This morning the three day experience known as Faith & Justice’s Fall Gathering: The Way of Justice for Today wrapped up at Open Book in Minneapolis. Author Debie Thomas’ talk kicked off the morning.
A Faith of Many Rooms
Debie Thomas provided some of the story behind the story of her newest book: A Faith of Many Rooms: Inhabiting a More Spacious Christianity (Broadleaf Books, 2024 – rated here on So What Faith as 4.5/5). Importantly, her talk – much like the book – focused on her own journey.
Thomas is an American born to parents who immigrated from South India. She has been in the church her entire life beginning as a preacher’s kid, observing and assisting her father as he ministered to two very different congregations: as an associate pastor of a large multi-ethnic evangelical church in Boston and concurrently, for a decade of her childhood, as the pastor of an Indian immigrant congregation.
As an adult, she found the faith of her youth – including the images of God it centered – too small. She longed for and ultimately found her way into a more spacious Christianity. And, on this journey, she’s been writing and teaching for more than a decade. Currently, Debie Thomas is a seminarian and also serves as lay minister of faith formation in a local Episcopal church as she explores ordination.
In addition to her talk, Debie also answered a question from moderator Peter Choi and a few from gathering participants while seated alongside Christena Cleveland (Christena spoke on her new book: God is a Black Woman – rated here on So What Faith as 4.5/5 – between Debie’s talk and the question and answer session.)
So What?
I, like Debie and so many others, have long been on a journey to inhabit a more spacious Christianity. Her new book is insightful, honest, challenging, and above all else genuine. And, her life models the possibilities not only of finding one’s way toward this reality, but also to helping co-create it.
Coming Soon
As I seek to do my part to both bring about and inhabit a more spacious Christianity, I’ve decided to preach a sermon series on the topic. Starting in mid-October, I’ll be introducing several of the book’s themes in the Sunday morning messages at Advent Lutheran Church.
- October 13 – Doubt (Chapter 1)
- October 20 – Sin (Chapter 6)
- October 27 – Story (Chapter 4)
- November 3 – Paradox (Chapter 9)
- November 10 – Wrestling (Chapter 10)
- November 17 – Belonging (Introduction)