Kissing in the Chapel book

Title: Kissing in the Chapel, Praying in the Frat House: Wrestling with Faith and College

Editor: Adam J. Copeland

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, Alban imprint  ISBN: 978-1-56699-730-0

Order: Rowman & Littlefield, Amazon, Indiebound, Barnes and Noble  

Description: The stress and culture of today’s college scene does not seem to lend itself to the peace of a traditional church—but this collection of essays illustrates how spirituality not only survives, but thrives in such circumstances. For the twenty-one young adults who contribute to this volume, educational and spiritual development are intertwined; faith was crucial to their college experience. Through deeply reflective personal narratives, these essays uphold the spirit of wrestling with faith as a means for growth, as each author shares how they confronted the role of religion in college and emerged with a profound understanding of how it fundamentally shaped them.

Kissing in the Chapel, Praying in the Frat House covers the extremes of the college experience—the hilarious, the troubling, and everything in between—as told by emerging young voices at a time when writing about college students comes largely from generalized, external points of view. The stories contained within dispel the myth that members of the Millennial Generation are universally lazy and apathetic; they clearly demonstrate the self-awareness and empathy of their authors as they embark on the path of lifelong spiritual growth. Not ones to live life halfway, these essays open up new possibilities to those struggling with faith in any context, and are certain to encourage reflection and introspection in any reader.

Contributions by Taylor Brorby; Mary Ellen Jebbia; Brandan J. Robertson; Kristi Del Vecchio; Lydia Hawkins; Rick Reiten; Hillary Martinez; Anna DeWeese; AndrewAmanda Leigh-Bullard; Agnes Potamian; Michelle Johnson; Kyle J. Thorson; Allison Chubb; Michael Casey W. Woolf; Lauren Deidra Sawyer; Br. Lawrence A. Whitney; Andrea Campo; Johnna Purchase; Edward Anderson; Joseph Paillé and Steven James Porter

Review:

“This [is an] absorbing, diverse anthology . . . In 21 essays, young men and women in their 20s and 30s reflect on their college experience with faith, exploring a wide range of subjects—from Kristi Del Vecchio’s socially-minded humanism to Edward Anderson’s reflections on the powerful ways a religious upbringing can both shape and challenge a young person’s attempt to discover faith on his own terms. The most outstanding essays appear in the section on ‘Sex and Sexuality,’ every one of these extraordinarily, even painfully, honest. The authors movingly describe their intimate experiences as they deal with some complicated topics, made even more so for persons of faith (coming out as gay, being transgender, and the trauma of sexual assault, among them). Copeland includes a set of discussion questions at the end of each essay that will be useful for youth ministry groups and classes. — Publishers Weekly

Endorsements: 

“So many these days are in search of and yearning for voices that are real, authentic, and true. That is why this book is such a treasure. It is real. The voices here are authentic, compelling, and convicting. It is long past time for us to actually hear from these young adults instead of about them. It is long past time for us to do exactly what these young adults are both illustrating and calling forth from us.” —Rodger Y. Nishioka, Ph.D., Columbia Theological Seminary

“Adam J. Copeland’s book steps beyond studies about millennials and offers a view ‘on the ground’ of the dynamic, honest wrestling of young adults today around issues of faith in college. The essayists’ animated stories put flesh on the dry bones of cultural assumptions about faith in college, and remind us of the importance of spiritual engagement and self-reflection during these formative years. Copeland’s book offers a window into unique and real college faith experiences that has value for students, parents, pastors, and the church at large!” —Rev. Katie Owen Aumann, Presbyterian Campus Minister, Duke University

“Kissing in the Chapel, Praying in the Frat House: Wrestling with Faith and College is a great collective work, first and foremost because it is full of fresh and diverse voices that belong to actual members of the millennial generation. While this book, like many others about young people, certainly captures the mixture of excitement and pain that comes with one’s self discovery in young adulthood, the ferociously honest way with which it addresses faith, religion, and spirituality is what separates it from the rest.” —Rob Fohr, Mission Catalyst, Presbyterian Mission Agency

“Young adults are a wonderful, confusing, energized, questioning, messy group of people and this collection of essays digs deeply into their experiences of faith and meaning-making in college contexts. This is a wonderful book to read and to share, and one which nourished my own faith and gave me some hope for the future of communities of faith.” —Mary E. Hess, Ph.D., Luther Seminary

Preorder: Rowman & Littlefield, Amazon, Indiebound, Barnes and Noble