Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith
Worth buying if: you follow Barbara Brown Taylor's pastoral sermons and want behind-the-scenes parish life.
Skip it if: you expect a how-to guide for church leadership or organizational strategy.
Exact edition: Paperback · ISBN-13 9780060872632. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
In 272 pages, Taylor blends memoir, sermon craft, and theological reflection as she explains why she left an active Episcopal parish, how she grieved the role of 'pastor,' and what new practices of faith emerged afterward.
Why this book now
Taylor's HarperCollins memoir remains a touchstone for conversations about clergy burnout, vocation, and post-parish spiritual reinvention in today's faith communities.
30-second preview
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- you follow Barbara Brown Taylor's pastoral sermons and want behind-the-scenes parish life.
- you read memoirs about vocation, church culture, and theological reflection.
Maybe skip if...
- you expect a how-to guide for church leadership or organizational strategy.
- you want academic theology heavy on doctrine rather than personal narrative.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Paperback · ISBN-13 9780060872632
Worth buying if: you follow Barbara Brown Taylor's pastoral sermons and want behind-the-scenes parish life.
Skip it if: you expect a how-to guide for church leadership or organizational strategy.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Light Short sit-downs
At about 272 pages, this book reads like a series of extended essays—plan for several focused sittings or a week of nightly reading to absorb Taylor's stories and sermons.
What stands out here
This HarperCollins edition foregrounds Taylor's voice: first-person anecdotes, sermon excerpts, and pastoral candor that illuminate the memoir's turning points.
Best way to approach it
Read slowly, pausing after each chapter or sermon excerpt to reflect on Taylor's scenes from parish life and the spiritual practices she describes.
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Paperback: ISBN-13 9780060872632
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.