Have you ever kept quiet just so you wouldn’t rock the boat? Perhaps you didn’t speak your mind—or speak up for someone who couldn’t—for fear of retaliation.
So many women in ministry have been forced to remain silent about the toxicity we face, which is precisely the subject of Sam Houser’s bestselling book, “No Longer Keeping the Peace.”
The indomitable Rev. Traci Blackmon, founder of HopeBuilds, celebrates Houser’s book, saying it “pierces through the fog of religiosity to confront the harm done to women in ministry. Centering the abuse of women clergy, this book invites readers to disrupt harmful systems and offers hope for spiritual renewal, repentance, and a healed Church.” For this and so many other reasons, Sam Houser’s “No Longer Keeping the Peace” is the focus of today’s Belief Behind the Book.
Belief Behind the Book is a feature that gives readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the beliefs—or what I call “the WHY”—behind books written by progressive spiritual leaders. Inspired by the Ministry from the Margins Books program, Belief Behind the Book shines a spotlight on why authors write the books they write, offering practical tips for readers to apply to their own belief systems.
“No Longer Keeping the Peace” invites readers to explore the intersections of trauma, faith and healing through the stories of women clergy. Drawing on personal narratives and research, it examines how Christian traditions have reinforced systems of patriarchy, misogyny, and oppression.
The book highlights how these forces marginalize women in leadership and offers a path toward healing. With practical solutions and a call to action, it empowers readers to dismantle harmful norms and envision a more inclusive, just faith community where authenticity, respect, and equality prevail. This is a vision for a transformed church rooted in empathy and justice.
Reverend Sam Houser (they/them) is a queer, post-liberal Christian committed to questioning tradition, fostering inclusivity and advocating for social justice. Their ministry spans UCC Conferences, where they provide practical and pastoral care for diverse communities.
Sam is deeply passionate about environmental stewardship and believes in creating tangible, holy responses to the challenges facing our world today. Their work centers on justice, compassion and a desire to honor all creation.
When asked why they wrote the book, Houser responded:
“No Longer Keeping the Peace was born out of a deep urgency to confront the silence that has and continues to protect systems of harm, particularly within the church. I wrote it to expose how patriarchy, harassment, and abuse persist under the guise of keeping peace—and to offer a path toward real reconciliation that doesn’t come at the cost of justice and that asks the system to engage in the work.”
How does this book apply to our everyday lives? Houser’s response is simple yet profound:
“Practically, this work requires daily awareness and curiosity. Pay attention to who is speaking and who is silenced and ask why. Challenge harmful narratives in your communities. Cultivate sacred allyship by actively supporting those most impacted. Reconciliation isn’t passive—it’s an ongoing commitment to truth, repair, and transformation.”
Find this and other books at Tehom Publishing.
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Award-winning author of ten books, including The Authorpreneur Handbook. Founder and CEO of Tehom Center Publishing, a nonprofit press publishing feminist and queer authors, with a commitment to elevate BIPOC writers. Rev. Dr. Yarber’s work has been featured in Forbes, HuffPo, NPR, The Advocate, Ms. Magazine, the television show Tiny House Nation, and more. She travels the world speaking, preaching, publishing, and writing, but she can always be found at www.tehomcenter.org
