An Audacious Women's History Month Ask

Gather round, weirdos. I have a confession. It’s no secret that there’s often a difference in our public facing persona and the private lives we live. The internet doesn’t get everything. Some things are simply too sacred for social media. But in the same breath, I wouldn’t be loving my readers well if I didn’t acknowledge— there’s a lot going on at the moment. I feel the pressure, the dissonance. And now, I feel the need to name it.

This January I travelled to Chicagoland for doctoral seminars with my beloved Northern Seminary cohort and our fearless leader, Beth Felker Jones. I presented about evocative objects and memory in pastoral ministry. We nerded out over delicious books and indulged in delicious local cuisine (deep dish pizza). Our time together was glorious… sort of. I wanted it to be. But that same week we learned that my husband (who is our family’s primary source of income) lost his job. I spent my time in Chicago nailing down logistics in between lectures and delegating tasks during lunch.

When I returned home to Atlanta later that week, my disabled daughter required urgent spinal cord detethering surgery just a few days later. I spent the following week caring for her at the hospital while chipping away at book edits in between vital checks, PT/OT visits, and discharge. Truthfully, the book edits kept me sane. But her last day in the hospital was the last day that our family had access to health insurance.

This would be a big deal for any family, but with four medically complex kids (one rehabbing from major surgery), ensuring that the kids have access to the supplies and care that they need has required creativity, community support, and sacrifice. Catheters, AFOS, insulin, and inhalers, for example, are all covered under insurance, but without it the cost is crushing. We’re still trying to appeal a Peach Care denial months later. And because we aren’t currently insured, my kids are no longer eligible for the grant funds that we’ve used in the past to pay for prescriptions and specialist visits. Things are getting tight around here. We have had to delay care, barter with DME suppliers, and cancel therapy appointments. These invisible stressors have weighed heavily, especially in the context of the changing economy, increased political volatility, and ICE terror. It has now been three months and counting of expert level emotional juggling. We’re hopeful, but my husband is still looking for work.

And in the same breath, this season has been weirdly precious and beautiful. We’ve grown closer as a family. Our daughter is healing well from surgery and the kids are healthy. Amidst uncertainty, we’ve cared for one another well. Strange peace pervades our house. The kids have remained largely unphased, a kindness.

Yet I’m disappointed that this season feels less than celebratory. I wish I could celebrate fun milestones related to my studies, writing, and my work. I feel like that joy has been stolen, and my bandwidth to create and engage has been so limited. My own health has not been great either and that’s also impacted my emotional availability.

All of that to say, it feels weird to come on here and share that preorders for my first book are LIVE. SO WEIRD. My first book has a gorgeous cover, and the pub date is now public! But now I feel added pressure for this book to perform well, and it feels disingenuous not to name that. Maybe other authors might relate?

Writing has never been my “main thing.” Professionally, I’m a chaplain and a theologian. I work part time at a hospital (Emory) and part time at a seminary (DTS). According to my first grader I “help people die” (I really wish she’d clarify that I “help *when* people die,” but close enough). I also love teaching and supporting seminary students as they draw meaningful connections between their theological coursework and their ministry context. I integrated my lived experience with the work that I do and put it in book form. Tada?

I wrote these words because I truly believe they can help the church.

I wrote these words because future pastors consistently struggle to connect the dots between belief and practice in concrete ways.

I wrote these words because the discipleship crisis in the church in no secret.

I wrote these words because I believe that connecting good doctrine to our discipleship can help the church bear good fruit.

And also, I can’t help but notice that these words that I wrote can potentially help my family get back on firmer footing. That’s real. The best way to support our family right now is to support this book.

If you support the work of women in theology and vocational pastoral ministry, consider supporting this book with a preorder.

Turn your words into an action. Don’t just ask for an autographed arc— be willing to pay full price and read my own words in my own voice (even if you might not agree).

I know. Wild. Who does she think she is?

I’m at a point where I can’t do a ton of extra work for free. And I can’t overextend myself more than I already am… But I can put energy into this thing that I worked really hard on in the hopes that it might help the church and my family. Maybe? Worth a shot. Again, it feels silly to hide that. Because yes, I am a public facing chaplain and a theologian, but I’m also a woman— a wife and a mother— pinching pennies and stretching dollars just like everyone else.

I’ll say it again: If you support the work of women in theology and vocational pastoral ministry, consider supporting this woman in theology and vocational pastoral ministry. Support this book with a preorder.

Consider sharing this post, interacting with my stuff on socials (IG and Threads), marking the book as “want to read” on Goodreads, and join me on this publishing journey so that my book can get in the hands of the readers and leaders who will benefit from it.

