Art, Faith, and Pastoral Ministry: A Conversation with Whitni Carlson from New Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church
Best Practices for Adventist Worship (BP): You recently participated in the Illuminate Arts and Faith Conference. How did that experience impact or inspire you—both personally and in your work as a pastor and writer?
Whitni Carlson (WC): Personally, I felt a sense of relief. It wasn't the typical experience within Adventist higher education, where conferences tend to be highly specialized and held within one department, mainly to offer students and professors the opportunity to read fairly dense papers on academic topics. Those are great, and they itch the nerd part of my brain in a fun way (especially as a former teacher in the Southern Adventist University English Department, and alumnus). But Illuminate was different because it featured a blend of academics, faith, and art rather than being housed in one area (or academic discipline) of campus. It made so much sense to host it at the Collegedale Church thanks to their beautiful new(ish) classroom wing and atrium. It was my first time being in there, and I was impressed with how well-equipped the space is for something like this. The work I do currently is on a much smaller scale, composing my own songwriting and poetry while also teaching weekly study to our Kansas City area teenagers, and occasionally preaching as part of my work as the Family Life and Youth Pastor at the New Haven Church.
I miss teaching at SAU, which surprises me. When I taught there from 2014 to 2017, I was not planning on teaching adjunct English forever, but I knew it was a special opportunity to encounter these young learners and try to open their minds to the joy of engaging in research writing based on what they love, always asking themselves: where does my passion meet the world's hurts or needs? What makes my heart beat fast? The students were invited to attend Illuminate for free, with the School of Visual Art and Film canceling their Tuesday classes to make sure as many as possible could come over to listen. There was so much great stuff to chew on, and I really enjoyed the plenary sessions, both Russ Ramsey (pastor and author from Nashville) talking about Michelangelo and the next day with the couple from Wheaton, Drs. Crystal and David Downing, talking about Dorothy Sayers and C.S. Lewis. I loved hearing Winn Collier talk about his biography of Eugene Peterson. That session is probably what stands out the most for me, honestly, because of the incredible heart Peterson had for ministry and lifelong learning. I hope that what Collier shared about Peterson could be said of anyone stepping into church leadership: "Eugene didn't use the Bible, he lived in the world the Bible opened up for him." I learned so much about the ongoing legacy of Peterson's work, with the Center for Christian Imagination. Wow—I would love to do a class there someday!
As always, the best part of going to these things is connecting with friends. I got to ride to the conference with Mary Ferguson, my pastor friend from the Mission Chattanooga, who performed the wedding for Jeff and me back in 2018. She said there was a large showing both this year and last year from folks downtown at a wide array of churches. And I overheard several people saying what a beautiful campus SAU is, and that it was their first time there. How refreshing to engage outwardly with the wider artistic and faith community in Chattanooga! We have so much to celebrate and learn together. I also saw so many friends who I did not know would be there, along with friends like Kevin Jackson who traveled there from Raleigh to talk about art history through the lens of Francis Schaeffer.
It was really cool to hear a combination of acoustic guitar alongside Devon Howard's masterful pipe organ to lead the assembly in worship. It's not a typical combo, but it totally worked and inspired me to send clips home to Jeff to try that kind of thing in our sanctuary service, too... although Collegedale Church's pipe organ is pretty legendary and hard to duplicate. Maybe we can copy something like that at Union College for campmeeting. It was really special to be back in that church with friends I went to college with, now mixed in with a range of scholars and artists I am inspired and lucky to walk through this later stage of life with as friends.
And let's not forget the time of year. Those Tennessee hills are just gorgeous in early springtime, and I met up with my college roommate to walk and talk on the biology trail winding all around the woods of White Oak Mountain. The leaves were super small and fresh still, and there were wildflowers popping out all over. Just beautiful. I already talked to Lucas Patterson, who directed the conference, about doing something outdoors (even if just in the evening or early morning), like meditative walks of some kind. It's just the perfect season in my opinion.
BP: As a creative writer and pastor, how does your artistic practice shape your relationship with God and your understanding of faith?
WC: I don't really know what I'm thinking until I write about it. Sometimes, those thoughts become songs, sometimes poems, or even essays. I'm trying to get my act together and make a few kids’ books, which would not be overtly Bible-based, but definitely spring out of my love for God as I discover him through his creation and the artistic creations of fellow humans. One of the first places I took the youth group kids here in Kansas City was to their amazing art museum: the Nelson-Atkins Museum. It made me smile to listen to their conversations as they wandered among both modern and historic treasures, just in awe. The only response that feels sane when we encounter the story of the gospel or the way God wants to recreate His Kingdom here is to create for ourselves, however imperfectly. Even if something I make is pretty far from my vision, I still need the process because I believe that's what we're made for, to respond to the beauty and even the pain of our humanity with the God-breathed ability to create.
BP: In what ways does your engagement with the arts influence your approach to preaching, pastoral care, or leading worship? Could you share a specific example?
WC: There are so many interesting writers, filmmakers, and musicians who fill my palette with colors to paint with whenever I need to have a conversation or be very still and listen to someone who has been hurt. It's better to be able to find a poem by Emily Dickinson, William Stafford, or Christian Wiman when I want someone to feel encouraged or seen. I mean, we might as well pull from the best! We don't need to regurgitate platitudes as we engage with anyone—young friends or older ones—everyone deserves masterful words or powerful music.
The film department at SAU features faculty who work to connect students directly with other filmmakers who want to tell stories influenced by the ultimate story: Jesus—and not just make a film that is overtly about him, like King of Kings or something like that (which I'm sure is probably great). But there are ways to do your own storytelling honestly and with a heart of wisdom, influenced by "whatsoever things are noble and worthy of praise" (Phil. 4:8). And I mean, some artists do a good job of wrestling with more overtly religious imagery in interesting ways too (like In the Low – Honest Prayers for Dark Seasons, the recent collab between Scott Erickson and Justin McRoberts).
Worship music coming from sources like Mason Jar Records, anyone coming out of the Greenbelt Music Festival, and the work Sandra McCracken did on her Light in the Canyon sessions bring these amazing collaborations among songwriters who seek God in unique, interesting ways—not driven purely by a K-LOVE industry aesthetic. When people put in their own roots and let their own cracks show a little bit, those artists kind of earn their right to speak overtly about Christ and the themes of His story. Regurgitation (and I'm guilty of it) really doesn't equal more holy—just more familiar, and sometimes a little bit lazy.
Whenever I get the chance to stick my neck out and make art, it feels delicate. I get excited and nervous because it's just the word you said: engagement. It's like I'm meeting my Maker and doing this awkward dance along with His elegance. I had that buzzy feeling when I was at Illuminate—that feeling that comes from sharing space and time with those who love what God loves, and we get to look around and nod with that mutual understanding of serving each other with generous portions.
