A Note from Chelsea

A note from Chelsea, Parish Collective Communications Lead, to our Parish Collective community:

Hi friends,

I wanted to let you know that I am stepping away from my official staff role with Parish Collective. This decision has been bittersweet, as I needed to create capacity for some exciting things happening in my life — I’m writing a book!

Working with the Parish Collective community has healed me. Ten years ago, after leaving behind the megachurch world I grew up in, I found myself unsure whether I would ever belong in Christian community again. You’ve shown me a spacious, deeply human version of church. A place where the table is long enough for all of us — our experiences, our differences, our neighborhood joys and laments. Being part of this community has reminded me that I’m not alone, and that the Spirit is still very much alive in ordinary places with ordinary people.

I’ve had the privilege of helping share your stories — stories of neighborhood churches loving boldly, grieving honestly, and showing up again and again. You have helped me believe in the Church again. Not the institution, but the sacred, sometimes scrappy body of people trying to follow Jesus in everyday life.

Though I’m stepping away from my staff role, I plan to stay connected to the Parish Collective community and hope to see you in future Fellowship Halls or Coffee Breaks. If you’d like to stay connected with me, I invite you to check out my website, where I’ve created a space for sharing liturgies and spiritual resources that flow from the life of my own neighborhood-rooted faith community.

You can find them here: chelseakimlong.com/liturgies-and-faith-resources

I deeply believe in the work you're doing and I am grateful to have walked alongside you.

With so much love and gratitude,

Chelsea Kim Long