Church Folk [Paperback]

Michele Andrea Bowen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2002

Mississippi, 1963. Essie Lee Lane is a small-town girl from a humble background who doesn't take "stuff" from nobody. Yet even she isn't ready for the Reverend Theophilus Simmons, one of the South's most fiery, respected young preachers during an era of vast social change. Down-to-earth, caring, and oh-so-fine, he's everything Essie never thought she'd find in a man, and he realizes she is everything a pastor needs in a wife-a First Lady to share the joys and challenges of his ministry. But Essie and Theophilus soon discover that dealing with the contentious members of Theophilus's church will be no honeymoon. With their parishioners in turmoil and their denomination facing a major scandal, Essie and Theophilus must put their faith and love to the ultimate test as they struggle to lead their congregation to God's sweetest rewards.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This third book in Warner/Walk Worthy's copublishing venture spotlighting African-American culture shows promise for the general market, but will be a hard sell to the CBA. Young, handsome Theophilus Simmons is learning the ropes of being a black clergyman in the 1960s. He's also regretting his affair with the hot-to-trot Glodean, who's pleased numerous pastors with her sex-capades. After Simmons marries "jook joint" cook Essie Lee Lane, the couple settles into pastoral life at Greater Hope Gospel United Church where Glodean is a member. There's trouble brewing. It's not long before they discover that the church leadership is actually running a call-girl service out of a local funeral home. The issues are hot but not as hot as the characters. In every chapter, pastors are either leaping into bed, resisting sex, having sex, talking about sex or contemplating their next hop into the sack. Readers will enjoy the rich glimpses into the spirit-filled African-American church of the '60s, complete with politicking, blackmail, colorful dialogue and extensive clothing descriptions. But the sexual situations and language e.g., "dick teasers," "hell," "damn," "bitch" and "balls" will send most CBA retailers, and their conservative clientele, running in the opposite direction. Regardless, many African-American readers will embrace this steamy morality tale, with its bold themes and fallible characters, as a satisfying addition to the scanty collection of African-American fiction with Christian themes.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Rural Mississippi in the 1960s stood in the midst of the civil rights movement. Social changes began in black churches. Essie Lee Lane, a small-town girl who is faithful to her church and loyal to her family, meets the man of her dreams in an unlikely encounter. The Reverend Theophilus Henry Simmons is an eligible pastor, as smitten with Essie as she is with him. After they begin a long-distance courtship between Mississippi and Tennessee, the couple decide to marry. They soon find that the blessings of being the "first couple" come with challenges from the local church and the national denomination. The secular issues of greed, sex, misconduct, money, and politics are as evident and dangerous in the church as outside. These human failings cause the Simmonses to struggle with their roles as husband and wife as well as church leaders. The Reverend Mr. Simmons is faced with taking a stand that will forever separate him from the ordinary and make the church congregation proud. Accepting this assignment becomes a test of his faith and the steppingstone for his future. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (June 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446678872
• ISBN-13: 978-0446678872
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (123 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read!, September 14, 2001

By 

Grace Moredock "ebonydiva40" (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Church Folk (Hardcover)

I had no idea what to expect when my online book club chose this book for their next read. I picked it up and couldn't put it down. It totally engrossed me from the first paragraph.

The setting is the 60's in the midst of the civil rights movement in which the black church was the center of much of this causes activities.

Theophilus Simmons, new pastor of Greater Hope United Church is single, new in the ministry, and falling deeply for Essie Lane. Their courtship is sweet and honest. Their marriage is put to the test by 'church folk'.

'Church Folk' shows all the elements of church life, the good, the bad, and the ugly. This book shows that there are wolves among the sheep, but the sheep ultimately overcome.

While reading this book I laughed out loud, said 'Amen' several times, and reminisced of the times when I was young attending church in the 60's. It isn't so 'churchy' that it isn't real. It isn't so hardcore that you can't enjoy it as a christian.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up & Everything Else..., February 9, 2003

By 

KSW "Girlwithemail" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Church Folk (Paperback)

I had purchased Church Folk a while ago, but never took the time to read it until recently. I don't know why it took me so long to delve into this gem of a novel! Once I picked Church Folk up and started reading, I could NOT put it down.

I started reading it on a Tuesday morning before I went to work and (Lord forgive me), I continued reading it at work, while on a series of conference calls! Work became an interruption for me that day as I became immersed in the vivid descriptions and engaging characters that Church Folk's gifted author, Michele Andrea Bowen, had created.

Ms. Bowen took special care in introducing her characters and their lives to the reader. She gives enough detail that you can smell the delicious food, hear the music, and envision yourself in a 1960's Mississippi.

It only took me a few sentences to get hooked on Rev. Theophilus Simmons, the main character in Church Folk. Ms. Bowen succinctly described his plight in the first few lines of the book, and I immediately wanted to follow his story to the end. Along the way, she introduces one Glodean Benson, who proves to be a thorn in the good Reverend's side, and Ms. Bowen gives the reader ample reason to dislike her. However, when Rev. Simmons meets the woman of his dreams, a jook joint cook named Essie Lee Lane, he strikes gold...and so does Ms. Bowen.

Many books of this genre make the mistake of boring readers with neat, predictable plots. Unlike in real life, many characters in Christian fiction are pristine, God-fearing and so close to holiness that it outweighs what could have been a decent plot. By introducing Essle in such a way, Ms. Bowen totally and pleasantly surprised me. I had expected the good Rev. Simmons to meet a nice and quiet church girl...I must say that he did -- in the form of snooty Saphronia Anne McComb -- and chose the earthy, fiesty Essie Lee instead.

I will not do you this disservice of dosclosing any more details of the plot. You just will have to read it for yourself.

(And by the way, I was so enthralled with Church Folk that I left work early to go home and finish it...which I did by 2 a.m. the following morning!)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read and Highly Entertaining....!!!, June 27, 2001

By 

Sischelle "sischelle" (Shreveport, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Church Folk (Hardcover)

Wow, was I shocked at how quickly this book caught and held my interest. Ms. Bowen did a wonderful job with this book ... creating very believeable characters and events.

I am still tryin to pronounce Theophilus name though....LOL

I enjoyed the relationship Theo and Essie eventually evoled into. I also thought Ms. Bowen showed a very REALISTIC sides of Christianity. Not only for Theo but as a church group.

This does make you shake your head of the goings on in our church world and with CHURCH FOLK.

I believe that you will enjoy this book. At first I thought it was gonna be tooo preachy and not all real...but was totally surprised.... IT IS A GREAT BOOK!