Deconstructing Your Faith, Re-envisioning Your Spirituality
Do you ever wonder about the image of God you are carrying?... Have you reached a place in your human journey where you are questioning the faith tradition that you have been a part of and its relevance to your spiritual journey?... Has the faith community/tradition you made a home in brought wounding, confusion, or despair to you in navigating the transitions and thresholds of your life?... If the answer that arises within you as you ponder these questions is ‘yes,’ please know that you are not alone. Current statistics reveal to us that in the United States the number of individuals who are affiliated with a particular faith tradition and/or denomination continue to decrease. Many people are questioning the role of religion in their lives and decidedly searching for alternatives to a worship community and complicated doctrines. In this sacred pursuit, more and more questions abound as humanity struggles to listen more deeply to God’s authentic voice in their everyday lives. In this listening, many are discovering a divine invitation to pause and reconsider the meaning underlying this reality. Perhaps, a way to move forward is to explore the possibility of deconstructing the faith we carry while re-envisioning the purpose and possibilities of what it means to live from our deeper spiritual identity. Join Well for the Journey's own Greg Cochran and Gordon Creamer for this online series, where we will explore the pressing questions in our hearts around this wrestling with what it means to practice the faith we carry - or were taught to carry – while welcoming a deep, unfed spiritual hunger. At this critical juncture in our personal and collective histories, intentionally spending time in this way is not only an act of great self-compassion and care, it can also become an embodied expression of healing for others whom we are connected to in the world. While in the presence of sacred and safe community, each session will invite participants to engage in a period of contemplative silence around an excerpt from various wisdom writings, such as bell hooks, Richard Rohr, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Brian McLaren among others. Also included will be opportunities for personal reflection, journaling, small and large group conversations, and other creative spiritual exercises. Below offers a glimpse of what the emphasis will be for each of the sessions in this series: Session 1 - Creating a Sacred Space to Deconstruct & Querying the Purpose of Religion Session 2 – The Spiritual Nature of Being Human and Becoming Session 3 - Coming Home to Yourself Session 4 - Energizing Personal & Community Spiritual Practices Session 5 - Living Meaningfully in Spirit
DATES: Mondays - 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30/26
TIME: 6:30 - 8:30 PM ET
COST: Please choose the option that works best for you!
LOCATION: ZOOM
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATORS: Greg Cochran and Gordon Creamer
FACILITATOR BIOS: Greg Cochran - Greg has been the Executive Director at Well for the Journey since 2010. He is a graduate of Clemson University and Southern Seminary. Greg was Associate Pastor at Woodbrook Baptist Church serving from 1988-2022. He also is a program/retreat facilitator and a spiritual companion. He completed the Shalem Institute’s Spiritual Guidance Program (SGP) in 2009 and is currently a SGP staff member. He is also a mentor for Paseo's "The Stewards of Mystery" Spiritual Guidance Program in Cottonwood, Idaho. Greg and his wife, Carole, live in Baltimore. They have two children (26 and 24). Greg is a hiker, photographer, woodworker, and loves being with family - and is always desiring to be open and listening for the invitation of the Spirit. Gordon Creamer - Gordon Creamer, creator of The Mission Bridge, joined the Well’s Staff in July 2022 as Program Director. He has held leadership roles in healthcare programming and operations since 2001 at various Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, and Hospice communities. He earned an MA in Spiritual & Pastoral Care from Loyola University and an MA in Theology from the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary & University. He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Ecumenical Institute.