Faithful expressions of singleness and the divorced minister

Abstract

This thesis explores faithful expressions of singleness for divorced United Church clergy as defined by those clergy members, and how these expressions are perceived by the church. Using the qualitative research method of narrative inquiry, Rachel Anne Campbell interviews seven United Church Ministers, from eastern, western, and central Canada, to delve into experiences and perceptions of building intimate relationships after divorce among a research cohort of divorced ministers within The United Church community. Through literature reviews, data analysis, and the information given by participants, this thesis reveals how The United Church of Canada has responded in the past and how it might better respond to its divorced single clergy in the future. A key component of this thesis focuses on lifting up and revising past United Church expressions of sexuality to aid in better understanding a more modern sense of sexuality and faithful expressions of singleness.