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Praying on Empty: A Female Pastor's Story
AMAZON #1 BESTSELLER & FOREWORD INDIES FINALIST - Women's Studies GOLD WINNER OF THE ILLUMINATION BOOK AWARDS - Inspirational Memoir INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS FINALIST - Best New Nonfiction "Pastor Weiss [tells] the truth about what private life can be like for women who seek to publicly serve the Church." --Lynne Silva-Breen, MDiv, MA, LMFT, former ELCA Pastor "Anyone who daily searches for a genuine faith relationship will find benefit from this work." --Bruce G. Trethaway, MDiv "What are you?" the curious man asked Pastor Marjorie Weiss when he saw her walk by him in the church corridor while she was wearing her clerical collar. That question is indeed the heartbeat of her story. Until the 1970s, "pastor" had been a male-only profession. "What am I?" she asks throughout her journey. "What am I as I stand before a congregation weekly to deliver a sermon that will inspire and guide listeners to better understand themselves and God?" And what is she when that faith, so necessary to do her job, suddenly seems to vanish? What is she when her emotional life crumbles and anger rules her landscape? Can she be a pastor without God in her life? Weiss's deeply vulnerable, often humorous, memoir speaks to universal issues experienced by the religious and nonreligious alike. Many of her experiences may seem familiar while others border on the truly toxic. Can the pastor recover her faith? Or is it God from whom she needs to recover? It's Your Turn... It's your turn to experience this riveting memoir, a 2020 Winner of the Illumination Book Awards... scroll up, download, and enjoy Praying on Empty!
252 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2019
10 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 17, 2020
This book was a gift from a close friend who has been one of my favorite people to talk with on issues of faith and one of my biggest supporters in pursuing ministry, even though she does not identify as a Christian—how is that for Love? ❤️
This book was just what I needed. I don’t even know what to say! It is not the most incredible work on or about faith I have ever come across—but it is so damn relatable! There were passages in which she recounts stories that I swear I could have written myself. She is much older than I am, but many of her experiences from childhood into her twenties are similar to mine—her call, the opposition she faced by some who opposed women in leadership in her undergrad, and the freedom and joy she felt in seminary (which I’m getting to next)! She likes drinking. She likes swearing. She likes praying. Kindred spirits.
Margie was part of the first wave of women ordained as a Lutheran, which makes her AWESOME in my book. She is VERY honest and open and vulnerable about her experiences as a pastor—the good, the bad and the ugly. She talks about how she failed others and how others failed her. She calls things as they are.... some of the people you pastor are just straight up annoying assholes, but it is still your job to love and pastor them... BUT sometimes you have to draw the line and take care of yourself first. She recounts the praise she received, as well as the hate mail! Mentors in my life have also informed me of ministry’s challenges and disappointments, and the importance of self-care. I think it’s so great people are talking about and writing about these issues.
Glad to have a book on my shelf I can reach for when things get tough. The more voices of solidarity and encouragement I have surrounding me, the better. The more stories I have of those who have gone before and paved a way, the better. The more people reminding me to recognize Holy Ground and to know God-is-Love... the better. ☺️
This book was just what I needed. I don’t even know what to say! It is not the most incredible work on or about faith I have ever come across—but it is so damn relatable! There were passages in which she recounts stories that I swear I could have written myself. She is much older than I am, but many of her experiences from childhood into her twenties are similar to mine—her call, the opposition she faced by some who opposed women in leadership in her undergrad, and the freedom and joy she felt in seminary (which I’m getting to next)! She likes drinking. She likes swearing. She likes praying. Kindred spirits.
Margie was part of the first wave of women ordained as a Lutheran, which makes her AWESOME in my book. She is VERY honest and open and vulnerable about her experiences as a pastor—the good, the bad and the ugly. She talks about how she failed others and how others failed her. She calls things as they are.... some of the people you pastor are just straight up annoying assholes, but it is still your job to love and pastor them... BUT sometimes you have to draw the line and take care of yourself first. She recounts the praise she received, as well as the hate mail! Mentors in my life have also informed me of ministry’s challenges and disappointments, and the importance of self-care. I think it’s so great people are talking about and writing about these issues.
