#6: Nikki Collins: Bridging Innovation and Denomination

In today's episode, Nick Warnes has a dialogue with Nikki Collins. The Rev. Nikki Collins is the coordinator for the 1001 New Worshiping Communities (NWC) initiative in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She previously served as stated clerk and mission coordinator in the Cherokee Presbytery, and prior to that, founded Bare Bulb Coffee, a 1001 NWC in Georgia.

Nikki’s experience as a leader at the presbytery and NWC level has prepared her to be a bridge and interpreter for new worshiping community projects being developed around the country. She hopes to give additional shape, color and character to the 1001 movement in ways that will help the PC(USA) more fully embrace and learn from new worshiping communities being created.

Nikki Collins began serving as the Coordinator for 1001 New Worshiping Communities in June 2018. Previously she served Cherokee Presbytery as Stated Clerk and Mission Coordinator and, before that, as the founder of Bare Bulb Coffee, a rich brew of full-service coffee shop, music and arts venue, and home to a diverse group of disciples committed to shedding light in the world.

She graduated with a degree in psychology and religion from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia and earned her M.Div at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia.

Nikki makes her home in Chattanooga, TN and is the mother of two young adult sons and the shepherd of a herd of spirited dogs and a lazy cat. She loves to plan a great college football tailgate, paddle a kayak, swing a tennis racket, and dig in the dirt.

You can learn more about Nikki at newchurchnewway.org and onethousandone.org

Here are some quotes from the interview:

• ""Where are we really feeling energized as a community? What do we love? And what does that look like for some people...who would love to do this with us, who would be comforted or challenged, or might grow in the ways that the Spirit is...growing us?""
• ""Keep the rent cheap and travel... be in the community. Don't lock yourself into obligations that keep you from being involved with the community.""
• ""How does this message translate here? What am I seeing and learning from this person?""
• ""This is a thing we're going to live, and we always have to be checking ourselves on that.""
• ""We have to remember to communicate the story [of our community's growth] back to our partners.""
• ""...Look for opportunities to give away power and allow my core leaders and team to grow.""

Please review this episode, subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! Make sure to visit our website, cyclicalchurches.com.

In the podcast intro, we mentioned other podcasts that can help us learn and grow in antiracism:

• Good Ancestors Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Atahbqw5vurttEHrjR7TR?si=zvXpKF4ETOqVbRNKzRNYhg
• Scene on Radio, Series is "Seeing White": https://open.spotify.com/show/0ouPKjo1tKkj8V4nNI7mBv?si=Fv-BZt0MTLGgFsTmkKp96g
• Reclaiming my Theology: https://open.spotify.com/show/5j3HkxtshOHt5wKxysTuAY?si=hqx3sa06S3WAFOO4hnAbhw