The Rise of Public Theology in Everyday Conversations

Theology has become more public than ever before. In 2017, while living in Phoenix, Arizona, it seemed that everyone was debating the theological beliefs of Arminianism versus Calvinism. It felt like the topic for Christians' coffee meetups. Does God pre-decide who goes to heaven, or is there free will and free choice? I was a youth pastor at the time and remember having conversations with people who were new to faith alongside those who had been following Jesus for a long time but were just now wrestling with the question. My thoughts at that time were not concerned with which theological stance was correct, but I was more curious about why and how this debate became so popular among my Christian friends.

When in Bozeman, Montana, I discussed the popularity of this debate with a friend and fellow youth pastor. Together, we realized how people are consuming their theological information. At that time, people began listening to more podcasts and audiobooks that addressed their faith critically. It became a trend and still is. Additionally, it seemed that more seminary graduates began creating podcasts and writing books for the common church attendee. I was led to believe that theology was becoming more public rather than isolated in the seminary space.

Complex and complicated theological questions that were discussed, interrogated, and meditated on in the seminary space are crossing over to the general public at a higher rate than ever before through multiple mediums that people are attracted to depending on their taste.

I celebrate that theological discussions have become more public, and I am also glad that it has paved the way for people's deconstruction journey. I noticed that as people began to learn more about their faith through podcasts, YouTube videos, and books, they began to question what they really believe. This, coupled with people experiencing personal church hurt and abuse or learning about the historical injustices of the Church and Christians done in the name of faith, has led many to abandon their Christian faith or put it under an intense microscope. I believe all of this is warranted and can even lead those who dare to start the journey of critically examining their faith to a closer relationship with God and to the freedom to live out as one's whole self if they remain open.

After ruminating over this thought of theology becoming more public while experiencing an in-person cohort-style seminary education, I began to build off my own experience of being in an organized Christian learning community. The seminary experience spurred on my beliefs in the benefits of having a similar space to my cohort-style seminary but one that is intentionally meant to be a nonjudgmental learning space where people can deconstruct and reconstruct faith together. A space where people can freely ask their questions about God, the Bible, Jesus, and the church without fear of being viewed as a heretic or being judged. A learning community that can doubt together, question together, learn from each other, and, of course, learn from the voices of the margins who have often been dispossessed by Christian communities in power.

I brought this idea to a mentor friend, and we began to flesh it out in conversation. I came to the conclusion that this project needed to be a part of the community development organization my wife, Erin, and I are creating called BLK South for Durham, North Carolina, in 2025.

We tested it through Kaleo Church, and it had proven to be a worthwhile space. Erin, Chris, and I piloted this theological learning community by meeting once a week for five weeks at Chris's home and applied practices of movement, reflection, and discussion to help us learn. There were only twelve people who had joined the experience, and we called it Kaleo School. One person from the experience states this, “Kalelo School has given me a deep sense of validation and encouragement to continue to ask difficult questions, to continue and be curious about the creator, mother, and father.”

Many others shared the same sentiment:

Our pilot season of Kaleo School in Phoenix, AZ.

As Erin and I create a space for theological learning and unlearning we will continue to always center the voices of those who have been forgotten in society. I believe that voices from the margins have something to teach us and reveal to us about faith. Learning from people who have had to do theology from below. These are ones who come up against trauma-inducing issues and must make sense of God in the midst of it while also being socially and politically disadvantaged. 

In conclusion, as we reflect on the transformative power of open dialogue and shared exploration of spirituality, we invite you to be part of our broader movement – BLK South. We aim to foster a nonjudgmental space for individuals to deconstruct and reconstruct their faith, bridging the gap between theological exploration and personal growth. 

As we continue to build intentional learning communities and spaces like Kaleo School, we encourage you to join us on this journey. Join BLK South, join the movement, and let's shape the narrative together.