--- product_id: 8338251 title: "Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith" price: "63.36 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/8338251-leaving-church-a-memoir-of-faith store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # Bestselling memoir Acclaimed author storytelling Faith & authenticity journey Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith **Price:** 63.36 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🕯️ Illuminate your faith journey with a memoir that dares to question and inspire. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith - **How much does it cost?** 63.36 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/8338251-leaving-church-a-memoir-of-faith) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Written by a Revered Voice:** Praised by Frederick Buechner and Publishers Weekly, Taylor’s prose blends wit, humanness, and theological insight. - • **A Journey Beyond the Pulpit:** Explore the nuanced transition from ordained ministry to a fresh, authentic spiritual path. - • **Raw, Honest, and Transformative:** Barbara Brown Taylor’s candid reflections offer a liberating perspective on faith beyond traditional ministry. - • **Perfect for Thoughtful Book Clubs:** Raises provocative questions about faith, leadership, and personal authenticity in community settings. - • **A Bestseller That Speaks to the Soul:** Ranked #196 in Religious Leader Biographies, this memoir resonates deeply with seekers and leaders alike. ## Overview Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor is a bestselling, critically acclaimed reflection on her transition from ordained ministry to a more authentic spiritual life. With over 1,300 reviews and a 4.5-star rating, this book blends honest storytelling, theological insight, and personal vulnerability to challenge and inspire readers navigating faith, leadership, and authenticity. ## Description Have you ever felt like you’ve had more questions than answers? Have you ever been troubled by the hard truth that life is equal parts disappointment and hope? New York Times bestselling author Barbara Brown Taylor in Leaving Church shares, “This is not the life I planned, or the life I recommend to others. But it is the life that has turned out to be mine, and the central revelation in it for me—that the call to serve God is first and last the call to be fully human—seems important enough to witness to on paper. This book is my attempt to do that.” Once hailed as one of America’s most effective and beloved preachers, eloquently tells the moving and delightful story of her search to find an authentic way of being Christian—even when it meant giving up her pulpit. Leaving Church will remind you to observe the world around you, that you’re not alone if you’re struggling with your faith, and to never give up on your search for authenticity. This book is more than a memoir, it is a profound yet fresh wilderness experience that will remind you to keep walking in your faith. Praise for Leaving Church : “This beautiful book is rich with wit and humanness and honesty and loving detail….I cannot overstate how liberating and transforming I have found Leaving Church to be.” — Frederick Buechner, author of Beyond Words “A finely crafted memoir . . . a rich evocation of her lifelong love affair with God.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Taylor is a better writer than LaMott and a better theologian than Norris. ...she is the best there is.” — Living Church Review: Excellent, but much about nature and important areas unexplored - Barbara Taylor is an excellent writer and storyteller, and this autobiographical book is a compelling read. In this book, she writes about her own journey in faith and a life-changing decision: After twenty years of ordained ministry in a church position, Taylor resigned as rector of a relatively small Episcopal church in the North Georgia mountains to accept a position teaching religion at a small college nearby. The title "Leaving Church" is inaccurate, of course, because leaving ordained parish ministry is not the same as leaving church. Taylor is still an Episcopal priest, but even if she had resigned as a priest, she would still not necessarily have left church. The title stems from Taylor's resignation as a church rector, which surprised many people, and some apparently misunderstood her choice as really leaving church and/or losing her faith. In this book, Taylor explains the journey that led to her change in direction, providing an overview of her experience of ordained ministry and her transition out of church employment. Overall, she regards the decision to leave as spiritually liberating. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Taylor says too little about the actual decision to leave, other than emphasizing that she was tired and depressed. Although Taylor emphasized how hard she worked, so much so that it's almost exhausting to read about it, her decision to resign as rector of a church never seems adequately explained. From the viewpoint of many -- particularly those engaged in ordained ministry -- she has lived a charmed and even enviable life. First, after an apparently easy ordination process, she immediately received a position at a large and wealthy multi-staff church in central Atlanta, working with a popular rector. Then she was called as a rector of a charming church in exactly the area she and her husband wanted to live - the kind of location that people retire to because it's so beautiful. Taylor appears to have been financially comfortable throughout her ministry, and the couple were able to build a dream house on 100 beautiful acres in the mountains (with three streams on their property!) In the meantime, she was developing a widespread reputation as an outstanding preacher while authoring a number of popular books. What's not to like about this life? Sounds ideal, right? Apparently the author didn't like it, or at least the part about being rector of a parish, because she resigned. Exhaustion and symptoms of depression appear to have played a major role, as well as