A mother's heartfelt memoir outlines a nine-month saga that plays out in a Lutheran church beginning with a shocking confrontation and leading to an emotionally shattering chain of events that forever alters the course of her ten-year-old son's life.
What begins as a mother's promise to speak the truth on behalf of her child, evolves into a catharsis, and ultimately, forgiveness, as the author painstakingly chronicles her introspective journey.
After a sudden verbal attack from another parishoner, she tries to reopen the lines of communication with the aid of their Pastor and broker a resolution.
Instead, her Pastor speaks in riddles, dark insinuations are made, and no one will answer her questions. People she thought she knew for years suddenly didn't seem to know her at all.
She needed her church family; her husband was battling cancer, and she was dealing with some unanswered symptoms of her own.
Fatigued, frustrated and desperate to prove her son's innocence, she ultimately victimized both of them with her own pride until the Lord found an unmistakable way to signal her to open her eyes and run!
Excerpt
At that point, the thin worn fabric of my repose ripped wide open and I finally started crying. I couldn't help it. My body was broken and I didn't know why, and now this was happening. It really hurt that someone who I thought knew my son and me so well seemed to suddenly not know us at all.
Pastor just continued on and insinuated that Joshua had some sort of serious issue and that maybe we needed help with parenting him. I really lost it then. I couldn't stop crying and Joshua heard me and came out of the nursery concerned about me. This had to end. I told her that we were leaving after I continued to get vague or no answers to my questions. Joshua and I were both upset now, and I was angry at Pastor for that.
What she said to me was hurtful enough to cause me to cry in front of my son. Why was that okay? What was the point of this? If she was just sounding me out to make sure that Joshua and I were being honest in our account of what happened, then why had it gone this far? I'd sort that out later, but at the time, I just had to get out of there.
Have you ever watched the movie, Doubt, with Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman? Meryl Streep's character is a nun who is in charge of all the other nuns in a Catholic school and Mr. Hoffman's character is a priest who is new to the parish.
The nun's interpretation of certain events leads her to believe that the new priest has done something reprehensible, so she decides to invite him to her office for tea and conversation on the pretense of discussing an upcoming Christmas pageant. It isn't long before the priest realizes that the nun's agenda is quite different.
He asks her what she really wants to talk about and she admits the pretense. Within minutes, the priest realizes that he is being accused of something unspeakable and he is understandably both horrified and insulted. The nun never comes out and directly accuses him of the sin she believes he is guilty of, but the allegation is clear.
The first time I watched Doubt, I felt the priest's pain in that scene, because I knew what it felt like to be accused of something without anyone coming out and directly saying it.
Professional Reviews
It Happened In A Lutheran Church
This Is A Real Eye Opener!
Wow, what a read! I found this book very hard to put down. I am a minister, and I have spent over 30 years as a pastor. Much of what the book explains, I have personally experienced, or observed. Sadly, such things do happen in the church world today. I urge everyone to read this book. It will open your eyes. Perhaps there is someone near you that the Lord wants you to help. God wants all of His children to walk in His light, not in the darkness of human will. This book will help everyone learn the difference. By Rev. Allen Smith, October 10, 2013
It Happened In A Lutheran Church
Must Read!!!
Church. A place you are suppose to feel welcome and loved. Not in this book, not at their church. I was blown away by the actions of all involved. When did it become OK to persecute and label? Unfortunately too many times it is the norm, but not what you expect from your place of refuge. Rebecca's heart felt story exposes these people and this institution for what they are, poor excuses for Christian's. I applaud her and Joshua for having the courage to put what happened into words and allow us all to learn from their experience. Bravo Rebecca, bravo Joshua, you have truly triumphed.
By Christine F. Anderson, October 15, 2013
It Happened In A Lutheran Church
Heartfelt Read -
What a profound book. I felt like I was walking in her shoes. This author has found a way to pull you into the story . I couldn't put the book down. The fact that it is a true story, overall is pretty sad that a church family could not be objective and cause such pain to a young boy and his family saddens me!! But it also has shown what a great mother an father they were as the young boy has weathered that storm very well considering everything going on during his young life. IT is true there is a silver lining to every cloud !! I felt blessed after reading that book- I was lifted up! By Dawn, July 30, 2013
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