Dr. April Love-Fordham has authored The Disorderly Parable Bible Study Series for use in personal and group study and would love to volunteer her time teaching or speaking at your church or gathering.

The Disorderly Parables are not your ordinary Bible studies.  Each book is a parable – a modern day story – wrapped around a biblical commentary. These stories will make you think about ancient scripture in new ways, provide insight into what is happening in the world today, surprise you with laughter as you catch a vision of the journey ahead, and energize you to live out your faith on paths you never anticipated taking.

April often gets asked about the name, Disorderly Parables. Well, Jesus used parables—stories of everyday people and things—to illustrate spiritual truths. His parables were not nice tidy stories. They were disorderly and subversive.  They were meant to dismantle ideas the listener thought were truth, but were not. With the Disorderly Parable books, you will learn like Jesus taught, through stories of everyday people and things. You will walk away with both a story that will challenge you and a thorough understanding of the scripture. The books contain a discussion guide designed for groups who want read the book together, as well as spiritual practices to explore.

At this time there are three books in the series and they can be read in any order. 

James in the Suburbs, awarded five stars by the Reader’s Favorite Review, uses the antics of a soul searching, fun loving, suburban Bible study group of men and women living in the suburbs of Atlanta whose lives were turned upside down by the teachings of the Epistle of James. 

Dismantling Injustice uses the story of an African-American congressman coming of age during the civil rights movement to illustrate the Song of Solomon. He learns that love is the one thing that can transform both the oppressed and the oppressor.

St. Francis and the Christian Life uses the mystical life of St. Francis, as uncovered by April on a hundred mile pilgrimage hike to Assisi, to illustrate the lesson of how to live guided by the Spirit rather than by a set of religious rules – the teaching found in the Epistle to the Galatians.

April was ordained in the Presbyterian Church and pastored three churches, but when she began writing full-time six years ago, she unexpectedly and joyfully found her way home to the Episcopal Church.  Read more about her and her books at aprillovefordham.com. The books are available at the Cathedral Bookstore and any on-line bookstore. April can be reached at loveford@gmail.com.