Meet Our Team
Rev. Michael J. Schulte
Founding Pastor
Pastor Michael (he/him/his) is the Founding Pastor of the Collective. He is passionate about developing faith communities which equip and empower new generations to experience the grace and love of God. He believes that church can be different, that it can be a force for good in our world, a force for justice, equity, and radical affirmation.
Michael began his career as a high-school English teacher in high-needs, Title I schools in Memphis and St. Louis. After five years of teaching, he discerned a call to ministry and earned a Master of Divinity with a certificate in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality from Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, TN.
While at Vanderbilt, he served as the Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in Lebanon, TN. He has also served as the Pastoral Intern at the Dwelling in Winston-Salem, NC. The Dwelling is one of the fastest-growing communities in the Lutheran Church.
Outside of work, Michael serves as the Fraternity Chaplain for the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity where he focuses on developing resources around mental health and spiritual well-being. You will find Michael running long distances, obsessing over University of Illinois athletics, and trying to find the best chocolate chip cookie in all of Atlanta.
Michael is excited about the work of the Collective and cannot wait to meet you. To schedule a time to meet with Pastor Michael, fill out a Connect Card, and he will contact you to set up a time for coffee, tea, or maybe even a beer.
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Want to learn more about the Collective and our ministries? Fill out a Connect Card below to subscribe to our email newsletter and hear from a member of our team.