Customer Reviews

This Odd and Wondrous Calling: The Public and Private Lives of Two Ministers

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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At last there is a book about "what it's like to be a minister" and not a "how to do it right" book about ministry and it's written with candor and integrity. Lillian Daniel and Martin Copenhaver are both excellent writers in their own right and together they are the perfect writing duo to bring to light the realities of "This Odd and Wondrous Calling" that is parish ministry. I am now retired having been ordained 46 years ago and my wife and I both feel this is a book that should become required reading for every seminarian anticipating a career in parish ministry. Nowhere else will a "budding" clergy, female or male, find such a healthy and thoughtful reflection on the profession they are preparing to enter. And every lay person needs to read this book as well to learn something about themselves, they being "the church", as well as something about what their pastors experience. There is self-deprecating humor and honest self examination as these two dedicated professionals walk the reader through their professional experiences revealing both their foibles and the achievements that surprise them, but most of all they are not embarrassed to conclude that what they do is an "odd and wondrous calling" and not "a job." Bob Stout, Retired UCC Miinister

A potential occupational hazard of ordained ministry is certainly loneliness (ironic in a setting filled with people), as highlighted by a recent Christian Century article on clergy depression. As such, this little gem of a book by Lillian Daniel and Martin Copenhaver is a bracing tonic, giving expression to what has been heretofore the secret life of pastors. Both authors write movingly of their particular and peculiar experiences, yet the emotions evoked will likely resonate universally with ministers.

The "Shaking Hands" chapter alone captures the hilarious and harrowing experience many pastors have on Sunday mornings, post-worship......in trying to keep track not just of names, but so many diverse personal narratives of the congregation! It's enough to make a pastor's head spin: while one parish member seeks a merry backslap and hearty quip, the very next might be enduring an agonizing wilderness wandering. The delicacy and sensitivity needed to be a pastor is brought to life beautifully throughout this collection.

Indeed, there are many books on pastoral ministry, yet I've found few as honest as this one. The pairing of Lillian and Martin--different ages, different genders--makes the vulnerability arising especially potent and relevant. Aside from sustaining and entertaining those of us "in the biz," I plan on suggesting this book to many laity at my parish. Because in the Facebook age of "collective wisdom" that we now find ourselves in, our understandings of each other (lay + ordained folks) is especially critical to unlock the potential of God's new church being born.

Like parenting, ministry is both the hardest and the most sublime thing I have ever done. For all its oddness, these two authors remind me of the awe I feel in being called to such wondrous work.

It is extremely difficult to write a book delving so deeply into the stuff of parish ministry and living out our faith in ways as insightful and authentic as this book. But to do all of this while appealing equally to pastors and to laity is a singular achievement. I seldom see such a thing. This book is so readable and engaging, it is tough to put down.

As a pastor, I vouch for the struggles and joys here attested to. It's a life of which most laypersons have surprisingly little awareness. This splendid book pulls back the veil around us in an honest, helpful way. Nothing in this glimpse is cheap. This is how things are, friends! As an author, I applaud the wide embrace of the readership, including all of the church of Jesus Christ. A book like this is long overdue. Why wasn't it written before? A thoughtful layperson in my church was touched by it and wrote the following:

"What is more inscrutable--or more delectably interesting--than the pastor's inner life? In "This Odd and Wondrous Calling" Martin Copenhaver and Lillian Daniel open their hearts and minds to candidly give us a look into the personal challenges and triumphs, both large and small, of being called to the ministry. It is a window that humanizes their struggles, joys and faith in a way that is inspiring to us all."

I'm not a minister, but I loved this book. It's not only a good insight into the lives of clergy, but the stories apply to 'regular folks' as well. I was surprised by how often the stories of these two ministers connected with me personally from the chapter 'Shaking Hands' (I am always forgetting names) to the one titled 'Casting Out Demons' (which brought me back to my nursing classes in college).
Each chapter is full of insights and humor, and food for thought.
I read this book expecting to learn more about the lives of ministers, which I did, but was pleasantly surprised by the insights to my own life!

Reading this book is like sitting down for coffee with two intelligent and witty clergy friends, who take their work seriously and themselves less so. It's personal without "oversharing". It's gently humorous in spots without pretending that the ministry is all laughs, and at times, it's deeply moving. Readers will find this book written by two preachers decidedly un-"preachy". The authors alternate chapters, which works well; for their experiences of ministry are different enough that it would have been difficult to combine their accounts otherwise. At the same time, their mutual love of their vocation shines through on every page.

