Opened to the Mystery of God and the Glory Revealed in Us

About the Book

Being opened to God's grace paves the way for
recovery from addiction and other idolatries.
Becoming opened to God's grace is the door to joy,
wonder, and awe.
Becoming opened to God's grace is the antidote to
arrogance and bigotry, and makes possible
the love of neighbor and self.
We can now face suffering and loss and doubt
squarely, with faith that Christ is present with us.

These are among the themes developed in Paul Nicely's new book, "Opened to the Mystery of God and the Glory Revealed in Us."

Through fifteen sermons, and other writings, Nicely witnesses to what he calls "a robust progressive prophetic Christian faith." He identifies himself as a child of the Enlightenment who stands in the liberal theological tradition. Nicely would concur with the current slogan, "I take the Bible seriously but not literally." He honors intellect and also the insights of mystics, poets, and other artists.

The opening sermon vigorously affirms the prophetic values of peace and justice and love. It addresses the fears that make us settle for safety and the false security of religious certainty. Faith is equated with courage and risk-taking for the sake of justice and inclusiveness.

Other sermons rejoice in the glory that God reveals in us human beings, and in the God-given gifts that equip humanity for serving the common good. An underlying assumption is that all of life is sacred, and is to be lived accordingly. Nicely wants his hearers to take seriously the baptismal promise to open our eyes "to seek.... Christ in all persons."

Nicely shares some highly personal moments, like the lyrical outburst when his eldest son was born. A recent message to his five sons sketches his unorthodox theological beliefs. He concludes with tender tributes to his late wife Ann, with whom he was married for 55 years.

About the Author

Paul Nicely has been called a coalition-builder. In 1964, during a race-relations ministry in an Ohio city, he helped to build a network which persuaded an initially reluctant city council to enact Fair Housing legislation. After retirement, he and his wife as co-chairs led hundreds of volunteers in transforming a well-worn former fraternity house into a sparkling community center for varied programs and service agencies.

Nicely is also an innovator. At the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, as a Faculty member from 1965-1989, he introduced new team-taught courses relating ministry with everyday life. He also helped to build there a novel Masters Degree program in Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Ministry.

Paul Nicely's habit of mind is to seek connections between apparent opposites, for example: "sacred" and "secular"; individuality and community; theology and science; theory and practice; the 'church gathered" and the "church scattered."

His spiritual journey has taken him from Presbyterian roots to a Disciples of Christ college and seminary (Drake), to the University of Chicago for graduate study, to the staff of the Institute of Advanced Pastoral Studies, to ordination as a United Church of Christ minister and later as an Episcopal priest. He is a grateful recovering alcoholic and a cancer survivor. A widower, he and his wife Ann Abbe Nicely were married 55 years. He is father of five sons, and a grandfather.