Breaking, Not Broken is a powerful and timely critique of ableism within the Church and its theology. Written by Timothy Goode, Canon for Congregational Discipleship and Nurture at York Minster, Breaking, Not Broken places disability at the centre of Christian reflection rather than treating it as a pastoral afterthought. Shaped by Timothy Goode’s own experience of disability, Breaking, Not Broken weaves together Scripture, church history, architecture, and questions of memory and time to offer a compelling re-visioning of the Church through the lens of the risen, wounded Christ.
At times deeply moving, Breaking, Not Broken has won praise from New Testament scholar Paula Gooder, Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani, and Bishop Mark Tanner.
“This is a fascinating book and a must read for anyone interested in reflecting in more depth about the place that bodies have in Christian faith. Tim Goode reflects powerfully on the way in which Greco-Roman ideals of perfection still affect our understanding of embodiment and argues that the Body of Christ, shaped as it is by the scarred, glorious resurrection body of the risen Jesus, should think again about our relationship to our bodies. Challenging, thought-provoking and rich in every way, this book comes highly recommended!” – Paula Gooder, theologian, author and Canon Chancellor at St Paul’s Cathedral, London
“Breaking, not Broken issues a strong and at times uncomfortable challenge, shining a light on an important area of our shared life that we should not ignore. Tim Goode is opening up a long overdue conversation and inviting us into deeper understanding. This is a book born of pain but full of hope for the possibility of transformation, not just for disabled people but for the whole church” – Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford
“I have received so much from Tim Goode’s profound theological insights into the ‘risen, wounded body of Christ’ and its implications for the Church. I am delighted that this book places this prophetic challenge before the whole church and reminds us that ableism ‘is a distortion of the image of God’” – Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford and Chair of the C of E’s Committee for the Ministry of and amongst Deaf and Disabled People (CMDDP)
The author, Revd Canon Timothy Goode is Canon for Congregational Discipleship and Nurture at York Minster, a national disability advocate and a leading voice on equity, diversity and inclusion in the Church. He has served parishes in London and the Southeast of England, advised the Archbishops’ Council on disability and writes and speaks widely on theology, heritage and justice.