If you've ever wondered if the clergy are really human -- that is, they've experienced life's difficulties, including grief, pain, loss and disappointment and are not simply God's robots -- then this is a perfect book. The writers, both ministers with the United Church of Christ, reveal intimate details about their lives. Both have had their fair share of struggles.

Lillian grew up in the Episcopal Church and had wanted to attend Divinity School straight out of college until she was told that wasn't such a good idea. She writes about the challenges she experienced before Divinity School and the sexism she suffered upon taking over her first church. Some members of the congregation were fleeing before she arrived.

Martin, the son of a preacher, is married to a lady who doesn't share his beliefs, which, when you think about it, isn't something you'd expect from someone who's collared. He also discusses his experiences of praying for members of his congregation who don't particularly care for him (and perhaps he doesn't particularly care for either.)

The theme of this book is that clergy are human, too. They've had issues just like anyone else. And not once should you think that their lives are more orderly than yours.

This is a wonderfully well-written book and I highly recommend it.

As a lifelong Lutheran on the brink of becoming a Lutheran pastor, I deeply appreciated this book and found myself both eager to read each upcoming chapter while also wanting to return to thoughts of previous ones. I especially enjoyed chapters on prayer, friendship, being made better, associate and senior pastor relationships, and money. It's a great read for lay leaders, pastors, and people considering ministry.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading This Odd and Wondrous Calling. The book is written from the perspective of two ministers with distinct vantage points. The variety between the authors' age, gender, and family life made this book richer. Though both come from the UCC background, the book offers something for anyone called to ministry.

Written as a series of reflective essay on various aspects of the ministerial calling, the book isn't held together by an overarching narrative. Daniel and Copenhaver switch off authoring each chapter. I found myself wishing that they would have dialogued a bit about some of the various topics addressed though. Each author has their own style and rhythm. Copenhaver tends to write in a sort of grandfatherly way, looking back over a life of ministry with a sense of accomplishment. In several of the essays his humor shines (e.g. his discussion on shaking hands). Daniel's writing was a real treat. While often poetic, she always maintains a certain emotional authenticity that made me cling on her every word!

I strongly encourage everyone who is discerning a call to ministry to read through this book. It paints a realistic picture for the joys and trials of a ministering life better than any other book I've read on the subject.

It's easy to write a book bashing the church. It might be easier to write one bashing pastors and the pastoral life.
Lillian Daniel and Martin Copenhaver do something difficult here, and they make it look easy. They've written a book that makes the pastoral life look beautiful, enviable, luminous. They've given us a book to hand to parishioners and students who have even half a thought of going into ministry, or to give to in-laws who have no clue why we do what we do. "Here," we'll say, and the one will be a bit more likely to enter the parish and the other to appreciate us who do.
Jason Byassee, Duke Divinity School

This book, "This Odd and Wondrous Calling" takes us along on the journey that these two Pastors have each taken as a result of responding to that "inner call" to enter the ministry. The Rev's Lillian Daniel and Martin Copenhaver take turns writing chapters that consist of stories from their personal lives illustrating the kinds of challenges they have faced during their careers in the ministry. The tone of these narratives are intimate, unblinkingly honest, and always seeking to help us understand how God has worked within each of these situations to help the authors grow and mature in this Odd and Wondrous Calling that is the ministry.

As a Seminary student now well along in his studies, I found the book to be both enlightening and entertaining. Enlightening in that it gives you an unblinking and deeply personal look into the challenges that all Pastors must face in the church, as a public figure in the community, as a Pastoral Counselor in a Hospital, and even in one's marriage and personal relationships. Entertaining in that despite relating such deeply personal challenges, you will finish each chapter with a smile or an "Aha!", and a deeper sense of appreciation for how, despite the challenges of doing so, the life of a Pastor is a deeply fulfilling experience of both being transformed and of being a conduit or agent for transformation in the lives of the many people we touch.

This book's central message, for me, is that the life of a Pastor is a life devoted to the importance of building and sustaining relationships: the relationships human beings have with each other, and our relationships with God. Daniel and Copenhaver help us see that it is not an easy task to be in such a position, nor is it one that can be done unless we are willing to allow these same relationships to transform us. Yet, I see life lessons in their work here for all of us. In a way, anyone who sees faith as a central part of their own life is a minister. We are taking the message that transformed our lives and allowing that same transformation to work through us to impact the lives of those around us in a positive and meaningful way. The message and lessons in this book will help all of us as we minister, in our own special ways, to those around us.

I commend this book for the quality of it's writing; it's frank, beautiful and inspiring narratives; and accomplishing it's goals without being "preachy," heavy handed, or judgmental. Definitely a book worth reading. Five Stars!