A blazing bush breathes “I AM,” a billowing cloud signals the way, a valley of bones clatters to life, a thundering wind weaves all voices into one, and a barren grave whispers: “Mary, Mary–Do not fear.” Over and over, our scriptures offer us glimpses of God meeting people in words and images, in visions and poetry, in dreams and revelations beyond our wildest imagining.

Thanks to many Reformers, we’ve inherited a robust emphasis on the Word; we value the many ways scripture can instruct, inspire, edify, and ground us. But in our pursuit to centralize the Word in our worship, we sometimes become complacent, letting the Word lay flat on a page. Sometimes we forget that, before the Word was written, it was envisioned, and uttered, and breathed.

To worship more fully and faithfully, we believe we must embrace the promise that our scriptures are God’s living Word. To bring our whole selves to God in worship, we must allow the scriptures to come to life through color, movement, poetry, song, and image.

A Sanctified Art emerged as a ministry to support worshiping communities in integrating art and creativity into their spiritual practices. Initially representing the art and ministry of Lisle Gwynn Garrity, A Sanctified Art expanded to become a team of artists and pastors in January, 2016. This article published in The Presbyterian Outlook tells our origin story and how a twirling dream shifted into reality. We accepted our first seminary intern, Anna Strickland, in 2019, who joined our team in 2020. In 2019, we began intentionally welcoming guest contributors and partnering with organizations, musicians, creatives, and scholars to bring new energy, insight, and wisdom into our resources.

Our talented creative team formed as the result of each of us discerning ways to blend our creative talents with ministry. We are trained theologians and pastors in addition to being artists and creators. We are called to be artists just as much as ministers; in order to faithfully offer our gifts to the Church and world, we cannot set our creativity aside. We offer our creative gifts to resource, provoke, guide, facilitate, and enrich the spiritual lives of worshipers around the world.

our core values

• The unique creativity of all people. Created in the image of the Divine Artist, every person contains the capacity for creativity and imagination.

• The inherent goodness of all humans, regardless of identity, race, nationality, sexuality, status, or gender expression.

• The good news of the gospel that calls us to work toward liberation and wholeness for all of creation.

• Worship that welcomes all of who we are, engaging body, mind, heart, and soul.

Our standards of practice

Expansive language for God and God’s people

There are many ways to name God—Father, Mother, Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, Holy One. We believe God transcends gender, therefore, our references to God are not limited to one pronoun. In our language about God’s people, we prioritize words that recognize the beautiful diversity of all humans. We avoid language that limits gender to a binary (for example: instead of, “Brothers and sisters in Christ,” we choose, “Family of God,” or “Siblings in Christ”).

Imaginative images for God and God’s people

The stories of scripture are rooted in a particular time and place. When we image scripture, we are not interested in simply rendering a historical illustration of the text. We hope that our images serve as visual proclamation—as art that conveys a deeper meaning or provides new insights for our lives today. Therefore, when we craft visuals inspired by scripture, we do so with imagination and with the hope that people with varying identities and backgrounds might see themselves reflected in these images.

Honesty & Authenticity

We create our resources with a sense of openness to where the Spirit might stir, surprise, confuse, compel, and guide us. Our artwork, written reflections, poetry, films, curriculum, and devotionals convey our honest and genuine expressions of faith. We hope our resources meet you in real and meaningful ways in your own journey of faith.

Anti-oppression & anti-racism

In our work, remembering is a spiritual practice. We remember that God created all creation with a goodness refrain. We remember that the poetry of love proclaims that darkness is sacred and black is beautiful (Song of Songs 1:5-6). We remember that Jesus was not white. However, we remember that the white Church has perpetuated violence and oppression against black, brown, and indigenous peoples. We remember that the white Church has profited from slavery. We remember that in the 1820s, white American churches mass-produced and mass-marketed images of white Jesus in order to form a unified national identity of white superiority.* We remember that racism is still alive in our faith communities. As we remember all of these things, we commit to the ongoing work of disrupting racism wherever it persists—trusting that through this journey, God re-members us and makes us whole.

*Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. (New York, NY: Nations Books, 2016). 153.

We Believe . . . 

• God moves in mysterious ways, reaching people through respected and traditional paths, as well as through creative, new, and sometimes startling encounters. The Church has reached a turning point. What has always worked in years past may not work in years to come. To move forward, we have to be honest, reflective, and in touch with the unique ways God is stirring in our lives.

• Pastors are overworked and volunteers are exhausted; when push comes to shove, creativity can often go out the door. Faith leaders need the support of artists and creatives to midwife artful, God-breathed ministry.

• We are all created in the image of the Creator and share in the capacity to be creative and imaginative. Some of us learn best by doing, or by hearing, or by seeing. To widen access to God, we have to make space for all.

• Art helps us connect our hearts with our hands, our faith with our lives, and our mess with our God. We need the prophetic, connective power of art in our churches. We are called to be creative, fearless, and messy.