A Church Anew Book Series: Interview with Barbara Troxell, Author of “My Life Journey, Both Upwards and Downwards”
Photo by David Beale on Unsplash
Church Anew is delighted to continue a series that celebrates the books and contributions of leaders in our community. While we can’t share every book or article or milestone, feel free to nominate someone or some piece that you know by emailing support@churchanew.org. Pastor Eric Shafer has led a storied career across the church and is interviewing authors in this recurring feature. This week, we are happy to present Eric’s interview with Barbara Troxwell about her new book, My Life Journey, Both Upwards and Downwards.
Please share a brief summary of your book.
I would summarize my book as follows: My Life Journey tells the story of my life from birth to nearly age 90. In my adult life, the book does focus on me as a clergywoman, which was a rare vocation for women in the mid twentieth century.
Why did you write this book?
I wrote this book to express both part of my family history and part of United Methodist history in ways that had not been told before. I wanted these parts of personal and denominational histories to be known.
Who should read this book?
I hope that younger clergywomen, women of any age considering ordained ministry, and others who need or want encouragement about the place of women in professional ministry will read the book.
What would you like the reader to take away after reading your book?
I would like readers of my book to learn that a woman in ordained ministry has a challenging, exciting, and delightful life story to tell. I would like readers to know that despite discrimination against ordained women – through "many dangers, toils, and snares" – there is a significant way through, by the grace and guidance of God.
From a very young age to today, you write of the importance of music in your life. Why is music so important in your life?
With parents who were musicians, especially my dad who was choir director and organist of our home church, I offer music as both the grounding and connecting element of my life. In effect, I was born into music. I have fond memories of enjoying diverse musical ways of singing, praying, playing throughout childhood and youth. Music continued to be central for me as an adult -- again through much music listening, singing, and piano playing. Music tends my soul and strengthens my spirit time and time again.
You had the chance to become the first woman bishop in the United Methodist Church and, later, at least two other opportunities to become a bishop. Why did you choose not to let your name go forward?
When many people wanted me to be elected as the first woman bishop in the United Methodist Church, I felt strongly that this was not my calling. Though my name came up as a bishop candidate several times during the years I was a District Superintendent, it kept being clear to me that I was not being led by God in this direction. I knew I could be an effective bishop, yet if I were a bishop I would endanger losing my soul. I came to feel strongly that in such a highly administrative role I would not have the time or energy to deepen my spiritual life nor to attend to the pastoral calling that was so fully a part of me. Therefore, on the floor of the California-Nevada Annual Conference session in 1983, I stated that I did not want to be a candidate for bishop.
Rev. Eric Shafer
The Rev. Eric C. Shafer is a regular contributor to Church Anew and serves as “Pastor in Residence” for Global Refuge - www.globalrefuge.org - which is now in its 85th year serving immigrants and refugees. He has served ELCA congregations in Pennsylvania and California and was the ELCA’s Communication Director, a synod bishop’s assistant, and an interfaith communication executive. He and his wife, Kris, live at Pilgrim Place in Claremont, California.
