Faculty lecture to focus on ‘Exvangelicals’ and deconstruction of faith, parenthood

For another faculty lecture, McKillop Library will host Dr. Katie Gabriele-Black, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology. The lecture will be entitled “There’s a Lot of Grey: Evangelicals’ Experiences of Faith (De)construction and Parenthood,” and it will be held on Monday, Nov. 8, from 4-5:30 p.m. in the east wing of the library.

Dr. Katie Gabriele-Black

In “There’s a Lot of Grey: Evangelicals’ Experiences of Faith (De)construction and Parenthood,” Dr. Kaitlin Gabriele-Black, attendees will learn more about the experiences of “Exvangelicals” who grappling with their Christian faith.

“Exvangelicals” is the term for the ever-growing number of people have stopped identifying as Evangelical Christians, distancing themselves from the more extreme elements of Christianity that have surfaced over the past decade while attempting to remain true to its core principles.

Through in-depth interviews, Dr. Gabriele-Black examines how “Exvangelicals” are transitioning into parenthood, their shifting relationships with partners and Christian communities, and how they’re making decisions around parenting — like religious instruction, teaching about gender, sexuality, race and discipline strategies — in light of their Evangelical upbringings.

Dr. Katie Gabriele-Black’s research focuses on the intersections of sexuality, gender and faith, specifically around Evangelical Christianity. Through mixed-methodology, she aims to highlight the ways in which those from Evangelical Christian backgrounds resist, transform and/or modulate Evangelical discourse while navigating the transition to parenthood.

Featured photo by Getty Images/ehrlif