Religion with a Creative Lens

John Tolley is a Humanist minister, but declares Christianity his ‘first language’. He started life deeply rooted in the Disciples of Christ denomination. Through the years he transitioned to United Methodism, then Presbyterianism, then Unitarian Universalism and now Theistic Humanism. Some may view those as sizable leaps of faith, but he never felt in crisis. His ministry just kept expanding to encompass his expanding beliefs.

He credits that ability to go with the flow of expansion to the arts. He has used theater as a lens for his ongoing growth so that he may then lead others through their spiritual shifts with this same creative tool.

John’s story is all about allowing. Allowing beliefs, ministry and sexual identity to shift with grace and allowing his core self to be honored and expressed.