BIO Bob Otis Stanley

Bob “Otis” Stanley is a spiritual teacher, community leader, and Senior Pastor of the Sacred Garden Community Church, an entheogenic spiritual community dedicated to fostering deeper connection with the sacred through intentional practice, community, and reverence for nature.

For more than 40 years, Bob’s work with Sacrament has been guided by a unique blend of family lineage teachings, academic inquiry, and the study of religious and wisdom traditions from around the world. His educational background includes degrees and post-graduate studies in psychology, religious studies, sociology, and Divinity, culminating in a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from the University of Chicago.

A passionate advocate for spiritual freedom, community empowerment, and conscious cultural evolution, Bob served as the founding Chairperson of Oakland’s pioneering “Decriminalize Nature” initiative, the first successful effort to decriminalize all plants and fungi. He is also the co-founder of the Sacred Plant Alliance and currently serves as Board Chair of the Alma Institute.

At the heart of Bob’s teaching is a commitment to openness, radical inclusion, and shared exploration. His approach encourages people to engage directly with their own experience while cultivating deeper relationships with themselves, others, and the living world.

Beyond his professional roles, Bob’s passions include sacred gardening, positive post-modernism, bicycling, and playing his grandmother’s violin—practices that reflect his lifelong dedication to creativity, connection, and meaningful living.