Clergy Project

An online community of ex-clergy nears a milestone

By Yonat Shimron — September 5, 2019
(RNS) — The Clergy Project, whose mission is to build an online community for 'post-belief religious leaders,' expects to draw its 1,000th participant sometime next month.

Losing my religion: Clergy who no longer believe gather online

By Kimberly Winston — April 24, 2014
(RNS) A new "Rational Doubt" blog hopes to help those who feel isolated by doubt in a sea of believers, pairing clergy who have lost their faith and left the pulpit with those struggling with leaving religion.

Skeptics wonder if ex-clergy should lead atheist movements

By Ken Chitwood — October 2, 2013
(RNS) Some skeptics are wondering if ex-clergy leading nonreligious groups is a good idea.

A year after losing faith, atheist pastor finds a new calling

By Kimberly Winston — March 26, 2013
(RNS) When Teresa MacBain declared her loss of faith last Easter, she expected to lose her pulpit and many friends. She did. But in the year since, she's gained a new community and a new sense of confidence.

Former preacher becomes a poster boy for unbelief

By Bruce Nolan — June 13, 2012

NEW ORLEANS (RNS) Jerry DeWitt is beginning to develop a national profile in the small universe of organized unbelievers as a former Pentecostal preacher who little by little lost his faith right there in the pulpit. Now DeWitt is out of the pulpit, and public about his nonbelief. By Bruce Nolan.

Sidebar: Pastor’s loss of faith started with loss of hell

By Kimberly Winston — April 30, 2012

(RNS) Jerry DeWitt’s transition from true believer to total skeptic took 25 years. It began, he said, with the idea of hell. How could it be, as he had been taught and preached, that a loving God would damn most people to eternal fire? By Kimberly Winston.

For clergy, lost faith can lead to lost family, jobs

By Kimberly Winston — April 30, 2012

BETHESDA, Md. (RNS) The goal of the Clergy Project is not to pull pastors from the pulpit, but to provide those who have already lost their faith with a safe place to anonymously discuss what what’s next. By Kimberly Winston.

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