Why have a 'Bit of Balance' list?

When it comes to discipleship and leadership, I've noticed there seems to be a pull towards reading books and listening to podcasts by western men who lead large churches. I've noticed it in my own journey of learning and growing. I've also noticed it with the awesome people who I accompanying in their own journeys of faith and leadership.

Some of these books and podcasts are brilliant, wise and profound. I could tell you a number that have really helped me in my discipleship.

But, I'm conscious they speak from limited perspectives (The truth is that we all speak from a limited perspective, but the danger is that their perspectives become the norm, the best and the ideal)

We need a mixed diet of different perspectives. We need a bit of balance. 

And so this list is a small offering to help with that balance. I've tapped into the wisdom of some fellow travellers & leaders, and asked who they find helpful to read and listen to for a bit of balance. (A huge thanks to Jemima, Rachel, Rhiannon, Alison, Vicky, Vanessa, Lorna, Marion, Hannah and everyone else who has contributed recommendations.)

We've focused particularly on resources from the following:

• women who are leaders, scholars and/or have a wealth of experience, some in churches and the Bible, some in other aspects of life. 
• people who are writing from a perspective of failure, brokenness or exclusion

And we invite you to begin to weave some of their voices into your mixed & healthy diet.

Blessings for the journey

Sera
(Priest-in-charge of St Denys Church, Southampton, UK)

PS-  If you'd like to make a recommendation, just use this form here, and I'll check it out and update the list.

The 'Bit of Balance' List

Books

• Rachel Held Evans 'Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking On Water & Loving the Bible Again' (and also 'Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving and Finding the Church' & 'Faith Unravelled: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask Question)
  Awesome, raw, honest and hope-filled writing.
• Sara Miles 'Take This Bread' 
  It’s about how she took her amazing conversion to Christ and background as a chef to create a service/soup kitchen/foodbank
• Barbara Brown Taylor many books including 'An Altar on the World: Finding the Sacred Beneath Our Feet', 'When God is Silent', 'God in Pain: The Mystery of Suffering' & 'Mixed Blessings: Being the People of God'
  Her books are profound, honest and enlightening. I'm amazed by the variety and number of people who tell me they're reading one of books and are finding it thought-provoking.
• Susan Beaumont ' How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season.'
  It's so good to read something that talks about how we can address change in times of transition. Written before Covid, and relevant to so much more than emerging from Covid.
• Paula Gooder many books including 'Body: Biblical Spirituality for the Whole Person', 'Heaven', 'Everyday God: The Spirit of the Ordinary' & 'The Meaning is in the Waiting: the Spirit of Advent'
  A brilliant and accessible biblical scholar, whose passion is to communicate the best of biblical scholarship to an audience that would otherwise not read it. See she to bring the Bible alive again to Christians for whom it has become over-familiar, stale or just plain confusing.  
• Naomi Lawson & Emily Richardson 'At the Gates: Disability, Justice & the Churches'
  Opening up conversations and sharing stories of disabled people who love God, and what happens when they encounter churches... an invitation to encounter God within all people, and calling for justice, equality and access to churches for disabled Christians.
• Olivia Jackson '(Un)Certain: A Collective Memoir of Deconstructing Faith'
  She weaves together stories of deeply committed believers who reached a breaking point with the Christian certainties and doctrines they once held dear. Exploring tales of abuse, exclusionary or harsh theologies, and a slow crumbling of conviction as interviewees share their journey towards a carefully considered expansion of faith, the book offers a glimpse into the nuanced and diverse experiences of those who reached the end of the road and dared to keep walking
• Brennan Manning, many books including 'The Signature of Jesus', 'Ragamuffin Gospel' and 'Ruthless Trust'
  Written by a former-Franciscan priest who has tasted struggles and brokenness in a range of ways, his writing is centred around truly knowing Christ and knowing ourselves as beloved ragamuffins. His books have shaped me more than most other writers.
• Ruth Scott 'The Power of Imperfection'
  Celebrates the messiness of being human through revealing the creative potential it offers for real, risky living. 
• Jane Williams 'The Merciful Humility of God' (and other books including 'The Art of Advent', 'The Art of Christmas.' and 'Faces of Christ')
  A theologian, writer and professor in Christian Theology at St Mellitus college, she is a trusted guide for those who seek a deeper understanding of God.
• Margaret Guenther books include 'At Home in the World: A Rule of Life for the Rest of Us', 'Walking Home: From Eden to Emmaus', 'Just Passing Through: Notes from a Soujourner', 
  A priest, writer, teacher, grandmother and former director of a Centre for Christian Spirituality she writes on spiritual life in a very down to earth way.
• Emma Percy 'What Clergy Do When It Looks Like Nothing'
  This book will help clergy to think about how this is achieved through the myriad of 'small' things they do from day to day, highlighting skills such as comforting, cherishing and multi-attending - skills that are centrally important but often unarticulated and undervalued.
• Nicola Neal 'Journey in Love'
  It is a truly faith-building book full of hope and miracles, giving an account of life running a mission in Uganda. Nicola and her husband were the ministers of the first church in the area to open its doors to the Grenfell fire tragedy.  Her writing is full of love and compassion.  
  

Podcasts

(often available on a range of platforms including Spotify, I-tunes etc)

• 'The Sacred' podcast, hosted by Elizabeth Oldfield, form director of Theos think tank
  This is a podcast about our deepest values, the stories that shape us and how we can build empathy & understanding between people who are very different. 
• The 'Recovering God Podcast' 
  It's a podcast for people who want to think about the issues affecting Christian women. It's presented by 4 women, and each month they interview a different person. They start by asking the question "How has your understanding of God developed over time." And then an interesting conversation follows on a particular theme

• The 'Bible for Normal People' podcast in particular this one on 'Mary Magdelene'
  Questions everything you thought you knew about this Mary, and offers a refreshing point of view.