The Nearness of God: Parish Ministry as Spiritual Practice
"In this wise and loving book, Julia Gatta pays tribute to the parish ministry by mining the riches of her beloved Anglican tradition, applying them astutely to the challenges of ministry in our time and place." --William H. Willimon, Bishop of the North Alabama Conference, United Methodist Church, and former Dean of the Chapel, Duke University<br /><br />"Julia Gatta offers much more than the family systems and leadership theory we have come to expect. She leads us to find God's active grace in the joys and struggles of parish ministry and offers skilled insights into how to hear the rustlings of the Spirit in the busyness of our days. Every parish priest and pastor should read this book." --Henry Nutt Parsley, Jr., Episcopal Bishop of Alabama<br /><br />"This is a book for every professor, minister, seminary student, and lay person committed to good ministry. It is about growth in the love of God through God's grace by means of a faithful understanding and practice of ministry. It is traditional, useful, prayerful, creative, and mystical. I have never read anything like it." --Roberta Bondi, author ofTo Love as God Loves: Conversations with the Early Church and Memories of God<br /><br />"With deep compassion for the disjointed lives of parish clergy, Julia Gatta describes steps toward wholeness that are as practical as they are profound. Combining personal narrative, sacramental reflection, and psychological insight, this book offers a grace-filled vision of ministerial life." --Alice Mann, Senior Consultant, Alban Institute, and author ofRaising the Roof: The Pastoral-to-Program Size Transition<br /><br />"In this wise and loving book, Julia Gatta pays tribute to the parish ministry by mining the riches of her beloved Anglican tradition, applying them astutely to the challenges of ministry in our time and place." --Alice Mann, Senior Consultant, Alban Institute, and author ofRaising the Roof: The Pastoral-to-Program Size Transition