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Book SynopsisBe informed and inspired, delighted and supported, encouraged and entertained by stories and prayers from the unique perspectives of clergywomen. "In ministry, we constantly balance the sacred and the ordinary, juggling the two as expertly as we manage a chalice and a [baby] bottle. Even as we do things as simple as light the candles, set the table, break the bread and pour the wine, we invite people into a holy moment…. The women [in this book] not only have a wellspring of deep wisdom, but they also have the ability to dish out their knowledge with side-aching humor…. I am thrilled that their great wisdom and intelligence will be bound into the pages that I can turn to, lend and appreciate for years to come." —from the Foreword by Rev. Carol Howard Merritt Learn—and laugh—with these women of the church, bound together by a deep commitment to ministry, as they reveal what it really means to be a woman in the pulpit. Over fifty clergywomen representing fourteen denominations share the details of their intimidating balancing act—juggling the isolating expectations of perfection from their congregations and the shared human realities of everyday life. Intended for laypeople, women hearing a call to ministry and clergy of all denominations, these stories and prayers will resonate with, challenge, encourage and amuse anyone who has a passion for their work and faith. Contributors: Rev. Jemma Allen • Rev. Denise Anderson • Rev. Stephanie Anthony • Rev. Amber Belldene • Rev. Beth Birkholz • Rev. Laurie Brock • Rev. Jennifer Garrison Brownell • Rev. Hilary Campbell • Rev. Erin Counihan • Rev. Julie Craig • Rev. Robin Craig • Rev. Liz Crumlish • Rev. Martha Daniels • Rev. Stacey Simpson Duke • Rev. Jan Edmiston • Rev. Ruth Everhart • Rev. Amy Fetterman • Rev. Marci Auld Glass • Rev. Rachel G. Hackenberg • Rev. Elizabeth Evans Hagan • Rev. Cheryl Harader • Rev. Joanna Harader • Gillian Hoyer • Rev. Rosalind C. Hughes • Rev. Sara Irwin • Rev. Kathryn Z. Johnston • Rev. Deborah Lewis • Rev. Jennifer Burns Lewis • Rev. Catherine MacDonald • Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan • Suzy Garrison Meyer • Rev. Karla Miller • Rev. Sarah E. Howe Miller, PhD • Rev. Holly S. Morrison • Rev. Katie Mulligan • Rev. Dr. Teri McDowell Ott • Rev. Katya Ouchakof • Rev. Kerri Parker • Rev. Katherine Willis Pershey • Rev. Teri Peterson • Rev. Patricia J. Raube • Rev. Diane M. Roth • Rev. Anna Scherer • Rev. Julia Seymour • Rev. Monica Thompson Smith • Rev. Martha Spong • Rev. Sally-Lodge Teel • Rev. Sharon M. Temple • Rev. Michelle L. Torigian • Rev. Deb Vaughn • Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell • Rev. Julie Woods
Trade Review"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 Text 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
Table of ContentsForeword 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
