When Courage Calls: Josephine Butler and the radical pursuit of justice for women by Sarah C. Williams (Hodder & Stoughton, £25 (£22.50); 978-1-399-80373-1).
“Social historian Sarah C. Williams presents a re-examined biography of the radical political activist Josephine Butler. From the beauty of her childhood in Northumbria, to the stifling intellectual environment of mid-Victorian Oxford; from the impoverished streets of Liverpool and the brothels of London, Brussels and Paris, to the offices of Westminster and the Houses of Parliament. Butler’s relentless drive to secure rights for women against the sexual double standard of her day captures a remarkable woman with deeply held values for equality.”
The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality within the biblical story by Christopher B. Hays and Richard B. Hays (Yale, £20 (£18); 978-0-300-27342-7).
“The authors — a father and son — point out ongoing conversations within the Bible in which traditional rules, customs, and theologies are rethought. They argue that God has already gone on ahead of our debates and expanded his grace to people of different sexualities. If the Bible shows us a God who changes his mind, they say, perhaps today’s Christians should do the same. The book begins with the authors’ personal experiences of controversies over sexuality and closes with Richard Hays’s epilogue reflecting on his own change of heart and mind.”
Daily Bible Meditations for Everyone: 365 reflections and prayers from Genesis to Revelation by John Goldingay and Tom Wright (SPCK, £19.99 (£17.99); 978-0-281-09030-3).
“With their characteristic wisdom, clarity and depth, Goldingay and Wright provide a rich blend of theological insight and practical application in 365 concise reflections and prayers. Whether you're seeking spiritual growth, a deeper connection with the Scriptures, or simply a daily source of inspiration, this book promises to enrich your appreciation of the whole Bible and offers a clear path to understanding and applying God’s Word in you daily life.”
Selected by Frank Nugent, of the Church House Bookshop, which operates the Church Times Bookshop.