreciate this episode. Those seeking highly theological debate or conventional church services might find it less relevant.

As heard by us

A grounded portrait of church as shared work, open air, and belonging.

The episode follows Reverend Corey Turnpenny as she talks about Church in the Wild, a nature-focused congregation built around outdoor worship, a camp setting, and shared service.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a faith conversation grounded in cleanup days, service work, and open air.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Compass Podcast: Finding the spirituality in the day-to-day