Community Highlights: Meet Michael Schulte of The Collective

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Michael Schulte.

Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
When I graduated from college, I moved to Memphis, TN to teach at high-needs Title I Schools. I knew no one and longed to find a community like the community I had back home. As a former church kid, I thought that church would be a perfect place to find like-minded individuals.

Yet, in my search for community, I found I was left with two lousy options. I could attend a traditional Lutheran, Methodist or Presbyterian congregation which had values that aligned with my faith, but I would often be the only person in that congregation in my early twenties.

Or, I could attend a non-denominational church with modern music and robust small groups and so many people my age. However, these communities’ teachings forced me to check my values at the door. They did not ordain women. They were unwelcoming to queer people. They had long lists of written and unwritten rules that one had to follow to be considered a “good Christian,” but they had young people so those are the places I went to church.

When I entered Vanderbilt Divinity School, I wanted to prove the possible. I wanted to prove that progressive communities of faith can be successful and that we can create a compelling counter-narrative to the voices of hate and exclusion which too often dominate the faith space.

That is why I founded the Collective. It’s about being different. It’s about being a church that strives for justice, a church that works for the liberation of people of all identities. These are my passions, and I hope that Collective can be a space where new generations can be connected to a loving community of people committed to making our world a better place by emulating Jesus.

As you know, we’re big fans of The Collective ATL. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Collective is a church without walls seeking to offer a compelling vision of love and belonging to new generations especially those who have been hurt by the church or who have become disillusioned with organized religion. We are a church that radically affirms the humanity and personhood of all people–no fine print!

We also believe that the church can be different. We believe the church can be a place where people of all identities can come just as they are to experience the radical love of God. We believe that the church can be a force for good in our city by partnering with organizations that seek to dismantle systemic and structural injustice.

We believe that the church can be a place of liberation–liberation here and liberation now. Out of this focus on liberation, our 2024 community goal is to complete 5,000 hours of service and advocacy in Atlanta and beyond.

Overall, the Collective hopes to be a welcoming space where all people experience genuine belonging. That is why our ministry is centered on StoryGroups. These are small groups that meet throughout Metro Atlanta. They are places for folks to make new friends and wrestle with the mysteries of faith.

They are spaces where no one belongs more than you! If you are interested in learning more about our faith community, we would love to speak with you. You can contact us at info@CollectiveATL.org or visit our website, CollectiveATL.org.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Church membership is at an all-time low. In 2020, for the first time in our nation’s history, membership in religious communities fell below the majority. Only 47% of Americans belong to a religious community (e.g., church, mosque, synagogue, etc). As membership within faith communities declines, the Nones–those who do not identify with any particular religious sect–has become one of the fastest-growing demographics in our country. Nones make up nearly one-third of all Americans.

The church can blame itself for its demise. For too long, we have allowed voices of hate to dominate the discourse. We have excluded queer people and participated in systemic and institutional racism. It is time for us to repent and become a place Jesus would recognize, a place of liberation for all people.

The Collective hopes to be part of that story. We seek to recast the dominant narrative by boldly sharing a progressive vision of God’s love for all people. We seek to be a church that strives for justice and peace by radically affirming the identity and personhood of all people. We seek to be a church that puts liberation at the forefront by walking alongside our vulnerable neighbors and listening to their stories.

We seek to prove the possible that the church can be a place of love and belonging for all people. That church is not about following a long list of rules. It is about wrestling with the mystery of God and how God calls us to make an impact in our world. By unashamedly advocating this progressive vision of God, we hope to be part of the movement that reconnects new generations to the grace and love of Jesus.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.CollectiveATL.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeahthatcollectiveatl/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yeahthatcollectiveatl

Image Credits
Rei Heycraft