About the Author: Joran Slane Oppelt

Joran Slane Oppelt is an international speaker, author, interfaith minister and award-winning producer and singer/songwriter. He is the owner and founder of the Metta Center of St. Petersburg and Integral Church – an interfaith and interspiritual organization in Tampa Bay. Joran is the author of Integral Church: A Handbook for New Spiritual Communities, Sentences, The Mountain and the Snow and co-author of Order of the Sacred Earth (with Matthew Fox) and Transform Your Life: Expert Advice, Practical Tools, and Personal Stories. He currently serves on the board of Creation Spirituality Communities and has spoken around the world about spirituality and the innovation of religion.
  • By Published On: May 13, 2020

    The question is, how can we respond and encourage others to respond (not react) in ways that will exhibit respect for all persons and, at least, leave the many who will be ardent supporters of the Spring Rally with an image that cannot as easily be discredited?

  • By Published On: December 12, 2019

      Question & Answer   Q: By Joyce “I'm curious where the idea came from that if a person commits suicide that person does

  • By Published On: April 18, 2019

    I believe in God but not an interventionist God. There is too much suffering in this world both amongst believers and non-believers.

  • By Published On: March 12, 2019

    I’m considering attending a United Universalist Church, the closest thing to Progressive Christianity I can find in my area. I hesitate because I don’t want to lose my focus on the Christ path as it has been so fruitful in my life.

  • By Published On: December 15, 2018

    Joran Slane Oppelt (Integral Church) sits with author and theologian Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox at the 2018 Parliament of the World's Religions in Toronto, Canada to discuss the relevance of the Creation Spirituality movement and the importance of ritual.

  • By Published On: November 4, 2018

    Can this (Christian) faith create a new institutional form that fosters a truth-seeking, universal community?

  • By Published On: July 23, 2018

    s a progressive Christian, how do you deal with infidelity when your partner cheats on you but later confesses it?

  • By Published On: May 12, 2018

    This handbook is perfect for clergy, healers, therapists, interfaith ministers, as well as those interested in developing their own spiritual practice or starting their own home church, study group or community using integral frameworks.

  • By Published On: April 3, 2018

    I am puzzled about prayer in the context of Progressive Christianity which has replaced the interventionist God “up there” (or “out there”) with the God within. The typical conventional church service liturgy invariably includes an intercessions segment. What meaning does this segment have in the context of progressive thinking? Should it be abandoned?

  • By Published On: March 1, 2018

    It’s time to openly grieve for what we’ve lost. Only then can we have the conversation about what happens next. It’s time for the “boys carrying pain” conversation. Only then can we have the “boys carrying guns” conversation. It’s time to ask ourselves what MEN look like when they are spiritually mature, confident in their willingness, and powerful in their ability to love and forgive. Only then can we recognize these men when we meet them.

  • By Published On: February 25, 2017

    Some of us recently witnessed (or participated in) the largest public demonstration our country has ever seen. The Women’s March on Washington on Saturday, January 21, 2017 was a historic day, seeing 2.5 million people around the world take to the streets to support causes such as women’s reproductive rights, climate change and criminal justice reform. Now that everyone has returned home, hung their pussy hats in the hallway, and attempted to return to some sense of normal family/work/life balance, the question has been asked, “What next?”