My name is John Chaffee (Mdiv, ThM), I was trained to be a pastor but just couldn’t fit into the mold expected of me… and that is okay with me.

Perhaps you too have felt that conventional ways of going about ministry can be good for a time, and then extremely limiting after that. I believe that Jesus envisioned person-to-person conversations of depth, vulnerability, and mystery… all while grounded in the best of the wide and deep Christian spiritual tradition.

So, I decided to step out in faith on Jan. 1st, 2022, and do what I can to just offer creative opportunities, projects, talks, writings, podcasts, and retreats for people to grow, learn, and do spiritual formation for themselves. I love helping people get unstuck and rediscover a deeper, more beautiful approach to life and faith.

To some, I feel like a pastor. To others, I am a professor or theologian. Sometimes, I fulfill the role of a spiritual director. Use whatever title you like for me, I just want to help you to grow in health and holiness.

As for a biographical sketch… I was born in Atlantic City, NJ, and raised on Long Beach Island, NJ. From 2002-2006 I majored in Biblical Studies at Eastern University, then received my MDiv from Palmer Seminary in 2013, and then completed my ThM from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2020.

During those years I worked in a variety of churches, led and participated in literally hundreds of retreats, experienced the fallout of a church as it discovered the senior pastor was deeply abusive, hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2015 to rebuild and rediscover myself, reread the Christian mystics, shifted from theological work to the world of Christian spirituality, then worked in church world again for a time.

I quickly discovered I was not able to grow, unable to follow the path Spirit was leading me upon and incorporate what I learned about developmental theory (personal growth throughout the lifetime), emotionally healthy spirituality, and the contemplative tradition…

Hence why I chose to step out and do this website and its projects!

A lifelong fan of storytelling, movies, reading, paradigm shifts, beach life, backpacking, eclectic music, philosophy, and so much more, I try to bring all those things together into the work I now do with people just like yourself.

I hope our paths cross and that, at least right now, I can help you get to the next stage of your life of faith.

I sincerely hope you join the free weekly email to get started on the journey and benefit from all the free things that come along with it.

Cheers to you, friends.

Much love, John.