Elizabeth Hagan
Upper Room Books, 144 pages
Pandemic life has accelerated many conversations — we have tackled medical decisions, politics, racism, sexism and so much more. These conversations have hit many congregations like a freight train — many pastors and church members feel run over by that train because few of us are trained to have tough conversations with each other. “Brave Church” is the resource we need to help navigate this time of tough topics.
In this easy-to-read book, Elizabeth Hagan shares her experience broaching uncomfortable conversations and draws from the work of Brian Arao and Krisit Clemens in “From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces.” Hagan introduces ideas to guide churchgoers and leaders as they practice having conversations instead of lobbing hurtful comments at each other. By beginning with the basics of how to initiate conversations about infertility and miscarriage, mental illness, domestic violence, racism and sexuality – and how to keep the conversations going – she offers thoughtful insight, relatable Scripture, helpful ideas and questions for conversation. Designed to be read in a small group or Sunday school class, this book makes it easy to get congregations and youth talking.
While her insights are helpful, Hagan skews toward women’s issues, and perhaps when working with this book in groups with men in attendance, a little more emphasis on the ways men are affected by these issues would lead to more nuanced dialogue. Conversations around infertility and domestic violence are extremely important for men to engage with, and are often inexplicably left out of mixed company. “Brave Church” offers a platform for groups to start conversations about these complex issues and perhaps even begin to shed their own bias and misunderstandings.
Hagan distinguishes between a safe space and a brave space, noting that “safe” spaces generally make us feel good but do not always invite new ideas, thoughts and perspectives; “brave” spaces invite people to listen to each other and gain new perspectives. She offers a compelling call for churches to assess if they have become trapped in a safe space and invites everyone to courageously venture into brave spaces instead. In my opinion, this distinction is one churches need to wrestle with as Christianity moves from pre-pandemic to post, as we grapple with how to continue to love the people in our midst, and as we reach out to those who feel left out.
“Brave Church” would be a perfect book for sessions, small groups, deacon boards and perhaps a youth group. It could be launched as a congregation-wide study and lends itself to a compelling sermon series. Each week a new brave topic, each week a more courageous church. Every chapter is formatted with four sections: Brave Exploration, which introduces the topic; Brave Church, which features churches that have found ways to address this topic; Brave Talk, which includes reflection questions; and Brave Act, a call to action.
Faith is a call to action, a call to bravery. If you or your church is ready to discuss what bravery means in 2021, “Brave Church” will help get the conversation started.
Sarah Dennis is a pastor in Richmond, Virginia. She loves her husband, three kids and two dogs, reading, watching Marvel movies and being outside!
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