Tim Burnette is the lead pastor at Way Collective, a community of shared practices and values, in Santa Barbara, CA. (https://www.waycollective.org/)

Tim is a dreamer, philosopher, and theologian. He has spent years reflecting on the evolving Christian faith, and earned his doctorate from Claremont School of Theology, where he studied process metaphysics, philosophy and theology, and compassion.

A self-proclaimed Whitehead nerd, he embraces theopoetics as a lens for seeing the world, with a practical emphasis on communal formation, beauty/aesthetics, and spirituality. He is a partner, father, writer, musician, and avid reader. His interests include vinyl, food, philosophy, poetry, guitar tones, baseball, and all things on the fringe. He is an advocate for love and reconciliation across boundaries of faith and non-faith. 

He agrees with Vonnegut that you can see all kinds of things from the edge that you can’t see from the center. Although...sometimes it helps to be centered out on the edge as well.

A Poem by Tim Burnette:

 Every breath of the world 

is a dying into life. 

Like the dew of dawn 

soft as sea glass, 

wet with possibility, 

waits in darkness for the silent voice.

That ceaseless refrain 

calling stardust to sigh. 

Nudging it perpetually 

unto its becoming.

To risk the drench of wonder again

and birth a day 

unlike any other day.

Young and wild, with light 

quivering like a fawn, 

naive and new, 

fresh and intoxicating as baby's breath.  

A momentary bloom of the timeless and flashing dance 

that wilts evermore 

back into the belly of reality.

As the dampening glow of Mother Eve

spreads her cascading melancholy. 

A balm of passing beauty 

that coats like honey 

and conspires in all things 

welcoming each one in its goodness. 

To the rising chest of the horizon 

and to its tender, falling return.

A Blessing by Tim Burnette:

Go now and bless the whole world

For we are all connected.

Say yes to your life’s adventure

Noticing and cultivating Beauty as you go.

Cover one another with a friendly presence

Laugh with those who are joyful

And cry with those in sorrow

Eat with anyone and everyone 

Always doing your best to ensure that those without have enough

And love with courage

For love is the only way forward

And you are loved, you are loved, 

You are deeply loved

Remember there is grace and beauty in the becoming

And go in the name and peace of Christ. 

Amen.