Comments on: Leaving Church: A Review

By: An Emerging Profession: Trying to write a PIF | pomomusings | progressive theology & design

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:36:37 +0000

[...] about the struggles of being a pastor, and the professionalization of the ministry (you can read my review here). After she has left the pastorate in her book, she tells the story of going to a pool party, and [...]

By: Subversive Influence » Blog Archive » Random Acts of Linkage #15

Subversive Influence » Blog Archive » Random Acts of Linkage #15 — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:55:33 +0000

[...] reviews: Adam Walker Cleaveland, Leaving Church: A Review and “Pastor Phil” on John MacArhur’s The Truth War – My Last Few Thoughts (he [...]

By: NextReformation » Leaving Church

NextReformation » Leaving Church — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:03:33 +0000

[...] Adam Walker reviews “Leaving Church” by Barbara Brown Taylor. [...]

By: +Z’ev » Blog Archive » Evelyn Underhill Friday (Proper 5 Year 1)

+Z’ev » Blog Archive » Evelyn Underhill Friday (Proper 5 Year 1) — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:22:33 +0000

[...] his review of the book, Adam says the following (after hearing the author speak on the same topic): At the lunch, she always shared what her ideal [...]

By: deeply committed Barbara Brown Taylor on the Poured-Out Church «

deeply committed Barbara Brown Taylor on the Poured-Out Church « — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:21:14 +0000

[...] Barbara Brown Taylor on the Poured-Out Church June 14th, 2007 — Kevin Watson Barbara Brown Taylor has written an excellent article in the May 29, 2007 issue of Christian Century. Barbara Brown Taylor is discussing some of the correspondence she has received since writing her recent book Leaving Church. (If you are interested Adam Walker Cleaveland has recently written a review of Leaving Church on his blog pomomusings, you can read his review here. [...]

By: Matt Rhodes

Matt Rhodes — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:30:57 +0000

This was a really interesting post; thanks so much for sharing it. “Leaving Church” was the first BBT book that I had read, and I did a review of it on my blog last year (http://mwrhodes.blogspot.com/2006/06/review-of-barbara-brown-taylors.html). It really is an amazing book, and I have enjoyed further exploring her work just as much as I have reading the opinions and comments of others, like your great post here. I am currently working my way through the discernment process which may end up in some aspect of the ministry, and BBT’s story is certainly something that I will carry with me for quite a while.

Thanks again for sharing.

By: churchless christian

churchless christian — Tue, 15 May 2007 22:05:05 +0000

Wow, excellent critique of this book, I’m going to buy it!

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 14 May 2007 20:41:35 +0000

Adam — I think what we need to leave is not church but a way of leading church that involves being a chaplain/savior/mayor. If we assume a Biblical job description (equipping the saints for ministry) then we are freed from the whole praying at the the Rotary Club meeting/saving the day mentality that, frankly, I was taught in seminary. What we need to leave is: not sharing the leadership with laity (including preaching), having to be-everything-to-everybody, being less afraid of God than our parishioners.

One of the disservices to our seminarians is not clarifying what it means to be a pastor – according to Ephesians instead of according to 7th Heaven, or wherever people get their misconceptions.

By: Kellen

Kellen — Mon, 14 May 2007 15:05:47 +0000

Thanks for this, Adam. Other opinions persist, including that of one of Prof. Taylor's ex-student, Jason Byassee, who is now assistant director of The Christian Century: "There are really two books here. One is a pastoral memoir about Taylor’s falling out with her parish and the resulting shift in her vocation. The other is a critical reassessment of Christianity as such. The first book is a reminder of why Taylor is an exemplary homiletician. The other book, however, is a disappointment, especially for those who appreciate the author of the first book.... ...Not only can Taylor’s criticisms [of Christianity as such] be met with less difficulty than she imagines. They can actually be met in Taylor’s own earlier work. In fact, the criticisms are frequently answered here-as when she quotes, say, Julian of Norwich or Meister Eckhart or Bonhoeffer against the Church. In one place she names the company she will keep with her on the margins, including Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, Hildegard of Bingen, Peter Abelard, John Scotus Erigena, Tertullian, Origen, and Jesus. Precisely who is trying to keep these risky figures off seminary syllabi and out of sermons? Taylor’s critiques feel like the proverbial battering ram through the open door. For those of us a generation younger than Taylor it seems apparent that for any interesting rebellion we have to leave off the deconstructive work and re-embrace historic Christian doctrine and practice. I’m glad Taylor helped teach me what a joy that embrace can be—before she herself left the Church."

By: Adam Walker Cleaveland

Adam Walker Cleaveland — Mon, 14 May 2007 14:52:04 +0000

Wes, yah, I think I mentioned that above in the review – I think she did have a need to be needed, and that killed her. I think it’s a good caution and reminder for any of us who notices that desire in our own self.

Unfortunately, I think it’s something pretty inherent in many of us (and I consider myself included). It is a good feeling to know that you’re needed and to want to be able to help people.

But that shouldn’t be the motivation for going into ministry.

By: wb

wb — Mon, 14 May 2007 14:33:12 +0000

Adam,
I just finished reading the book myself, and was very disturbed by it actually. I found her understanding of ordained ministry and sense of call–as described in the book, which may not be accurate–to be lacking. It seemed that she had a need to be needed, which will create a cataclysmic experience of ministry. It felt very self focused on meeting her needs and the needs of her congregation, rather than pursuing a missional calling for the community at large.

By: Huw

Huw — Mon, 14 May 2007 06:43:05 +0000

Wow. Thanks for sharing this review. I need to read the book!

For a long while I wanted to be an Episcopal Priest. Then, for a while, I was clergy – but in a different, more egalitarian tradition. Then I became eastern Orthodox.. long story. But talk about being “set apart”…; and not human!

We need to find a new way of being church.

By: Sarx » Leaving Church

Sarx » Leaving Church — Mon, 14 May 2007 06:36:06 +0000

[...] review of Leaving Church, by Barbara Brown Taylor. She describes her perfect church: She said it would consist of 52 people, [...]