A Church Anew Book Series: Interview with Eleanor Scott Meyers, Author of “Stories From An Unintentional Preacher”
Photo by Mitchell Leach 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 Eleanor Scott Meyer about her new book, Stories From An Unintentional Preacher.
Introduction by the editor
Eleanor Scott Meyers was born in 1940 and came of age in the early years of the 2nd wave of feminism. Her new book, Stories from an Unintentional Preacher, is a highly personal memoir of a time when women were finding their way to work for which they felt called, moving against challenging odds with fortitude, compromise, and persistence. For such women, their lives became more than personal journeys by being rooted in the moment to both the political and the spiritual. Writing of the forces that shaped her life, Meyers embeds a few sermons and a variety of presentations to the delight of readers who find in her work important contributions to contemporary issues.
Why did you write this book?
For someone who hadn’t really thought of myself as a preacher, I was surprised one day in 2021 to discover a box of about forty old sermons with some shocking titles, like “Can Jesus Save a Feminist?” I asked myself ‘Who and where would someone be allowed to preach such a sermon in 1980!’ The sermons, written across four decades beginning in the 1960s, and the stories of how I came to be in those pulpits, or at a podium before large audiences, easily resurfaced. However, these are not only my stories but the stories of many women. The journeys of women leaders from this era in congregations, higher education, church offices, and seminaries, were often places where a woman was not expected, and often not appreciated. Today the work of these early women leaders calls for celebrating the models of quality leadership they provided. For me, this was an important stimulus in writing this book.
Why did you choose Stories from an Unintentional Preacher as the title of your book?
Even I was surprised to discover, through writing this memoir, how I unintentionally tumbled into positions I had not sought. It began with campus ministry followed by requesting ordination–a practice I didn’t believe in. Next, I surprised myself by working for the World Student Christian Association to direct a national campus ministry project and provide leadership for an international project. Accepting the ‘preaching’ position in a congregation without any intention or interest in such a role, shocked me. Finally, stepping into a seminary deanship and a presidency topped a list of roles I’d not imagined. But why ‘sermons?’ Almost in every one of these positions I was asked to step into pulpits now and then. I learned preparing and giving sermons added clarity to my efforts as a leader, and deepened my faith while adding a new appreciation of what it means to be a church. And for this, I am grateful.
Your earrings became an important symbol of inclusion for you when you were often the only woman in the room - please say more about this.
Over the years, beginning in 1976, I became more involved nationally in my work as traveling alone became a frequent item in my life including being hassled by traveling men. In 1980, and a new graduate student, I decided to pierce my ears in honor of my 40th birthday; earrings became a new accessory. As travel and hassling increased, I began to buy bigger earrings. I don’t know why, but in some manner, the larger earrings seemed to display confidence, a warning to men that this strong woman would hold her own space. The mighty earrings also worked well for me in the largely male settings where I worked. I think male colleagues found them somewhat confusing–along with my black, laced-up, two-inch square-heeled shoes. “Those look like nuns or old lady shoes,” someone said. Indeed, I agreed, knowing I was in good company wearing them. The hassling lessened when I was at work or out and about in the only style of shoes I wore for almost 20 years with my blaring, ever-larger, earrings dangling from my ears. Life can be such a hoot!
Who should read this book?
Readers of this book (both women and men) tell me they cannot put it down. Some report my life stories keep their eyes glued to the pages–pulling them forward–while many say the same about the sermons. I live in a retirement community where many women who read this book immediately begin to think about their own stories during this particular era. It turns out often that we have faced similar obstacles and experienced similar accomplishments – plus opportunities we hadn't considered. Yet readers of all ages will find important, critical thinking about the social challenges of that time that persist today and hopefully be given even more courage to continue the work on behalf of justice, peace, and care for the earth.
What do you want your reader to take away after reading your book?
For the women and men who continue in the active struggle for women to gain access to positions of leadership in all kinds of organization - religious, secular, governmental, local, regional, and national - perhaps this memoir might expand their efforts. For retired readers, may they rediscover the joy in their own well-lived lives because of the causes for which they labored.
Is there anything else you want to add?
An important aspect of my life story is the role played by formal and informal education. For the academic year 1976-77 I was awarded a Danforth fellowship to study at Yale where I learned more about my many-layered self, opening my mind and heart to new ideas. Then a few years later my study of sociology provided a stunning opportunity. I love learning and UW-Madison, one of the great universities in the United States, was an excellent place to study how complex organizations, especially voluntary organizations like churches, structure power and authority. However, my informal learning has been an opportunity to learn from wise colleagues, to make and learn from my mistakes, and to increase my understanding of organizations. Learning my way through the years continues to make me a better, wiser colleague and friend on this journey.
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.
