WILD PARISHES

What are Wild Way Parishes?

 

Wild Parishes are small communities of people who do life-together. Most meet in person, though a few meet online or hybrid, all with the same fourfold intention:

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• NEIGHBOURHOOD-FOCUSED: WILD Parishes incarnate Jesus’ love in a neighbourhood. Neighbourhoods can be: 

  • Geographical – your literal neighbourhood 

  • Affinity-based – groups formed around a common interest, such as single parenting or creation care 

 

• TABLE-CENTRIC: WILD Parishes usually meet weekly in a home and around a meal.  

 

• RHYTHM-BASED: WILD Parishes intentionally engage in rhythms of spiritual formation practices throughout the week and year to form the image of Christ in participants. More information below.

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• COMPASSION-ORIENTED: In addition to their weekly gathering, WILD Parishes engage in a weekly or monthly compassion-oriented initiative (either one they start or one they join). This activity is hands-on (i.e. not simply giving money to a cause, but actually participating in the cause) and local (i.e. helps their neighbourhood flourish). 

 

WILD provides parishes with spiritual formation resources and practices to help them develop their weekly and seasonal rhythms. We also offer parishes opportunities to network with other parishes. 

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What does a typical gathering look like?

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• Join together with your neighbours over food (a meal, appetizers, coffee, dessert, pizza, chips- whatever works!)

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• Engage in a spiritual formation practice together (e.g lectio divina, examen, silence, etc.) We provide resources and suggestions.

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• Interact with the Scriptures with the goal of listening, learning, and integrating into life. There are several ways to do this:

  • Discuss the weekly teaching of the Wild Way Podcast, currently doing A Slow Journey Through John. This requires listening to the teaching before gathering and using the discussion questions provided.

  • Go through the Rhythms of Life spiritual formation workbook (we recommend groups start with this)

  • Other bible resources, study guides, and formation journeys are regularly made available on the Wild Way website​
     

• Share how you hope to integrate what you're learning into your daily life in the week ahead

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• Pray for one another and offer practical support throughout the week

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• Once a month (or more) engage in some form of compassion-oriented ministry that promotes flourishing in your neighbourhood

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What is the yearly rhythm of Wild Parishes?

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We want Parish participants to be formed in the image of Christ in all key areas of our life. To that end, we follow a seasonal focus with each season of the year:

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• Winter focus – loving God.  

• Spring focus – loving creation and the world.  

• Summer focus – loving self (i.e. self-care and character formation) 

• Fall focus – loving others.  

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How do I start a Wild Way Parish in my neighbourhood?

 

Starting a #wildwayparish is simple:

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• STEP 1: Join a parish and attend for three months. If there are none available, please contact us.
   

• STEP 2: Either with your Parish or on you own, go through Rhythms of Life ​to help you establish the kind of life that will help you be most fully alive in Christ for the sake of others.

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Once you've completed steps 1 and 2, and you sense you are ready to start your own #wildwayparish, email us with your name, phone number, location, and your vision for both your own #wildwayparish and compassion-oriented local work. 

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• ​​STEP 3: Meet with Wild leaders to discuss your vision for your own #wildwayparish and go through simple training. We'll stay in touch so that you are equipped with all you need.

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• STEP 4: Begin hosting a weekly gathering of local people you know would benefit from this discipleship model. Eat together, Discuss the weekly teachings and what you are sensing from God this week. Pray together.

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• STEP 5: At least once a month, engage in local, compassion-oriented work. We provide you with resources to help you discern your neighbourhood needs and how to meet them.

 

Continue this model until you get too big, then it’s time to commission someone in your group to start their own #wildwayparish in their own home!

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Also, Parish leaders commit to ​attend quarterly Wild Parish leadership Zoom calls​ and (when available) the annual Wild Way Conference.

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