Young Houstonians discuss religion over beers and Bibles at ‘Theology on Tap’
Church may not be the first venue that comes to mind when Oktoberfest beckons. But there’s a Houston group that pairs Christianity with craft beer, no matter the season.
Theology on Tap’s tagline is “Question Freely. Think Deeply. Drink a little.” Think TED Talk meets local brewery.
Every other month, Theology on Tap convenes to discuss a topic voted on by attendees at the previous event. Featured speakers take the stage, followed by a question-and-answer session.
Founder Sarah Stone, a Heights resident, serves as emcee and takes questions from the crowd.
The events, posted online and on Eventbrite about a month prior, cost $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
“You get food and beer and awesome conversation,” Stone said.
Recent themes have included “Racism and the Church,” “What Do Other Religions Believe” and “Man vs. Machine: Transhumanism. TechnoParanoia. The Future of Humanity.”
Just in time for Halloween, the next meeting, slated for Oct. 18 at First Lutheran Midtown, will explore “Conspiracies and Satanism.”
Stone explained that this is the second part of a series.
“Scratch any conspiracy theory deeply enough, and you’ll hear lots of talk about Satanism,” said Stone, who noted the topic will not be as spooky as it sounds. The evening will clear up what Satanists actually believe and how it is different from nonbelievers.
“They don’t actually follow Satan, but they do love the archetype,” Stone explained. “He’s the rebel. It’s about shock and awe. They’re basically playful atheists.”
The whole goal is to be thought-provoking, eye-opening and memorable. “It will be interesting and challenging,” Stone said.
That’s what Theology on Tap is all about. Stone wants to host a forum where people can disagree — compassionately — and still have a good time. Ultimately, it’s a way to spread the Gospel, just in a new way. “At the end of the day, we all love Jesus. And we want you to know Him, too,” Stone said.
Serving up Theology on Tap
Theology on Tap was born out of the beginning of Stone’s job as director of community and evangelistic outreach at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church — as well as a few failed attempts at online dating.
“I was meeting great people,” Stone said. “They weren’t love matches, but I thought it would be fun to hang out again.”
She called a handful of her girl friends, invited over the guys and started planning events — like dancing or comedy. Everyone called it “Sarah’s Singles.”
“I was like a cruise director,” Stone said. “And it grew and grew.”
Pastors at the church got wind of it and asked her to bring her hostessing skills to Memorial Drive, which largely catered to families and older adults at the time. This, the pastors figured, could help spark interest for young adults.
Stone recruited a few of her Sarah’s Singles to mingle with the church crowd. Then she received a call from Rev. Andrew Cunningham, who was working with young adult ministry at Chapelwood United Methodist Church at the time.
“He kind of cold called me,” Stone said. “He knew I was doing something.”
He wanted to join forces and expand their reach. Instead of relegating young adult groups to their congregation, Cunningham proposed bringing them all together to produce betterattended, livelier events.
“We brainstormed,” Stone said. “He had ideas and knew people at different churches who might be interested. I looped in some people, too.”
They reached out to other congregations, and six joined. Each committed to bringing members of their young adult groups and friends.
They held their first event in a Spring Branch office in September 2015, complete with kegerator. About 100 people showed up to talk about faith and work.
Space to ask the big questions
Over the years, the event has evolved into today’s well-defined discussion-over-refreshments format.
Venues have rotated from congregations to various breweries, and leadership has changed as well. Currently, the group includes Paul Sloan, professor of theology at Houston Baptist University, Meredith Mills, senior pastor at Westminster United Methodist, Patrick Hall, rector at Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, and Evan McClanahan, senior pastor at First Lutheran Church.
A weekly radio show and podcast, “Theology on Air,” emerged in 2020. Sometimes it provides further pontification on the same topics as the inperson gathering. Other times, it tackles another issue, digs deep into the Bible, navigates social issues or shines a light on current events.
One essential development in Theology on Tap over the years is the willingness to delve into sticky issues, pushing for more challenging conflict, Stone explained.
That move came about after an evening focused on “evil and suffering,” during which a speaker addressed why evil happens and why God allows it. “He had about 15 or 20 minutes to talk,” Stone recalled. “Then the questions poured in.”
Afterward, leadership felt convinced Theology on Tap was heading in the right direction.
“That started us thinking — let’s not be afraid,” Stone said. “We’ve covered a lot of stuff. We do try to push the envelope, because it’s what I think young adults and millennials are talking about and questioning.”
She added that many 20- and 30-somethings feel hurt, misunderstood or even wounded by their church. Perhaps, in Sunday school, Stone posits, they brought up a subject and were told, “We don’t ask that.”
“In Theology on Tap, we do,” she said. “Let’s go.”
A shining light
Montrose residents Beth and Noah White met at Theology on Tap in February 2018 when they were both students at Houston Christian University. Now they are married and expecting their first baby.
“I think very fondly of Theology on Tap,” Beth said. “We’ve gone to every single one that we’ve been able to since then.”
The couple often invites friends to come along. “Because we really like it, we invite everyone we know to go,” Beth said. “We’ve created a group that comes with us every time.”
“It’s a good opportunity to rally the troops,” Noah added.
For Beth, who now teaches theology at Houston Christian High, the panel discussion is her favorite part. “That gets the conversation going and opens the door,” she said. “It creates an interesting conversation, and it’s nice to have a place where there is open dialogue about issues.”
Noah explained that the setting allows for civil, polite disagreement.
“It’s person to person, face to face,” he said. “You’re drinking a beer with them. And it shows that there is room for charitable disagreement.”
Since multiple viewpoints are represented, attendees of all backgrounds can feel welcomed, Beth explained.
“I don’t think anyone would feel out of place,” she said.
“You can just come, have a couple of beers and enjoy an intellectual side of faith,” Noah said. “You get to see a lot of interesting discussions.”
And that makes room for doubt and skepticism, he said.
“It’s definitely a place for someone who wants to get their feet wet and get an experience of church life,” he said.
Besides, Beth added, Theology on Tap is a good time. “It’s just fun,” she said. “There’s wit and humor. Sometimes, we play trivia. It’s one of the things I look forward to more than anything.”
It’s fun for Stone. too.
“This has been a shining light,” she said. “I love engaging people who believe differently than I do. I love that there’s a place I can invite you to where we’re not just going to talk about the weather or how the Astros are doing.”
She continued, “It’s going to be juicy. It’s stuff that you’re still going to be thinking about when your head hits the pillow.”
And as someone who believes in the Gospel, she added, it’s her way to “share the good news” — especially with those who might be more comfortable coming to a brewery than a church.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to hear that — and you might not hear it otherwise,” Stone said. “That excites me.”