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Title details for Beautiful and Terrible Things by Amy Butler - Wait list

Beautiful and Terrible Things

Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other

by Amy Butler
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From one of America’s most prominent ministers comes an inspiring, provocative reflection on the necessity of community, the inevitability of conflict, and the transformative power of radical love.
“I so love and admire the work and witness of Pastor Amy Butler.”—Anne Lamott
“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid,” said theologian Frederick Buechner. Pastor Amy Butler, the first woman at the helm of New York’s historic Riverside Church, knows firsthand that to navigate such a world, one must be courageous, honest, and compassionate. In Beautiful and Terrible Things, Pastor Amy draws on the most meaningful, challenging, and soul-shaking moments of her own life to offer larger lessons on theology and relationships.
Pastor Amy grew up in a conservative Evangelical family in the diverse culture of the Hawaiian Islands. As she realized she was more inclined to be a pastor than to marry one, she began an unlikely journey, breaking one stained-glass ceiling after another. Holding increasingly high-profile ministry positions in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and New York City, Amy weathered rigidly unwelcoming congregations and enormous trials, ultimately learning that only the radical love of community could generate healing. As she describes her experiences leading a church to publicly affirm its LGBTQ community members, losing a child, and undergoing an unexpected divorce, Amy offers a thoughtful lens on all the ways life can push us to see the world from another’s perspective. In her signature compassionate, witty voice, she offers fresh, nonjudgmental perspectives on faith—which, at its most beautiful expression, allows for the possibility that there is more than one way to experience God.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    October 3, 2023

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9780399589492

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9780399589492
      • File size: 5188 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Booklist

      September 15, 2023
      This first book from Butler, who was the first woman to hold the position of senior minister at both New York's Riverside Church and the National City Christian Church in Washington, DC, is a nuanced commentary on the complexity of humanity and its relationship with the divine. Pastor Amy shares her journey and evolution as a minister, an individual, and a follower of God, passionately preaching the idea of an inclusive space within God's love, and asserting that as His servants, we can bridge the gaps between us with love. She reflects on her personal experiences with delicacy, including challenging the stigma of being a female pastor, ending a 20-plus-year marriage, facing an abortion, and warmly embracing LGBTQIA+ parishioners. Rather than perpetuating divisions, she demonstrates her profound love and growth by emphasizing that ""loving and accepting someone is more important than whatever you think the rules are."" Balancing tradition and change, Butler not only shares her story but also prompts readers to discover their own footing amidst life's beauty and challenges.

      COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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