The Clergy Project

The Clergy Project (TCP) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that provides peer support to current and former religious leaders who no longer believe in a god or other supernatural elements.

An all-volunteer-led organization overseen by a board of directors and staffed by a team of committees, TCP seeks "to provide support, community, and hope to current and former religious professionals who no longer hold supernatural beliefs.

[6] The Clergy Project traces its origins to the 2006 International Humanist and Ethical Union Convention in Reykjavik, Iceland, where Dan Barker, a former Christian minister, met with scientist and activist Richard Dawkins.

[7] At the convention, Dawkins expressed interest in Barker's former history as a minister and in better understanding the challenges that come with leaving professional ministry, such as translating the value of a Master of Divinity degree to secular employers and the loss of community support structures.

[9] Barker had assisted them in locating three of their five original participants, and a larger study was later conducted and published as Dennett and LaScola's book Caught in the Pulpit: Leaving Belief Behind.

[7] The Richard Dawkins Foundation provided the funding and technical support needed to create and administer TCP's Online Community of Forums as well as the subsequent website ClergyProject.org, which was later launched as a marketing tool and application portal.

[13] The focus of the Clergy Project is that they have a private online platform for screened and registered participants, who are "current or former religious professionals who no longer hold supernatural beliefs".

[5] In order to help forum participants obtain secular employment, the Clergy Project, aided by the Stiefel Freethought Foundation, provide funds for a transitional assistance grant (TAG).

Costs for services which include "skills assessment, resume assistance, linkages to job opportunities and access to professional career advisers" is paid directly to RiseSmart.

Carter Warden