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 "This is My Story,
This is My Song: A Life Journey"
(2011) - author Betty Carr Pulkingham. Review
by Cherie C. Binns, October 2011
This autobiography of one of the finest contemporary liturgical composers and arrangers is lively, compelling and difficult to
put down. Betty Pulkingham, wife of the Rev. Graham Pulkingham shares in great detail how God called her and her husband into a
ministry led by the Holy Spirit in a run down parish on Houston's East End, how that ministry grew to encompass an ever
growing family of children and companions on life's journey and led to ministries across the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and
South Africa.
Her focus is joyous, positive, candid about her marriage to a
larger than life figure in the Charismatic Renewal, the impact
of life in the company of a cadre of unrelated adults and
children under the same roof, adaptations to different cultures
and lifestyles throughout three decades of ministry and travel.
Most of all, one is given the impression of a life filled with
Grace and Mercy and a woman who came through it with deep and
abiding friendships.
Also
reviewed by R Eric Sawyer
in his WordPress blog
Review of
"Following the Spirit”
(2010) - author Philip Bradshaw
by Cherie C. Binns, July 2011
I have just finished reading Phil Bradshaw’s account of the 30+ year
history of the Community of Celebration which had its roots in
Church of the Redeemer, Episcopal, in
Houston Texas in the mid 1960s under the leadership of the Rev.
Graham Pulkingham. This is a must-read for those who want a bona
fide look at the genesis of this movement and way of religious
life and community and are not looking for an expose’.
The first half of the book chronicles the formation of Christian
Community in Houston, and the traveling team of musicians and
pastors that came from that Community establishing new
communities in Coventry, England and Cumbrae Scotland, Woodland
Park, Colorado and Aliquippa, PA where the remnants of that
community still reside and minister. Bradshaw also speaks of the
Anglican Post Green Community in Dorset with a ministry of
spiritual and emotional healing that aligned itself with the new
Community under the leadership of the Pulkinghams.
In the second half of these pages, doctrine that was widely
taught in the Communities such as “Son-ship” (being sons of
God), relationships within and without the Community, worship,
prayer, music, faith, evangelism, understanding and teaching of
the Bible as the Word of God are addressed. Further, he
discusses the understanding of God, Jesus and Spirit. These were
things that attracted members to the Community and resonate
today in the hearts & minds of those who connected and stayed
over the years.
There are no “dirty secrets” between these covers, only a clear
explanation of how this Community came to be and why it was so
powerful in its ministries and relationships. As one who lived
within the bounds of this “phenomenon” for several years, I felt
affirmed, empowered, renewed and challenged to continue the
mission.
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Review of "Days of Fire & Glory"
(2009) - author Julia Duin
by Kevin O'Neill, March 2011
In her recently published book, "Days of
Fire and Glory: The Rise and Fall of a Charismatic
Community", author Julia Duin uses a stilted,
disorganized journalistic style to relate details of
relationships and events for which she has gathered, at
most, second
hand information. From its early days as a dilapidated
parish in a rough inner-city neighborhood, through its
dramatic years as a center for extraordinary worship, to
the establishment of communities in the US and Europe,
Duin relates her story with one of two sensational tones
in her voice: overly impressed or suspicious and eager
to expose alarming secrets. It is clear that she was
present during the later years she covers, but those who
were there in the earlier years will certainly take
issue with her reconstruction of many of the
circumstances and events she includes. Even if she had
first hand involvement during the entire 25-30 year
period, or her reporting was perfectly accurate, it is
no less than cruel to publish intimate details using
actual names with so little perspective or wisdom.
The valuable story this book missed was the creation of
extraordinary healing relationships where so many disparate and
social minimal-ised lives had been before.
Everyone who walked into that church came with their own
stories of pain, rejection and failure. What they always
found there was a family committed to learning how to
work through typical human boundaries and love each
other. In reality, this was an in-depth exploration of
what it means for congregations to push past traditional
family boundaries, worship together at a deep level and
create bonds as tight as blood. It was not entirely
successful but many of these relationships are still in
place today despite time and distance.
The life of just about any family in the world could be
framed in such a naked light. One does not have to dig
too far into family trees to find fodder for scandal. In
this unique, multiplied family, with extremely varied
cultures and experiences merging at a rapid pace, it
should be no surprise that affairs, homosexuality and
power struggles also existed. Painful, regrettable
experiences took place. Unfortunately this is not
uncommon in family settings.
Julia Duin is clear about where human failures were,
but her writing lacks in mature examination of what was
discovered and where it was extraordinarily positive. Its
underlying presumption is that sex and power were its downfall
and if it had been successful it would be something other than
what it is today -- an evolved parish that is very much alive
(albeit in a new location) and a valuable religious order
actively serving the church and its local community in Aliquippa
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CBN
video interview with the author Julia Duin |