conflict in a church split over the issue of homosexuality. However, little time is spent discussing the decision to resign and even less on the reaction of the church members. Some of this may have been unavoidable, because of concerns about confidentiality and washing dirty linen in public. Taylor mentions that she had committed to stay 10 years when she accepted the position and left after 5 1/2, but other than that, says little about breaking that agreement. Additionally, she mentions only in passing that her recently hired assistant had to resign when she did (it's the rule). She hints that some in the church were unhappy with her (perhaps because she was spread too thin?) Certainly, one wonders about the wisdom of her initial commitment: 10 years is a long time to commit to. I wish she had felt free to tell more about that part of her story and spent less time describing finding God in the beauty of nature. I get it. Nature is lovely. The mountains are lovely - it's easier to find God there than in a church hall of angry people. Life in the church can be as messy as any barnyard, and that no doubt contributed to her decision, but she barely mentioned it. It was frustrating when she skipped quickly over her farewell party but spent pages on birds. It seems likely, also, that much of the author's exhaustion came from her own very high standards and successful outside endeavors. Taylor barely mentions her increasingly busy schedule filled with engagements outside her own church, as her reputation as preacher and author grew. She was no doubt traveling frequently while living in a remote area, accessible only by mountain roads. Additionally, Taylor's many publications during this period would by itself be sufficient work for most people! She says virtually nothing about these activities but instead describes the demands of providing pastoral care. It's amazing she managed to do all that she did for as long as she did without completely burning out. This book would be great for use by a book club, particularly those in a church setting, as it raises some provocative questions. I wonder if the author will find that even after "leaving church," she will continue to find herself over-scheduled, with more demands on her than most people could manage. I hope not, because she's definitely gifted as both an author and preacher. Review: Lomax R. Bland Review of Leaving Church By Barbara Brown Taylor - Barbara Brown Taylor's Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith is a heartfelt and honest reflection on the ups and downs of pastoral ministry. As an Episcopal priest, Taylor takes us on her journey—from an eager and passionate minister to someone who becomes weary under the weight of church life and ultimately finds God in unexpected places beyond the institution's walls. Her writing is both uplifting and deeply thoughtful, making this book a powerful read for anyone who has struggled with faith, ministry, or the heavy expectations placed on spiritual leaders. Barbara Brown Taylor's memoir isn't about rejecting the church—it's about rethinking where and how we experience God. For anyone who has served in ministry, especially those who have felt the weight of leadership, her story will feel deeply relatable, like holding up a mirror to their own struggles and questions. ## Features - “This beautiful book is rich with wit and humanness and honesty and loving detail….I cannot overstate how liberating and transforming I have found Leaving Church to be.” —Frederick Buechner, author of Beyond Words ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #49,228 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #196 in Religious Leader Biographies #782 in Christian Personal Growth #1,785 in Christian Spiritual Growth (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,339 Reviews | ## Images ![Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91sw5MHvbOL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent, but much about nature and important areas unexplored *by M***R on November 4, 2013* Barbara Taylor is an excellent writer and storyteller, and this autobiographical book is a compelling read. In this book, she writes about her own journey in faith and a life-changing decision: After twenty years of ordained ministry in a church position, Taylor resigned as rector of a relatively small Episcopal church in the North Georgia mountains to accept a position teaching religion at a small college nearby. The title "Leaving Church" is inaccurate, of course, because leaving ordained parish ministry is not the same as leaving church. Taylor is still an Episcopal priest, but even if she had resigned as a priest, she would still not necessarily have left church. The title stems from Taylor's resignation as a church rector, which surprised many people, and some apparently misunderstood her choice as really leaving church and/or losing her faith. In this book, Taylor explains the journey that led to her change in direction, providing an overview of her experience of ordained ministry and her transition out of church employment. Overall, she regards the decision to leave as spiritually liberating. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Taylor says too little about the actual decision to leave, other than emphasizing that she was tired and depressed. Although Taylor emphasized how hard she worked, so much so that it's almost exhausting to read about it, her decision to resign as rector of a church never seems adequately explained. From the viewpoint of many -- particularly those engaged in ordained ministry -- she has lived a charmed and even enviable life. First, after an apparently easy ordination process, she immediately received a position at a large and wealthy multi-staff church in central Atlanta, working with a popular rector. Then she was called as a rector of a charming church in exactly the area she and her husband wanted to live - the kind of location that people retire to because it's so beautiful. Taylor appears to have been financially comfortable throughout her ministry, and the couple were able to build a dream