Glad to have a book on my shelf I can reach for when things get tough. The more voices of solidarity and encouragement I have surrounding me, the better. The more stories I have of those who have gone before and paved a way, the better. The more people reminding me to recognize Holy Ground and to know God-is-Love... the better. ☺️
June 11, 2019
Margie's journey is filled with humor, pathos and enlightenment. It is a journey that I am thankful to have taken with her, even during moments of doubt and despair. Reader's can't help but sense the roller coaster of emotions a female pastor sometimes had to endure in the early days when to be one was to be a 'heretic'.
But her journey is our journey too as we struggle to understand our relationship with our self image, our family our lovers and our God. Each of us can most certainly recognize some part of ourselves in Pastor Weiss' travels.
As lay people we too often set unrealistic standards for our pastors, forgetting that they too are human! After all there was only one being who was both human and divine! As lay people we also have an unrealistic definition of God, the role of the Church and those who serve. Margie points these things out, often with human, sometimes with frustration and distress.
Insight is available to everyone who picks this book up and reads it!
But her journey is our journey too as we struggle to understand our relationship with our self image, our family our lovers and our God. Each of us can most certainly recognize some part of ourselves in Pastor Weiss' travels.
As lay people we too often set unrealistic standards for our pastors, forgetting that they too are human! After all there was only one being who was both human and divine! As lay people we also have an unrealistic definition of God, the role of the Church and those who serve. Margie points these things out, often with human, sometimes with frustration and distress.
Insight is available to everyone who picks this book up and reads it!
August 23, 2019
Personal note: I am friend with the author and was even present during one of the events mentioned in the book.
Knowing Marjorie, I was intrigued to read her full biography, including her years as an ordained woman in the ELCA. There are similarities and differences between the ELCA and the Episcopal Church's path to ordaining women but the experiences many of us have wearing the collar overlap in significant ways.
I applaud Marjorie's bravery and courage in telling her story and encourage others to read it--especially those active in the Church at any level--to grasp the challenges of ordained discipleship in this century.
Knowing Marjorie, I was intrigued to read her full biography, including her years as an ordained woman in the ELCA. There are similarities and differences between the ELCA and the Episcopal Church's path to ordaining women but the experiences many of us have wearing the collar overlap in significant ways.
I applaud Marjorie's bravery and courage in telling her story and encourage others to read it--especially those active in the Church at any level--to grasp the challenges of ordained discipleship in this century.
May 18, 2020
Pastor Marjorie shared her story in a way that let us into the life of a female clergy in a time and still now is a courageous path to follow.
I found her honesty and vulnerability refreshing. She does not sugar-coat nor mince words.
Marjorie does make you smile, laugh and be shocked. A great read.
Thanks for sharing your story.
I found her honesty and vulnerability refreshing. She does not sugar-coat nor mince words.
Marjorie does make you smile, laugh and be shocked. A great read.
Thanks for sharing your story.
August 7, 2019
A good insight into the pressures and difficulties that accompany life as a professional religious leader. This also provides powerful illustrations of the socialized and institutional sexism that impede the first wave of women to do something.
April 25, 2022
Praying on Empty sat on my 'to read' stack of books for two years. The author posted recently in a clergy group FB feed and it reminded me of my prior Amazon purchase. I dug it out and read it quickly. Weiss has a rare gift of making a very personal memoir speak to a variety of audiences. It is relatable to caregivers, adolescents, women with body image issues, female clergy, those grappling with their spiritual side of being and making sense of life in relationships.
The reason for the delay in reading this book was due to the Covid 19 pandemic. As retired ELCA pastor serving a congregation at the time, I was forced to shift my attention to provide worship via Facebook or Zoom and pastoral care via good old fashioned snail mail or phone calls. It was a stressful time for all involved in leadership roles in the church.
Weiss’ openness to share the truth of her church journey in such detail is commendable. Stories often provide insight and affirmation as we relate to them along with a bonus of peace. Weiss' stories did that for me.
The reason for the delay in reading this book was due to the Covid 19 pandemic. As retired ELCA pastor serving a congregation at the time, I was forced to shift my attention to provide worship via Facebook or Zoom and pastoral care via good old fashioned snail mail or phone calls. It was a stressful time for all involved in leadership roles in the church.
Weiss’ openness to share the truth of her church journey in such detail is commendable. Stories often provide insight and affirmation as we relate to them along with a bonus of peace. Weiss' stories did that for me.
July 11, 2022
An honest, frank memoir of the life of a woman minister - who also is coping with the challenges of a husband who lives with depression and two children with various difficulties.
May 13, 2024
Reflects my experience.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews