Winn Collier on How the Life, Presence & Posture of Eugene Peterson Speaks to Pastors Today
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One of the most influential voices in western evangelicalism in recent history has been pastor Eugene Peterson. Known especially for his paraphrase of the Bible, “The Message”, his writings, preaching, and pastoral life have touched the lives of millions. In 2018, Eugene Peterson passed away, but thankfully much of his work lives on through his many books. Alongside his own work, a recent authorized biography called “A Burning in My Bones” by Winn Collier has left a significant impact on pastors throughout North America, so our team wanted to invite him to share about this work with our network.
Jason sat down with Winn to dive deeper into the life of Eugene and what it was like for him to work alongside Eugene in his final years to capture his life story. One of the primary questions Euegen’s life explored, as does the book, is the question of what the role of a pastor truly is. Winn invites us into the journals and writings of Euegene where he wrestled with this question, explaining that Eugene himself spent years trying to define his own calling amidst the pressures of church boards, denominational leadership, celebrity moments, and the larger church culture.
One of the most significant parts of working on this book said Winn, was getting to be with Euegene and experiencing the gift of his presence and hospitality. He recounts one of his first visits with Eugene when he was still pastoring, saying “I can’t remember a single question I asked or a single response from Eugene. But as I left breakfast, my anxieties had melted.” There was something about the way Eugene made people feel that was one of his greatest legacies beyond his writings.
This is a moving and deeply inspiring book that shows both the incredible pursuit of holiness Eugene had and yet also his profound humanity as a man with insecurities, temptations, and mistakes. We hope as you hear this conversation, it will give you another window into the life of Eugene and help you reflect on God’s call on your life as a pastor.
Winn Collier
In addition to A Burning in My Bones, Winn Collier has authored four books (Restless Faith, Let God: The Transforming Wisdom of François Fénelon, Holy Curiosity, and Love Big, Be Well) and contributed to numerous other volumes. He has written for multiple periodicals including Christianity Today, Christian Century, Relevant, and the Washington Post.
A pastor for twenty-five years, Winn was the founding pastor of All Souls Charlottesville in Virginia. He now directs the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary in Michigan. He holds a PhD from the University of Virginia, where he focused on the intersection of religion and literary fiction. Winn and his wife, Miska, a spiritual director, live in Holland, Michigan, with their two sons.