Ruth Everhart

Author, Pastor, Speaker

Holy Disunity, by Layton Williams, a book review

The subtitle of Holy Disunity is "How What Separates Us Can Save Us." The words separate and save are not often paired. The author, Layton Williams, who is young and identifies as queer, begins her book with this sentence: "I have spent my entire life deeply loving people with whom I will never … [Read more...] about Holy Disunity, by Layton Williams, a book review

Survivor Care: What Religious Professionals Need to Know About Healing Trauma, a book review

I reviewed Christy's Sims book "Survivor Care: What Religious Professionals Need to Know About Healing Trauma" for the Christian Century. Read the review here. You can order Survivor Care here. (an Amazon affiliate link.) … [Read more...] about Survivor Care: What Religious Professionals Need to Know About Healing Trauma, a book review

Red State Christians: Understanding the Voters Who Elected Donald Trump, by Angela Decker, a book review

If you want something readable and thought-provoking about how and why religiously-affiliated voters elected our divisive president, this is a book for you. The author, pastor and journalist Angela Denker, shows that while Trump supporters in collective mass have changed our political world, their … [Read more...] about Red State Christians: Understanding the Voters Who Elected Donald Trump, by Angela Decker, a book review

DOE, poems of innocence, atrocity, and other female concerns

I'm so thrilled to tell you about a new book of poetry by my good friend, Susan Baller-Shepard. The title is simply: DOE. Many of Susan's poems feature the nature world, which she loves, but they explore and reveal the human experience, from a uniquely female lens. Susan is a pastor and religion … [Read more...] about DOE, poems of innocence, atrocity, and other female concerns

Loving and Leaving a Church, by Barbara Melosh, a book review

Barbara Melosh and I are writing buddies. We met at a week-long writing workshop hosted by Collegeville Institute (MN) in 2012. She joined my writing group, making the commitment to drive all the way from Wilmington, DE to northern VA every other week. I mention that because so many people think … [Read more...] about Loving and Leaving a Church, by Barbara Melosh, a book review

Healing Spiritual Wounds, an interview with Carol Howard Merritt

Have you ever been wounded by a church, or do you know someone who has been? Have you ever wished you had the right book on your shelf, something solid and helpful you could read and pass along? That book is finally here! It is destined to become a classic. I am privileged to call Carol Howard … [Read more...] about Healing Spiritual Wounds, an interview with Carol Howard Merritt

BIRTHED: Finding Grace through Infertility, a book review

Do you know someone who is struggling with infertility? Perhaps this is the story you live, but hide from others. Or perhaps you have a different but similar sort of heartache. Do you know the feelings of repeated loss and grief, which bring a sense of hopelessness? My friend Elizabeth Hagan has … [Read more...] about BIRTHED: Finding Grace through Infertility, a book review

There’s a Woman in the Pulpit, a biased book review

I?m a woman who's spent a good portion of my career occupying pulpits. In some circles a preaching woman is seen as a problem. Now comes a book that normalizes my life: "There's a Woman in the Pulpit." What a gift! I?ve always wanted to feel normal. That's why I was so happy to contribute to this … [Read more...] about There’s a Woman in the Pulpit, a biased book review

We Don’t Live Here Anymore, by Andre Dubus, a book review

Another quick book review, this time fiction (I try to alternate fiction and non-fiction reading). Three novellas by Andre Dubus II: We Don't Live Here Anymore, Adultery, Finding a Girl in America. The three novellas are linked by the cast of characters, although they are from different points of … [Read more...] about We Don’t Live Here Anymore, by Andre Dubus, a book review

Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer, a book review

I just finished reading Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. I found it quite captivating, as the narrative moves back and forth between two interesting true stories: the early history of the Mormon church, and a recent double murder committed by two brothers who thought they were fulfilling … [Read more...] about Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer, a book review