Martha Spong

It’s the sort of experience familiar to many: Somewhere between illness and divorce, abusive relationships and brushes with death, faith failed to provide answers . . . or we failed to live as though we believed faith held answers. But surely, it’s different for clergy, the ones who preach and practice faith? But faith requires more, and authors Martha Spong and Rachel G. Hackenberg, who grew up in the church and became ordained ministers, know first-hand about coming to terms with God and life, the need to search for answers . . . or at least assurance we are not alone in struggling for renewed hope. Denial is My Spiritual Practice is a companion for the wondering and struggling. The authors offer their own stories as evidence that God remains, both when faith fails and when faith finds new understanding. They combine stark life experiences, offbeat spiritual perspectives, and Scripture to offer comfort, grace, laughter, and a few tears along the way.

Be 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.

For anyone who wants to be informed and inspired, delighted and supported, encouraged and entertained by stories and prayers on the work of the Church from the unique perspective of clergywomen from around the United States, Canada and the UK. 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 mom. 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 rigors 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 specialized 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, cis- 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."