Engagement feeds a notoriously fickle algorithm. Every single share, repost, comment, and preorder helps debut authors like me get the word out about our work.

The official launch date is November 10^th and you’ll see more info about the book closer to release. We’ll announce an official launch group with preorder bonuses closer to time. I’ll be super present on socials. We’ll do a proper marketing push. (Consider this a rogue unsanctioned pre push). All of that to say, if you do pre-order super early, hang on to the order number. I promise we’ll make it special.

Who is this book for? This book is:

• for theologically curious Christians who are looking for better language to think about discipleship

• for folks who are deconstructing spiritual abuse and reconstructing gentle discipleship + trauma-informed faith practices

• for leaders and lay folks alike

• a resource that bridges the church with the academy and seeks to make good theology accessible.

• a book that will provide pastors, professors, academics, and culturally conscious Christians with hope & encouragement.

Ultimately, Interwoven Discipleship is a theology book designed to serve the whole church.

This book is special because I welcome a wide variety of voices to the conversation. This work includes wisdom from the early church, medieval mystics, the historic Black church, classical theologians, disability theologians, indigenous theologians, womanist theologians, liberation theologians, and many more. As we build a Biblical theology of discipleship, we’re inviting everyone to the table. This work features wisdom from my heroes, my mentors, and my friends.

But this book has a spicy side too. For example, I name the connection between hierarchical heresies and the sexual abuse crisis in complementarian churches. I suggest an approach to discipleship where safety & siblinghood reign supreme. In this work, discipleship is less about the things we do for God, and more about participating in the life of God, together. We talk about how flawed views of God harm God’s beloved, and how to be people who choose welcome, solidarity, and mutuality.

This is a book that’s designed to bring the church together and champion healing & wholeness.

So, here’s a super official blurb from amazon.

(Are you nervous? I’m SO nervous 😊)

What if our discipleship mirrored what God is actually like?

In a culture shaped by individualism, performance, and power moves, Interwoven Discipleship invites us back to the relational heart of God. Chaplain and theologian Liz Daye reimagines discipleship through the shared life of the Trinity, calling believers to move beyond hierarchy that harms and rediscover the beauty of belonging to God’s family.

Drawing on Christian theology, pastoral care, and lived experience, Daye offers a new framework that begins with the love of Father, Son, and Spirit―an eternal communion shaped by shalom. Ultimately, Daye suggests that the truth of the Triune God can bring healing and wholeness to the church.

In Interwoven Discipleship, readers will:

· Reimagine spiritual growth through the Holy Trinity, exchanging hierarchy and the things we do for God for shared belonging in God’s family and participation in the life of God

· Cultivate communities of inclusion, reciprocity, and mutual care― where every person, no matter their age or ability level, is recognized as essential to the body of Christ

· Recover a vision of spiritual formation shaped by love and interdependence

Rooted in the dynamic life of the Triune God, Interwoven Discipleship calls the church to abandon isolation and competition and to become what it was always meant to be: a family of shared life, restored relationships, and flourishing faith.

Over the next several months I’ll begin the grueling task of requesting endorsements from peers and collogues that I admire. Believe me, I’m mortified in advance. And I have no idea if my book will receive a stamp of approval from folks like Preston Sprinkle or other outspoken male allies. But the early feedback I’ve received has been life giving, and I hope others find it helpful. If you’re a pal with a podcast or a platform you like to share, I’d love to explore how we can partner together in the fall.

I’m open to conversations on:

• Theology

• The Trinity

• Disability theology (because I’m actually autistic)

• Women in the church, theology, and pastoral ministry

• Weird stuff in the Bible

• Chaplaincy, end of life care, ethics, terminal illness, and grief

• Advocacy, interfaith work, antiracism, and immigration

• parenting and caregiving

• and anything at the intersection of politics, theology, & pop culture.

If you’re a church leader planning small groups, sermons, conferences, and retreats for 2027, I hope you’ll consider a message that points readers toward the nature, character, and priorities of the Triune God.

If you’re a seminary professor looking to enhance your 2027 syllabi, I hope this book helps your students think theologically about discipleship in concrete specific ways (that heal rather than harm).

This spring I’ll be focused mainly on chaplaining, researching, and doctoral work. I’m also headed to the Festival of Faith & Writing and looking forward to connecting with friends, fellow faith writers, and readers. Over the summer Kate Boyd & I will be putting the finishing touches on Decentering David for Brazos (coming fall 2027).

But this fall I’ll shift into full launch mode for Interwoven Discipleship with NavPress. We’ll birth this book into the world and it’ll be magnificent. You in?

As the old saying goes, the horrors persist but so do I. <3

Take care, y’all.

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