By Chalice Overy, Board Member
I was nurtured in the bosom of the charismatic Black Church, where silence was rare but contemplation abounded. We expected to commune with the divine in a way that was palpable and transformational, and through the wisdom of leaders like my grandmother and others, I learned the technologies that ushered us into that sweet communion. Despite my “formal” theological education, it is my formation in the Black church that has been most impactful.
One of the things that drew me to Peace Hill is its affirmation that contemplative practice takes many forms and that communion with God is essential to sustaining us in the work that we do in the world. As a spiritual leader, my desire is to help others foster their relationship with God and live out the fullness of their vocation in the world. I’m grateful to do this kind of work with Peace Hill, and also as a spiritual director, a mediator, and a preacher who enjoys re-storying sacred texts through a liberative lens.
In my 25 years in ministry, I have served as a youth minister, senior pastor and associate pastor in several denominations and church contexts. For the past 7 years, I’ve served as the Associate Pastor at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church–a place that gives me enough theological space to continue to grow. I’m also grateful to work among some amazing wellness professionals to provide “liberative, preventative, and intersectional wellness equity and healing justice services” through the Root Cause Collective.
I believe in work-life balance, or what the scripture calls “sabbath”. I make time for both rest and recreation–walking, weight training, eating good food, swimming, dancing, playing pickleball, and bathing in the wisdom of the natural world.