Who Is Brice Laughrey?

Welcome to Breaking Bread Theology. Let me tell a bit about myself and how this site came to be.

The Short(er) Answer

My name is Brice, and I’m a Christian minister. Over the last decade or so, my theology has changed so drastically that it’s sometimes difficult to keep up with my own thoughts. I originally started a blog as a space to aid me in that transformative journey, but the more I did, the more it seemed to want to be something bigger than just me.

I decided to see if there are others who are on a similar journey, and that grew into questions about what kinds of spaces might help people on this journey.

Breaking Bread Theology is my way of exploring the creation of safe spaces — a waypoint for theological travelers in their pursuit of God.

The Long(er) Answer

I grew up in the Church, mostly in conservative, traditional Church of Christ congregations, and I attended Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas (a Church of Christ affiliated university, whatever that means).

After deciding that I didn’t really want to be a comic book artist or a mathematician or a computer programmer or a video game developer, I decided to study Biblical text for my own self-edification — you know, while I “figured life out.” I kept telling myself I had no intention of becoming a preacher or a minister of any kind, so three years in when the preaching courses started, I jumped ship and switched my major to Exercise Science.

Three and a half years later, I’m living in Las Vegas, Nevada with my wife and daughter (plus one on the way), I haven’t worked a single Exercise Science job, and I’m a co-preacher at a small Church of Christ congregation across town. A couple years after that, I was convinced that I wanted to be a minister and theologian for the rest of my life. As in, for a living, because nothing is more satisfying to me.

After some encouragement from my family and friends, I signed up for a Masters program through Rochester University and received my Master of Religious Education in Missional Leadership. It was a unique experience for me; it was the first time I’d done anything I would consider truly ecumenical. I read authors I’d never heard of from all different expressions of Christian faith and had professors who challenged me (and equipped me) to articulate my beliefs and flesh them out.

The Masters program gave me a lot of language to express things I’d been feeling most of my life. For what might have been the first time, I was able to actually say those things out loud, and I discovered I wasn’t alone. There were and are hundreds, thousands, of people all over the world who are struggling with the same things I am and asking the same questions. There are authors, preachers, teachers, theologians, philosophers, artists, scientists — you name it. People from every walk of life, from every culture, earnestly seeking God and Truth who find themselves wondering about the traditions they’ve been handed and the doctrines they’ve been taught.

Why Start Breaking Bread Theology?

I like to think of myself as a Christian recovering from Christianity, which is basically the reason that Breaking Bread Theology came to be. Breaking Bread Theology is my attempt to create a safe space for myself and others. Everyone is invited; it’s an invitation to explore and find healing together. I’m a Christian in pursuit of God wherever that may lead, and I want to journey with others who are also pursuing God.

I was having a hard time finding places and spaces for that sort of pursuit, and with two jobs, a family, and obligations to specific communities, I didn’t have a lot of time to go looking. So, I figured I’d start laying the foundations for that kind of community right here. I’d start being the thing I was looking for in the hopes that others will see my candle in the window and come knocking.

What You Can Expect

As a part time, solo creator, it’s hard for me to hit everything, but there are three things I’m hoping to provide over time:

• Responses to common questions for people who are just starting into Christian theology or just curious about Christianity.
• “Bible study” articles that look at specific passages, books of the Bible, or themes in scripture.
• Philosophical theology where faith and life can have conversations and explore the mysteries of God.

I’d love to offer things like daily meditations, as well, but we’ll see what life brings. I’m hoping to do things like daily quotes (food for thought) on the Breaking Bread Theology Facebook page, if you want to follow me there.

I’d Love to Hear From You

I’d love to hear about what matters to you in your pursuit of God. What are you struggling with? What are you thinking about? What have your experiences been? Comment on posts with your thoughts and questions, or email me about topics you’d like me to write about.

Do you have a similar project, blog, or production? I’d love to carve out time to collaborate! Let me know what you have in mind.

Let’s Grow Together

This is a slow roll for me, but I would love for Breaking Bread Theology to turn into something big and beautiful. I’m all too familiar with how oppressive Christianity can be, but I believe that God is love and creates out of love in every moment. I’m a Christian, but Breaking Bread Theology isn’t about evangelism; it’s about pursuing God, and I hope that it turns into a sanctuary of conversation and learning for every explorer who arrives at these digital doors.

If you’re enjoying the content on Breaking Bread Theology or find it helpful, please consider supporting this work with a donation. I would love to make this a full-time effort and continue to expand the available content, but that will only be possible with enough support from readers like yourself. I hope that together we can continue to create safe spaces for people to explore faith and theology.