This event takes place in person at Charis and on Crowdcast, Charis' virtual event platform. This event is free, but registration is required for virtual attendance. Please read the in-person event guidelines at the bottom of this page to be sure you can participate in the event. 

Charis welcomes Mashaun Simon in conversation with Duncan E. Teague for a discussion of Faith Deconstruction for Dummies, a supportive guide for readers from all walks of life who are sitting with complicated questions regarding what they have been taught versus what they have begun to believe.

Faith Deconstruction For Dummies helps you through the process of thinking critically about your beliefs by unlearning, processing, and considering new ways of thinking. This unbiased book walks you through your options as you begin the faith deconstruction process, and it provides advice and suggestions to assist you on your journey. You'll learn about the origins of deconstruction, its causes and effects, and what to expect during the process of reevaluating your belief system. Shed the baggage of belief systems, craft your own investigative process, and discover tools and resources that will help you map out your path. Those who deconstruct their faith may end up departing from organized religion, while others may develop a closer relationship with God. Find answers to your heart's deepest questions with this compassionate Dummies guide.

Dissect your beliefs, reevaluate traditions and rituals, and find the practices that feel right for you

Get answers to questions like: Who am I? What do I believe? What is my relationship to my faith?

Find safe spaces where you can explore your options and build community through the deconstruction process

Evaluate your spirituality in the face of skepticism, curiosity, trauma, loss, or simply a desire to question

Rev. Mashaun D. Simon (he/him/they) is an award-winning journalist, writer, preacher, and thought leader. Through his work, Mashaun attempts to empower others to cultivate joy through realizing personal freedom and purposeful fulfillment. As a public theologian, his first book, Faith Deconstruction For Dummies, is set to be released in November 2025.

A native of metro Atlanta and survivor of neuroendocrine carcinoma, a rare form of cancer that makes up about 0.5% of all cancer diagnoses, Mashaun is a Doctor of Ministry candidate at Columbia Theological Seminary. His research engages the relationship between Black church culture, church hurt and Black LGBTQ+ grief. He hopes to use his research for Project Joshua, an initiative committed to curating authentic environments of communal collaboration and belonging. The former senior pastor of House of Mercy Everlasting (HOME) in College Park, GA, he currently serves as chief executive officer of the non-profit, community-based initiative HOME Outreach, Inc.

A product of the Black press, Mashaun began his journalism career at the Atlanta Daily World newspaper. Since then, he has written for NBC News, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Black Enterprise, Bloomberg News, Ebony Magazine, and ESSENCE Magazine, Q.Digital, the Counter Narrative Project’s (CNP) The Reckoning, and GLAAD. He is also the former co-associate editor of Geez Magazine, a seasonal, non-proﬁt, ad-free, print magazine about social justice, art, and activism for people at the fringes of faith in both Canada and the US. For three seasons, Mashaun co-hosted B4Nine Podcast, an audio-only, pop culture podcast. And in the summer of 2025, Mashaun received a NLGJA: the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists’ Excellence in Online Journalism award for his work with LGBTQ Nation. He is also a four-time Atlanta Association of Black Journalists’ (AABJ) Pioneer Black Journalists Awards winner.

In addition to his writing, ministry, and community work, Mashaun has successfully produced cultural competency and affirmative action programming; led several local, regional, and national media relations and marketing campaigns; and provided recruitment messaging support for several institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations in the metro Atlanta area and beyond.

Mashaun was a 2022 DO GOOD X startup accelerator Fellow, a member of the 2022-2023 class of Collegeville Institute’s Emerging Writers Fellowship, a member of the inaugural class of Sojourners’ Rising Leaders Fellowship (2021-2022), and a CNP Narrative Justice Fellow (2021-2022). He served on the 2024 CNP Leadership Council, the AID Atlanta advisory board (2018-2020), the inaugural PRISM board of Teach for America Metro Atlanta (2019-2020), and the advisory board for the CNP (2018-2019). He is also a co-founder of the LGBTQ Task Force of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). In 2005, Mashaun became the first out student representative on the board of directors for NABJ. And is believed to be the first out, Black male president of the Candler Coordinating Council of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

His other accolades include The Peter Gomes Award for Transformational Leadership and Service in Church, Community, and Academy (Black Church Studies program, Candler School of Theology, 2013), the Community Service Award (Candler School of Theology, 2013), and the John W. Rustin Award in preaching (Candler School of Theology, 2013). He was also named among the Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges in 2013 (Emory University).

Mashaun holds a professional writing degree from Georgia Perimeter College, a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Kennesaw State University, and a Master of Divinity from Emory University's Candler School of Theology.

Rev. Duncan E. Teague is lead minister and founder of the Abundant LUUv Congregation in Atlanta. He is an out, Black, gay man recognized by Georgia legislators for his decades of HIV/AIDS research, education and advocacy. He currently serves as vice-president of the UU Ministers Association. He has worked in global HIV research at Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. Rev. Teague and his husband/longtime companion of more than thirty years, live in Decatur, Georgia.

The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate on Crowdcast or via our website: www.chariscircle.org/donate or in person at the event.

Charis Books is a fully wheelchair accessible space with on site van accessible parking, two ramps, and additional overflow accessible parking nearby. Additional accessibility information can be found on the Accessibility page of our website. 

In-person event guidelines:

All attendees must wear a face mask during the event.

We will begin seating people at 7:00 PM ET.

This event will be live-streamed via Crowdcast.

As a reminder: If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the event.

If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or to request specific accessibility accommodations, please contact info@charisbooksandmore.com or call the store at 404-524-0304.

Please contact us at info@chariscircle.org or 404-524-0304 if you would like ASL interpretation at this event. If you would like to watch the event with live AI captions, you may do so by watching it in Google Chrome and enabling captions: Instructions here. If you have other accessibility needs or if you are someone who has skills in making digital events more accessible please don't hesitate to reach out to info@chariscircle.org.

By attending our event, whether in person or virtually, you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to Charis staff immediately or email info@chariscircle.org.

Faith Deconstruction for Dummies: Mashaun D. Simon in Conversation with Duncan E. Teague