Overview

In the online universe of bloggers, a group of women coalesced around their common work as pastors. Many of them were pioneers - they'd left the denominations of their childhoods to follow Jesus; they'd taken risks and talked about that story in the news no one wanted to hear connected to the Gospel; they'd been the first woman to serve a church or the first mum. Deep relationships formed in the writing and sharing of their stories of ministry in the pulpit, through the sacraments, outside the church walls, in their homes, in holy moments and at times when they wondered why they don't teach plumbing in seminary. This collection captures and expands that fierce and faithful bond, offering insight into the lives of Christian clergywomen and the rigours that come with commitment to religious life. Over fifty contributors represent fourteen denominations, as well as dozens of seminaries and colleges. They come from twenty-five US states as well as Canada and the United Kingdom. Their churches are large and small, liturgical and not, urban and rural. They serve as chaplains, in specialised ministries and through their writing. Their backgrounds are as diverse as their approaches to ministry - single, married, divorced, widowed; some in clergy couples; gay and straight, bi- and transgender; parents and not; ranging in ages from 20-something to 70-something. Intended for laypeople, women discerning a call to ministry and clergy of all levels of experience, these stories and prayers will resonate, challenge, inform, inspire and amuse anyone who has a passion for the work and the faith that they love.

Full Product Details

Author:   Rev. Carol Howard Merritt (Rev. Carol Howard Merritt) ,  Rev. Martha Spong (Rev. Martha Spong)
Publisher:   Jewish Lights Publishing
Imprint:   SkyLight Paths Publishing,US
Dimensions:   Width: 14.00cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.001kg
ISBN:  

9781594735882

ISBN 10:   1594735883
Pages:   250
Publication Date:   04 June 2015
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

"Foreword Rev. Carol Howard Merritt Introduction Fierce and Fabulous for Jesus: God's Calling and Our Identity Swinging Rev. Ruth Everhart Couldn't You Wait Until I'm Dead? Rev. Patricia J. Raube The Accidental Leader Rev. Robin Craig Worn In Rev. Dr. Teri McDowell Ott I Sit at My Desk: A Prayer Rev. Julia Seymour Finding My Voice Rev. Hilary Campbell High Heels in the Pulpit Rev. Rachel G. Hackenberg Queer Rev. Katie Mulligan Leaving Well Rev. Amy Fetterman Balls Rev. Kathryn Z. Johnston Come Down and Help, Please Rev. Sally-Lodge Teel A Taste of Heaven and a Splash of Glory: Sharing the Sacraments Drop by Precious Drop Suzy Garrison Meyer Of Water and the Body Rev. Joanna Harader Torn Rev. Julie Woods A Touch on Her Head Rev. Martha Spong Through the Eyes of a Child Rev. Catherine MacDonald A Prayer at Table Rev. Karla Miller By Water and the Word Rev. Jennifer Burns Lewis Open Table, No Reservations Rev. Julia Seymour God Gives Us Life Rev. Jemma Allen Hostessing Rev. Monica Thompson Smith Three Sisters Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan The Worst Communion Ever Rev. Martha Spong Ashes to Angels: Ministry and Death The Weight of Ash Rev. Deborah Lewis Before the Resurrection Rev. Joanna Harader From the Pen of the Hospital Chaplain Rev. Liz Crumlish The Moses Basket Rev. Elizabeth Evans Hagan Old Man’s Hand Rev. Martha Spong One Saving Grace Rev. Anna Scherer A Million Little Deaths: A Prayer Rev. Karla Miller Life Disrupted Rev. Deb Vaughn Of Facebook and Angels Rev. Julia Seymour They Don’t Teach That in Seminary: What We Learned Through Experience The Pastor’s View Rev. Diane M. Roth What They Will Remember Rev. Jan Edmiston Locks, Doors, a Walk-in Safe, and the Keys to the Kingdom Rev. Jennifer Garrison Brownell The Good Samaritan Test Rev. Sharon M. Temple Only Four Letters Gillian Hoyer A Prayer for the Plunger Rev. Rachel G. Hackenberg The Eruption of Story Rev. Kerri Parker Blessed Bedbugs Rev. Rosalind C. Hughes Possessive Voice Rev. Cheryl Harader To Laugh at Myself Rev. Liz Crumlish Don’t Call Me ""Reverend"" Rev. Denise Anderson I’m Here Because God Cares Rev. Erin Counihan It’s Complicated: Being Pastor/Partner/Parent/Person Always the Pastor, Never the Bride Rev. Michelle L. Torigian Preaching Ahead of Yourself Rev. Robin Craig How Does That Work? Rev. Beth Birkholz I Rise Before the Sun Rev. Stacey Simpson Duke Out Standing in Her Field: A Pastoral (De)Composition Rev. Holly S. Morrison Why Is My Pillow Hot? A Prayer Rev. Julia Seymour A Vegetarian in the Church Rev. Teri Peterson Uncloseted Rev. Patricia J. Raube I Pray with My Eyes Open Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell The Parson Rev. Katherine Willis Pershey Our Pheeto Rev. Martha Spong Outside Over There: Moving in the World Beyond Our Churches What Are You Looking For? Rev. Sarah E. Howe Miller, PhD Soccer and Starbucks Rev. Rachel G. Hackenberg The Body of Christ Shimmies Rev. Marci Auld Glass At the Barn Rev. Laurie Brock No Masks Rev. Martha Daniels Out of the Pool Rev. Katya Ouchakof Saint Paul versus Danielle Steele Rev. Amber Belldene I Am Grateful: A Prayer Rev. Karla Miller Learning in the Shipyard Rev. Liz Crumlish Who I Am Is Not What I Did Rev. Julie Craig The Priest I Want to Be Rev. Sara Irwin For Some Reason Rev. Stephanie Anthony Running with Patience Rev. Julia Seymour Acknowledgments"

