We believe love should come without conditions.

Why OpenFaith exists

After years of ministry, I saw a pattern that broke my heart. People were being turned away from the very communities that were supposed to welcome them. Families were torn apart over theological disagreements. Young people were told they were broken for simply being who they are.

I watched churches become more concerned with who was inside and who was outside than with the actual teachings they claimed to follow. And those teachings — at their core — are about love. Every single one of them.

So I stepped back. Not from faith, but from the structures that had co-opted it. And I started asking: what would it look like to build something focused entirely on what connects us?

What we believe

We believe that every human being deserves love, respect, and belonging. We believe that wisdom isn't owned by any single tradition. We believe that honest questions are more valuable than rehearsed answers. And we believe that community should be a place of healing, not harm.

What we are not

We are not a church. We are not trying to convert anyone to anything. We are not against religion — we just believe it should be practiced with open hands, not clenched fists. If your faith brings you peace and makes you kinder, we celebrate that. If you've found meaning outside of religion altogether, we celebrate that too.

What we are

We are a growing online community. A collection of articles, resources, and conversations for people of every background. A place where adults can find thoughtful reflections, teenagers can find honest conversations, and children can learn about kindness through stories. We are, simply, open.

A note from me

My name is Steven, and I'm a former ordained Baptist minister. For years, I stood behind a pulpit and preached about God's love — and I meant every word. But over time, I realized that the institution I served was drawing lines that love never would.

I watched good people get pushed out for asking honest questions. I saw families shattered because someone didn't fit the mold. I sat with teenagers who were told that who they are is an abomination — by the very people who were supposed to love them unconditionally.

I didn't lose my faith. I lost my patience with systems that weaponize it. So I left the pulpit, but I never stopped believing in the core of what every great tradition teaches: be kind, be honest, take care of each other.

OpenFaith is what came next. It's my attempt to build the thing I wish had existed when I was struggling — a place where you can explore meaning, find community, and never be told you don't belong. I'm building it one article, one conversation, one honest question at a time.

Whether you're deeply religious, cautiously spiritual, or just curious — I'm glad you're here. This is for all of us.

— Steven