house on 100 beautiful acres in the mountains (with three streams on their property!) In the meantime, she was developing a widespread reputation as an outstanding preacher while authoring a number of popular books. What's not to like about this life? Sounds ideal, right? Apparently the author didn't like it, or at least the part about being rector of a parish, because she resigned. Exhaustion and symptoms of depression appear to have played a major role, as well as conflict in a church split over the issue of homosexuality. However, little time is spent discussing the decision to resign and even less on the reaction of the church members. Some of this may have been unavoidable, because of concerns about confidentiality and washing dirty linen in public. Taylor mentions that she had committed to stay 10 years when she accepted the position and left after 5 1/2, but other than that, says little about breaking that agreement. Additionally, she mentions only in passing that her recently hired assistant had to resign when she did (it's the rule). She hints that some in the church were unhappy with her (perhaps because she was spread too thin?) Certainly, one wonders about the wisdom of her initial commitment: 10 years is a long time to commit to. I wish she had felt free to tell more about that part of her story and spent less time describing finding God in the beauty of nature. I get it. Nature is lovely. The mountains are lovely - it's easier to find God there than in a church hall of angry people. Life in the church can be as messy as any barnyard, and that no doubt contributed to her decision, but she barely mentioned it. It was frustrating when she skipped quickly over her farewell party but spent pages on birds. It seems likely, also, that much of the author's exhaustion came from her own very high standards and successful outside endeavors. Taylor barely mentions her increasingly busy schedule filled with engagements outside her own church, as her reputation as preacher and author grew. She was no doubt traveling frequently while living in a remote area, accessible only by mountain roads. Additionally, Taylor's many publications during this period would by itself be sufficient work for most people! She says virtually nothing about these activities but instead describes the demands of providing pastoral care. It's amazing she managed to do all that she did for as long as she did without completely burning out. This book would be great for use by a book club, particularly those in a church setting, as it raises some provocative questions. I wonder if the author will find that even after "leaving church," she will continue to find herself over-scheduled, with more demands on her than most people could manage. I hope not, because she's definitely gifted as both an author and preacher. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lomax R. Bland Review of Leaving Church By Barbara Brown Taylor *by L***D on March 4, 2025* Barbara Brown Taylor's Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith is a heartfelt and honest reflection on the ups and downs of pastoral ministry. As an Episcopal priest, Taylor takes us on her journey—from an eager and passionate minister to someone who becomes weary under the weight of church life and ultimately finds God in unexpected places beyond the institution's walls. Her writing is both uplifting and deeply thoughtful, making this book a powerful read for anyone who has struggled with faith, ministry, or the heavy expectations placed on spiritual leaders. Barbara Brown Taylor's memoir isn't about rejecting the church—it's about rethinking where and how we experience God. For anyone who has served in ministry, especially those who have felt the weight of leadership, her story will feel deeply relatable, like holding up a mirror to their own struggles and questions. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cathartic, Even for Me *by H***R on October 1, 2006* Barbara Brown Taylor never claims that her approach to the ministry was typical, nor does she advocate that other people follow her footsteps in leaving the church (although she does have some interesting suggestions for empowering churchgoers and the faithful in general). Her story of "finding, losing, and keeping," is merely one personal narrative that successfully avoids the pretense that everyone shares the same dramas and should therefore listen to her wisdom. She is not selling anything. Her book is rather an intimate, articulate self-revelation about her path in the world. I am a non-religious person, and I am often wearied, threatened, or offended by religious perspectives and narratives that don't honor the humanity in all of us. Taylor's book did not put me off: I read it voraciously, I frequently found myself crying, and the book left me emotionally drained but satisfied. It was cathartic. I learned a lot about her particular experience as a priest, which satisfied my curiosity, but better yet, I easily followed her into deeply incisive but poetic analyses of her own behavior, reactions, expectations, needs, desires, and hopes. One of the final lessons, that some people thrive "in the wildnerness" and others thrive in the central church, and that all are needed and wanted by God, was a refreshing and reassuring view of faith. I can see why Taylor's desires for solitude and nature, and her fortune in living on a beautiful rural ranch, might not be representative of a good priest. In fact, she herself states that she might have been better qualified as a religious hermit. I won't go away thinking that all priests think as she does; it's clear even from her book that they don't. But I was grateful to Taylor for sharing her vision of faith with me. In a sense, with this book, I think she has again achieved her priestly mission of "finding holiness and holding it up to God." --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/8338251-leaving-church-a-memoir-of-faith](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/8338251-leaving-church-a-memoir-of-faith) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-09-30*