Brian McLaren

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, public theologian, and one of the most influential voices in progressive Christianity. A former college English professor and pastor, he is known for helping countless people reimagine faith in ways that are intellectually honest, spiritually vibrant, and committed to justice, compassion, and the common good.

Born in 1956, Brian earned both his B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Maryland. After teaching writing and literature at colleges in the Washington, D.C. area, he helped found Cedar Ridge Community Church in Maryland and served as its founding pastor for twenty-four years. Since then, he has become a sought-after speaker, teacher, and mentor, addressing audiences across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He currently serves on the faculty of the Center for Action and Contemplation, co-hosts the Southern Lights Conference, and contributes to a variety of ecumenical and interfaith initiatives.

Brian is the author of more than twenty books, many of which have shaped contemporary conversations about faith, spirituality, and social transformation. His best-known works include A New Kind of Christian, A Generous Orthodoxy, Everything Must Change, Naked Spirituality, The Great Spiritual Migration, Faith After Doubt, and Do I Stay Christian? His recent books include the Nautilus Award-winning Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart (2024) and The Last Voyage (2025), the first installment of a science fiction trilogy. His next nonfiction book, The Beautiful Logic of a Meaningful Life, is scheduled for publication in 2027.

Brian and his wife, Grace, live near the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida. They have four adult children and five grandchildren. When he is not writing or speaking, he enjoys kayaking, fly fishing, music, literature, and exploring the natural world.