Grace Between Tradition and Change - A story of Methodist faith, community, and the courage to stay at the table - Women of Faith: American Stories, #2

In a time of quiet upheaval within the United Methodist Church, Claire Thompson finds herself at a crossroads—not between right and wrong, but between comfort and faithfulness. A devoted lay leader, lifelong Methodist, and careful listener, Claire has always believed in the church's sacred rhythm of holy conferencing, connectionalism, and grace. But as familiar faces disappear and new voices rise with urgent questions, she begins to wonder: Can we stay together without silencing the truth?

Set against the backdrop of committee meetings, Sunday worship, and whispered conversations in fellowship halls, Grace Between Tradition and Change is a deeply human story about what it means to love a church while it's changing—and to remain faithful when the path forward is unclear. With lyrical prose and theological depth rooted in Wesleyan tradition, Elizabeth R. Whitman explores the quiet courage of women who choose to stay at the table, not because they have all the answers, but because they trust that grace goes before us all.

This moving novel speaks to anyone who has ever loved an institution deeply enough to wrestle with it—and to believe that faith, like a living tree, must grow to survive.

Perfect for readers of Katherine Reay, Tamera Alexander, or Marilynne Robinson, this second installment in the Women of Faith: American Stories series offers a compassionate, theologically grounded portrait of discipleship in a divided time—without taking sides, but never avoiding truth.