In March 2021, I made public my departure from the Southern Baptist Convention, the denomination I\u2019d loved all my life and served since I was 12.<\/p>\n
When we entered the foyer, the double doors to the sanctuary were 20 feet ahead of us and wide open. We were looking to slip subtly into a pew, but a whole handful of people were huddled at the door. A man around our age with a gentle face and warm, genuine smile was among them. He had on a white robe overlaid with a green stole bearing a grapevine pattern. He reached out his hand to me and, in a louder whisper, introduced himself as the rector. \u201cWelcome to our church. And you are?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBeth\u2014\u201d I hesitated for half a second\u2014\u201cMoore.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh!\u201d he said, tilting his head back with surprise and an infectious, harmless chuckle. \u201cLike Beth Moore.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, yes.\u201d The verger who\u2019d worked with him for decades would inform me later with a wide grin that the rector was simply amused I had the same name as the infamous Beth Moore. Nothing further occurred to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome right on in,\u201d he said in the dearest way. \u201cWe\u2019re glad to have you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Somewhere around 120 people were seated in the pews of the sanctuary. We\u2019d hardly sat down when a bell rang….<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n I love imagining @BethMooreLPM<\/a> introducing herself to a rector who's familiar enough to say "like Beth Moore!" but not enough to know it's her https:\/\/t.co\/CxAuG7UhOJ<\/a><\/p>\n — kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) March 6, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n