Yesterday, a box containing five copies of my book Mothers in Israel: Methodist Beginnings Through the Eyes of Women arrived at my house, and though I was dying to rip it open, I waited until Scott came home so he could record a short video of me opening the box and removing them. This was the first time I had seen the actual book and held it in my hands, and I was beyond excited.
Just a day or so ago, the bishop of the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, my bishop, Hope Morgan Ward, read and reviewed the book, commending it by saying that it is "thoroughly engaging, beautifully written, and provocative for conversation and spiritual growth." She then goes on to highlight my desire that we learn from these women and not just about them.
And just today I saw that Cokesbury, the bookstore and supplier of all things United Methodist, has the book in stock and on sale, another exciting step in this journey. Friends have been posting pictures on social media of them holding their copies of the book in their hands, and I have several opportunities lined up over the next two months to talk about these incredible women of the past and their relevance for the present and future. Truly, my cup runneth over.
I'm a bit nervous about these appearances, as self-promotion does not come naturally or easily to me, but I am passionate about this subject. I believe we owe it to Susanna Annesley Wesley, Mary Bosanquet Fletcher, Sarah Ryan, Sarah Crosby, Mary Tooth, and so many more to tell their stories. It is vitally important for us to celebrate these "impudent women" whose love for Jesus and whose zeal for the gospel led them to engage in "unladylike" public acts of leadership because of the strength of their call.
Every woman of today in every branch of the Wesleyan Methodist family who stands in a pulpit and preaches, teaches Sunday School, heads up a committee, writes curriculum, directs a choir, or leads a financial campaign is standing on the shoulders of these giants, these remarkable mothers in the faith, whether or not she realizes it. Their voices matter because their witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ matters, and it is my fervent prayer that this will spark a desire to know more about them and their holy boldness in ministry that visibly bore the good fruit of changed lives and growth in holiness.
Part of the book's dedication is to the memory of Marie P. Fowler, my own mother. She was my first mother in the faith, a devout and loving woman who read the Bible every day and prayed without ceasing, who prayerfully nurtured me and my sister in the things of God. She has already entered the Church Triumphant and stands shoulder to shoulder with these other "mothers in Israel," but I can feel her with me every time I step into a pulpit, open the scriptures, or bow my head to pray. Though she is the last person to ever be considered impudent, in her own quiet, gentle way, she kindled the fire in my bones that burns brightly in the pages of this book and in my ministry, and the gift of her life and her love is a treasure I will hold forever dear.
Who are the "mothers in Israel" who have left an indelible mark on your soul and your spirit? What are the names of the women who were not content to keep silent when the Spirit was prompting them to speak, to act, to take up space, and to change things? Add their names to the roll of the impudent women of my book; for whenever the gospel is proclaimed, these stories will be told in memory of them.
Mama, Diana, and me, Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, 1975