Reviews

Lyrical, grace-filled, brutally honest.... Resonate[s] with depth and authenticity that call us back to the messy, beautiful gift of faith community. Don't miss it. Rev. Dr. Amy K. Butler, senior minister, Riverside Church, New York City My neck and throat are sore after reading this book; my neck from nodding all the way through and my throat from laughing out loud. There's a Woman in the Pulpit offers a circle of witness for women pastors and a universal message of joy and hope. A great gift for us all! Rev. Susan Sparks, pastor, Madison Avenue Baptist Church, New York City; author, Laugh Your Way to Grace: Reclaiming the Spiritual Power of Humor Once again Martha Spong and RevGalBlogPals ... have found a way to strengthen women in their ministries and to do so with transparency, poignancy and wit. Whether you are a woman in ministry or know a woman in ministry, these stories will touch your soul and intensify your own faith and faithfulness. Jenee Woodard, curator, The d104 This Week (www.textweek.com) For many pastors, the practice of ministry can be lonely at times. But this fantastic book made me feel like I was sitting with my girlfriends, honestly discussing both the beauty and pain of being a woman in the pulpit. To say that I could identify with most of the stories would be an understatement. I am so thankful for their courage to give voice to our experience! Rev. Shannon J. Kershner, pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago Refreshingly down-to-earth humor.... These preachers welcome us into their callings and into their lives [and] send us out again encouraged and renewed for the work and life ahead. Rev. Dr. David J. Lose, president, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia; founder, WorkingPreacher.org; blogger, In the Meantime (davidlose.net) Reading these brief reminiscences of lives lived in ministry to others, I laughed and cried and marveled and knew that I was standing on holy ground. These stories and poems are like well-polished gems. Each is so real and so immediate that, even though it is no more than two or three pages, I feel that I know these women and what a blessing they are to those whose lives they touch. Next time I wonder why I teach in a seminary where we prepare people to minister to God s people, I will pick up this book and remember that I, too, have been called. Deborah Sokolove, director, Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion; coauthor, Calling on God: Inclusive Christian Prayers for Three Years of Sundays Vital.... [A] treasure trove of wisdom and grace. Landon Whitsitt, executive, PCUSA Synod of Mid-America; author, Open Source Church: Making Room for the Wisdom of All; producer, Theocademy Seeps with stories and humor that remind each of us that we are not alone and that we can love our roles and our people. Rev. Jeremy Smith, United Methodist pastor, Portland, Oregon; blogger, HackingChristianity.net Touching, insightful, funny, marvelous. Mary E. Hunt, PhD, Women s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER); coeditor, New Feminist Christianity: Many Voices, Many Views

Author Information

Rev. Martha Spong, who has devoted her life to fostering community and helping churches work through transitions by intentional interim ministry, is a United Church of Christ pastor. She is director and active member of RevGalBlogPals, a social media ministry making community for clergywomen across lines of denomination, generation, nation and orientation since 2005.

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