Philip Gulley

Philip Gulley is a Quaker minister, writer, husband, and father. He is the author of Front Porch Tales and the acclaimed Harmony series, as well as If Grace Is True and If God Is Love, coauthored with James Mulholland.

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Christian Living

Spirituality

The Evolution of Faith

How God Is Creating a Better Christianity

Talking Points

Philip Gulley is a Quaker minister. He is the bestselling author of Front Porch Tales and the acclaimed Harmony series, as well as If Grace Is True and If God Is Love coauthored with James Mulholland. He hosts Porch Talk on the Emmy-winning Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI show Across Indiana.

Description

For too many people, the concepts of original sin, a God who sends people to hell, and Jesus as the only path to God can no longer be stomached. But rather than throwing the baby out with bath water, Philip Gulley, famous for his own controversial theology that affirms universality, urges us to consider letting go of our tightly held beliefs and start the journey towards a dynamic faith. Gulley teaches us to embrace the freedom to let go of those tenets of Christianity that are no longer furthering the faith, and reimagine a Christianity we can believe in. Despite religions insistence on unchanging truths and static dogma, Gulley introduces the concept of a fluid, dynamic theology, a faith that grows and changes with you.

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American/Pop Culture

Spirituality

Porch Talk

Stories of Decency, Common Sense, and Other Endangered Species

Talking Points

Philip Gulley is the author of Front Porch Tales and the acclaimed Harmony series. He hosts “Porch Talk with Phil Gulley” on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI television’s flagship show Across Indiana. He and his wife, Joan, live in Indiana with their sons, Spencer and Sam.

Description

Beloved American storyteller Philip Gulley evokes a time when life revolved around the front porch, where friends gathered, stories were told, and small moments took on large meaning. In today’s hurry-up world, Gulley’s observations are frank and funny, reminding us of the world we once shared, and can again.

With poignancy and humor, Gulley writes about small-town life, things he thinks about while sitting in his Quaker meeting, and why Donald Trump should pay more taxes. Porch Talk is a tribute to common folk, including Charlie the hardware priest, the Bettys at the newspaper, and other paragons of decency not many people know, but should.in life.

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Christian Living

Spirituality

I Love You, Miss Huddleston

And Other Inappropriate Longings of My Indiana Childhood

Talking Points

Philip Gulley started his writing career with three bestselling books that collected his thoughts and musings on small-town life. After building the Harmony series of fiction, which is justly compared to both Jan Karon and Garrison Keillor, Gulley returned to his nonfiction roots with Porch Talk. This is his first book delving into strict memoir, but will continue his beloved formula of brief vignettes, both humorous and poignant.

Description

With his ear for the small town and his knack for finding the needle of humor in life’s haystack, Philip Gulley might well be Indiana’s answer to Missouri’s Mark Twain. In I Love You, Miss Huddleston, we are transported to 1970’s Danville, Indiana, the everyone-knows-your-business-town where Gulley still lives today, to witness the uproarious story of Gulley’s young life, including his infatuation with his comely sixth grade teacher, his dalliance with sin-eating meat on Friday and inappropriate activities with a mannequin named Ginger-and his checkered start with organized religion.

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Christian Living

If the Church Were Christian

Rediscovering the Values of Jesus

Talking Points

While many denominations claim to be growing, the largest group in American religious life is the disillusioned - people who have been involved in the church yet see few similarities between the church’s life and the person of Jesus. In the midst of elaborate programming, professional worship teams, and political crusades, they ask, “Is this really what Jesus called us to do?”

While the church has dismissed these people as uncommitted and lacking in faith, perhaps the opposite is true. Their commitment to authentic spirituality over institutional idolatry might the very corrective the church needs. These people respect Jesus, but question what Christianity has become.

While Gulley’s first two books were pure theology, there is much concrete advice here for the church. This is a book preachers will read and discuss even if they don’t agree with Gulley’s theology, a book the Emergent Church, while more conservative than Gulley, will be eager to discuss and apply.

Phil writes a monthly column for Indianapolis Monthly called “Home Again.” He also appears on the Emmy winning Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI show “Across Indiana.”

Description

In If the Church Were Christian, Quaker pastor and author Philip Gulley explores how the church has lost its way. An eye-opening examination of the values of Jesus reveals the extent to which the church has drifted from the teachings of the man who inspired its creation. Many Christians might be surprised to discover how little Jesus had to say about the church, and that he might never have intended to start a new religion..

But the church is here to stay, and Gulley is determined to help the church find its soul. If the church were Christian, Gulley argues, affirming our potential would be more important than condemning our brokenness. If the church were Christian, inviting questions would be valued more than supplying answers. If the church were Christian, meeting needs would be more important than maintaining institutions.

These simple statements return to the heart of what Jesus cared about during his ministry. Gulley provides a profound picture of what the church would look like if it refocused on the real priorities of Jesus.

If the church were Christian…
-Jesus would be a model of living, not an object of worship
-Affirming our potential would be more important than condemning our brokenness
-Reconciliation would be valued over judgment
-Gracious behavior would be more important than right belief
-Inviting questions would be valued over supplying answers
-Encouraging personal exploration would be more important than communal uniformity
-Meeting needs would be valued over maintaining institutions
-Peace would be more important than power
-Love would be more important than sex
-Saving the earth would be more important than saving our souls

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HarperOne Fiction

Almost Friends

Rediscovering Grace in an Ungracious World

Talking Points

PHILIP GULLEY is a Quaker minister, writer, husband, and father. He is the bestselling author of Front Porch Tales and the acclaimed Harmony series, as well as If Grace Is True and If God Is Love, coauthored with James Mulholland. He and his wife, Joan, live in Indiana with their sons, Spencer and Sam.

Description

“Gulley’s work is comparable to Gail Godwin’s fiction, Garrison Keillor’s storytelling, and Christopher Guest’s filmmaking… in a league with Jan Karon’s Mitford series.” — Publishers Weekly.

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HarperOne Fiction

A Change of Heart

A Harmony Novel

Talking Points

PHILIP GULLEY is a Quaker minister, writer, husband, and father. He is the bestselling author of Front Porch Tales and the acclaimed Harmony series, as well as If Grace Is True and If God Is Love, coauthored with James Mulholland. He and his wife, Joan, live in Indiana with their sons, Spencer and Sam.

Description

“Gulley’s work is comparable to Gail Godwin’s fiction, Garrison Keillor’s storytelling, and Christopher Guest’s filmmaking…in a league with Jan Karon’s Mitford series.” —Publishers Weekly.

Pastor Sam Gardner is back, now in his fifth year ministering to the Harmony Friends Meeting. Change is brewing in Harmony, as this little town is buffeted by the winds of change. The lovely Deena Morrison leaves spinsterhood behind as her wedding to Dr. Daniel Pierce approaches. Ellis and Miriam Hodge face losing their daughter Amanda to her biological parents. And the dependably dour Dale Hinshaw needs a change of heart, though it might not come in time.

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