Category: church

Out Into the Desert

Several years ago when I started questioning my beliefs, I began to feel lonely because everyone in my circle of friends thought much the same way I did. When I continued to change, it felt like I was wandering out into the Desert. Eventually, I resigned from the church that I was pastoring, and started…

Outgrowing Our Religion

In my best evaluation, people have always been drawn towards things like religion to try to explain the things we could explain. The ceremonies and communities we built around our understanding and misunderstanding helped us shape some meaning into the world. I believe we can honor those traditions and, sometimes, even memorialize them while boldly…

The Church is Out of Space

Recently I listened to a discussion about a book I’m involved with called Parenting Deconstructed. It’s a great book for people that are making changes in their spiritual life and exploring different options, commonly known as deconstruction. A couple of the authors that I love talked about making space for their children. What they meant…

Why I Had to Go Further

by Karl Forehand While it’s true that many millions of people are deconstructing their faith, some of them will be convinced to stop short of total deconstruction. I don’t want to judge or criticize them for this. Deconstruction is hard. But for many of us, it was necessary to continue on the journey that we…

The Things That Hurt

In 20 years of ministry, I have never had anyone refuse to take communion from me. But this guy quietly told me he was not going to accept what we called The Lord’s Supper. I said, “okay” suspiciously, to which he replied, “I’ll talk to you later about it.” Sure enough, we had supper later…

Finding Community – 3 of 3

Several months ago, when we stopped going to church, the most common injunction from people was, “Community is important.” As I said before, “I couldn’t agree more.” The best way I can answer this issue is to describe my current communities. That’s right, it’s plural. I don’t think any of us just have one community.…

The Role of Women

My mother is a strong person. I have heard her talk about having low self-esteem, and while that may have been true, she raised 5 children without a lot of support. My dad worked hard, but he never developed the skills to lead us effectively. Many of us were raised in systems that stressed the…

The Main Thing

Karl I am pretty sure I heard the phrase first from one of my mentors.  Although I very well could have heard in a secular boardroom. The phrase goes something like this,  “We have to keep the main thing the main thing.”   It is a little more than establishing goals or even priorities.  The phrase…

Would Jesus Go to Church?

Recently we decided not to go to church anymore.  We don’t really know whether this is a permanent decision or just what we are doing right now.  It probably depends upon which one of us you talk to and what day it is.  One thing is for sure, we need some time to heal up…

Part 3 – Church?

Disclaimers:   I respect my pastor friends that want to preserve the local church.  Most of them agree, it needs to be re imagined.  That’s what I think i’m doing here – imagining. This series of blogs is about what I’m thinking about.  I think it’s good to think through things occasionally, especially in times like…

Part 2 – Church?

Disclaimers:   I respect my pastor friends that want to preserve the local church.  Most of them agree, it needs to be re imagined.  That’s what I think i’m doing here – imagining. This series of blogs is about what I’m thinking about.  I think it’s good to think through things occasionally, especially in times like…

Part 1 – Church?

Disclaimers:   I respect my pastor friends that want to preserve the local church.  Most of them agree, it needs to be re imagined.  That’s what I think i’m doing here – imagining. This series of blogs is about what I’m thinking about.  I think it’s good to think through things occasionally, especially in times like…