Grounded in an autoethnographic approach, this book draws from the
author's personal experiences as a gay woman and former priest who faced
institutional shaming. Drawing on practical theologies of shame, and
the work of Christian anthropology, it challenges traditional
theological perspectives on sin and human nature, proposing a
person-centred model that emphasizes unconditional love and positive
self-regard. By exposing and addressing the Church's role in
constructing shame, the book proposes a pathway towards healing and
self-acceptance for those marginalized by faith-based shaming.
Brenda Hopkins is a person-centred psychotherapist, and former
Church of England priest. She holds a Professional Doctorate in
Practical Theology from Cambridge Theological Federation/Anglia Ruskin
University and is a registered and accredited member of the British
Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy. She no longer exercises a
priestly ministry following marriage to Louise, her partner of almost 30
years, and now dances at the edges of Church.