God's Troublemakers: How Women of Faith Are Changing the World

(Paperback)

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This is a book about women who are changing the world as leaders in the public arena. Whether Christian, Jewish or Muslimtheir work is religiously or spiritually motivated. They are religious or socio-ethical entrepreneurs, who have invented organizations or movements to repair the world. What shaped and formed them How do they integrate a progressive social agenda with their faith How do they exercise public leadership in a world where women's public roles are sometimes still suspect The book is thematically organized and touches on many of the most relevant topics being discussed today: separation of church and state, the intersection of politics and religion, the silence of the progressive left and the embodiment of authentic religious pluralism. This book claims space for progressive forms of religion in an area dominated by the Religious Right.

God's Troublemakersis based on extensive interviews with 11 women social entrepreneurs. The 3 best known are Sr. Helen Prejean, the anti-death-penalty activist; Ruth Messenger, former Manhattan Borough President and now executive director of American Jewish World Service; and Helen LaKelly Hunt, who has been a national activist funding women's causes and a leader in persuading secular feminists to make common cause with religious women.

Reviews

"Through her probing interviews with twenty change-makers,Katharine Henderson has illuminated the path to ethical action and personified the transformative possibilities of leadership.This book of practical strategy and pure inspiration proves that one person can change the world by using power differentlynot to control but to empower, advocate, and ignite the passions of others."-Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Ms Magazine -- Letty Cottin Pogrebin
"This is a book that paints a healing picture of religious faith through the fascinating lives of women leaders. It is as refreshing in its pluralistic assumptions as it is in viewing religious faith through the life stories of extraordinary individuals of many faiths. Katharine Henderson provides a powerful thesis that will resonate with many people of all faiths in these challenging times when religious exclusionists, both in theWest and elsewhere have come to symbolize a troubling picture of the role of religion in society and politics." -Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor at the Uniiversity of Maryland and Brookings Institute. -- Shibley Telhami,Anwar Sadat
"God's Troublemakers identifies a latent power in each of us to help change the world from what it is to what it could be.' It describes a process of character formation, which released the power in some remarkable women of faith and action, and it's certain to move us from silent complacency to conscientious commitment to peace, justice, and compassion...a primer for bold and fruitful progressive witness!" -James A Forbes, Senior Minister, The Riverside Church -- James A Forbes
"This wonderful book, imbued with common sense, health and healing, is the fruit of years of study and prayerful reflection. "It is a blessing to meet these compassionate, gifted women through the prism of Rev. Henderson's insight and disciplined intelligence."- Linner, Catholic News Service, April 13, 2007 -- Catholic News Service
mention- Library Journal Review
"This inspirational new book explores the journeys of 11 women who are engaging their faith for personal and social transformation. Representing diverse religious traditions, all of the women demonstrate creative leadership around issues such as the separation of church and state, the relationship between politics and religion, and the contemporary reality of religious pluralism. God's Troublemakers gives voice to the religious and spiritual experiences of women determined to change the world, including anti-death penalty activist Sr. Helen Prejean; executive director of American Jewish World Service, Ruth Messenger; and Helen LaKelly Hunt, who has been a national activist funding women's causes and a leader in persuading secular feminists to make common cause with religious women."- Religions for Peace- USA November 2006 E-Newsletter
"Katharine Rhodes Henderson has performed a service by gathering the stories of 21 women who are taking the transforming power of faith into jails and shelters and hospices....Henderson writes with clarity and conviction. Her examples remind us that no one is really an innocent bystander if merely standing by." -- Newsday.com, Dallas Morning News
"In an era when more women are entering seminary and fewer are rising to senior pastor positions, Katherine Rhodes Henderson's new book is both timely and important. It may help break the glass ceiling for women while also re-framing the idea of religious leadership in the 21st century. "Who are some of these 21 change-makers, spirited women of faith who combine the "power of one" with determination and collaboration One if Melodye Feldman, who founded Seeking Common Ground, which helps Jewish and Palestinian teenage girls build a more peaceful community. Another is Henna Hahn who founded The Rainbow Center, which addresses the needs of abused immigrant women from Asia. Then there is Riffat Hassan, a Muslim from Pakistan who founded an Internet-based international movement to put a stop to the brutal torture and death of women by male family members in Muslim countries. Another is Sister Helen Prejean, activist nun and author of Dead Man Walking, an international proponent working to stop the death penalty. Henderson also highlights Gretchen Buchenholz who founded ABC, the Association to Benefit Children, a women who believes "none of us is really an innocent bystander." We can all make a difference. "God's Troublemakers is extremely well written and deeply insightful for women and men in a time when all of us need to see our potential for bringing peace and justice to a world that desperately needs both."- William Carl III, The Presbyterian Outlook, June 11, 2007 -- The Presbyterian Outlook
Title mention in Baptist Times, August 2008
"Offers an appealing and challenging read ... she offers an acute and engaging analysis." Methodist Recorder, January 2009 -- Cathy Bird
"Women and men alike will find lessons in Henderson's book about the true source of a resilient life: repairing the world." -Marie C Wilson, The Whitehouse Project -- Marie C Wilson
"[T]his author has done a marvellous work that is of importance of not only the contribution women can make to social justice issues but also of representing a voice that is unique. I encourage readers to "take a leap" as she says into a terrain that is not travelled on a frequesnt journey." - Catholicbooksreview.org * Catholic Books Review *
"After interviewing 11 women making a difference in their communities through the founding of relief organizations, Presbyterian minister Henderson (executive VP, Auburn Theological Seminary, New York), herself a "social entrepreneur," wrote this book to recognize their efforts and inspire others. The 11 women profiled are from all walks of life, religious backgrounds, and beliefs. The stories of how they found a cause in which they believed and then set out to help are fascinating." - Library Journal, November 1, 2006 -- Jennifer Kuncken, Williamsburg Regional Lib., VA * Library Journal *

Author Bio

Katharine Rhodes Henderson is an ordained Presbyterian minister, who for the past decade has been the executive vice president of Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. She is co-founder of Face to Face/Faith to Faith, a multifaith leadership bringing together teenagers--Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus--from the Middle East, Northern Ireland, South Africa, and the US.